There are technically only two ways of going about the process of looking for student housing to rent in St Andrews University. Quite simply, you have the choice of going about the process manually or bringing in the assistance of the experts by way of an online student accommodation agency. Of course there’s nothing to say that you cannot end up with a fantastic place to live using either approach, though when looking at the specific benefits and drawbacks, it becomes pretty clear that one of the two is more beneficial than the other.
So for those who may be fast approaching the time when seeking out student accommodation will be necessary, here’s a quick look at the five biggest benefits of using web-based student accommodation services as opposed to the traditional manual approach:
1 – More Choice
First and foremost, it is important to remember that these days the vast majority of landlords and housing agencies are in fact only advertising their properties by way of online agencies. There are still plenty of properties that appear in other listings, but if you are looking for the widest range of properties covering every imaginable area and specification, the online agency is the way to go. It simply makes sense for landlords to take the sensible and easy option of advertising via agencies, therefore this tends to be what most now do exclusively. And of course, the more choice you have access to, the more likely it is you will find the perfect property for your needs and budgets.
2 – Vetted Properties
Along with gaining access to the largest selection of properties on the market, it is also worth noting that when you seek a property through an agency, chances are the properties will to some extent have already been vetted. Online agencies are generally unwilling to list properties that are in poor condition or generally are not suitable for students, therefore you can save yourself a lot of time and a good deal of aggravation by looking through listings of properties that have already been checked and verified. You will of course still have to make sure that you do your own personal checks on the property, but much of the legwork will have been done on your behalf.
3 – No Dodgy Landlords
The same also applies to landlords as the kind of landlord you rent from will have an enormous impact on how pleasant your stay at university is. If for example you choose to do things manually, it will be up to you to check out your landlord and make sure they are up to the job and agreeable in every way. By contrast, if you search for accommodation using an agency, there is a very good chance the landlords they work with will already have been checked and verified. Again, online agencies are not in the habit of working with landlords that are dodgy or in any way disagreeable.
4 – Lower Prices
It is also worth bearing in mind the fact that to search for and arrange a property through an agency usually means gaining access to the very best prices on the market. Not only does the abundance of competition help keep prices low, but high quality agencies rarely accept property listings if the prices are too high. What’s more, agents also tend to be quite strict when it comes to things like deposits so chances are when booking through an agency you will not have to pay a ludicrous deposit or advance payment.
5 – Total Convenience
Last but not least, one of the biggest advantages of all when booking through an agency is the way in which it is by far the most convenient way of looking for and arranging student accommodation. All the information is right there in front of you and a group of professionals has done pretty much all of the hard work on your behalf. In essence, all you really have to do is take a look at the listings of pre- verified apartments and other student housing options in order to decide which is the best for you. By contrast, the manual approach to seeking out student accommodation is a process that can often take weeks or months and still not result in an ideal outcome. With so many other things to think about at the time, it just makes perfect sense to involve the professionals who can give you a helping hand.