Carla Louca is a 39-year-old licensed insurance agent originally from Alabama, America. Carla is a nomad. Her mother and siblings are still at home in Alabama, her son lives in Germany, her daughter lives in Korea, and her husband is from the UK. Carla and her husband are legal residents in the Czech Republic, so they have spent the last several years bouncing from continent to continent.
In today’s post of our Interview Series with Tenants, Carla will talk about her journey as a nomad, the challenges she faced when trying to find midterm rentals and her most recent stay with Flatio.
Flatio: Are you currently in the Czech Republic?
Carla: I'm currently in Germany but only for two weeks - I was trying to get home to Alabama from Prague when I ran into travel cancellations. Luckily I was at an airport only an hour and a half from my son's house, so I just decided to go quarantine at his place and visit with him for a little while before resuming onward travel.
Flatio: What are the main challenges for a Nomad when trying to find a midterm rental?
Carla: When we initially came to the Czech Republic in 2018, I had no idea where to look for a midterm rental, and I thought maybe something like an Airbnb would be my only option. I'm glad I did a more in-depth google search because I found Flatio right away, and I never looked back. So, I never had any significant challenges, but I wish that Flatio had been more publicized in the UK so that we would have known to go directly there instead of wasting our time looking at other websites first.
Flatio: Why did you choose Flatio?
Carla: There's a lot I like about Flatio, but it bears mentioning that I have been struggling with very significant social anxiety over the past few years, and with Flatio, the entire process was online, which I find so much less stressful. Also, the flats offered by Flatio are in good areas of the cities that I have stayed in, and the quality of the apartments provided is so much better than what I've experienced using other services. Flatio: How was your experience using the platform during the booking process? Carla: It was excellent - as I mentioned, it's important to me to have the process as online as possible, and with Flatio, everything is online. The platform is simple to use, and the terms of the contract are unequivocal, so there is no worry about what you're getting yourself into! It's an easy, safe, and reliable service. The platform is easy to use, and every aspect of the booking being conducted online or through email has been a lifesaver to me. I know that through Flatio, I can find a place in the neighborhood I want, and I know that place will be of a very high standard. It's honestly a win-win.
Flatio: You’ve used Flatio for a few bookings already. Can you please tell me how was your experience at the accommodation you have chosen was and how the interaction with the landlords?
Carla: I've liked both flats that we rented. They've both been in incredible locations, and I love that the apartments have been fully equipped with everything we might need for our stay. The first landlord was very responsive and helpful, but there was a slight language barrier. However, when this was an issue, the Flatio staff was always available to ensure we got everything we needed. The second landlord was so wonderful - he treated us more like customers and less like tenants, and he checked on us to make sure we were comfortable and enjoying our stay. It was great to have our questions addressed immediately and that we could also contact him via text, which helps me a lot when I'm feeling anxious.
Flatio: How about the neighborhoods you have stayed during your bookings on Flatio? Did you enjoy it?
Carla: The first flat we stayed in was in the Veveri neighborhood of Brno, and the greatest pleasure for me was able to wake up and walk to Luzanky Park for early morning exercise. Then, when you're feeling rebellious, there's a lovely spot called Pizza Pivoli on the corner right beside the flat where you can treat yourself to a gluttonous delight! I could write a novel on the beautiful aspects of Brno - it's my favorite city in the Czech Republic, and I daresay it might even be my famous city in all of Europe.
Flatio: What are the next steps for you and your husband? Are you staying in the Czech Republic? Would you consider using Flatio’s services again?
Carla: Right now, I plan to go back to America for a while, but I've learned in this life that you can never say never, so I am very open to the possibility that I may be living in Europe again at some point. I will, without a doubt, be logging into my Flatio account to locate a flat if and when that time comes, and I'll even be using Flatio for vacation purposes once leisure travel has reopened. Flatio has become a necessary part of our Czech Republic experience, and we're happy to have found them!
At Flatio, we try to be mindful of the environment by reducing paper waste by offering a purely online service. We don’t provide any printed agreements. Instead, our lease agreements are digital contracts signed online and do not require the simultaneous physical presence of the tenant and landlord. Flatio offers a 100% online service to support a sustainable and hassle-free rental experience.
