Reducing the Stress of Househunting
2010-01-14
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So it’s a very busy time for house hunting students. Many are starting to feel the pressure to find the perfect home and make the right choice for next years’ rental. Some students may have even lost what they thought would be their perfect home to another group. Ahhh!
My advice … relax, but be prepared.
If you put too much stress on the process it won’t be fun. Really, what is more fun than shopping for a place to live? Here are some ideas to reduce the stress of your house hunt.
1. Tour at least 3 properties, but no more than 6. Really, you have better things to do than to be tromping from house to house in January, February and March. There are a limited number of homes available and the best ones lease first! The longer you wait to make a decision, the less selection there will be. The number of great places diminishes with each week after January 1st for under grads and after June 1st for graduate students.
2. Focus early on your requirements. Decide if you need 4 bedrooms, want 2 bathrooms, and if you need in-suite laundry. Get your criteria settled so you can weed out the wrong suites through online research. That way you will only tour great properties and you be efficient more with your time.
3. Document what you see. Use a Property Analysis Checklist to document differences between suites. This will help you to remember the pros and cons of each suite and make the decision easier. We’ve prepared one for you to use, Property Analysis Checklist
4. Have a Cheque Book with you. Let's face it. Money talks. We see a lot of people disappointed to lose out on the suite they love because someone was ready with a deposit cheque sooner. If you are able to provide a deposit the moment you make your deicsion to lease you will be able to secure the home you want.
I hope these tips will help to reduce your stress level and make your house hunting season a positive experience.
Best Regards,
A.J. Keilty, President
Varsity Properties
