tips on how to find rent room

I was looking for a rent room in Selangor nearby KL last Monday. It might seem easy to find rent room but no it isn't. You might think we can just go to mudah or ibilik website, search for advertisements that have vacant room at area that you want and then go for viewing. I was thinking like that but it didn't turn out well that day. So I propose a detail planning before you go for viewing. You can save your petrol and also your time.

It is very important to do not believe that what is said in the ad is the same as the actual. When you call to get an appointment for viewing (note: call is a must! you can learn a lot from ppl's voice), you need to ask for this criteria:

1) Is the vacant room one people per room?

If you will rent house with strangers, it is safer to have the entire room for yourself (no sharing) because you do not know what type of people you are living with. First impression can be cheated. In case if something happen, you can always stay safe in your own room. You can also avoid the probability of people stealing your stuff.

I made a mistake the other day. I believed the ad 100% and didn't bother to ask about this question and ended up wasting my time for viewing. The first room was sharing with one roommate and the space is very small. Then I went for the second room in another house and it was much worse, there were one double decker bed and one regular bed in the room. Turned out my space was only at top of the double decker bed. No space for my stuff. Only a small cupboard (or locker provided, not like I want it). I'm the type of person who have a lot stuff and a lot of clothes. Definitely a no-no for me to have such a small sharing room.

2) How much the deposit? and the monthly rent? Is it inclusive of utilities?

You have to confirm how much are the deposit and rent. Mostly nowadays deposit is 2 months rent which I dislike because when you want to start a new life, paying a lot of money on the deposit can be a pain in a butt. If the monthly rent inclusive of the utilities then it is better. It is fixed and your monthly payment won't change. You can plan your budget wisely also.

3) How many ppl in the house currently?

You need to ask this question because if there are a lot of ppl (I've been to one house and there are 8 ppl, pheww), then you won't have your own privacy and the monthly utilities bill will definitely fluctuate. If there is only 1 person currently, scared later if the person go balik kampung in weekend, you will be left alone. However as for me if the house is small, I don't mind at all if there is only 1 person in the house. I can always go to my friends' house in Setiawangsa and Shah Alam. Hehe.

4) Is it near to my workplace?

You have to ask this because if it is near, then it is a plus point. You can save time and petrol (if lucky no need to pay for toll). But don't depend on this so much because they will definitely say it is near. You have to do your own homework first. Understand which route you need to take to work and whether it will be jam in the morning and evening.

5) How about the parking space?

Having plenty of parking spaces are very nice. You can always park in the place near to your house. You can save a lot of time and your car is more secured.

I've been to one house, condominium exactly. Very nice condo with badminton court, swimming pool and security but parking space was designated to one parking space per one house. I know its normal but when I asked the lady of the house, she said she's the one who use it. She didn't mention at all that we could rotate it to make it fair. The one who doesn't have parking space, need to park outside with no security and need to move the car before 8am. Pfffttt.

6) Is it near to shopping mall and shops?

Some ppl might need to ask for public transportation. Whether it is easy to get public transportation such as bus, taxi or LRT. As for me since I own a car, so I can let this question slide off. However since I'm a working woman, I need to ask about shopping mall and shops. If you just come back from work and so lazy to cook, it is very convenient to have shops or restaurants nearby.

7) Is the house equipped with washing machine, TV and cooking stove?

This are the essential items that you need in a house. You need to ask so that you can make the house a priority in your house to go viewing list. Some houses have them and some don't. The houses that I went the other day have all this. Just that one of the house don't have fridge. I think its still okay if the house don't have fridge because I'm not the type of ppl who cooks and I still have mini bar fridge. Hehe.

Above are the tips to find rent room. Later I'm gonna write a post on how to choose the right rent room by which it is after the house viewing.

Oh I forget to include, when you want to make a short list on which vacant room ad owner you want to call please check whether the house is for women only or men only. I've seen a lot of ad saying available for men and women even the owner is a Muslim. There is also an ad states the room is for woman but the ad owner is looking for someone who is open. Well you should know what that means. As for me, I only shortlisted rooms that the ad said ''looking for female muslim'' (not female malay). I feel much safer that way.

That's all I'm gonna write now. Till then. Assalamualaikum.