House Hunting

For quite a few of us, our hospitals/working destination requires moving away- far, far away- from our current residence. In fact, when deciding your hospital, this is probably something that goes into careful consideration. I have been stalking several sites rather religiously for the past few months in an effort to find the perfect accommodation in several hospitals of my choosing, even before I knew that I got into the number one hospital of my choosing.

Needless to say I'm glad I got the one I was most religiously stalking.

This post is for those of us who do not already live close to our future workplace, and need to find our own accommodation prior to starting work. Of course, this is for when you already know where you're posted, i.e. post e-housemen.

First things First: To Hostel or Not to Hostel?

If only...

Back "then", there weren't many HOs running around the hospital. As such, for all HOs, their accommodations were provided by the hospital by means of 'hostels', which are dorm-like accommodations within hospital grounds. I heard that there was a time when HOs were made compulsory to live in these hostels for the entire year of housemanship (yes, it used to take a year kan).

Now it's not the same, mainly because there are too many HOs for the hostels to be adequate.

Currently, in most hospitals, the hostels are only allowed for a fixed amount of time before you have to move out and find your own accommodations outside. And even when they are available for perhaps longer than a few months, you have to remember that many hospital hostels are dorm-like; i.e. the bathrooms may be outside of your unit, and the furniture immovable, and the space generally not that big or open to creativity. I say 'may' because I am unsure of how the newer hostels are.

Yes, you have to pay to stay in the hostel, and not that little either. It will be deducted from your salary, should you so wish to stay there. I know of a district hospital where the supposed rate of a hostel room is RM 400, shared between two people. And in the (highly likely) event that you have to move out after several months, remember that you still have to hunt for a house while being busy with HO duties, and with that move your belongings too.

So, to hostel or not to hostel?

I would say, yes to hostel if you do not mind the relative lack of space and privacy, have little belongings, and have no means of transportation of your own (cars or motorbikes).Yes if the hostels are available for more than a few months; or if you don't mind having to move out after you started working. Yes if you are pressed for options, for example if you cannot do proper house hunting for any reason, or other options are simply to expensive for you (very unlikely). Yes if you simply want to live the hostel life. Yes if the hostel is actually very decent for you, and you like the thought of living there.

And no to the hostel, simply, if any or most of the above things don't apply to you.

In case of the latter, onwards to house-hunting.

People-finding

There are several ways you can go about it. One of the best ways is to use your family members and friends who already live in the locality of your hospital, if they are available. Ask them very nicely to help you find a place close to the hospital. At least someone you know and trust is dealing with the process, and it takes a great burden off your mind. I happen to have some relatives living in the intended area of my posting, and thus the process of finding an appropriate place was made easier. It helps that I'm also very close to these relatives.

Sometimes, you can even get heavily discounted or free accommodation because your relatives ask you to merely take care of their existing house! This is of course very much welcome for those of us who are very new at handling money.

But more importantly (or slightly less; it is after all relative): find fellow people posted at the hospital you're going to. This means batchmates of the same gender who aren't married, or are married to a non-HO and are willing to live as bachelors/bachelorettes at least on working days. You may even know people of the same HO intake but from different learning institutions who are going to the same place. Seek them out.

Make a chat group for yourselves. Discuss if you want to share in the process of finding the right accommodation, or if any of you prefer to X-Wing it, or go Han Solo. Having others around is undeniably easier. And even if you do not end up rooming together, you will still be in the same hospital and attend the same PTM so it's still useful to have a group chat (on WhatsApp, or Facebook, etc), at least until you start working and going to different departments. Even after separating to your respective departments, it's always useful to have these contacts that you are (hopefully) more familiar with. Especially if you end up in the same accommodation!

Choosing the Right Place

You may choose to find an entire unit (house/apartment) and share with others, or have it all to yourself. OR you may opt to rent a room with existing tenants. This is entirely up to you (and your budget).

The more convenient way, if you can't do it personally or have someone do it personally for you, is to browse online. Several sites that are very handy:

• google.com
• mudah.my
• ibilik.my
• homes.mitula.my

I think the first two in the list are more than sufficient.

A number also take to Facebook to find their house. You have many contacts on Facebook, do you not? Make sure your request status is made Public so it can be shared or seen by strangers who know your Facebook contacts and can potentially help with the process. 

Facebook also contains many people promoting their houses for rent or homestays (which can be converted to rental accommodation if the owner feels like it).

By now, you will probably be facing many options.

Here are things to consider very very meticulously when choosing your accommodation from all those options:

Price

I made a semi-flexible budget. You should too. Make sure the chosen accommodation is within your budget for monthly necessities.

Duh. ;)

Location, location, location

You will, of course, want to look for accommodation close to your workplace. If you do not, what are you thinking? Have you even heard tell of news of road traffic accidents caused by exhausted doctors??! Ahem. Make sure to employ the services of Google Maps, then Google Earth and Google Street View (if available) to check the exact location of your intended accommodation in relation to your workplace. 

If the location is not so clear from the listings, ask the owners to provide you with the address and Google Map it. This usually proves accurate. They shouldn't hide it for whatever reason.

Disasters?

It may also be useful to check for the potential of getting natural and man-made disasters in your place, i.e. floods and landslides. These are very common in our country, particularly during monsoon season (you should have checked this before you chose your hospital too, but some may purposely choose hospitals that are known to be directly involved in these disasters for their own reasons).

And... avoid disastrous places, to the best of your ability. Or if you can't, make sure you are reasonably equipped in the event of said things occurring. Pray that they don't. Take care of the environment. Et cetera.

Security

If you are living alone or of the fairer gender, then the safety of the neighbourhood is really important and should be one of the first things you look at. Ask the owner if it is safe for you; more often than not, they will tell you that it is, no matter what. So to be even more safe, ask around instead. Do google searches. Everything is at the tips of your fingers. 

One of the ways in which the owners try to reassure you (and ask for higher rental) is by implementing safety measures that are probably a necessity in our country nowadays, particularly grills, secure locks and gates, and adequate porch lighting (if your house has a porch). Alarm systems? All the better! Make sure you know how to use them.

Facilities

Before making your decision, enquire ceaselessly. Make sure you are paying for something you will not regret.

You will be spending money on the house/room, and you have your rights. It is easy for us to feel intimidated and presumptuous when negotiating the needs of the house, but this- again- is part of growing up. Learn to put your foot down and make your intentions clear to get what you think is necessary, but be reasonable about it. There is no set formula for doing something like this, so experience really counts. Ask your friends and family members if need be, but make the final decisions for yourself. After all, you are going to be making life and death decisions later at work, no? 

Timing

You need to be clear on when you expect to move in. As the PTM will be done within the area of the hospital we're posted at, it is better to move in prior to the PTM date; remember that there is only a gap of one or two days before we start working after PTM. If you feel that you have many things to settle with the house, in particular moving and buying furniture or appliances, it is better to settle in a few days earlier than the PTM date so that you may familiarize yourself with the new surroundings and not feel too rushed. Make your chosen accommodation as cozy as possible. Feel it out. Baca Yaasin ramai-ramai every night for 3 days straight. Whatever calms you down.

Because it will be only a short while before the REAL struggles begin. *evil laugh*

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Okay, okay, no worries. Just chill and take it easy. But seriously, how do some of you just do everything last minute? I do not comprehend this fascinating ability. I honestly wish I can be less prepared and more 'in the moment', but alas this was not how I was programmed or raised. ^^;

Have many belongings? Movers will be required so start looking around.

More on that in coming posts, after I gain more exp in that particular subject.

Good luck! :)