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How to DIY and bypass our service (and why not to do it)

Thinking of moving to Indonesia on your own? In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to do it yourself and the reasons we don’t recommend it.

While we’d love for you to use our service to help you get settled in Indonesia, we understand that some people prefer the DIY approach. Whether you’re looking to save costs, are already familiar with Indonesia, or simply enjoy the challenge of handling things yourself, we respect your choice. However, we encourage you to keep reading to fully understand the caveats and potential pitfalls of doing it alone.

Why You Might Want to DIY

  1. To Save Costs – You want to negotiate your own deals and believe your time is better spent researching everything yourself. If that’s the case, we won’t stop you. But be sure to weigh the time investment against the savings.
  2. You Know Indonesia or Have Local Contacts – If you’re already familiar with the country or have a trusted friend or family member here, you may feel confident navigating the process. If so, we hope you experience the best Indonesia has to offer!
  3. You Enjoy Researching – If planning and problem-solving excite you, feel free to explore our blog! We provide lists, guides, and resources to help with your DIY efforts.
  4. You Want Full Control – If you’re worried about getting a bad deal or want maximum customization, we understand. Contact us—we’d be happy to discuss your concerns and offer a tailored approach.

How to DIY

The most straightforward approach is to get a travel visa, come to Indonesia, and explore your options firsthand.

Finding Accommodation

  • Avoid committing to a long-term lease upfront. Start with short-term rentals like apartments or kost (boarding houses), which allow monthly payments.
  • Use local websites and mobile apps to find rentals, but only book for one month at first.
  • If you don’t like the place, use that month to visit other properties and switch.
  • Hotels are an option, but they’re costly and may rush your decision.

The Importance of Visiting Accommodations in Person

Online listings can be outdated, misleading, or missing key details. Visiting in person helps you:

  • Confirm the photos match reality (some places look much worse in person).
  • Check for subpar, missing, or broken amenities.
  • Assess cleanliness, maintenance, usability, and completeness of shared facilities like gyms and kitchens.
  • Evaluate the environment—make sure it’s suitable for remote work.

Since some accommodations require appointments for tours, scheduling visits can take several days. If you’re unsure what to look for, search Google for “what to check before moving into a new place” or ask the same question to an AI assistant like ChatGPT or DeepSeek.

Handling Visas

Once you’ve secured comfortable accommodation, you can apply for a visa that allows remote work in Indonesia. Expect additional time and effort for paperwork, government processes, and legal requirements.

Hiring a Local Assistant

If you can’t come in person, your next best option is to ask someone to check properties for you.

  • A trusted friend or family member might have local knowledge but may lack the time and expertise to check multiple places thoroughly.
  • A paid assistant can help, but finding a reliable one takes effort, and their fees add to your costs.
    • And we don’t provide this research-only service, as our focus is on offering a complete, hassle-free relocation experience. If you hire someone on your own, you’ll need to manage their work, verify their findings, and ensure they act in your best interest.

Why Use Our Service Instead?

If your time is better spent working and living your best, our service will save you valuable hours and prevent costly mistakes.

Even if you have the time and willingness to research, you’ll likely only do this a few times. We do this all the time—continuously refining our expertise with each new accommodation we inspect and each client we serve.

Our Key Advantages

  • Insider Knowledge – We’ve already personally checked many accommodations.
  • Customer Matching – We understand different preferences and can recommend places suited to your lifestyle.
  • End-to-End Support – We don’t just find you a place; we ensure you settle in smoothly.

We strive to set a gold standard in relocation services, making your move seamless and hassle-free.

Final Thoughts

Whether you decide to navigate Indonesia on your own or use our service, we welcome you to experience this amazing country, Indonesia, which is ranked among the top 3 most friendly nations in the world (Internations 2024).

If you decide your time is better spent on more valuable things—working and living your best—let us handle the rest. Check out our offerings and start your hassle-free move today!