How to Identify Bad Student Housing

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How to Identify Bad Student Housing
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• When looking for housing near McMaster
  University, your main concern should be in
  finding a place that feels like home.
  Unfortunately, many places advertised as student
  apartments are in bad condition or are poorly
  run. An on campus McMaster residence isn't your
  only option if you want to avoid your own
  personal horror story just be aware of the
  warning signs.

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Search for Reviews

• If youre considering an apartment community,
  you may be able to find reviews online. This is
  also possible if the owners have multiple
  properties. You shouldnt be too concerned by a
  single negative review along with a number of
  positive ones (after all, people are more
  motivated to leave reviews when theyve had a
  less-than-great experience). However, a large
  amount of negative feedback for an apartment is
  definitely a warning sign.

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Research the Neighbourhood

• In the case that youre unable to find reviews
  about housing, you should at least be able to
  read about the neighborhood. Plus, just walking
  around and getting a feel for the place can tell
  you a lot about safety. Signs of crime can
  include graffiti, unkempt landscaping, and bars
  on windows.

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Talk to Current Tenants

• If the current tenants are present when you
  receive the viewing, talk to them about their
  experience living in the apartment. In fact, you
  should try to talk to as many people in the
  building as possible to gain different viewpoints

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Check for Damage

• Turn on all the lights, try out all the
  appliances, and test the electrical outlets.
  Everything should be working. Promises that
  things will be fixed is not good enough they
  should have already been repaired. Also look for
  dirt and damage (especially water damage) in
  less-obvious places like inside cabinets, behind
  closets, and to the flooring.

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Trust Your Gut

• You must feel that you can trust the property
  manager or landlord. Whoever shows you the place
  should be willing to answer your questions and
  give you sufficient time to examine the place.
  Furthermore, you should never feel pushed into
  signing a lease. Lastly, if a price seems too
  good to be true, take this as an indication that
  it probably is.

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• Places like West Village Suites, which is run by
  a professional property management company, are
  more accountable and therefore more likely to
  provide you with a better experience. West
  Village Suites is a particularly excellent
  option, as it is designed just for students and
  has many extras on site, including a recreation
  centre, a yoga studio, and study lounges.