Are you a student looking for student accommodation in a foreign land? Or maybe you are an accommodation provider who’s trying to understand what is it that youngsters look for while choosing student accommodation?
If you agree to it and say YES to either of the two questions, then you have landed on the right article. The article describes the few things that every fresher should lookout for a while searching for their accommodation. This includes basic facilities as well as some facilities which are pretty standard in Australia now. Read on!
- 24/7 access to clean drinking water and electricity:
This may sound basic, but your life depends on it. You have to be sure that the area you are staying in is not deficient in water even during the harsh months of summer, and that even in the case of a blackout, your building has a provision for a generator or transformer, which will keep your building always supplied with electricity.
Why this is important is because your body needs water and cannot do without it. Moreover, as for power, all the gadgets that you rely on and the security system of your place depends heavily on electricity. When electricity runs out, these gadgets which are helpful now would also disappoint you. Therefore, your area must have 24/7 access to water and electricity.
- Cooking facilities:
It may sound exciting to order food for the first few days. However, it would soon start to take a toll on your health. Whether you already know how to cook or not, you ought to learn in your college life. It is an important life skill; one part of being on your own is to learn how to live on your own. It would help if you asked for proper utensils, cooking gas, and other requisites to a self-pantry before finalizing a place.
- 24/7 internet connection:
It is hard to live without the internet these days, from your study material to recipes, you would find everything on the internet. Be it for an emergency or entertainment, you need a steady and fast connection, so this needs to be on your priority list before finalizing the place.
- The place’s online reputation:
It is always good to read up about the places you have handpicked, and you should only go for places that have been listed on a verified portal such as Iglu Student Accommodation. In case you going for a lesser-known place such as a PG or a homestay, then we recommend you speak to the landlord at length to get an understanding of how the place and the owner works.
In case of an emergency, they would be your first point of contact in a foreign land, since your parents or your friends can’t reach there in a flash. Do a background check on the landlord and the property.
- Add-ons:
It is only after a place has passed all of the above demands that you can ask for add-on amenities like gymnasium, in-house theatre system, pool, etc. However, do not be blinded by the shimmer of these add-ons; you are to only look for them when a place has sufficed the basics listed before.
Cleanliness and hygiene are also important points. It is suggested to look out for areas behind doors and cupboards or under the bed or corners to understand how clean a place usually is. There may be chances that the place has been cleaned just before your visit to impress you! Even in that case, an attentive eye could find the spots the owner or housekeeper may have missed.
We hope the above article was helpful for you to understand how to go about your house hunting! Good luck and may you find the best place for your higher education in Australia!
