Hunting for your next rental pad can be the ultimate minefield. The choice of property types is vast, you have no idea what your new housemates are going to be like, and you don’t want to be forking out more than you have to. Locating the dwelling that you can see yourself settling into for a little while before you take the plunge and purchase your own bricks and mortar is a mammoth task. However, it’s not impossible. Take a look at these handy hints from a seasoned renter to help you locate your perfect pad.
Location
The most important element to any house hunt is its location. Do you want to be in the thick of it, close to good transport links for work and near cafe culture and bars? If so, you need to start property hunting downtown and look for the best area that your budget will allow. It’s a better idea to forego a little bit of space and live in a nicer neighbourhood rather than have more space than you could ever dream of, but be scared to go out at night.
Tenancy
Some apartments are let out fully furnished. This is great if you travel light, don’t have too much stuff and can’t be bothered to invest in those chunkier bits of furniture. You want to make sure that any landlord who lets fully furnished has chosen quality fixtures and fittings. Comfy beds like those available at John Ryan by Design, hard wearing yet comfortable sofas and a decent set of kitchen equipment are vital to make day to day living easier. Remember, you’re not a student anymore, so you don’t have to put up with substandard kit.
If you do have your own couch and your bed frame is coming with you to your new humble abode, you’ll need an unfurnished pad. This can save you a handsome sum each month, and you can take your furniture with you as and when you move on.
Housemates
If you’re moving into a house share, make sure you vet your potential new flatmates as much as they vet you. It sounds harsh, but you need to listen to your gut instinct. If someone seems a bit shady or you don’t get positive vibes from the guy asking about your eating habits, move onto the next pad.
There’s no point moving into an apartment with a group of night owl party animals if you need to be in bed every night by 9:00 pm because you have early starts for work. No house, no matter how lovely, is worth the hassle. You need to feel comfortable with the people you live with. The chances are that these folk can turn into lifelong friends.
Finding a perfect place to lay your hat is tricky, but you need to remember that wherever you stay will be short term. You are merely biding your time until you’ve saved your deposit and you can step onto the first rung of the property ladder.
Cover image and lounge image from domain.com.
