Shopping is normally a leisurely activity. You browse the rack. Something catches your eye. You buy, you're happy, it's fun. Right?

Not so when it comes to apartment hunting. That's what I found out after a month of looking at more than 15 apartments, long subway rides, musty smells in strange places and some mice feces.

I wish I were kidding.

As I wandered the city streets – map, and newspaper classified section in hand – I saw others with the same bewildered look and gear. After much crying and complaining to all my friends, and making contingency plans to crash in their basements for a month, I lucked out. I found a quaint, two-bedroom apartment in midtown Toronto, in my price range and steps away from a subway station. Home sweet home.

And I learned a few things along the way. These tips may save you the headaches and frustration that I've learned can ensue when looking for a place to live. Unfortunately, there's no cure for the apartment quirks I encountered, such as bedrooms with only three walls. But, perhaps that's part of the fun...

Do your research

Figure out ahead of time which areas of the city you would like to live in. Walk around those neighbourhoods. Ask residents if they like it. Most landlords want renters to sign a year-long lease, so if you're going to be there awhile, it's good to make sure the place is a good fit.

And while you're at it, find out if the type of place you're looking for is actually available in that particular area.

It sounds obvious, but it's something people often overlook. For example, three-bedroom apartments in Toronto are scarce, because many buildings only have up to two-bedroom units. I originally started out with two roommates, but a quick scan of the newspaper classifieds showed there were very few units to choose from. A small pool of apartments makes it hard to find one that fits the profile. Don't waste your time looking for something that might not exist.

Talk to your roommates

Sit down and have a conversation with potential roommates to make sure you're all looking for the same thing, and in the same price range. It can be difficult to find a decent apartment with everything you want. During my search, I found that cleanliness and proximity to a subway are often mutually exclusive in a certain price range. Meanwhile, they're both available at a heftier monthly rent.

Then there's the "character" of the apartment. Do I want a room where my things won't roll to the left, thanks to the slanted and puckered floor? Or is the convenience of getting to my destination in under an hour on my morning commute a more important factor? Figure out beforehand which items are must-haves or deal-breakers.

Start early

Give yourself some time, so that you don't have to jump at the first possibility that comes along. It's good to begin your search a couple of months before you plan to move in if you can. Some places may not be available that far ahead, but it's good to know what's out there and helps you check out neighbourhoods during your search.

Ask lots of questions before seeing the apartment

Rental ads in the newspaper and online can be misleading. "Cozy" usually means small, and "walking distance" is a subjective measure. Get the precise address to see for yourself where it's located. (Google Maps is your best friend when house hunting). To some landlords, "walking distance" to the subway means five blocks and a hike through the park.

If the ad doesn't say "clean," it probably isn't. Ask about room height (standing at a petite 5 feet 2 inches, I could reach up and touch the ceilings in some places) and room size (one kitchen was so small, the oven could only open halfway).

And, when arranging a viewing, ask if it has all the things you need. Are there windows? Is there a separate entrance? Parking? Apartment hunting can be time consuming. If it's not a place you can live in, save yourself – and that landlord – the effort.

Don't look at apartments alone

Bring your roommate(s) with you. Many landlords want to get a feel for potential renters. They want to meet you, just as much as you want to see the apartment.

And bring someone else for a second opinion. Two sets of eyes are always better, and another voice of reason helps too. After the 14th apartment viewing, that crawlspace under the variety store started looking pretty good. Many thanks to my good friend who snapped me out of that one.

Talk to the existing tenants, as well as the landlord

If the tenants are in the apartment while you're looking at it, ask them why they're leaving. The answer is usually quite revealing.

One tenant told me they wanted something "different." He later admitted he and his roommates had only been there for a month. After some inquiry about the mousetrap in the kitchen, he said he hadn't seen the mice himself, but had found their droppings. I tiptoed out of the apartment a short time later.

Other tenants have been through the apartment-hunting process already, and will usually sympathize with your plight. They'll be the most honest source of information about an apartment.

Go over the fine details

Don't be shy. Look in the cupboards. Flush the toilet to see the water pressure. While it might seem obsessive, it helps to get a full picture of the apartment. One landlord said he even looked for someone who did that – it meant that the person cared about the state of the apartment, and would probably take care of it. He said it was a red flag if a potential renter didn't take a careful look around.

Bring your digital camera

Having a visual record of the apartments you've seen helps to look back and compare, since one place tends to blur into the next when you've toured a number over a short period. And, if your roommate can't come with you – mine was away for the summer – he or she can take a virtual look at the apartment as well.

Approach it like a job interview

Dress nicely. Be polite. As I said, landlords want to get a feel for who will be staying in their apartments. In some cases, they too will be living in the building or house, so they want neighbours they can get along with. And they want to gauge if you will take care of the apartment once you move in.

For years, I heard it was a renter's market. Friends regaled me with tales of a month's free rent, or even incentives like flat-screen televisions, just to woo potential renters to move in. In my pursuit for an apartment in downtown Toronto, I found nothing of the sort.

Apparently, I was looking for the holy grail of apartments: a bright, clean unit in a safe neighbourhood, close to public transit, on a student budget in September, when hundreds of other students are looking for precisely the same thing.

With that much competition, somehow the roles are reversed. My viewing appointments felt like job interviews. If the apartment was decent, landlords were flooded with great applicants. I had to convince potential landlords that I was worthy of staying there.

Act fast

Nice apartments, clean, and nice and in a good area, are hard to come by. And other people know it, especially as the end of the month nears. I found an apartment with newly installed hardwood floors, took a day to talk to my roommate to see if she liked it, and then discovered I was too late when I called the landlord back - someone quicker than me had snapped it up. If you find a good apartment, trust your instincts and put in an application. Now.

Good luck!

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