Group Apartment Viewings in Stuttgart: What to Expect for Newcomers in Germany

We stepped into our first group viewing in Stuttgart and it felt staged.

Nordbahnhof. Tight hallway. 3 couples. 2 families. 1 individual.

Not a quiet tour. But rather, a performance.

People dropped employer names like business cards “Porsche.” “Daimler.” “Bosch.”

Some switched languages to match the landlord.

Everyone wanted an edge.

We weren’t in love with the apartment. So we treated it like practice.

And learned fast: in Germany, you don’t just view the place. You impress the person who owns it.

What’s Different Here

Back in Novi, it was simple.

Book a time. Walk the unit. Take videos.

First deposit usually wins.

Stuttgart is different.

Short time windows. Group tours.

Multiple flats crammed into a 30-minute slot.

You’re not comparing layouts as much as competing for attention.

It’s part logistics, part audition.

The Moment We Knew

After a string of stressful tours, we walked into one more.

A few hundred euros over budget.

Ten steps in, we looked at each other.

This was our place.

From that second, it wasn’t a viewing.

It was a mission.

The Miss That Bit Us Later

In the rush, we skipped the “extras.”

On my first visit, I saw three units, the Keller, and the garage.

Fast, but at least I knew the lay of the land.

On the second visit—with Duygu—we focused on balconies and light.

We didn’t recheck the Keller or the parking.

The agent said everything was “standard.”

We believed him.

Key handoff day told a different story.

Penthouse tenants, smallest Keller.

Parking spot jammed between a wall and a pillar.

Our SUV hated it.

It took weeks of emails and help from our relocation consultant to fix it.

We eventually got a usable Stellplatz.

Lesson burned in: never skip assigned spaces.

And get backup early (Rechtsschutzversicherung).

Practical Advice for North Americans

1. Ask what’s included in the Warmmiete. If it’s not written, it’s not included.

2. Don’t filter only for EBK (built-in kitchen). You’ll miss good flats. Ask about early key access to install your own.

3. See every assigned space. Keller. Bike room. Stellplatz. Verify sizes. Take photos.

4. Treat “standard” as a red flag. Ask for measurements or unit numbers in writing.

5. Consider tenant legal insurance (Rechtsschutzversicherung). It adds leverage when small problems become big ones.

Looking Back

German viewings are more than square meters.

They’re strategy. Presence. Attention to detail.

It’s not much, but it’s home.

More expensive than what we had in Michigan.

Not as nice. But we made do.