Hints and tips on maintaining a home in Norway.

Maintaining a Norwegian home seems simple enough, right? Well, it’s probably not as simple as you think-especially when it comes to maintaining the exterior of a house, apartment or townhouse (sometimes also called a semi-detached property) in various weather conditions. Here are some tips and hints on maintaining a Norwegian home that you may not be away of if you haven’t been in Norway for long.

Eight top tips

1. Although it has become more common in recent years, for many Norwegians it is unusual to hire a painting company or hire extra help to paint the exterior of their home. Many Norwegians see exterior house painting as one of the rights of passage into spring and have their paintbrushes ready to work at the first hint of warm, dry weather. Exterior house paining is often times a family affair-ask your extended family for help if you need it or are tackling a larger painting project.

2. It is not uncommon to offer to help or ask your neighbors to help you with small tasks like cutting the hedge, with collecting your mail when you are on vacation or removing snow from your property in winter. If you are on good terms with your neighbors, this may be a chance to offer to help them or let them help you with smaller tasks.

3. Using mold- and mildew-resistant outdoor home maintenance products are advisable due to the weather conditions in cities with a higher than average amount of rainfall such as Bergen or Stavanger. They are commonly available at DIY and painting supply stores.

4. Using husvask on the exterior of your house is recommended every year. This helps maintain the exterior paint job.

5. Painting the exterior of a house can be a time-consuming task. Be sure to take your time and paint your house section by section. The better job you do on each section, the longer the paint job will last. A good paint job can be expected to last 5-8 years depending on the type and quality of the paint, quality of the paint job and outdoor weather conditions.

6. While using a high-pressure water sprayer to remove old paint can make getting the old paint off of your house easier, if overused, it can damage the wooden planks and cause cracks. Take care and use caution.

7. Veteran house painters report that the most time consuming part of exterior house painting is scraping off the old paint as opposed to the actual painting. Again, do the work in stages and ask for help if you need it.

8. If you are a house owner (as opposed to a townhouse rekkehus or apartment leilighet owner), you are personally responsible for clearing the snow and/or ice on the sidewalk in front of your property. If a passer-by is injured as a result of you not clearing the sidewalk of snow or using sand on the icy parts of the sidewalk-you may be held liable.

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The Comedy Box Norway, a Stavanger-based consortium of stand up comedians and comedic events featuring acts from Norway and abroad.

I recently caught up with Chi Ton, an Oslo transplant to Stavanger and owner of the Comedy Box Norway, to hear what she had to say about the performance art of stand-up comedy, about breaking into the comedy business and about Norwegian humor.

Generally speaking, would you say Norwegian humor translates cross culturally easier than humor from other regions of the world, such as the UK?

Humor is very subjective and is often related to personal experiences, demographic location and background.

In the comedy world, it’s important for the comedians to focus on being able to create a visual picture for the audience and inviting them into the comics' worldview. This element is much more important than being able to translate cross culturally.

Combining work in comedy and the arts is something you’ve been working with for more then the last 5 years. What was your inspiration for starting the Comedy Box? What is your vision for The Comedy Box in the next years?

I worked as a live music producer in the arts industry for many years prior working with comedy and it was actually only by coincidence that I ended up working in comedy.

I was first hired on a short-term contract as the Festival Manager for a Norwegian comedy festival. After the contract ended, the comedians inspired and convinced me to start my own business and that's how The Comedy Box was established.

The Comedy Box is an organization that works with and on behalf of our comedians. We focus on showcasing diversity within the art form of comedy as well as building a solid platform for local comedians to grow and develop.

We aim to create an artistic and creative comedic community by hosting regular stand up events, festivals and alternative concept productions.

Several of the comedy acts you book are international and are well received by the local and international communities in Stavanger. How well received are Norwegian comics internationally – especially since the success of Ylvis a few years ago?

Scandinavian comedians are becoming more and more well-known abroad especially in major cities such as London. One of the most well-known Norwegian comedians in the UK is Daniel Simonsen, from Bergen.

He has won several awards and is signed with one of the top management companies in the UK. This is quite a feat for someone who was a virtual unknown some years ago with no network or extensive experience on the live comedy scene.

My experiences working with comedy as an art form have really shown me that nationality and origin matter a lot less than being about to relate to your audience, comedic timing and pure, raw talent.

