Flat/House Share Hunting in Melbourne

blondie82

Just wondering what people have found to be the best way to do this? Is gumtree my best option?
Moving to Melbourne next week & hoping to get somewhere fairly quickly

jockey#1

Hi,

Gumtree is your best bet or keep an eye on ads up on noticeboards in hostels, launderettes that kind of thing!

I will be looking for a place myself in a few weeks when I come back to Melbourne from being hols. Being looking on gumtree to get an idea and there is plenty out there but depends on your weekly budget and what areas you want to live in!

spunkymunky

I found that putting your own 'Wanted' ad up saying you are looking for a place will attract interest. Worked for me! Also pay the 5 dollars to have it highlighted or premium or whatever

Munky

Slunk

Found my place on gumtree too. You have to keep at it though. It will pay off in the end

Jeebus H Christ

I found flatmatefinders to be the best by a long way of the various websites I searched over here. I didn't get any reply to attempts to contact people via Gumtree - too much interest per ad perhaps - and for much of the other sites you need to rent a property rather than share an already let place. I saw 7 or 8 places within a week of signing up to flatmatefinders and got offered most of them. The handy thing is you're matched up with people of the same interests, age group etc., depending on your search criteria. The rental equivalent of a dating site really!

cormaclynch

PM sent

blondie82

Thanks for the tips everyone

jimthemental

Looking myself, have to get it sorted before next week if I can. Anyone know what the cheapest area is near Flinders Station or Southern Cross?

sonic.trip

spent 2 months looking on estate agents sites etc and got nothing, add went up on gumtree on a Sunday was moved in on the Friday. Gumtree is the best option in my opinion

s.c

Depends on how long you plan on staying for. If it is more long term then real estate websites and get an unfurnished place on a 6 or 12 month lease. Works out a lot cheaper. You would have most of your furniture paid for with the savings over 12 months against furnished places and you can always make some money back by selling it on when your leaving.

Short term place are much harder to find. Gumtree really probably is your best bet for this.

Tigerandahalf

O.P. it depends on how long you are going to stay in the one spot. If it's short term...upto 4 months you would probably be better off staying in a hostel. I know you said you'd like your own space but it's a great way to mix and get contacts with people. You have a lot of things happening in the better hostels and it would help in making friends, getting to see the city etc. Accommodation in Melbourne is pretty expensive. It depends on what you want to have around you...cafes, shops, things to do etc..if you're not bothered by that you would get much cheaper rent in suburbs a bit further out or at least out of the real popular spots. I secured my place through Gumtree. The suburb didn't have much around it in terms of cafes, shops, nightlife etc but it was well connected with buses and trains..had a bus stop outside my house. My rent was really cheap and while I didn't have much to do around me, it didn't bother me too much as I was working during the week anyway.
Staying in a hostel for even a small while would also give you time to get to know the city and where you would and wouldn't like to stay.
Best of luck anyway.