yes housing is expensive in vancouver and there are also indo canadian gangs somewhere so thats to note

http://www.comingtovancouver.ca" rel="nofollow">LINK
helps newcomers with apt issues

Hi Dan,

What an excellent and informative site www.comingtovancouver.ca it is!!

Thanks,

Raamzee

Hey Jughead

How was your first day in office on Monday. How do u like working in cdn environment ?

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We will find a way or we will make one

Jughead / Smiley / Desifrmus / Hope,

We shall be moving to Vancouver shortly.
Which are the good secondary schools in Burnaby as we will need to identify good schools first and then find an apartment to rent in that particular catchment area.
I have been told that the secondary school near Metro Mall is not great and this thus eliminates the highrise buildings near / behind Kingsway.

Any cooments will be much appreciated
Thanks
AJ

Hi,
I have come back from my trip.
I sent you a PM yesterday.
Just now I found that you had fixed an apartment.
Call me when you have time.
All the best!!!!!!!!!!!

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HOPE

Sorry,
I forgot to mention to whom I am sending the message...........

Quote:

---

Orginally posted by Hope

Hi,
I have come back from my trip.
I sent you a PM yesterday.
Just now I found that you had fixed an apartment.
Call me when you have time.
All the best!!!!!!!!!!!

---

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HOPE

Hi AJM,
Welcome to Vancouver!
Where are you moving from?
I have been here for 3 months. I am happy with our apartment in Vancouver except for the rent aspect.
When we moved from the US, we brought our things in UHaul and planned to stay in a hotel for 15 days till we book an apartment. But, two days before the move, we got a vacancy in an apartment we were looking for and booked it online. A mistake though….The apartment was so dirty, still had the things left by the previous tenants. But, the Building manager was a nice guy and fixed all the problems. He steam cleaned, changed the exhaust fans, taps, etc..We got a secured underground parking included in the rent by negotiation.(otherwise $30/ for a month).So far so good.
I do not have any idea about the school district, as my son goes to the University.
But, my friend has put her two children in a school in Burnaby School district and she says, it is good.
Regarding apartments, there is some information I got from friends, who have been here for several years.
1. As desifromus says, try to stay close to the work place. Or try to stay close to your children's school.
2. Stay close to Bus stops, and somewhat not so close to sky train stations. Our friend told us, that it becomes easy for thieves to mug you, steal from you or your house and jump into sky train and disappear.
3. My personal suggestion is do not look for a ground floor (first floor as in Canada) apartment. Many apartments do not even have insect nets and I feel it is less safe especially if you have children.
4. Look for safe underground parking. Ask where the guests can park, when they come.

6. Never feel intimidated .You can always try to negotiate. That is how we got the parking space for free.
7. If you can manage without dishwasher, the rent may be cheaper. You can always get a portable dishwasher.
8. Check for the laundry facility. If the building has coin less laundry, it is better. It makes life easy. You don’t have to look for/get change every time.

9. Most of the apartments have heat and hot water included.
10. Ask about their rent increase policy. If they are going to increase after 12 months and you have the option of having a lease for 6 months, go for 6 months.

11. Don’t be in a hurry to fix any apartment you see first, just to save on hotel rent.
It is not very easy to move from one apartment to another, especially if you have a lot of stuff.
12. Once you move, make a thorough inspection of the apartment and give it in writing any defects/damages that you find. Don’t start buying things, which are heavy, bulky and that which you can not move/lift by yourself.
13. As suggested by our manager, we had a new lock in addition to the old lock, to ensure more safety.
14.. How much people are friendly, I do not know. Many are. But, sometimes I have felt bad, when fellow desis do not return my smile.
I have randomly expressed my thoughts.
Hope at least, some are useful.

PS: If you are from the US, or from some other place in Canada, you can ignore what you already know. It may be useful for someone else, I guess.

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HOPE