Finding acoomodation in Germany
posted by Frank (confidential) in Germany forum
You are right: No (honest) German landlord would accept you as tenant without a meeting in person - and neither should you accept a place without having seen it. There is too much overpriced rubbish on the market - really!
Also, renting cycles are long, with the minimum termination period being three months and most places getting advertised and the better ones quickly taken up months before move-in.
Therefore my advice: Do it like most foreigners moving here and arrange temporary accommodation for the initial few months (hotels, hostels and serviced apartments are available, though not cheap), put your belongings in storage (your moving company can arrange that for you, usually not too expensive) and start looking for a place you really like after arrival. Everything else is unrealistic!