Frequently Asked Questions (F.A.Q)

Q: Is there any charge to use your housing service?
A: Yes, there is a one-time, one flat amount housing service fee for us to offer you suitable vacancies for you to choose and follow up.

Q: Who pays this charge, the landlord or the tenant?
A: The tenant.

Q: How much is the fee?
A: It depends on whether you're using our FirstXpress Package or ComboXpress Package.

Q: What is the FirstXpress Package? How does it work?
A: To use our FirstXpress Package, please fill in our Housing Inquiry Form to ensure that what you're looking for is available. We'll let you know the result. If it's available, you pay a fee of CA$75 and then you can access our database of properties, from which you may pick five (5) locations that seem most suitable to your need. Please email these chosen five to us to check their availability with the landlords. We'll then reply to you with the complete (contact) addresses, so that you may go ahead and deal with the landlords directly to eventually secure a place of your choice. When you've received the contact information from us, you have to quickly get in touch with the landlords because as you know, nice availabilities can't stand long being vacant and thus, it's of utmost importance for you to contact the landlords immediately. Putting off contacting the landlords will result in forfeiture of your fee. Please take a look at our Sale & Purchase Agreement.

Q: What happens if all 5 vacancies turn out to be unsuitable for me when I've looked them up in person?
A: Either you'll proceed to use our ComboXpress Package by paying us the balance of CA$210 or we'll refund 30% of CA$75 to you on your request. Seventy percent (70%) of CA$75 is not refundable.

Q: What is the ComboXpress Package? How does it work?
A: To use our ComboXpress Package, please fill in our Housing Inquiry Form to ensure that what you're looking for is available in the market. We'll let you know if your search is feasible. If it is, you pay the fee of CA$285 and then you can access our database of properties. You may pick five (5) locations that seem to match your need. Please email us these 5 locations you've chosen, so that we may check their availability and send you the full (contact) addresses. At the same time, we'll conduct our own search and add 5 more locations to your list and thus we'll email you the contact information of ten (10) locations for you to follow up with the landlords. When you've received the contact information from us, please quickly get in touch with the landlords of these 10 locations, so that you may finally secure a place of your choice. As you know, nice availabilities can't stand long being vacant and thus, it's of utmost importance for you to contact the landlords immediately after you've received our offer of vacancies. Putting off contacting the landlords will result in forfeiture of your fee. Please take a look at our Sale & Purchase Agreement

Q: What happens if all 10 vacancies turn out to be unsuitable for me when I've looked them up in person?
A: In such remote case, if your reasoning is justifiable, either we'll offer you new options or refund 30% of CA$285 on your request. Seventy percent (70%) of CA$285 is not refundable.

Q: What's the advantage of using your service, either the FirstXpress Package or the ComboXpress Package?
A: We've viewed in person the vacancies that we offer to you and we've done our best to get the most information from the landlords. Thus, if you still want to look up the places yourself, you'll be going to see properties that already have a high percentage of known factors---you'll not be going on a wild goose chase, wasting your time and especially your expenses for gasoline, parking fees, etc., which at the end may amount to more than our fee.

Q: Am I right that in using your service, I'll be dealing with the landlords directly, including about such issues as the rent amount, security etc.?
A: Yes. For example, you may end up getting a rent that is lower than what has been quoted to us by the landlord. On the other hand, although we've taken proper caution to get the most information about the landlord and his property, we XpressHAND are by no means liable for any claim, loss and/or damages of any nature arising out of your dealing with the landlord or renting/leasing his property.

Q: What information do you need to search for my apartment/housing?
A:
    -Preferred city area, if any
    -Number of tenants
    -Number of bedrooms
    -Furnished or unfurnished
    -Move-in date
    -Rental period (number of months for a short term or “at least 1      year” for a long term)
    -Whether any pets. If yes, number of pets (if a dog, also the      breed & weight)
    -Your budget range for rent per month
    -Where you live now (just the city or city area, not your precise      address; preferably also your phone number)
     Please fill out our housing request here.

Q: Just what information do you give me in your offer of options?
A: The description of each apartment or property (including its general location), other specifications (i.e., close to school, public transit, etc), its monthly rent, as well as photos taken by our own staff.

Q: May I ask for a refund of my housing service fee if in the meantime I have found an apartment on my own?
A: Yes, we will refund 30% of your service fee. 70% is not refundable.

Q: Why do you say “one-time” housing service fee?
A: Our fee is once, in one flat amount, not in percentage, and is not monthly collected, quite separated from the property's monthly rent you pay to the landlord.

Q: How do I pay your housing service fee?
A: To our PayPal account on our secure Housing Service page using your credit card.

Q: I am not a PayPal member—how can I make payments to your PayPal account?
A: You don’t need to be a PayPal member to make a payment to a PayPal account.