The time has come for you to find a place to call your own. Finding a residence for the first time can be an overwhelming experience. Let us provide you with some tips and information to help make finding a place an easier and more rewarding experience. The following information is based on leasing property. However, if your finances support buying your own property, much of this information may prove helpful.

The first thing to do is decide where you want to live and begin finding and creating a list of available places in that area. Newspapers or Buy, Sell and Trade magazines serving the area you wish to move to often have classified listings under apartments or houses for rent. If you know any landlords in the area, they may have properties for rent. If you don't know any landlords in the area you are moving to, try searching through the yellow pages in the area's phonebook for landlords and real estate agents. The internet also is a great source of residential listings, if you don't have your own internet access, perhaps you have a family member or friend with access you could use, or perhaps there is a nearby public internet access site, such as the C@P site here at EPYDC.

Now you have a listing of potential homes. The next step is analyzing your finances and eliminating any places that are unaffordable. The definition of unaffordable housing is any housing that costs more that 30% of your pre-tax income. Be sure you know of any expenses seperate from the rent price. Sometimes oil, water and electricity bills are included in the rent but just as often are not. Creating a budget with known expenses (rent, cable, phone etc) can help you determine how much money you can afford.

Once you have trimmed down your list, eliminating the places that would be unaffordable, it's time to check the places out first-hand. Arrange a time with the landlord of the property to visit and inspect it. Here is a list of things to check, ask and keep in mind when inspecting the premises:

Exterior	Interior
Is the outside of the building in good repair? Check for signs of dampness, state of guttering, missing roof tiles etc. What is the condition of the window frames? Who's responsible for garden and lawn maintenance? Are you happy with the location? Is it safe after dark? Is there adequate street lighting? Who has keys to the property? Are there good strong locks, preferably a deadbolt lock? Has the property been burgarlized recently? Is there adequate parking? How does the mail delivery work?	Is the house dry? Are the floorboards/walls damp? Look for stains or mold. (Dampness will not be evident in the summer) Is the condition of the carpets, curtains and decorations (if any) satisfactory? Is there adequate lighting in every room? Is there adequate and properly working washing and toilet facilities? Be sure there are no leaks! Are you happy with the overall state of repair? Are you happy with the landlords arragements for doing repairs? Is there enough cupboard and fridge space? Are there pets allowed?
Utilities	Fire Safety
When were the electrical appliances and wiring last serviced? Are all the gas and electrical appliances in working order? Are all the switches safely covered? Are there any bare wires anywhere? Are there enough power sockets in each room? Is the property heated? Air conditioned? Is there adequate heating in every room? Does the gas/electric fireplace work? Are the electrical switches, outlets etc in easily accessible locations?	Are there smoke alarms? fire extinguishers? Is there a fire blanket in the kitchen? Is the electrical wiring safe? If the apartment is above ground floor, check for a fire escape. Are there fire doors? How many exits are there from the property? Has the property been inspected by the Fire Service?

Now that you've inspected the properties, hopefully you've chosen the best suited place for the least amount of money possible, without sacrificing too much quality. Once you've chosen a place, contact the landlord and inform them of your interest. At this point, the landlord will likely offer you a contract. Some landlords may require references for their assurance that you are a suitable tenant. Be sure to read the contract! If there is anything you don't agree with or understand, discuss it with the landlord. It's possible that a compromise can be made for suitable solutions. Prior to signing the contract, familiarize yourself with the Rental of Residential Property Act. This outlines the rights and obligations of both you, the tenant, and the landlord. A copy of this information should be obtainable through the landlord. Certain criteria are mandatory in any rental agreement, so be sure the agreement contains these conditions. Once both the landlord and yourself are happy with the agreement and you are certain this is the place for you, feel free to sign the contract.

The place is yours! It's time to pack. The most efficient way to pack, is by packing one room at a time, labeling boxes as you pack, ie. "kitchen", "bathroom", "bedroom" etc. so you know where they go when you move them to your new place. Make sure to mark boxes as "breakable" or "fragile" if they contain items you want to handle with extra care. Also, a good idea is to pack a suitcase seperately with items you'll need for the first couple days before you finish unpacking everything. For example, a couple changes of clothes, toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste, soaps, towels etc), medicines, items to prepare and eat food if you don't plan to eat out, first aid kit, and anything else you think you may need.

Now it's time to move in. Moving can be expensive. If possible, try to find a few friends and use a pick-up truck. This is much more cost efficient than renting a moving truck. Once all your items are at your new home, hopefully you labeled everything carefully and have no trouble unpacking. At this point, you should be feeling a little more at home.

Tips on being a smart tenant

How to be a good tenant

Know where the gas tap, electricity switch, and water shut off valves are Know who the gas, electricity and phone companies in the area are Make a list of everything damaged in the apartment before you move in and have the landlord sign it Before you put a deposit down on an apartment, make sure you know the length of the lease, how much the rent is, and details of the lease Make sure you read and understand the lease fully before you sign it If you need something fixed, send the request in writing to the landlord and keep a copy for yourself Keep in mind that some leases automatically renew unless you notify your landlord (a month or two preferably before the end of the lease) Put all agreements with your landlord in writing Keep a record of all conversations you have with the landlord and/or his employees Keep receipts of any payments you make to the landlord Keep all records in an organized file and never alter documents Keep an inventory of all contents of your home at an alternate location Make sure that everyone who is living in the home is listed on the lease Make sure all the blanks of the lease are filled Make sure you know the rules in regards to subletting and pets before taking these actions

Keep noise level to a minimum Do not play loud music after 10pm Do not do your laundry after 10pm Take laundry out of shared laundry machines as soon as it is done so that other tenants may use the machines Keep your area of the yard clean Keep clutter out of shared hallways. Shovel your section of the walkway in the winter time Use only your parking space. Do not park in other tenant's spaces Warn neighbors ahead of time about birthday parties or other gatherings you may be having that will cause any access noise Always pay your rent on time Have respect for your neighbors Ask your landlord before you make any changes to your home Clean up after your pets when outside Keep noise level of pets under control and keep them on a leash at all times when outside Know where your children are at all times Inform your landlord of any issues with the neighbors so that they can be resolved immediately Clean up children's toys left in shared areas Leave your apartment in the same condition as you moved in, with exception for normal wear and tear Inform the landlord of any broken/fauly items in the apartment before they cause more damage (ie a small leak can lead to bigger damage if left unattended)

If you have any disputes with your landlord and are not sure of your rights, contact the PEI

Well here you are, in your new home. There's only one last thing to do! Live!