Another good thing about it is the usually time it takes place and that is in most cases precisely during the high tourist season, when hotels are the most expensive.

If you check out sites like this, you will discover that a lot of them have parts exclusively devoted to swapping apartments. You can also notice that the bulk of apartment swapping goes on during the holidays part of the year.

Usually ad will be from a person who wishes to spend holidays for example in a New York, and is from Chicago. Therefore, if you are from New York and want to spend holidays in Chicago, you will save $100s if you arrange a deal with that person.

If and when you decide on a trip, just place an ad in a part devoted to the city you are interested in visiting (do it a couple week before the actual trip as this will give you time to find someone willing to swap apartments). What you will be saying is does anyone from this city want to swap apartments for xy days, starting from xy till xy?

Naturally, apartment swapping does have its price, and the first thing that comes to mind is can I trust this person? You will be giving away your apartment to a perfect stranger, so even if you are not worried about possible theft, make the effort and find out anything you can about your potential apartment swap buddy.

Try to find people that want to visit your city for site seeing and not for wild parties that might end up with you being sued or with your personal possessions broken. Also keep your part of the deal, you will be after all, living in his/hers apartment with their things so try to be careful.

Finally, if you are young, trust people, like to travel and are wiling to accept a certain risk amount apartment swapping could be just the thing that could make it possible for you to see the world.

Many of the nation’s leading economists are predicting this kind of living arrangement to be the “money-saving answer” for apartment dwellers for the rest of this century. Others are predicting the roommate finding service to become as popular as the employment agency by 1990.

This is an ideal absentee owner business. Most of those operating on the West Coast have a woman doing the managing – sometimes as just the manager, and some times as the owner – manager. This apparently has something to do with the nature of the business, and how most people seem to naturally trust a woman to find the right roommate for them.

You take a Polaroid snapshot of each registrant; have them fill out an appropriate application card which will indicate the kind of roommate they’d be happy with, and start searching through your files for people with similar likes and dislikes.

To get started, you’ll want a bank reference; a legal reference, a telephone; a business name, letterhead paper, envelopes and business bards; and office supplies such as a 3 x 5 index cards; typewriter; file cabinet; and a printed questionnaire-application form.

You’ll also need a responsibility disclaimer, which can be combined with the applicant’s agreement- to-pay contract. Once you’ve found a roommate for your prospective client, you should have it spelled out in your agreement that each of the “matched room mates” will pay you 15% to 20% of the first month’s rent.

You could charge a bit extra for particular requirements, and perhaps somewhat less for older persons, or for persons with handicaps.

The approval or disapproval is left up in the parties involved. You simply look through your registration card file, pull out five or six apparently suitable roommates, call each of them on the phone and arrange separate meetings for them with your client.

Your client report back to you, and tells you of his or her decision, and you call the person chosen and finalize the deal.

Good advertising will play a most important part in getting this business off the ground. Make up a good circular or “flyer” detaining your roommate finding services, and listing your phone number.

Get these flyers on as many bulletin boards in your area as possible. Get them in grocery stores, barber shops, community colleges, beauty salons, bowling alleys; the list of places to “billboard” your flyers is endless.

Another idea is to set up “take-one” boxes in as many retail places of business as you can. Don’t overlook the value of placing your flyers on car windshields – particularly around apartment complexes, and in the parking lots of the colleges in your area.

You might even pay the downtown parking lot attendants to slip one under the windshield wiper of each car he parks on Monday. If you do a good job with the make-up of your flyer, and use your imagination in getting them into the hands of your prospective clients, you’ll have no trouble moving your new business into the black quickly.

Even so, you’ll need to run regular ads in your area newspapers. The best heading to run your ads under is the Personals Column. Your ad might read:

Need A Roommate? We’ll find the ideal roommate
for you! Everything handled on a strictly
confidential basis. For details, call Jan, Mary, or
Carol.

Within only a couple of months, you should be well enough established, and with an income large enough to afford an office location.

When you establish your office, do some publicizing of your business with press releases to all the media in your area, and plan some fanfare that will bring attention to your services.

