Seeking housing. Any tips?

[Loyal]

Recent events have led me to believe it's finally time for me to move out in the world. Granted, I still have a fair bit of schooling to get through, and I don't exactly have the networking to just pick up and start a new life somewhere, so I'm not gonna move halfway across the country or anything. Right now I'm just looking for a local roommate(s), something affordable and sufficiently close to where everything important in my life is.

However, I've never actually done this before, so I have no idea what I'm really doing. Right now I'm keeping my eyes on Craigslist and a particular subreddit, and already a few promising options have shown up. But I don't know if there are more options I could be using to search for housing, and I don't exactly know the "etiquitte" for handling these sorts of interactions in such a way that won't immediately get me rejected from consideration.

So, dear friends, acquaintances, and miscellaneous: any advice?

[Magus]

Well if you are in college you can also go to your local university and look at the bulletin boards, undoubtedly you'll find a ton of postings on there from local owners renting out houses. Usually they take care of finding you roommates.

[Professor Smarmiarty]

Live in student areas- they are the cheapest, you will have fellow students as flatmates, they will be catered to your needs- (getting hard out boozed and having sweet parties)- and will often have lots of shift work employment for fitting in schools.

[Nikose Tyris]

It is generally considered that your housing and your bills shouldn't total more than 30% of your income; what with you being a student and probably not working full-time, we can throw THAT idea right out the window though.

Generally, I'd suggest two very important things; first, watch for all-inclusive places where the water, electric, heat, etc is covered by not-you. Those bills vary and can spike ridiculously, even with careful planning. (If you're not going all inclusive, you could probably safely budget about $80 for heat in the winter, $30 otherwise; $150 for electric a month; $120 for water and waste every 6 months.)

Second, how much can you comfortably afford? My general rule (with full-time pay at minimum wage in Canada) being $650 the maximum I would pay for a 1 bedroom apartment. $650 represents about ~40% of an entry level person's wages (before tax) and keeps your household costs low enough that banks still feel REASONABLY safe lending to you in a pinch (Which as a student would be very important). (Ideally you'll pay no more than $450, which puts your income level at a point where if you could find full-time employment easily, you could open a much lower interest bank loan than your student loan's rate and do a lump sum payoff on that, dropping your bills. That's a whole other conversation though.)

[RickZarber]

Originally Posted by Nikose Tyris

It is generally considered that your housing and your bills shouldn't total more than 30% of your income

!!?!?!?

I'd like to know just of whom this is true, and how much they actually earn, and where they live. Because I don't think I know anyone like that. Myself, my bills total at least 60% of my income.


I don't have any advice for Loyal, sorry. That bit just tripped me up.

[pochercoaster]

Originally Posted by RickZarber

!!?!?!?

I'd like to know just of whom this is true, and how much they actually earn, and where they live. Because I don't think I know anyone like that. Myself, my bills total at least 60% of my income.


I don't have any advice for Loyal, sorry. That bit just tripped me up.

I've heard this bit of advice too but if you're making minimum wage it might be impossible depending on where you live. Up until this year every place I lived was 50% or more of my income, but I kept all my other living expenses very low so I managed alright.

Don't forget to check newspaper listings.

If you get a basement apartment check that you have your own water heater/AC/heat etc, else your upstairs neighbours will control all of that- and if they like to run the dishwasher and washing machine every day you'll be taking cold showers. Also you'll either roast of freeze if they control the heat. In my experience basement apartments tend to be pretty shit actually and rarely up to code, actually, but they might be cheaper than an apartment complex.

Taste the water when viewing apartments. Turn on the taps to see if they work. Look inside the cupboards, see if there's mould anywhere. (DO NOT move into a mouldy dwelling. Even if the landlord says the mould's been taken care of. Just don't.)

Echoing Nik's advice, ask if water or heat is included.

If you're persistent you can find decent furniture second hand (tables, shelves, etc.- I personally wouldn't buy anything cloth second hand because ew.) Check for bed bugs though.

Oh, ask the landlord how they prefer to be paid. Avoid places that say they prefer cash over cheques because most likely they don't give a shit about their tenants and are doing something illegal. Should be obvious but it bears mentioning.

[Professor Smarmiarty]

Originally Posted by RickZarber

!!?!?!?

