Renting a House in Toronto: Expectation vs. Reality

We all know that the Toronto real estate market is crazy right now. Affordability is practically nonexistent. That said, there are still many people who want to live in a house but cannot afford to buy. This means finding a house through the house rental agencies.

Renting a house in Toronto sounds like a more affordable alternative to buying, but it’s important to manage your expectations when searching, as the results may not be what you were hoping for.

Expectation: Close to work

Reality: Most jobs in Toronto are concentrated in the urban areas, where most housing is in high-rise buildings. Most residential neighbourhoods are located outside the core, so you won’t necessarily end up within walking distance of work if you want to live in a rental house in Toronto.

Even the single-family homes for rent that are in the urban communities of Toronto are often expensive, and vacancies are typically low.

Expectation: Lots of space

Reality: Many renters opt for a house rather than an apartment unit because of the square footage. The truth is, some of the more affordably priced houses for rent are small. And even if the square footage is bigger than in an apartment, older houses typically have very closed layouts, limiting the amount of useable space you end up with.

The other thing that can end up happening is that the entire house won’t be available for rent, but rather a basement apartment or an upper floor unit. So, you don’t end up with that much more space. Continue reading for more information.

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Gottarent.com Head Office
Address: 44 Frid Street
City: Hamilton, ON
Zip Code: L8N 3G3
Phone: 1-888-440-2099

Dining Solutions for Small Apartments

Apartment living can be wonderful in many ways. No lawn to mow, or major repairs to pay for. But what you gain in freedom you sometimes lose in space. Small apartments don’t always have designated space for everything like you might get in a house. One space that people often struggle to make room for is dining.

Small rental units, especially bachelor apartments for rent, don’t have a lot of space for furnishings, let alone a dining room table. But rather than eating all meals on your lap on the couch, you can add a dedicated dining area to your apartment. While you might not be able to host big dinner parties, you should be able to eat your own meals comfortably.

Dining ideas for small apartments

• Pub table and bar stools:

If it’s just you, or you and one other person living in the apartment, you don’t need a full-sized table. Instead, get a pub-style table (a tall, long and narrow table) with two bar stools. This can be pushed up against a wall, and the two bar stools can slide under when not in use. It’s a pretty good space saver for small apartments.

You could get four stools and pull the table out from the wall if you need to fit more people around it.

• Wall-mounted dining table:

As long as you fill in the holes before you move out, a great dining solution for a small apartment is a wall-mounted dining table. When in use, it folds out, providing a surface to eat your meals from. When not in use, it conveniently folds up flat against the wall. Add a couple of foldable chairs, and voila, you have an instant dining room!

There are different styles of wall-mounted dining tables. Some fold up flush against the wall, while others convert from a small shelf into a table. Continue reading for more information.

Contact us:
Gottarent.com Head Office
Address: 44 Frid Street
City: Hamilton, ON
Zip Code: L8N 3G3
Phone: 1-888-440-2099

Affordable Renting Tips for College Students

Post-secondary education is expensive. Tuition costs are rising, plus books and other materials have to be factored in as well. If you’re going to a college or university away from home, you’ll have to also consider the cost of housing.

If you’re looking at off-campus housing, there are some ways to make renting more affordable. Student rentals come in all shapes and forms, so you want to make sure you’re getting a good deal for your money. Looking for the cheapest student apartment isn’t always the best strategy, as you also need to consider the value you’re getting out of it. If it’s rundown and in a bad neighbourhood, it’s probably not worth the stress.

Here are some tips for finding affordable student housing off-campus in time for the fall semester:

1. Consider a bachelor pad

If you want to live alone (or share with your significant other), a bachelor apartment is an affordable student rental. Bachelor apartments tend to feature an open concept living space with a private bathroom. Your kitchen will be small, and will open into the living/sleeping space. Students who live in traditional dorms get way less than this, so it’s a step up. You can get creative with furniture placement, fitting in a desk/workspace for studying, plus a bed and storage.

2. Get some roomies

If you’re looking at student houses for rent, you probably already have some potential roommates on board. If you’re looking at student apartments, consider a 2-bedroom unit so that you can share the costs with a roommate to save some dough.

Roommates can be part of the college experience. You could end up being lifelong friends!

3. Be a basement dweller

Quite often people who own properties near colleges and universities earn a supplementary income by renting out their basements to students. Look for some basement apartments near campus, as they tend to be more affordable than units in traditional high-rise buildings. Just make sure they are legal rentals, as you don’t want to get involved in an under-the-table scheme. Continue reading for more information.

Contact us:
Gottarent.com Head Office
Address: 44 Frid Street
City: Hamilton, ON
Zip Code: L8N 3G3
Phone: 1-888-440-2099

When Is the Best Time to Search for an Apartment?

In the real estate world, it’s said that spring is the best season to sell because people prefer to move during the summer months. But can the same be said for the rental market? Is there a better time to apartment hunt, or is it pretty much the same year-round?

So, when is the best time to search for apartments for rent in Canada? There are two schools of thought …

Winter

If you’re savvy, you can absolutely get the best deal on a rental apartment in the winter. People tend to not want to move during the colder months, so there are fewer vacancies. While fewer vacancies might seem like bad news, it could work in your favour. Landlord and building property managers want to fill these vacancies, even though there are fewer of them. Because of their need to fill the vacant rental apartments, they might be willing to negotiate the cost of the rent with you. A negotiated price is better than a vacancy.

