So, I'm apartment hunting now... question

[HEyHEY]

I finally found a roomate-type. A buddy of mine who's been a good friend for years. He's in the middle of a divorce, we'll get along great.
Anyway, what have you found to be a better source for apartment finding? Online or is the local paper still the best way to go about it?

[NMMNG]

1. I've been finding the Internet a valuable tool

I can search for exactly what I'm looking for in websites and pull up entire lists of apartments that meet my requirements (all for free) rather than spending money on papers to scan dozens of ads hoping to find a few that are what I'm looking for. The websites also allow you to see pictures and floor plans of the places that seem interesting, e-mail them for more information, and more.


Here are a few that you might find helpful:

http://www.places4rent.com/

http://www.apartmentscanada.com/

http://www.rentcanada.com/rentcanada_ie.shtml


I came across a great site that lets you read reviews by actual apartment tenants, which helps you steer clear of bad places (crime ridden, bug motels, poor management, etc). However it only appears to serve the US. :-(

Good luck in your search.

[u4ic]

2. I'm in a smaller city

but I go around the areas I want to live in (very few) and hunt around the neighbourhood. noting apartments, what they look like (ie kept well or not), and take down numbers, then start phoning.

Decide what you're looking for - I have a list of questions, as for me I've got some very specific needs (no basements, birds/pets allowed, no very new renovations, what's the sq footage, etc). THEN I'll decide if I want to go and have a look at it.

I also use the net - add homebase.ca to the above list, also newspapers (classifieds are usually on the net), and ask/tell everyone that you know you're looking for a place. Get the word out.

[SoCalDem]

3. Sometimes asking around is a good way.

Lots of times the best places are "word of mouth" finds. People can be afraid to advertise and get people showing up that they would not want as tenants. Getting a recommendation by a mutual friend is a plus....an automatic reference.. and perhaps a better deal on rent too..

My young friend is renting a great house from an older lady who has a couple of properties. She gives him a discount on rent for doing yard work and minor upkeep on two houses.. he has repaired a porch for her and painted inside (whick he would have asked to do for free)

[Cruzan]

5. I agree, go to where you want to live

and start looking for vacancy signs, or go to a building and just ask the manager if there's any vacancies. There might not be but you may hear there's one opening up in the next few weeks, etc. That's really how you get ahead of the game.

[jane_pippin]

12. I agree--ask around.

I mean, don't stop looking in papers/online, but ask around too. When we were looking for our place we had a little luck with apartment listings, but while looking we stopped in an acquaintance's store and asked if he knew of anything. Turns out he did and we wound up with a great place that we wouldn't have known of otherwise.

Good luck with your search.

[ScreamingMeemie]

4. A lot of people here use those free apartment finding services...

The service is free, not the apartment. :)

[Mutley]

6. I found my current place online.

It's working out well. A few small problems but they are nothing compared to some of the other places I've lived.

[displacedtexan]

7. craigslist.com

If you know the area or neighborhood you want, plug it into the search
box at the top of the page.

Also, most of the ads have pics.

[snacker]

8. I agree...

my children have had great success with craigslist, both finding roommates and finding apartments. I was a little leery, but it certainly worked out well for them.

[Darth_Kitten]

9. Local list, with an online site to look at.....

Good Luck! :D

[Random_Australian]

10. Careful, apartments can be vicious when only wounded.

[kay1864]

11. They have apartments in Canada?

I thought they only had igloos :eyes:

[eyesroll]

13. Does the neighborhood you live in have an association?

That's how we found our new place -- through the association's listserv.

It was also posted to Craigslist.