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As spring quickly approaches, so does the end of the school year. And for all of the first-year students, that means it’s time to move out of residence. It’s time to say good bye to rez parties and the constant reminders from your RA what the rules are (finally). Moving out of residence means house hunting. Don’t know where to start? Keep reading!
Roommates or No Roommates?
The first step to successful house-hunting is figuring out who you are going to live with. Do you want to live with roommates, or alone? Deciding to live alone or with people is a huge decision. It’ll affect your living experience socially, and economically.
If you decide to live with people, who do you want to live with? Do you want to live with friends, acquaintances or complete strangers? There are pros and cons to any of the three:
House or Apartment?
After deciding who you want to live with it’s time to figure out what type of place you would like to live in. A house would give you more space, but more space means more work. And possibly, more money! An apartment would be easier to take care of because it is a smaller space. If you are looking for something more economically friendly, a lot of apartments have utilities included. To start hunting, try sites such as www.kijiji.com and http://www.residence.uottawa.ca/en/och/index.html !
Location, Location, Location!
You’ve heard it before, and you’re going to hear it again. Location is extremely important! Having the luxury of living close by is great, but is it what you want? Sometimes living a little farther away from the school is good. For one thing, you would get more for your buck! Do you know what areas are considered “sketchy”? How far are police stations/fire stations? Do you want to be woken up by the constant noise of sirens? How far is the closest grocery store? Be sure to do your homework before moving in!
Be Budget Smart
Going house-hunting can be a lot of fun. You’ll find yourself getting caught up in the idea of having your own place and all the freed you’re going to have. While house-hunting, it is important to remember that you are still a student. Remember those nights of eating KraftDinner and Mr.Noodles? Those days can prevail again! Be sure to hunt within your price range. If living on your own, this should be your golden rule. Money will be tight sometimes! Consider getting a job to help pay for groceries and just for having fun. Your OSAP and parents will most likely be covering most of your rent/tuition, but it would be nice to have your own income too!
House-hunting is one of the most exciting things to look forward to at the end of first year. But if you do not know what you’re doing, it can be difficult. Keep in mind everything that we’ve said when you’re hunting this season and also be realistic! You’re not going to get a place that looks like something from MTV Cribs with a $400 budget. You won’t find a place that has everything on your wish list. If you look hard enough, you’ll find the right place! Be ready to hunt this season and may the odds be ever in your favour!
Photo Credits:
http://www.mckellarpark.com/images/mckellar_suites_map.gif
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