Top 4 Differences Between American and German Housing

While the layout of a German apartment is similar to an apartment in the United States, the amenities vary greatly. This is something that Max Dunlop, the Vice President of Project Management at Dwellworks, and his wife, Karla, realized when they moved to Germany for two years.

Smaller Kitchens

• The kitchens in German apartments are significantly smaller than the typical kitchen in the United States, and that means smaller appliances, too. While the kitchen in Max and Karla’s apartment was considered larger than average, Max still remembers feeling compressed when cooking meals or doing dishes.

Smaller Kitchens = Smaller Appliances

• Additionally, refrigerators in German kitchens compare in size to a typical American dormitory fridge, meaning more frequent trips to the local market or grocery store are necessary to eat fresh food. And stovetops and ovens are much smaller in Germany, as well. Typical kitchen sinks and faucets reminded the Dunlops of the average American bathroom sink.

The Kitchens Move!

• One other bit of knowledge to keep in mind when searching for a home in Germany is that when moving, it is common German practice for kitchen appliances, including cupboards and shelving, to be taken when a previous tenant or homeowner moves out of the house. Max recalls this being a frustration when he and his wife were searching for housing. “We would see some options we really liked, but we would get to the kitchen and there was nothing there except two plumbing stubs coming out of the wall. It was an empty room with a drain and water hookups."
  
  While common in Germany, this may present hurdles for an American seeking temporary housing. There are options to buy used or new kitchens, but this yields further issues, as it can be difficult to purchase a kitchen that fits in the apartment’s allotted space.

The Bedroom

• Similar to kitchens, German bedrooms also differ from a typical American bedroom. First, there are no closets inside of bedrooms. Some Germans opt for “open-air closets,” while others simply purchase a wardrobe to house their clothing. Furthermore, placing TVs in bedrooms is considered taboo. Cable hookups and wall mounts are virtually nonexistent in these spaces.

Dwellworks Living: Global Solutions for Corporate Accommodations 

Dwellworks Living is committed to providing our clients and their employees with the best possible corporate housing and serviced accommodations experience. With a global network of property partners, a tri-regional team of customer experience and supply chain professionals, and a wide range of services for global mobility and travel customers, Dwellworks Living can provide the perfect corporate housing solution for any need or budget.

Dwellworks Living is the global corporate housing solution of Dwellworks, an award-winning, business-to-business provider of global mobility and business travel services. As a global leader in corporate housing and serviced accommodations solutions, Dwellworks Living is uniquely positioned to meet the temporary living needs of businesses and their employees who are relocating or traveling on short-, medium- or extended-stays. With 60,000 high-quality professionally managed properties in over 125 countries worldwide, Dwellworks Living is the preferred housing solutions partner of many Fortune 1000 and leading relocation management companies.

Dwellworks Living's corporate housing and serviced accommodations solutions are designed to help businesses attract and retain top talent, support employee productivity, and ensure a smooth and successful relocation or business travel experience. In addition to our core global accommodations management services, Dwellworks Living, through our worldwide network of local experts, is uniquely capable of offering our clients expanded and related services, such as area orientations, group move assistance, destination services and intercultural training.

Whether you have corporate housing needs for an individual employee or a large team, Dwellworks Living can provide the serviced accommodations solutions you need anywhere in the world to ensure a safe and successful stay. Please contact us to learn more or visit our Properties page to begin your search for global corporate housing accommodations.