Vanou

Hi there!
For those of you who had to stay in a temporary accomodation upon arrival, how did you do it? I'm looking for any tips or contacts. Who did you go with? Were you able to book online?

I had plan for us to stay a week in an hotel while looking for a furnished flat that we would rent for 2 months, but it seems more complicated than I had anticipated. Now, I'm thinking I would rather find something on line before leaving.

We're just the 2 of us, a studio or 1 bedroom would be fine. We can't afford the executive type of apartments they're renting for tourists in the CBD. Looking more in the 300$/w range. Am I nuts to even consider I could find something at this price? Any suburb would be okay.

Thanks for sharing your tips. I'm starting to get stressed
Vanessa

HiddenPaw

Hi Vanessa

You'll easily get a nice property in a nice area for that money - I just looked on the website of the agency I use - www.collinssimms.com.au - and they have nice 1 & 2 bed apts and units for $200-250 a week (this is in Kew, Hawthorn, Balwyn). I'm not sure if they do furnished or not tho - maybe drop them a line and they could help out?

What sort of area did you want to start off in? Do you want to be close to the city to start off? (Kew is 8km east.)

Drop me a line if I can be of any help.

HP
p.s. www.hockingstuart.com.au is another big real estate place who have a lot of rentals on their website.

Vanou

Thanks!
I had a look but they don't seem to have fully furnished apartments. I was just thinking that once in Melbourne it might prove as difficult to rent a furnished flat than a standard apartment. How long did it take you to find your temporary accomodation? Did you arange it before leaving?
We don't really care about the area as long as public tranport is accessible (it's only for the firt couple of months).
Cheers
Vanessa

HiddenPaw

Hi
We didn't really have probs with accomodation and furniture as we went on a 3 month holiday round Oz when we arrived, and by the time we got to Melbourne, our furniture had arrived and was ready for delivery. So we just checked into a hotel for 3 nights and went on a house-hunting blitz. I picked Kew because I knew the area from previous visits, and knew it was residential and clean, quiet, but close to city and on a tram route. So we found our place in a couple of days, and moved in straight away. The removal company were able to work on short notice so delivered our stuff quickly - but we were lucky as we had sleeping bags, plastic plates, etc from our camping holiday, so we just 'camped out' in the house for a couple of days!

There are tons of properties for rent as so many people now buy a second property to rent it out, so the market is pretty saturated with vacant properties. But I'm afraid I don't know where to start with fully furnished accomodation.

cob

Hi Vanou
Try the Age newspaper on a Wed or Sat. You may have probs with a 2 month lease unless it is in a serviced apartment, most people are looking for a 6 or 12 month lease. We have just left a 2 bed furnished apartment in the City looking out to the Crown Casino for which we were paying $400 per week they wanted $500 but like many others it had been empty for a while so they took what we offered.
Good luck
Cob

HiddenPaw

Oh I totally forgot as well www.domain.com.au - this will give you properties from a huge number of different agencies

I just had a look and it threw up 41 furnished properties <$300 in inner east & bayside, with a search criteria of 'furnished'

As Cob says tho, most landlords want you to sign a min. 6 months lease BUT some of the properties in the search results are monthly tenancies....so that's better news

e.g. this one in Elwood (just past St Kilda, so about 8kms out):
http://www.domain.com.au/listing.asp...ENT&id=3147525

Good luck

Vanou

Hi Cob!
Thanks for the tip. Didn't realise so many apartments were vacant. It seems serviced apartments would be our best bet if we want to book our accomodation from here. Not sure what to do now...
Will have a look at more websites.
Cheers
Vanessa

Vanou

Thanks Hiddenpaw!

That's where I had been seing a few furnished apartments available monthly. I guess we'll go this way.
Hope we are as lucky as you and find something in a few days. Wouldn't want to spend too long in an hotel.
What kind of documents do they ask for when you want to rent? Could the landlord refuse your application if you don't have a job?
Thanks again for your help. How long have you been in Melbourne now? We'll arrive in January.
Vanessa