Let's say one is an aspiring comedian. How can one break into the business here in Norway?

Practice and experience will definitely help you break into the comedy business. There are several open-mic nights and stand up clubs around Norway in cities such as Oslo, Bergen, Stavanger, Trondheim, Bodø and Lofoten.

Get in touch with a club in your area and ask the promoter if it's possible to get a 2-3 min spot during one of these nights. That way you can begin to hone your skills and see if this is something you really want to dedicate your time to doing.

In Stavanger, The Comedy Box holds regular open-mic nights, which we call “UnCut – are you a diamond in the rough?”.

Here, aspiring comedians can hone their talent while more established ones can try out new material. It's a pretty fun night for the audience too because they get to see a wider range of acts and get to see new material before anyone else.

Another thing one can do to break into the business is attend a comedy course, workshop or school.

Most promoters suggest new talents invest in a stand up course to learn the structure of comedy writing, using body language as a means of artistic expression and various other aspects of the art of comedic performance.

Additionally, Oslo, Bergen and Stavanger have stand up courses and workshops every year. The comedy schools in Norway offer more of an elementary approach, so it is more like attending a stand up university.

Some people think the comedic arts are “easy” and that just anyone can get up on a stage in front of people and “be funny”. However, the fact is that there is so much more to stand up as an industry and as an art form.

Just like not everyone can become a professional singer, the comedic arts require training and practice – even if you have natural, raw talent.

If you are interested in learning more about the comedy scene in Norway or about the , you can find the Comedy Box Norway on and .

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How to make salmon fishcakes with an apple and carrot salad.

I can honestly say that fish cakes were the first traditional Norwegian dish I ever learned to make.

However, my first batch of fish cakes were made with cod not the salmon you’ll find in the recipe. Although Norwegian fish cakes are traditionally made with cod or a similar type of white fish I like to make mine with salmon instead.

Norwegian salmon is more flavourful and healthful than cod, especially if caught wild.

Try your hand at making these with your family or a group of friends. They are the perfect dish to make with others as forming and shaping the cakes can be delegated to one person and cooking them to another.

I enjoy the zing, crispness and freshness apple and carrot salad bring to fish cakes, so I’ve also included my recipe for it as an alternative to boiled potatoes or creamy cabbage which is also traditionally served alongside fish cakes.

Makes 12 small or 6 medium sized fish cakes

Ingredients: What you'll need

• 500g (ca. 18 oz.) fresh fish filet, deboned and skinless
• 30g (1/4 cup) potato flour
• 10g (2 teaspoons) sea salt
• 200 ml (3/4 cup) milk
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon baking powder

Instructions

1. Place all ingredients in a food processor and pulse on a medium speed until mixture becomes mostly smooth and consistent. Some fish chunks may remain but mixture should be relatively smooth in texture.
2. Wet hands with water, shape dough into patties and fry in a 50/50 mixture of butter and oil.
3. Serve warm and enjoy.

How to make the accompanying salad

Ingredients

• 2 apples, grated
• 4 carrots, grated
• Freshly squeezed lemon juice
• Freshly ground black pepper
• Salt

Instructions
1. Combine the carrots and apple in a medium sized mixing bowl.
2. Season to taste with freshly squeezed lemon juice, salt and pepper.

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This deliciously simple recipe serves three people for lunch, or 6-10 as a party appetiser.

One of the first things many newcomers to Norway notice at the grocery store is how plentiful and relatively inexpensive Norwegian salmon is to buy. Fresh, cured (gravlax) and smoked salmon is common and found in every supermarket and grocery store in Norway.

This hasn’t always been the case however, as salmon was traditionally reserved for more upmarket home based meals and celebrations until very recently.

Besides eating smoked salmon with scrambled eggs for breakfast, I’ve found wraps an easy way to get more Omega-fatty acid rich salmon into my diet.

This recipe is easy to make and is good as an appetizer for your next party or an easy weekend lunch. These salmon wraps can be made ahead as they preserve quite well without getting soggy.

I normally use homemade lefse for this recipe, but tortillas make a good substitute if fresh lefse is not available in your area.

If you don’t like smoked salmon, you can substitute smoked trout – another Norwegian specialty – or use fenalår (dry-cured leg of lamb) as an alternative.

