robgj
26-09-2004, 00:20
Hope this helps anyone on the lookout for a decent houseshare, to save you time and getting into somewhere unsuitable...
1) Decide EXACTLY what you want before you start. Sit down and write an advert for your perfect houseshare - including address! How many people, sexes, ages, size room? How much would you pay for this houseshare?
2) Make a priority list of these (I know this sounds faffy, but it saves you ages in wasted visiting places).
3) Find all the (useful) sites on the internet that you possibly can that advertise houseshares, the ones that I used are below (was a year ago tho):
http://sheffield.freeexchange.co.uk/pages/5002.html
http://www.torent.co.uk/aaregion/aarea/aatown/SHEFFIELD.html
http://www.letalife.com/Ad_list.asp?T=5955
http://www.rentamatic.co.uk/results.cfm?area=Yorkshire+-+South
http://www.blundells.com/lettings_search.asp
[N.B. The best way to use the Blundells search is to put in an impossible search, like rent from 100 to 100, then it comes up with a link to all the results and you can browse them]
http://www.letbynet.com/cgi-bin/classifieds.cgi?db=sheffield&website=&language=&session_key=
http://www.roomsforlet.co.uk/twp/search.asp
http://www.saxtonmee.co.uk/lettings/propertysearch.htm
http://www.flatshare.com/uk/england.htm
4) EVERY DAY check these, and if there's a new one that fits your criteria, call them straight away (the good ones go really quickly).
5) Tell everyone you can think of what you are looking for. If you know anyone who works for a big company (eg HSBC), or council/NHS etc, get them to put advert on their intranet/noticeboard (or your own of course) - this is excellent way to get trusted/like-minded housemates.
6) Go to your most perfect part of Sheffield that you would like to live (as in step 1), look in post office windows, for notices etc. Good for seeing if you really do want to live there.
7) When you see an advert that fits your criteria, phone it straight away and go and see it as soon as possible.
8) Don't worry about not knowing if you're making right decisions; if you've done step 1 right, you'll know when the best one comes up!
9) Don't be afraid to say yes to a houseshare straight away, having done the homework you know what it is your after. On the other hand, don't accept anywhere that doesn't match what you're looking for just because you don't like to say no (v easy to do!).
10) Don't worry too much about the newspapers (Star, Free Ads), generally everyone answers those ads and the best ones are elsewhere, or gone before the ads come out.
11) Even if nothing seems to come up, DON'T GIVE UP - persistence is key. Do a little bit every day.
Believe me, I did this and my description was impossible - 4/5 people, big room with double bed, within about a half mile stretch of road in Dore (Dore - home of houseshares obviously!), less than £240/month, decent size garden and living room etc etc. Everyone said I had no chance. I found two for £200/month that were exactly what I wanted, within a month following these steps.
Just wanted to pass it on, I hope it helps someone.
Rob
PS And check the forum of course!
1) Decide EXACTLY what you want before you start. Sit down and write an advert for your perfect houseshare - including address! How many people, sexes, ages, size room? How much would you pay for this houseshare?
2) Make a priority list of these (I know this sounds faffy, but it saves you ages in wasted visiting places).
3) Find all the (useful) sites on the internet that you possibly can that advertise houseshares, the ones that I used are below (was a year ago tho):
http://sheffield.freeexchange.co.uk/pages/5002.html
http://www.torent.co.uk/aaregion/aarea/aatown/SHEFFIELD.html
http://www.letalife.com/Ad_list.asp?T=5955
http://www.rentamatic.co.uk/results.cfm?area=Yorkshire+-+South
http://www.blundells.com/lettings_search.asp
[N.B. The best way to use the Blundells search is to put in an impossible search, like rent from 100 to 100, then it comes up with a link to all the results and you can browse them]
http://www.letbynet.com/cgi-bin/classifieds.cgi?db=sheffield&website=&language=&session_key=
http://www.roomsforlet.co.uk/twp/search.asp
http://www.saxtonmee.co.uk/lettings/propertysearch.htm
http://www.flatshare.com/uk/england.htm
4) EVERY DAY check these, and if there's a new one that fits your criteria, call them straight away (the good ones go really quickly).
5) Tell everyone you can think of what you are looking for. If you know anyone who works for a big company (eg HSBC), or council/NHS etc, get them to put advert on their intranet/noticeboard (or your own of course) - this is excellent way to get trusted/like-minded housemates.
6) Go to your most perfect part of Sheffield that you would like to live (as in step 1), look in post office windows, for notices etc. Good for seeing if you really do want to live there.
7) When you see an advert that fits your criteria, phone it straight away and go and see it as soon as possible.
8) Don't worry about not knowing if you're making right decisions; if you've done step 1 right, you'll know when the best one comes up!
9) Don't be afraid to say yes to a houseshare straight away, having done the homework you know what it is your after. On the other hand, don't accept anywhere that doesn't match what you're looking for just because you don't like to say no (v easy to do!).
10) Don't worry too much about the newspapers (Star, Free Ads), generally everyone answers those ads and the best ones are elsewhere, or gone before the ads come out.
11) Even if nothing seems to come up, DON'T GIVE UP - persistence is key. Do a little bit every day.
Believe me, I did this and my description was impossible - 4/5 people, big room with double bed, within about a half mile stretch of road in Dore (Dore - home of houseshares obviously!), less than £240/month, decent size garden and living room etc etc. Everyone said I had no chance. I found two for £200/month that were exactly what I wanted, within a month following these steps.
Just wanted to pass it on, I hope it helps someone.
Rob
PS And check the forum of course!