Tacking up on your office walls the enthusiastic testimonials of people you’ve matched with roommates is a very good idea. Later on, you might want to input all your client information on computer, and take video pictures of each client for showing to prospective roommates.

In the final analysis, once you have your business underway, your further success will be limited only by your imagination.

First of all, you should know that the apartment ratings and reviews will give you information on security, parking facilities, appearance, management, maintenance, unit condition and noise pollution besides the rental charge. You can compare the rate and other amenities before selecting an apartment for rent.
Fill a personal information form, you will be informed and called in minutes. It also facilitates users to have direct contact with property managers. It has suitable apartments across the country ready to move in and within days you can get one for you. The site is user-friendly. So log on and know the apartment ratings and apartment reviews.
Maps of the cities are also available on the site along with their history and other information you may require if you are new to a place. You can also get other tips on how to select an apartment for rent from it.

The quality of apartment ratings and reviews is best and reliable because it is aware of the consequences if somebody is misguided on selecting an apartment for rent. If you are misinformed on apartment reviews, you will suffer after shifting to that place. Your normal life will be affected. If there is no proper security, some body may come and threaten you and your family. Robbers may come rob your property. If you get wrong information on noise pollution, your mental peace will be disturbed. If have two cars and there is parking facility for one vehicle, there will be another problem for you. Maintenance and management of the apartment are also important for you as you have to live there. If you are misinformed on apartment ratings, you may be overcharged or give more as advance for the apartment you will take. So check apartment ratings and reviews before selecting an apartment for rent.

In the city of Bristol serviced apartments can be found right in the centre of the city, only a short distance from the national rail, road and bus links and the domestic airports at Exeter and Cardiff. At short distance from the city centre you can find Bristol its International airport with flights from the UK, Europe and America.

For those visiting the city, electing to stay in a service apartment can be a better alternative than a traditional hotel. A hotel room can suffice for a night but if your stay is to be longer or you have family or friends travelling with you then serviced apartments is a much better option. Apartments are fully furnished and provide a lot more facilities than hotel rooms. Hotel rooms can be impersonal, sterile and expensive, whereas most apartments are designed to make their customers feel as if they are at home and offers extra personal space and privacy.

For the business traveller Bristol is the perfect place for conferences, business meetings and corporate events. Thriving on its re-development, it has some high tech corporate settings in locations from elegant historical buildings and international brand hotels to exceptional visitor attractions. Whether if you are here for business of for the sights and attractions there is no need to go too far as there is much to see in the city centre itself. Buying someone a gift or just to do some shopping for yourself then the centre of Bristol will delight you too with its diversity of shops, malls and exclusive boutiques. Like many other cities the centre is the most active site in the community. Bristol’s Old Market is a dazzling site full of distinctive and exquisite shops, well-known restaurants, bars and clubs. The area is notorious for locals and tourists alike.

If you are looking for exclusive serviced apartments in the centre of Bristol a few agents have a selection of 1 to 2 bedroom apartments or studio flats at affordable rates. Most of these serviced apartments are equipped with all appliances with tomorrow’s modern technology, Sky TV, flat screen TV’s, DVD’s and broadband Internet. Staying in a serviced apartment is a very different experience as they offer the secluded private feeling of your own house but with the extra luxury you would receive if you stayed in a hotel, services such as the provision of bed linen, kitchen accessories and cooking equipment and are cleaned at least once a week.

Thus is doesn’t matter where you are from or who you are, the only thing that is important to the people in Bristol is that you will have a memorable stay and good night sleep in our beautiful city!

The first thing you need to do is consider the area you’ll be moving to. This will include the reason you’re looking for an apartment, how long you plan to stay in the general area and how much apartment you can afford on your own.

How long will you be in the area? Are you moving for a job, to further your education, just for the adventure? If you’re planning on staying in the area for several years, you’ll want to sign a longer lease than if you were only going to be in the area for a short time. Many apartment complexes only offer a one year lease, though some will sign longer term agreements and offer a slight rent discount as well, if they know you’ll be sticking around for a while.