Ingredients:

• 3 lefse or tortillas
• Cream cheese, dill or herb flavored (mayonnaise is a good alternative)
• Smoked salmon, sliced
• Lettuce
• Red onion, chopped

Directions:

1. Lay the lefse or tortilla flat and spread with a good layer of cream cheese or
mayonnaise.
2. On top of the cream cheese, layer the smoked salmon, lettuce and red onion,
but reserve a bit of space at the end of the lefse or tortilla. This will be used to
secure the roll.
3. Roll the lefse onto itself to form a log. Be sure to press the reserved end into a
roll in order to secure the log.
4. Using a sharp knife, cut into rounds and serve.

Enjoy!

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A Norwegian real estate agent gives us the lowdown on the ins and outs of buying property in Norway.

Finding a place to live in a major Norwegian city such as Oslo or Stavanger can be an overwhelming and daunting task, not to mention expensive.

Add into the mix all of the nuances that come along with buying instead of renting a home in Norway, and one might find themselves swirled into the perfect storm of confusion and frustration.

If you're considering buying a place, it's well worth renting a home first. This will help you decide on an area, plus whether a certain size place is going to be enough for you. Not only that, it gives you a get out clause should life in Norway not work out for you!

Once you've decided to buy, do your research. Even if you've owned property in other countries before, the Norwegian system will be different to what you're used to. First off, you'll need to choose between freehold or a form of shared ownership such as a borettslag.

Interview with a Norwegian real estate broker

Mats Lundal is a real estate broker with DNB Eiendom in Stavanger and helps local expats and Norwegians alike find their dream home. I sat down with Lundal recently, and here is what he had to say about buying and selling real estate in Norway.

Read more: Mountain Cabin Property Boom in Norway

Can you explain, in simple terms, the process for buying property in Norway?

To begin the process, I’d suggest first meeting with your bank to find out how much of a mortgage loan you qualify to borrow from the bank.

After you’ve established your financial standing with your bank, then you should begin looking at properties on the market online first and eventually, by going to open houses. This is the time to discover which areas of the city you like and what type of property you’d like to live in.

If you find a property you think you might want to live in, obtain the prospectus and carefully read though it so you can learn more about the structure of the house and the surrounding area.

Pay special attention to the boligsalgsrapport, an explanation of the technical aspects of the house such as the drainage, foundation, roof and other areas of the house.

If you decide you want to make an offer to buy the house, you should be aware that the rules in Norway stipulate that the first bid has to be valid until 12:00 noon on the first working day after the last open house.

Read more: Preparing to Move to Norway

These same laws stipulate that all offers from each bidder be in writing. Bid offers in Norway are legally binding, and stiff penalties are levied if a potential buyer makes an offer on a house that they cannot afford.

And what about selling property in Norway? What does that process entail?

First of I would recommend finding a good real estate broker. You can talk to colleagues or check out for info about real estate brokers in Norway. This site has guides, reviews and references from brokers in different areas around Norway and is a good tool to use.

When you find a real estate broker you’d like to work with, you normally meet them at your home for a viewing of your property. The broker then does a walk through valuation of your property to determine its value.

If you like the broker and agree that you’d like to work with them to sell your property, you sign a written agreement with them in order to proceed in selling your home.

Prior to the house being listed on the market, you’ll need to fill out the energimerking form online and submit a written declaration form called an egenerklæring. These forms establish the energy efficiency of the property and provide notice to potential buyers if there are problems with the house.

Read more: Moving to Norway: The Complete Relocation Guide

The broker will arrange a photographer and takstmann so the prospectus can be made and the property listed on popular real estate web sites. An open house is normally held 5-14 days after the property is first shown online.

What is the role of the real estate broker in Norway? Do the seller and buyer both have brokers working on their behalf during a transaction?

Under the law, we are all required to act in accordance with good real estate practices and be independent third party to every transaction. This means we are required to provide the seller and buyer information that is relevant to sale process.

In other words its not usual to have one broker for both the buyer and the seller during the transaction but some people have a broker that helps them with everything from selling to buying.

There are different types of real estate agents in Norway, with the most common being eiendomsmegler, eiendomsmeglerfullmektig and megler.

Eiendomsmegler means that the agent has had three years of real estate education after high school and have at least two years’ experience. Eiendomsmeglerfullmektig means the agent has had three years of real estate school but less than 2 years’ experience.

