It's been a month since my friend and I moved out of our 'bedspacer' place and into our own flat. Searching for a good one is quite a challenge. As full-time students who only work part-time, we have a more limited budget so the rental fee is a main factor in our decision. Moreover, we also have to consider the inclusions of the place and rent, location, transportation and convenience. Luckily, we were able to find a flat that is fully-furnished, 10-minute walk away from the train station, 2-3 minute walk away from the bus stop and accessible to shops. Only slightly above our budget but this was the best one of the lot that we saw. So to those who are searching for their own flat, not that I am an expert and this may only be applicable to international students living on a budget, here are some tips that I can share with you:
1. Rent
How much are you willing and able to spend on rent? Downsize your search by sticking to your budget limit.
2. Bills
Are the utilities included in the rental fee? Do you prefer for the utilities be included in the rental fee or not? Personally, we prefer for the utilities to be included in the rental fee so we won't have to be bothered remembering the deadline of payments for internet, water, electricity, etc.
3. Inclusions
Is the place fully or semi-furnished? Or unfurnished? Do you prefer buying or do you have your own furniture and appliances or do you prefer to just move in along with whatever stuff you have? Since we are international students (Oh, I am no longer one since 5 days ago -- got my permanent residency already! Yay!), we only have our personal and school stuff with us. We don't have money to spare to purchase ourselves a sofa, our own bed, etc. So a fully furnished place is necessary for us. (With that being said, anyone wants to sponsor us a television? Hahaha!)
4. Duration
How long will you be renting the place? Are you thinking long-term, like a year, or short-term, like 3 or 6 months? How long will the owners have the place rented? Look for flats that will suit your duration preference. Some owners prefer long-term renters; others prefer having the renters' contract renewable every 3 or 6 months.
5. Location
Should it be conveniently located near your work? Or anywhere near the bus or train is fine? Which suburb do you prefer? Is it safe and quiet? Are there shops nearby? Since we do not drive and rely completely on public transportation, a place conveniently located near the bus stops and train stations is of utmost importance. Safety is also highly significant to me so we researched about the suburb profiles. We don't mind if it's one or two hours away from work as long as there is transportation within reach and feels safe.
6. Look into real estate websites.
There are millions of rental ads in the worldwide web. Be sure you are looking into legitimate real estate websites and ads. Be wise enough to dissect which ones are dodgy and which ones are not. Here in Australia, we used Real Estate website
7. Inspect, inspect, inspect
After you've looked into legitimate websites and ads, make time to meet the real estate agent and to do an ocular inspection of the places you've inquired for. It's better to see the place personally and you might be also able to meet or talk with the owner. For us, the bathroom and the bedroom are the first two places that we check. The bathroom has to be clean and well-maintained. The bedroom has to be conducive, has a firm mattress and of course, has enough closet space. :D If the place is furnished, check if everything is functioning properly.
8. Legal stuff
Paperworks, of course. Take time to read carefully the terms of your lease before signing. Make sure everything was put into writing. Know the bond amount and how much of the rent should you pay in advance.
And once you found that flat that suits your liking and budget, grab it as soon as possible! :)
Hopefully, these few tips that I discussed may lead you to your own good flat! Good luck! :)