Find out how much the cost of living is in the area. This will include the cost of groceries, gas for your car, rent and any other utilities that are not covered in the rent. The cost of living in the area will dictate how much apartment you can afford on your own. If you find that this puts you out of the running, or forces you into a bad area, you can consider bringing in roommates to help mitigate the cost.

Check out the amenities offered at the apartment complex. The more amenities there are, the higher your rent will be. You’ll have to balance your income opposed to how nice an apartment you want. This can also be offset by getting a roommate, but roommates can be a problematic solution as well.

Lastly, you’ll want to know as much about the area you’re considering, as well. Find out about restaurants, hotels, the local art scene, anything that will give you a better idea of what the area is like. There are some great resources on the Internet; use them. You can find everything from what band will be playing a week from now to the average income of the area. Check out everything you can about the area and you’ll be much better of when you finally decide on an apartment.

If you have children, or are planning to raise a family in the area, you’ll want to check out the school districts, as well. If the schools in the area consistently perform poorly, you may want to find a different district.

Students are usually looking for modern conveniences within their housing area and they want it to be a different experience than what they had in the dorm. However, it must also be affordable. This is why a student community may work best instead of just finding an apartment off campus.

If you are interested in a private bedroom and bath, spacious living areas and fully equipped kitchens then you can find these things within a student community. Many student housing communities offer the things that you need to stay in your location for however long your student life takes you to do. They offer Internet connections and sometimes you will feel like you are living in a resort.

Many universities are asking private developers to help them come up with a concept to create a student housing program. The basic reason is they want to retain students. One good way to retain students, besides offering them the curriculum choices they need is to give them a great living experience.

Most student communities have taken into consideration the specific needs of students. This student housing is close to campus and is near shopping areas where you can purchase groceries and other things you need easily.

As you are looking for a place to live, another good idea is to decide what you need. Would a residence hall provide you with what you need or a traditional apartment? If so most colleges offer these options. Both of these have their pros and cons. As an example, a residence hall can be a great place to live because you are round other students. However, sometimes this option is noisy and if you want privacy it will be difficult to find.

Sometimes students who are freshmen or who transfer into the university will not have the option of living off campus in their own apartment until their second year.

One of the ways to find student housing though, is to go online. You can find a variety of choices and you can check out the college or university’s policy for off campus housing.

1 Remember that you are not reserving a hotel room. Owners who rent out their homes are real people who have spent much time and effort on making the place comfortable, ambient and fully equipped for their rental clients. A good rental will provide you with all the comforts of home, a well decorated environment, entertainment systems, a kitchen with everything you need to create family meals, and comfortable bedrooms. The owners are likely to be very proud of their home and only want to rent to people who will appreciate it. This means that if you treat them as you might a hotel or resort reservationist, they might just turn your request down. From my own experience, I like to have people in my cottage who I think will respect and enjoy the experience of staying there, so I want friendly renters that I can chat to on the phone and assess if they are right match for my property.

2 When you speak to the owner or agency, don’t be vague about the number of people in your rental group. When they ask ‘how many people do you have’, don’t reply with, ‘ I’m not sure yet’, or ‘we haven’t decided how many people will be coming’, as this will start alarm bells ringing in the owner’s mind. One of the greatest fears that a vacation rental owner has is that they will rent to a group of people who see the property as a ‘party house’ and invite all of their friends to come along and share the accommodation. Be specific about the people who will be in the rental group and respect the owner’s accommodation limits.

3 Accommodation limits are usually determined by several factors. Firstly, the owner may simply decide to set a limit on how many people he will accept in the property based on the potential for wear and tear. This is his choice, and should be respected. So even if the property listing says it has five bedrooms, however the accommodation limit is set to six, resist the temptation to argue that since there are beds for at least 10 people, that is how many you will bring, as this will not endear you to the owner who may well end of the conversation there and then. The second factor is one that is common to many country properties that are not serviced by township septic and drainage systems. These places will have holding tanks or septic tanks, both of which have capacity limits which will place a restriction on the number of people the property serviced by the systems can accommodate. These limits are usually based on headcount so there is no difference between adults, children or babies. We often hear rental clients saying, ‘they’re only babies, they don’t use any water, and they are in diapers anyway’. Even though it’s quite a long way in the past, I can still remember that I bathed my babies quite regularly, and usually in the bath tub using more water than a shower would take.

