By Donald Pang

After your student pass is approved, and you confirmed your studies abroad, congratulations! Now it is time to find accommodation. This will be your place to rest and relax away from home. So any extra effort that you put in finding your perfect place now will pay off later.

It is hard to think about how bad housing conditions can get. Especially when you have not been to the country you want to study in yet. But keep in mind that you will be staying for a long time. So factor in the creature comforts you need and sort out a compromise with your budget.

The best way to go about it is: Research, research, research!

Step 1: Go online

Check forums, blogs, classified ads, and real estate websites. It is highly recommended to hire a reputable housing agent. Agent fees are usually a one-time payment of a month s rental. But before you contact an agent, you should check for prices online. It will give you a good idea of the prices you should be paying. So you will know how to avoid being cheated.

Real estate and accommodation rental sites will have plenty of advertisements for you to look through. Be prepared to call and contact a lot of people. Keep your options open, but have a clear idea of what you need and stick to them. It can be tempting to splurge on fancy housing. So, make sure rental does not compromise on your budget for other necessities like utility or grocery bills.

Step 2: Check for suitability of area

Being adventurous pays off. Because renting a place that is slightly further away from school say, a 45-minute distance, could be a lot cheaper. A good location will allow you to do grocery shopping conveniently. And you will also have easy access to public transport.

Also check for the reputation of the location. Cheap rental could also mean that the area has a high crime rate. To find out, do a simple check on your search engine by typing in the street or area name. Or you can also check with locals about the place you want to live in.

Step 3: Visit the place if possible

Even if it costs you a lot to fly over to check out the place, it will be money well-spent. It also allows you to see through deals that are too good to be true. Never trust photographs alone. It is impossible to see from photos whether the place is noisy, smells funny, has bed bugs, or missing windows.

Alternatively, you can consider lodging temporarily at a hostel or a cheap apartment until you find a place that is suitable for you. This option works best for time constraints. Another plus point is that you can meet your housing agent in person if you plan to hire one.

Step 4: Check the facilities

Check everything in the house to make sure that they are in working order. Fixing them will waste unnecessary time and money. Not to mention, is also an uncomfortable process. Juggling school work and a new social life will be challenging enough. You will not need additional problems.

Here is a checklist of what you should look out for:

– Pipes in working order, no leaks.

– Taps fully functional, water runs clear. If the water is brownish, it means that the tap has not been used for years and rust formed.

– Ceilings, walls and floors have no cracks.

– Bathroom in satisfactory condition.

Once you are satisfied with all factors, sign the lease agreement!

Do note that if you are under the country s legal age to sign documents, you will need a parent or guardian to sign it for you.

About the Author: Have any more questions on

studying abroad

? Raffles Education Corporation operates 38 colleges specializing in Design, Business and Science in 14 countries; Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, Singapore, Sydney in Australia, Auckland in New Zealand, India (Mumbai, New Delhi, Bangalore), Colombo in Sri Lanka, Dhaka in Bangladesh, Hong Kong, China (Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou), Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi), Bangkok in Thailand, Indonesia and Cambodia.

Source:

isnare.com

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