A megler is someone who has worked in the real estate industry for a period before the stricter requirements in real estate law were adopted. Meglers have had to pass a special test approved by the .

How does the broker in the transaction get paid, and what fees can the buyer or seller expect?

The broker is paid on commission after the tax is paid. The amount of commission varies from sale to sale and broker to broker. The amount of commission per sales transaction is not mandated by law.

Upfront, the seller normally only pays the takstmann upfront because they are contracted specialists and do not work for the broker. All other costs associated with the sale are paid when the transaction is completed.

Stavanger has a large expat community, many of whom are utterly shocked at the real estate prices here. Why is real estate in Stavanger so expensive?

Stavanger is an attractive area to live in where salaries are above the national average and the education level is higher than average as well. It is known for having access to great outdoor activities such as surfing, hiking, biking and some of Norway’s best beaches.

Stavanger is also home to cultural events like the theatre and concert house as well as sporting events. Most of the industry here is related to the energy sector, which tends to have higher salaries, thus supporting a higher standard of living and higher house prices.

Also, there is an increase in people moving to this area from all over Norway and the world for jobs, further increasing the demand for properties in Stavanger.

There has been talk in the media about property bubbles in Stavanger and in Oslo for years due to the high prices of real estate. Do you think a property bubble exists in the Stavanger area? Or in Oslo?

No, neither Stavanger or Oslo. The buoyant local economy in both cities plus the number of new houses, apartments and other residences is in balance to support the local economy. This means there will always be market for buyers and sellers.

What are the most common concerns you hear from expats about buying property, and your tips for overcoming these concerns?

Expats tend to focus a lot on price here, which is understandable as prices can be so much higher than they are used to back home.

As the energy sector is currently reducing its work force, prices may stabilize more or drop slightly for a period of time. Industry indications show that the real estate market is stable and should increase by 2-4% each year.

What words of wisdom can you offer first time buyers who may be from another country?

I have not sold anything in the US or the UK yet but I do know a thing or two about buying real estate in Norway. My advice is set your must have list and try to find a property which suits your lifestyle.

Do not try to find a “bargain” or a property that you think you can flip just to make money. Think long term not a quick investment.

I’d also recommend expats contact a broker and tell him/her what they are looking for so the broker can guide them to the house/apartment that's best for their lifestyle.

This is not a standard thing to do but I have at least 5 regular customers that use me for finding both homes and investments for them in the market. I don’t charge anything for this but providing this extra service helps me with referrals.

The Norwegian Financial Services Authority (Finanstilsynet) updated a law a 2011, which means that banks are no longer allowed to grant 100% financing to borrowers for purchasing real estate. How has the change in law altered the market for buyers and for sellers in the Stavanger area?

The local real estate market for smaller apartments has cooled down. This means it is harder for people to get on the property ladder, especially young people.

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Open faced shrimp sandwiches with homemade mayonnaise (skiver med shrimps og hjemelaget majones)

Norwegian peel and eat shrimps are common all year round for the most part but are usually eaten in spring and summer as a light meal. This is in contract to the colder months when they are actually at their taste and freshness peak. In Stavanger, the shrimp are farmed in the early hours of the morning, then make their way into the fish market, supermarket seafood counters and even the fishing boats near the ferry terminal by lunch time. While I enjoy these yummy, easy to eat shellfish in salads, my favorite way to enjoy them is layered onto an open-faced sandwich for an easy meal.

Norway, and Scandinavia as a whole, is quite fond of the open-faced sandwich. In contrast to the American sandwich tradition, sandwiches in Norway are often prepared as a single slice of bread smeared with butter, then topped with pĂĄlegg (a general name given to sandwich fixings such as sliced cheeses, cold cuts, sandwich spreads, etc.), the occasional condiment, such as mayonnaise, and eaten with a knife and fork.

Despite sounding minimal, eating this type of sandwich can be quite satisfying and an easy way to serve a large group in an unfussed hurry. The art of open-faced sandwiches lies in layering your toppings of choice on your bread in a way that each bite includes a taste of each topping.

