Apartment Hunting for Foreign Students

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talking about HOUSING

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Roger Jones Intensive Language Training Center Sichuan University, Chengdu

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TERMS: housing accommodation residence / residential rental unit

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TYPES OF HOUSING

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Apartment (Flat)

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Low-rise

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High-rise

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Detached house

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Semi - detached house / duplex

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Row house

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Castle

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Palace

v: 

v Houseboat

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Mobile home

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Traditional house

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Modern house

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APARTMENT HUNTING

Where to look:: 

Where to look: Apartment advertisements (newspapers, Craig’s List, University housing office) Internet (buyer beware!) Real estate agency (rental agency) Open house (anyone can come visit) Word of mouth FOR RENT sign – call for information Bulletin boards – coffee houses, supermarkets, etc.)

Bulletin board ad: 

Bulletin board ad

Homestay: 

Homestay http://www.homestayfinder.com/

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A homestay allows you to stay with a family in your host country. It can help you to learn the language much faster, and to experience what "real life" is like in the host country.

Homestay: 

Homestay

Los Angeles homestay listings: 

Los Angeles homestay listings Family of three: me, my wife and 11 year old son. West side near Santa Monica and Venice beaches. Very close to SMCC and UCLA and other schools. We will pick up and return to LAX airport. Local bus stops less than 200 feet from our back door. $180 per week shared room; $250 per week private room.

Amenities:: 

Amenities: City / suburb Los Angeles State CA Postcode 90066 Cost USD 180 per week Available From 27 Feb 2010 Available To House has pets No Household allows smoking Yes Any meals included? Breakfast & Dinner Internet Broadband Can provide airport pickup? Yes

Furn. 1BR cheap!: 

Furn. 1BR cheap !

Craigslist: 

Craigslist http://newyork.craigslist.org/ Website for each major USA city Rentals, for sale, personal ads, etc.

Craigslist – apartment listings in New York: 

Craigslist – apartment listings in New York

Newspaper classified ad: 

Newspaper classified ad

Pet-friendly apartment?: 

Pet-friendly apartment?

Choose an apartment that already has kitchen appliances: 

Choose an apartment that already has kitchen appliances

Apartment: 

Apartment Do you want to live alone or share? How much space do you need? What rent can you afford? What amenities do you want? Do you want to live on campus / off campus / close to campus / in a residential area? How secure (safe) is the building and neighborhood?

roommate or flatmate: 

roommate or flatmate

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Let’s visit some apartments

Briar Place, Chicago: 

Briar Place, Chicago My first apartment

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Furnished apartment

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Unfurnished apartment

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Studio (one room + kitchen & bath)

Briar Place, The Description: 

Briar Place, The Description All Units at 540 W. Briar have FREE HEAT! This charming vintage elevator midrise building is in the heart of all things Lakeview! Shopping, great restaurants, nightlife, and lake all within a few short blocks. 540 W. Briar has an on-site staff, laundry room, new windows, HWF, spacious shared main lobby, bike storage & workout room. Express bus around the corner & walking distance to the El. NO SECURITY DEPOSIT.

Briar Place, The Amenities: 

Briar Place, The Amenities Cable Ready Emergency Maintenance Fitness Center Gated Access Hardwood Flooring High Speed Internet Access Laundry Facility Public Transportation Some Paid Utilities

One-bedroom apartment: 

One-bedroom apartment

Describing an apartment: 

Describing an apartment Conv. Loc. = convenient location 2 BR = 2 bedrooms Furn. / unfurn. AC = air conditioner Util. incl. = utilities included (gas, water, electricity) Pkg. incl. = parking included Sec. bldg. = security building

small – cozy - cramped: 

small – cozy - cramped

airy – light-filled: 

airy – light-filled

spacious – roomy - palatial: 

spacious – roomy - palatial

2-bedroom apartment with terrace: 

2-bedroom apartment with terrace

Vocabulary:: 

Vocabulary: Rental agent Landlord / landlady Building manager Tenant (renter)

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Rental application References / credit history / background check Security deposit Lease / rental agreement

Standard lease: 

Standard lease

Many American apartments have cheap w2w – wall to wall carpeting: 

Many American apartments have cheap w2w – wall to wall carpeting

You will pay extra for hardwood floors: 

You will pay extra for hardwood floors

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Construction: new buildings of about 5 floors or less are wood-frame and plasterboard (thin walls, noise travels easily) High-rise buildings are steel frame construction Older buildings have more solid construction – brick or concrete, quieter, more ambience (pleasing atmosphere)

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PRACTICE

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You are a rental agent. Give a tour of this apartment to a prospective tenant.

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Happy hunting!