530 London

Moving to London is an exhilarating experience. However, similarly to everyone living in a megacity from New York to Tokyo, finding the perfect lodging, well almost perfect after weighing in the many different factors that normally pile up to become a gold pot, has proven to be a hand in hand relationship with the word daunting.

Owing to the recession and the subsequent slump in mortgage demand, choices of property, or a comfy double bedroom connected with an über-speedy broadband in my case has become conveniently available at this time of the year. Nonetheless, it doesn’t mean hassle in flat hunting has reduced to a push of a button before the room number thirteenth.

In addition to the two aforementioned requirements – snugly double bed and the connection to the real world wide web – location, transport link and proximity to workplace are as exigent as the price tag. Unfortunately, head-to-head contest between ideal and capital is often inevitable.

Thankful to the advancement of information technology, the strenuous burden to browse through the numerous advertisement squares in local newspapers was significantly improved to breezy clicks on the internet. However, the inundation of properties websites shouting for your subscription before granting you with the key – contact information of landlords – could result in a task equally tedious as flat hunting.

Considering my desperation to sign on a room as soon as possible and the range of rooms advertised, I signed up for the purportedly UK’s number one flat and house share website Spareroom. After flooded by instant and daily summary emails notifying matching properties, and the later numerous phone call or voicemail to be precise, thirteen rooms were marked and viewings were arranged.

It was at this time that the biggest trick of the whole room hunt experience was unveiled – the disparity between cyber illustration and reality. Not only did the website fail to convey a more realistic representation of the advertised properties, mainly caused by the exaggerated description and misleading photos, it had also disastrously eliminated the crucial surrounding factor which could be a determining factor in the ultimate decision making process.

Having exercising the half an hour golden rule – short exploration around the area of a prospective lodging, I concluded that there are only two ways to rescue yourself from the unnecessary foot work and cost of course to area you will not even consider in the first place: recommendations from friends or simply fork out bigger chunk of cash for your rent.

Actually, there is one other alternative – Wikipedia. But believe me, it takes a concrete journey to really appreciate what it means by predominantly British African-Caribbean community occupancy in Brixton, Camberwell or Peckham, Arabian Islamic region at Whitechapel, or council flats alike Borough and Elephant and Castle. Alright, not all properties are as described in respective areas, but those are the majority and are unanimously eye-hurting.

So after ten disappointments, Canada Water has become my ultimate selection. Not exactly conveniently located at transport hub, but the serene and peaceful environment, and the reputable safety record had won my heart, despite the hefty monthly rent at £530.

The problem now is, which is the best method to travel to work place five miles away?

Nevertheless, the excitement of finally living in London continues to thrill me.