4 Before you start e-mailing or telephoning an owner with a long list of questions, please check that the answers are not already shown on a web site or rental listing. Many owners have comprehensive web sites that provide all the information you need, and although they are happy to answer any additional questions, it is very helpful to them if you have already read the listing. If the property is very attractive and popular the owner may be receiving numerous enquiries every day and may be very selective about who they will rent their property to. Bombarding them with questions about features and facilities that are clearly shown on the listing may not result in a favourable response.

5 Many vacation rental owners welcome pets; many do not. Please don’t expect an owner of a non-pet-friendly property to accept your ‘adorable, well-trained, hypo-allergenic, Labra-doodle-poo’, even if it is crated, kept under control at all times, and ‘never allowed on furniture or beds’. If the owner doesn’t like dogs or cats, you won’t change his mind by pleading or asking in a dozen different ways. It would simply be better to either accept you have to put your pet into kennels, or find another property. In any case, wouldn’t you prefer to bring your much loved pet to a property where he or she is welcomed with a few dog treats?

Prepare a checklist

If house or flat sharing is definitely the way you want to go, brainstorm and decide what you’re really looking fore. Decide what’s really important to you and what stuff you can overlook.

You may find a property that you like on the very first day but remember it can take you several months, so be sure to prepare well in advance. Remember to go through your checklist and persevere because the house or flat you eventually decide on needs to be the best one for you.

Where to go flat hunting

- Newspapers: Search in the ‘To Let’ column in the classifieds section of your local newspaper or you may
choose to place an ad stating your requirements
- Contact an agent: Remember here that you would be required to pay a fee – usually about 1 week’s rent.
- Online portals dedicated to flat sharing or house sharing: Some websites offer free listing while some may be
paid. Remember to check the website’s reputation and its effectiveness. You can visit our reviews page
to look at some of our recommendations.
- Social network: Ask around the neighbourhood you’d like to move in to or spread the word that you’re looking
for a place. Or check on Facebook, MySpace or Friendster & find out if anyone’s offering.

The Interview and Walkthrough

Once you’ve shortlisted a few flats or houses that you like, schedule appointments for an interview or a visit. During the meeting with your prospective flatmates, ask all those questions pertaining to your needs and try to erase any doubts you may have. It is also important that you gel well with your flatmate and have a healthy rapport. The interview is your chance to find out how compatible you can be based on your personality and lifestyle.

If you’ve been invited to visit the flat, take the time to check it thoroughly. Pay particular attention to features and facilities that are of importance to you. If there are items missing or features not functioning like an electric light bulb, bring it up at that point. Ensure that all defects and damages will be taken care of before you decide to move in.

Confirm that what you’ve seen and heard from your potential flatmate is what you’ll be getting. Ideally have all provisions put down in writing which both of you should retain a copy of.

Confirmation and legal obligations

Flat sharing is a commitment and responsibility you’re entering into. Be very sure of your decision. Find out if you have a co-tenancy, sub-tenant or a boarder’s status within your arrangement.

When flat sharing, even an oral agreement that you have with your flatmate can be legally binding. However, it’s best to have a written agreement in place which includes all provisions of importance. In case of any dispute, have all your records and documents organized and seek professional help.

Have clear communication and expectations set right from the start. The perfect house or flat should be the one you’re most comfortable in, which fulfills your needs and requirements, where you can be yourself, and where you can get on with everyone else living there.

Read on to see seven things you should consider before buying a single family home over a townhouse.

Low Maintenance Living – One of the biggest benefits of living in a townhouse is having a homeowner’s association that maintains common areas and buildings for you. You won’t have to worry about mowing the lawn, not being able to get to work because the road in front of your home isn’t plowed or paying for garbage separately. The homeowner’s association covers different maintenance items in every community so be sure to check that your wish list is covered before putting in an offer.

