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Tips for Living with Roommates

While attending college, there’s a great chance that the person you’ll end up seeing the most is your roommate. They’ll be the first and last people you see during the day, and the people you spend time with in between classes. They’ll also be the people you inevitably argue with the most, whether it’s over dishes or loud music. Living with roommates can be challenging, but here are some tips to help you share your space harmoniously. Set expectations early on Before the semester properly begins, lay down the house rules that you intend to live by. For instance, you may want to have total privacy whenever your door is closed, or refuse to share your toiletries. You may expect the place to stay clean, or to turn the lights off when not in use. Whatever rules you live by, make sure you properly communicate them to your roommate early on. Be honest and communicative You’d be surprised how many problems you can avoid just by being straightforward with one another. Don’t play sil...

Tips for Finding Off-Campus Housing

Most students start off excited about the prospect of searching for an apartment — but they quickly realize that it’s no easy process. Adding to the pressure, you have to be sure that you are making the right choice before you lock yourself into a year-long lease. This can be difficult, especially if you have never looked for housing before. However, approaching your search with a plan will increase your chances of success. 1. Start Your Search Early All the other students at your university who also want to live off campus will be interested in the same properties as you. Housing at the best prices and in good locations is always snapped up first. Instead of beginning your search right before school starts up, look early in the summer — before you become too busy with exams. 2. Pick Your Roommates Renting an entire apartment for yourself will likely be prohibitively expensive. The more people you share with, the lower the costs — bear in mind, you’ll be able to split ut...

Apartment Renting Tips

Moving away from home and into your own apartment is an exciting experience. However, it can also be a challenging one, especially if you are unsure about what to look for. You can avoid being stuck with subpar housing or needing to live in McMaster residences by following just a few basic tips. 1. Start as Soon as Possible Many other students will also be searching for apartments around McMaster University, and all of them will have similar criteria to you. If you wait too long, the best housing will be gone. You need to begin your search at least one semester before school starts — or even earlier if you want to begin a part-time job or internship. 2. Know What You’re Looking For Make a list of the features your apartment must have, as well as things you would like to have. For instance, you may need to be close to campus or well connected to public transport. You may also want a grocery store or laundry facilities nearby. There’s also the apartment itself: you may pr...

Renting an Apartment Versus Renting a Room in an Apartment

When it comes to off-campus student housing, you have two main options: you can rent an entire apartment or you can find a room to rent. There are advantages — and downsides — to either choice. To make the right choice, you’ll need to think about what matters most to you. You Value Your Privacy If you like spending time alone or you value peace and quiet, you’ll be more comfortable in your own apartment. If you rent a room, you’ll need to share common areas with other people who may have very different ways of living. You Need to Save Money Apartments for rent inHamilton are always much more expensive than a single room. If saving money is a priority, a room is the way to go. You’re Difficult to Live With It is important to be tidy when living with other people. Being forgetful or messy may be a cause of conflict with roommates. Think hard about your habits and whether you’d be willing (and able) to change. Simple things like washing the dishes straight after yo...

Fun and Affordable Things to Do in the Hamilton Area When You’re a Student

When you’re a student, you always need to watch how much you spend to ensure you never exceed your budget. Luckily for students in Hamilton, there are plenty of ways to have fun without spending too much. These activities are ideal if you’re looking to unwind after class or want to take a break from studying over the weekend. 1. African Lion Safari Although it is called African Lion Safari, the park is actually home to many African animals, including giraffes, rhinos, and cheetahs. All the animals have free roam across seven separate areas. Visitors can see the animals by driving through the safari. If you don’t have your own car, you can take a tour bus. 2. Canadian Football Hall of Fame & Museum Sports fans need to visit the Canadian Football Hall of Fame & Museum. You’ll be able to view more than 30,000 pieces of equipment and other items from the last 100 years. In the Hall of Fame, learn more about the most important Canadian football players. 3. HMCS Ha...

7 Off-Campus Housing Tips

Living off campus is a completely different experience to living in a McMaster accommodation . You’ll have much more freedom, but also more responsibilities. To ensure that you find the right place, feel comfortable during your time there, and save money, there are some things you need to do. 1. Check Everything Before Making a Decision Never feel too shy to poke around when visiting potential housing. Look out for red flags like water damage, mold, broken windows, creaky floors, and signs of bugs. 2. Choose the Right Roommates Your best friends may not make the best roommates. Pick people you can trust to pay their share of the rent and utility bills and who want the same kind of lifestyle as you. 3. Read the Lease Your landlord must provide you with a lease before you seal the agreement. Only sign if you are happy about terms like the number of people that can live in the house, the subletting policy, parking, who is responsible for maintaining appliances, and wh...

What You Need to Know When You’re a Student Tenant

Searching for the perfect off-campus student housing is exciting. For many students, it’s the first time living away from home. Now is your chance to pick a comfortable living space to share with friends. However, if you pick the wrong apartment, you may be unhappy for the next year. When assessing Hamilton apartments for rent , there are a few things you need to know. 1. Living with Many People Gets Uncomfortable Fast Living with numerous friends sounds like great fun, but it can grow old quickly if you lack sufficient space. It’s true that you’ll save money if you fit as many people into the apartment as possible, especially if some of you share rooms. However, this also means that common areas will become more crowded and you may need to create complicated schedules for when each person can use the bathroom or kitchen. 2. You Should Talk to Current Tenants It’s a good idea to find out why current tenants are leaving — after all, it could be because of a proble...