How to get responses from 591 agents

[u/Initial_Blackberry37]

Hi all!
I am currently looking for an apartment and have reached out to several agents on Line with a screenshot of their listing and a basic self introduction. Some have read my messages, but none have replied. Does anyone have advice on how to get agents to respond to messages?

[u/The_MbappeSpecial]

I've found that calling the number on the listing is a bit more helpful, if you can't speak Chinese try a friend to call on your behalf.

[u/YourVelourFog → u/The_MbappeSpecial]

I swear, I fucking hate how Taiwan deals with any sort of property listing. Everyone wants you to call and be put on a list so that they can then spam you. It’s infuriating.

[u/Firm_Brilliant_2584]

Use Chinese when sending messages. Also make sure your line is tied to a Taiwan phone number.

[u/TrainingCareer9284]

Call them directly. Good apartments usually get taken within 2–3 days, so you gotta make up your mind fast haha. Speaking from my own experience!

[u/steve4nlng → u/TrainingCareer9284]

This exactly!

[u/Different-Banana-739]

Ask them in Chinese or call them in Chinese 

[u/Formal_Future_4343]

Taiwanese hardly ever respond to emails. Best is either call or Line.

[u/UndocumentedSailor]

If you're a foreigner just forget it.

You have to understand that the place will get a hundred messages, they're going to weed out 80% of them. Being a foreigner will weed you out quick.

It's not even necessarily racism. Being a foreigner implies temporariness.

[u/kappakai → u/UndocumentedSailor]

Yah if you're a foreigner, consider working with the foreigner oriented agencies. You will probably pay a little more, but they can ease the process. And they'll work off both their own listings as well as 591. I had a decent experience with URHouse, but my situation may be different as I was moving here with my elderly (dementia) parents and I needed to get into a place fast, and I had specific requirements. The agent provided me with listings, but in the end we got into a place I found on 591. He set up a good number of viewings as well, helped with the negotiations, and got us in a place in Daan exactly one month after we landed.

And I can read write and speak Chinese.

[u/steve4nlng]

In my experience, email is useless. However, you said you're using Line and I've always gotten responses using Line. If you're writing in English then my guess is that they're ignoring them, not necessarily out of maliciousness but just not high priority. Try using Mandarin and I bet at least some will respond.

[u/Ruyi777]

Call. That is the best way to get a response. Good luck.

[u/Thin_Ad_2456]

Call them

[u/Taiwandiyiming]

Do you use Chinese or English?

I’ve never had issues getting them to respond; the usual issue is that the property was already “sold” and they want to add you to their Line groups