My favorite open-faced sandwiches are topped with (in order):

• Butter
• Lettuce
• Cucumber
• Fresh peel and eat shrimp (boiled in salt water only)
• Sliced red onion
• Homemade majones (mayonnaise)
• A light dusting of freshly ground black pepper
• And finally, a squeeze of fresh lemon

Try your hand at making open-faced sandwiches with your favorite combinations and fresh homemade mayo. Homemade mayo is easy to make and inexpensive – plus it finds it’s way into much more than just sandwiches. My recipe below takes 20 minutes and makes a 250 ml (1 cup) of mayo.

Ingredients:

• 250 ml (1 cup) neutral oil like canola/rapeseed or sunflower
• 1 egg (2 egg yokes for a richer mayo)
• 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar or lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon water
• ÂĽ teaspoon dry mustard powder (such as Coleman’s)
• ½ teaspoon sugar
• ½ teaspoon salt

Directions:
1. Using an immersion blender set on high, combine all ingredients until emulsified.
2. Store mayo in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
3. Enjoy!

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A Norwegian food writer shares some top tips on grocery shopping in Norway on a budget.

You know the scene – it’s you, your debit card and two bags of groceries that you just paid 600NOK to drag out of the corner market. Then you get home and nearly break into tears because you’ve just realized that you forgot to pick up the pate and sliced pickles!

We’ve all been there, and now, sadly again, you’re there too– you’ve blown your food budget in one trip to the grocery store and you need to buy just a few more items.

So, here are some of my budget friendly tips for eating well on a limited budget in Norway:

1. Make a list – and stick to it. Decide what you are going to buy at the grocery store, make a list – and stick to it. It’s easy to blow your food budget by giving in to impulse purchases so make your list and stick to it.

2. Meal planning is the key to success. Planning out your meals for the week – or even just your dinners – takes all the guess work out of your evening meal and makes it better to plan ahead. If you base your meals on the foods that are in season and in the weekly circular ads, and you’ll be able to save money by eating what’s freshest.

3. Know what you have in stock. Do you really need (yet) another block of cheese? If you know what is in your fridge before you go to the store, you know what you need to buy. Make sure to take inventory of what you have on hand before you head to the market.

4. Go meatless. One or two days a week, go vegan or vegetarian. This is a lot less painless then it sounds and the money you save on meat, dairy and other animal based products will quickly add up. Choose dishes that are full of both fiber and plant based protein such as vegetarian chili. Also, try dishes with loads of flavor, to keep you full and satisfied.

5. Get a deep freezer. My deep freezer is one of my best friends when it comes to keeping my monthly food budget in check. Save one or two portions of any dish you make in the freezer and you’ll have homemade convenience meals on hand instead of buying expensive convenience meals at the store for when you can’t be bothered to cook.

6. Compare prices. Finding good deals on food items you buy often might come in unexpected places, so keep your eyes open. I buy items such as unrefined sea salt, tea, bouillon, nuts, seeds plus a few other items in health food and organic food stores.

Why? These are items commonly bought in these stores and as such, don’t tend to cost as much per kilo as in other places. Also, as the store’s clientele buys them frequently, the store’s stock rotates often. No one ever believes me when I say I save money in the organic food stores, but I do.

7. Go where the deals are. International food stores in Norway are a great place to find super deals and save big. Dried beans, spices, produce and olives in international food stores are normally 50-90% off compared to prices in more traditional Norwegian supermarkets. These stores are also a good place to find lamb and poultry.

8. Use what you buy. If you buy something, eat it. Wasted food means wasted money.

9. Find substitutions. Most grocery stores have a “soon to be expired” section where they sell food items that are reaching their expiry date or looking a little less than fresh. Shop in this section of the store for great deals on more expensive cuts of meat which weren’t purchased at full price, or cheeses which were left behind for the same reason.

10. Eat your greens. Most major cities in Norway have shops that only sell fruit and vegetables, so head here for discounts on your greens.

Supermarket loyalty programs

UPDATE! Since Whitney wrote this excellent article, loyalty schemes are becoming more popular in Norwegian supermarkets. The best known is Rema 1000's Æ, which gives 10% discount on all fresh fruit and vegetables, along with your most bought items.

If you shop more frequently at Kiwi, Meny, Spar or Joker, check out the Trumf program. This is similar to the UK's Nectar program in that it allows you to collect and redeem points at multiple outlets, and even convert them to air miles.

Of course, such schemes are designed to get you to spend more, not less, but clever use of them can still see you benefit.

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