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Basement suites - yes or no?

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  • 23-05-2013 12:32am
    #1
    Niamh_M
    Registered Users Posts: 46 ✭


    Hello,

    Myself and my boyfriend have been granted IEC visas and are heading out to Vancouver in August. I've been looking around on Craigslist (I know it's a bit dodge but only looking to get the general idea) and Kijiji, and basement suites tend to be quite popular on the listings.

    Has anyone ever lived in one/thought about living in one? If so, what's it like? The rent seems nice enough and utilities etc can be included, but I can imagine it as cold, dangerous, and a bit scary once the snow comes in case you get snowed in. Plus the landlord would be living upstairs.

    Are they dodgy or good??? Also, is there anywhere else to look for furnished apartments? Don't really want to be spending more than 1500 dollars a month altogether.


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    #2
    ician
    Registered Users Posts: 593 ✭✭✭ician


    Niamh_M wrote: »
    Hello,

    Myself and my boyfriend have been granted IEC visas and are heading out to Vancouver in August. I've been looking around on Craigslist (I know it's a bit dodge but only looking to get the general idea) and Kijiji, and basement suites tend to be quite popular on the listings.

    Has anyone ever lived in one/thought about living in one? If so, what's it like? The rent seems nice enough and utilities etc can be included, but I can imagine it as cold, dangerous, and a bit scary once the snow comes in case you get snowed in. Plus the landlord would be living upstairs.

    Are they dodgy or good??? Also, is there anywhere else to look for furnished apartments? Don't really want to be spending more than 1500 dollars a month altogether.

    I lived in one in Vancouver for a few months, I'm 6'3" and I probably did some brain damage with the amount of times I cracked my head off the ceiling. That place probably wasn't up to code though.


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    #3
    celticwe
    Registered Users Posts: 133 ✭✭celticwe


    snow?Have you looked up Vancouver:confused:


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    #4
    Martyn1989
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,561 ✭✭✭Martyn1989


    Flooding is more likely than getting snowed in in Vancouver, some basement suites will be fine others won't, take a long look before you sign a lease.

    I've heard of basement suites in Calgary flooding when the snow melts


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    #5
    twistyj
    Registered Users Posts: 182 ✭✭twistyj


    Van do get snow but not much. I lived there for a year in a basement suite and had a lot of privacy and facilities. They are definitely the way to go when getting your first place if your on a tight budget at the start.

    You will have to furnish it yourselves though but not to worry as there are many many thrift (second-hand) shops everywhere. You can get chairs and tables there pretty cheap.

    Here's a tip aswell, if you're having trouble finding work in Van try the commuter towns of Surrey and Langley where you wont have as much competition (other Irish) but still have a short train ride into the city.

    Van is a great city!

    All the best!


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    #6
    Tiddlers
    Registered Users Posts: 156 ✭✭Tiddlers


    Myself and my boyfriend have been living in a basement suite since September and it's completely fine. Not all suites will be the same, obviously, but ours is very modern (much better kitchen and bathroom equipment than the West End apartments some friends live in). Our landlord does not live upstairs and not all landlords will live upstairs. It can get a bit chilly in winter but nothing to write home about.

    Basement suites aren't unusual here so it's not uncommon to come across very nice basement suites. Even my boss, a middle aged businessman, lives in a basement so if you're worried about any stigmas or anything like that, don't be. Like with any type of apartment, there will be amazing ones and diabolical ones.

    Oh, and like someone else said, the least of your worries is the tiny bit of snow that might fall two or three times during winter. It's Vancouver! Be more concerned with rain and any sloping outside the basement that may lead to interior flooding. Also check out rentbc.com as an alternative to CraigsList if you are worried CL is dodgy (generally, it's not though).


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    #7
    OneColdHand
    Registered Users Posts: 4,313 ✭✭✭OneColdHand


    The only advantage to a basement is that it's cheaper.

    It will be darker, damper, colder, have lower ceiling height, and be more prone to flooding than a regular apartment.

    But sometimes it just has to be done!


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    #8
    JohnMearsheimer
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,302 ✭✭✭JohnMearsheimer


    I lived in one with a Hawaiian guy in Vancouver for a few months. My only complaint was the ceiling was a bit low. Other than that it was grand. Basement suites are normal in Vancouver. You won't get snowed in either in Vancouver.


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    #9
    simongurnick
    Registered Users Posts: 1,919 ✭✭✭simongurnick


    OneColdHand wrote: »
    The only advantage to a basement is that it's cheaper.

    It will be darker, damper, colder, have lower ceiling height, and be more prone to flooding than a regular apartment.

    But sometimes it just has to be done!

    If a basement apartment is finished to code it will not be colder or damper.


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    #10
    OneColdHand
    Registered Users Posts: 4,313 ✭✭✭OneColdHand


    simongurnick wrote: »
    If a basement apartment is finished to code it will not be colder or damper.

    That's a big 'if' though!


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    #11
    Niamh_M
    Registered Users Posts: 46 ✭Niamh_M


    Thanks everyone for the comments - they were really helpful!! I'll definitely look for slopings etc which could make the likes of flooding more likely. I have never been to Vancouver and now I realise that the rain is a bit more of a problem - (which, to be honest, I am kind of happy about haha).

    I agree - some of the basement suites are lovely (in the pictures at least), and they can be quite spacious and you do seem to get a lot more for your money. I won't be writing it off just yet :)


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    #12
    davybrown
    Registered Users Posts: 18 ✭davybrown


    Niamh_M wrote: »
    Thanks everyone for the comments - they were really helpful!! I'll definitely look for slopings etc which could make the likes of flooding more likely. I have never been to Vancouver and now I realise that the rain is a bit more of a problem - (which, to be honest, I am kind of happy about haha).

    I agree - some of the basement suites are lovely (in the pictures at least), and they can be quite spacious and you do seem to get a lot more for your money. I won't be writing it off just yet :)

    we're not that tall so doesnt really matter about the low ceilings. haha


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    #13
    Against
    Registered Users Posts: 51 ✭✭Against


    Lived in one for a year, was grand, like my own little hobbit hole :-) 2 bedroom apartment for 500$ a month.

    They're cheaper, and can be in grand nick. Mine had a high ceiling and lots of light on one side of the apartment. However the electricity bill can be a bit higher, and I could sometimes hear mice in the walls and under the floor, though thankfully they stayed away from my living space.

    So yeah, it's a trade-off :-D


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