Navigating the rental market in a foreign country sometimes seems to be daunting. When it comes to the student residence edition, it seems to be challenging in the beginning but as a matter of fact, online options have made it much easier than before. Nowadays, many online platforms are helping students in this regard through their websites and mobile apps.
Here, you will learn how to navigate the foreign rental market as an international student.
Visit Online Student Accommodation Service Platforms
Online accommodation service platforms are different from the websites of accommodation properties because accommodation properties’ websites provide the details of only one property whereas on the websites and mobile apps of online platforms, you can find the lists of multiple student properties, private rental apartments, and homestays.
On the websites of such platforms, first, you need to enter the name of the city where you want to book accommodation and find the list of student housing properties available in that city. You may find other tabs or sections also there for private rental apartments and homestays. Instead of the name of a city, you can also enter the name of a university or college near which you need accommodation and the list in the same city sorted according to closeness from the university will appear in the front of you.
By clicking the name of each property or private apartment, you can read its details such as prices, amenities, distances (from universities), a short description, etc. In the case of a homestay, you can read its prices, details of the owner and the house, and the rules of the house.
Some special options are also provided to you to ease the process of navigation for you. A popular option is the filter option, through which you can filter the list according to your requirements. The list can be filtered according to price ranges, shared/unshared rooms, shared/unshared bathrooms, amenities, offers, and more.
Another option that is given by some platforms is the comparison option, which allows you to compare prices, amenities, distances (from universities), and more of multiple student properties and private apartments of a city on a single webpage.
Start Searching for Accommodation Early
An all-time trend is that the prices of student accommodations keep on increasing as the time of the commencement of university sessions comes closer and closer. Therefore, it is always advised to students to start looking for accommodation at least three months before the beginning of their university sessions to get them at the lowest possible prices.
Searching for student accommodation early also helps you find amenities according to your preferences. If you search for accommodation late, accommodations with amenities according to your preferences may already be filled. Besides, you may not find accommodation in your preferred location if you search for it late.
You can follow the same steps on the mobile apps of online accommodation service platforms.
Check Prices According to Your Budget
Set your budget and check the prices according to that, which is a major step while navigating accommodation abroad. You can find accommodations in different price ranges in different cities, which you can check on online student accommodation service platforms.
Check Amenities
Amenities are the other major things, you must see while searching for accommodation abroad. You can find basic amenities in almost every student property such as study desks and chairs, Wi-Fi internet connections, kitchen appliances, televisions, refrigerators, wardrobes, beds, etc. But, there are also some high-end amenities you can find in many student properties in different cities. Some popular amenities include gyms, swimming pools, games rooms (with games like pool, foosball, table tennis, and more), BBQs, sports courts, music rooms, cinemas, yoga rooms, etc.
Before booking accommodation abroad, you should check which amenities are available and whether they are as per your preferences or not.
Check Location
Also, check the location of your accommodation as per your preference. One of the best locations can be near your university or college. You can find many accommodations near universities and colleges in different cities sometimes within a few minutes of walking distance. If you like to live in a diverse neighborhood in a calm environment, you can check that also.
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