If you sign a year-long lease at this price, you’re locked into this rent for a year and it can be raised only by the percentage outlined by the province. It’s a win-win – the landlord fills the spot, and you get a better price.

Spring/summer

Since the weather is nicer and the school year is coming to a close, there will be lots of move-outs. This means lots of units will become available during this time of year. Visit source for more details.



Contact us:
Gottarent.com Head Office
Address: 44 Frid Street
City: Hamilton, ON
Zip Code: L8N 3G3
Phone: 1-888-440-2099

5 Questions To Ask The Property Owner When Considering A House For Rent

Moving out of the family home for the first time is an exciting new adventure. Whether you’re moving out with roommates, with a significant other or on your own, it’s a big Not all renters want to live in a high-rise apartment unit. Many of us want the experience of living in a home in a residential neighbourhood, near green spaces and schools and away from heavy traffic. Whether you’re looking for a whole house to rent, a basement apartment or a secondary dwelling, renting from a homeowner can be a very different experience than dealing with a big building management company.

If you’re inexperienced in dealing with property owners, here are some questions you should consider asking during your walk-through.

1. What’s included in the rent?

Unlike many high-rise apartments for rent, rental houses often have extras included in the rent, such as TV and internet. This is typical if you are renting a section of a house, such as the basement or attic. If the homeowner lives on the premises, they might be willing to share the cost of these things with you by rolling them into your rent. You will also want to ask whether electricity and water are included, too.

This could affect your decision to take a place or not, because if the rent is already on the high end of your budget, you probably don’t want to have to pay for internet and other utilities on top of that.

2. Who’s responsible for yardwork and maintenance?

If the house has a yard and garden, whose responsibility is it to care for it? Will you have to mow the lawn yourself, or will they send a service to do it? If you do have to maintain the yard yourself, do you need your own lawn mower, or will there be one available for your use?

If something breaks inside the house, who is supposed to fix it? Do you arrange repairs yourself and get reimbursed by the landlord? Or will they send a maintenance person out to fix it at their expense? Do you have to absorb the cost? Find out.

3. What amenities do I have access to?

If you are renting an apartment inside someone’s home, where they currently live, you need to ask if there is a shared laundry room. What about the backyard and barbecue? Will you be allowed to use that? If you are allowed to use these things, is there a policy regarding when and how they’re used? Do you have to book them with the owner, or is it a free-for-all? Visit Source

Contact us:
Gottarent.com Head Office
Address: 44 Frid Street
City: Hamilton, ON
Zip Code: L8N 3G3
Phone: 1-888-440-2099

A spacious bachelor? Myth or fact?

Is the phrase “spacious bachelor” an oxymoron? Not necessarily. While bachelor apartments are known for being compact, if you’re strategic about furniture placement and smart with storage, you can definitely save some space.

Bachelor apartments traditionally only have two rooms – the first being the bedroom/living room/kitchen and the second being the bathroom. The kitchen area is often small and is sometimes more of a kitchenette. Living in a place like this requires a lot of thought and discipline, as it can very quickly become a cluttered mess. Having a small apartment doesn’t have to feel small – you just have to optimize your use of space.

Mirrors save everything

Mirrors are the ultimate optical illusion for making a room look bigger than it truly is. Hang a large mirror on the wall near a window, facing a focal point in the room to give the appearance of depth. Mirrors also reflect light, so placing it near the window will maximize the amount of natural light in the room. You will also want to add some artificial light using lamps for evening.

Open concept

While your instincts may tell you to divide the room to create privacy, that can actually make it look more cluttered and small. Instead, use folding screens to divide the space when you need it, but keep it open most of the time.

Create a space that flows well. You don’t want to add too many obstacles or tripping hazards! You should be able to move from the living/sleeping space to the kitchen seamlessly.

Multi-functional furnishings

Instead of both a couch and a bed, have a convertible sofa bed. You can also get murphy beds that have cupboards on the underside so when it’s folded against the wall you have storage.

If you choose to have a traditional bed and a couch/loveseat separate, get a bed with drawers underneath (Captain’s bed) to eliminate the need for a dresser. Click here for more information.


Contact us:
Gottarent.com Head Office
Address: 44 Frid Street
City: Hamilton, ON
Zip Code: L8N 3G3
Phone: 1-888-440-2099

What to look for in a good rental agent

With a hot rental market in many major city centres, it can be hard to find a suitable apartment on your own with so much competition. This is why hiring a rental agent is a smart move, as they can help you navigate this tricky market. That said, not all rental agents are created equal, and some will obviously be better than others. So, what do you look for in a good rental agent?

Positive reviews and referrals

When searching for the right rental agent for your needs, look to others to guide you. Reach out to friends who used an agent to find a rental. Like many service-based industries, rental agencies (and Realtors who also handle rentals) rely on referrals to build their business. Trust your family’s and friends’ recommendations.

You can also look at reviews and testimonials on third-party websites to see what other people’s experiences were like.

Local knowledge

Many people use rental agents when moving to a new city or town. If you’re unfamiliar with your new city, you want to be sure you’re working with someone who knows the area well. This way, when you describe your ideal neighbourhood and your budget, they will know exactly where to look to find your perfect place.Visit source for more information.


Contact us:
Gottarent.com Head Office
Address: 44 Frid Street
City: Hamilton, ON
Zip Code: L8N 3G3
Phone: 1-888-440-2099