Clubhouse Amenities – In addition to the luxury of having common space maintained for you there are the clubhouse amenities that also come with living in a townhouse community. Common amenities include a swimming pool, fitness center, playground and some type of sport like a basketball or tennis court.

Clubhouses tend to have one large common space that can be rented by residents of the community and used to house large events like birthday parties, business meetings and more. If you entertain a lot then this type of arrangement may suit you best.

Municipal Services – Due to the size of townhouse communities, often in excess of 30 homes, townhouse communities use community or municipal services for water and sewer. This is another great aspect of townhouse living as compared with a single family home which may have a private septic and well setup.

More Affordable Options – Townhouse communities offer a range of models that vary in size and this variety can help you enjoy the same community lifestyle as buyers who purchase the most expensive homes in the community for less.

Close Proximity to Everything – Convenience is number one in the mind of townhouse buyers that commute and retirees who are downsizing but don’t want to give up easy access to shopping. Most townhouse communities are within short driving distance of mass transit, grocery stores and retail shopping centers.

Bigger Neighborhood – When you live in a townhouse community you will have more neighbors to befriend and can have friends for the entire family. Community amenities like a swimming pool and playground help grow friendships further.

Excellent Rental Potential – Sometimes you may need to relocate with little time to sell and renting will become a viable option. Potential tenants are usually more open to renting a townhouse with a homeowner’s association in place because it creates a near no maintenance environment for them whereas renting a single family home still comes with the responsibilities of ownership.

Your strategy should start the minute you begin talking to potential roommates right through to record keeping and deciding how to handle disagreements. It lets you choose the right roommates, track your expenses and solve any financial issues as they arise.

So, how can you put money back into your pocket? By simply following these 10 tips, you’ll be able to take control and stop your money from disappearing.

1. Create A Budget
A budget helps you manage your money more efficiently as it lets you prioritize your money and decide how much to spend in each area of your life. This includes assessing how much you would like to allocate to roommate expenses.

2. Use An Accounts Book
It’s important to keep a small Accounts Book where you document and keep the receipts for the payment of expenses each week or month. This should include the date, amount paid, method of payment, payee, that is, the person that received your money and receipt number.

3. Always Ask For Receipts
Each time you pay any money to your household’s bookkeeper you should ask for a receipt. This is especially important when paying by cash as these receipts are evidence that you paid your expenses.

4. Keep A Financial Diary
You should record any changes to the payment of bills like rent increases, the amount of bond you have paid and the details of any disputes about money in a diary or notebook. Keeping a diary lets you create a paper trail and shows you how your expenses have changed over time.

5. Roommate Interviews
During roommate interviews, it’s a good idea to ask questions that help you find out the opinions of potential roommates towards expenses and how they have dealt with any past conflicts. These answers will help you choose roommates that have a similar view to you about finances.

6. Choose Similar Roommates
Living with roommates that have a similar view to you about money and expenses lets you create a cohesive living environment where any issues or misunderstandings are easily solved. When roommates have different attitudes towards money, each roommate will have a different opinion which makes it harder to manage expenses, pay bills on time and solve disputes.

7. Check References
Talking to people who have lived with your chosen roommates before moving in, can give you a better understanding of how they handle finances and disagreements. It can help you decide if they are the right roommates for you.

8. Expenses and New Roommates
Before moving in, you should work out with your new roommates how expenses will be paid when living together. This includes sorting out which expenses will be paid separately and those that will be paid as a group. Talking about finances before moving in lets you solve any issues without financial consequences. 9. Financial Disputes and Issues
If there are any disagreements or issues about the payment of expenses you should talk directly with your household’s bookkeeper. This cuts out the middleman and avoids confusion so that any problems can be solved immediately before getting out of control.

10. New Expenses
Before agreeing to pay any new roommate expenses, you should recalculate your budget to see how much it affects your standard of living and future plans. You should enter the details of any additional expenses into your financial diary.

As you can see, it’s just a matter of creating a strategy that lets you understand your current financial position, monitors your money and helps you decide how to deal with changes and disputes. It’s all about re-evaluating or making a few changes to your expenses so that you’ll see more than spare change in your purse or wallet.

Good Luck and Happy Roommate Living!