Moving to a new apartment in Germany turned out to be a unique experience, especially considering the famed German punctuality discussed in earlier posts. This commitment to punctuality extends to every aspect of life, including apartment rentals.

Surprisingly, when you rent an apartment in Germany, you’re renting just the space (Yes. This is punctual too)—you are renting only the space 🙂 no kitchen or furnishings, except for the bathroom, which is luckily included 🙂

Back in Egypt, I used to believe I had decent DIY skills just because I owned a well-equipped toolbox, electrical blower and a driller (Bosch and I was proud of owning a German brand for my DIY, thinking that I am the Pro here:).

However, the need to furnish my apartment in Germany quickly made me reassess my DIY abilities!!! It became clear that I knew very little compared to the Germans.

One of the interesting rituals I observed is that Germans seem to flock to Baumarkt on Saturdays to shop for DIY gadgets.

These stores are massive and carry everything imaginable. However, I couldn’t help but notice that the prices were considerably higher than what I was used to in Egypt. To put things into perspective, an item that costs 9 Euros in Germany could be obtained for just third or half the price back in Egypt.

So furnishing an apartment in Germany as an expat requires a significant budget, even if opting for used furniture. Moreover, having the right DIY gadgets is crucial for assembling and arranging everything. Fortunately, a German friend came to my rescue, offering support in setting up my entire apartment.

To my surprise, I soon discovered why my DIY skills seemed lacking. A staggering +100 gadgets were brought to my apartment for the setup.

The entire process turned out to be enjoyable, providing me with an insider’s perspective on how the Germans approach DIY. Their focus is on creating lasting solutions that stand the test of time, and the abundance of gadgets certainly reflects their dedication to this philosophy.

God! I love Germans:)