I'd like to know just of whom this is true, and how much they actually earn, and where they live. Because I don't think I know anyone like that. Myself, my bills total at least 60% of my income.


I don't have any advice for Loyal, sorry. That bit just tripped me up.

It pays to remember Nikose is rich as fuck.
For us normal people in normal world you get whatever house you can find that you can afford.

I'm amused that Poch pays people in cheques though. Do you send these cheques by telegraph? Or maybe you hail the nearest hansom.
My browser is giving me the "this is not a word" red scribbly line under cheque- that is how 19th century you are.
Make sure the place you are moving has internet so you can pay the rent over the internet like a real person and not like a victorian dandy.

[Nikose Tyris]

Originally Posted by Professor Smarmiarty

It pays to remember Nikose is rich as fuck.
For us normal people in normal world you get whatever house you can find that you can afford.

I'm not rich as fuck, I work the same minimum wage jobs. I just had a healthy inheritance that I put to work for myself so that I could help others.

And living in whatever housing you can afford is brutal advice; the 30% is advice based on banks for calculating if you're in 'too much debt' or spend too much of your income to get any financial assistance. That's why I try and advise people to aim for it.

And no this is not an invitation to debate trusting banks.

Originally Posted by Professor Smarmiarty

I'm amused that Poch pays people in cheques though. Do you send these cheques by telegraph? Or maybe you hail the nearest hansom.

Checks/Cheques are a very easy way to keep track of where your money went; it functions as it's own rent receipt, so you don't get screwed at years end by some scumsucker landlord who rents you an apartment for $600 a month all inclusive, then cuts you an end of year rent receipt for $400/month to claim on your taxes and tells you the rest went to "paying utilities so you can't claim that".

Cash is easy but has no security; Checks are safer than cash but will cost you $2 for a checkbook; and E-Transfers are safest and give a secure paper trail, confirmation number of payment, etc. but hit you with a $1.50 fee for every transfer, depending on your bank and account type. I only accept checks and E-Transfers, and I have them send $1.50 less to cover their fee.

[Professor Smarmiarty]

Originally Posted by Nikose Tyris

I'm not rich as fuck, I work the same minimum wage jobs. I just had a healthy inheritance that I put to work for myself so that I could help others.

And living in whatever housing you can afford is brutal advice; the 30% is advice based on banks for calculating if you're in 'too much debt' or spend too much of your income to get any financial assistance. That's why I try and advise people to aim for it.

And no this is not an invitation to debate trusting banks.

Oh thank you for your magical words of advice. All of us paying far more than that are just stupid and throwing our money away for no real reason. Thank god you are here to tell us off for paying too much.
If you are working minimum wage then either you live in an area of exceptionally low rents or you are paying 40-60% and there ain't much you can do about it. Even living in the most shitty hovel will cost you that much- this is just how much rents are.
And man you got like investments and a family business- that is like hovercar rich.

Checks/Cheques are a very easy way to keep track of where your money went; it functions as it's own rent receipt, so you don't get screwed at years end by some scumsucker landlord who rents you an apartment for $600 a month all inclusive, then cuts you an end of year rent receipt for $400/month to claim on your taxes and tells you the rest went to "paying utilities so you can't claim that".

Cash is easy but has no security; Checks are safer than cash but will cost you $2 for a checkbook; and E-Transfers are safest and give a secure paper trail, confirmation number of payment, etc. but hit you with a $1.50 fee for every transfer, depending on your bank and account type. I only accept checks and E-Transfers, and I have them send $1.50 less to cover their fee.

What kind of ridiculous bank charges for E-transfers. America totally is the 1980s. I have paid for 99% of everything I get by either E-transfer or some form of card and haven't paid a transaction or bank fee in my life. Change your bank because whoever you are with are terrible.
Also doing all your own taxes- that's another sign of the 1980s.

[Nikose Tyris]

in terms of FINDING places, I recommend browsing Kijiji/craigslist for your local area, and the ettiquette is the same as you'd assume meeting a new lady or fella; you're going to want to be well-kempt and tidy looking, and put your best face forward. Charming and confident, and polite.
Really date ettiquette is pretty much forefront when talking to potential landlords.

Potential Roommates though, same advice but be adaptable. Meeting a guy to hang out and see if you're compatible, it doesn't hurt for the two of you to end up at the bar together and having fun. The point is to see if you can relax together and not feel stiff or awkward.