My House – in the middle of the street…

So, I finally moved house!

I’d been looking for a few weeks for a place to live now. From a semi-serious look on Gumtree initially, I found a few places that I could see myself living in and I got in contact. The first one I saw was the place I actually ended up moving into, but it still didn’t stop me checking out another place.

I’d seen this room for rent for £130 a week. It seemed decent enough, but I backed out once I realised that £130 was a little beyond what I wanted to spend. The landlord – a guy named Corrie – offered to knock it down to £125 a week. It was better, but I still kept looking. The day I was to view this place on Acton, I saw a room
In Brentford that looked cheaper – so I arranged to go see it.

Oh god. Everything that could be wrong was wrong. The room was tiny, the wallpaper peeling, damp everywhere, awful back ‘garden’. I was polite enough to have them show me around the house, but I really couldn’t get away sooner. The minute I stepped outside of this place, I phoned up Corrie and asked if I could view the flat in Acton.

Thankfully, I could. I was shown around and instantly I could see myself living there. Five minutes walk away from Acton high street, this place was just off a cul-de-sac that seemed unusually quiet despite the proximity to a main road. A fair sized double room plus a sun terrace swayed me, so I did all I could to get it. A holding deposit was enough, followed by rent & a deposit.

I’m happy with the place I’ve chosen. A bus route running to North Acton station at the end of my road, shops just five minutes away – with a whole load more just 20 minutes away in Hammersmith – this place ticks all the boxes. My housemates are all good fun too, at least they have been on the occasions we’ve all got drunk together!

My first serious move. After the failure that was the Sherwood move four years ago, it’s nice to be in a place of my own. Forever grateful to my brother and Aleks for putting up with me – and putting me up – but the time was right to move on.

Onwards and upwards!

Moving on up

And so begins the process of finding a place of my own. I don’t have to leave Iain’s just yet, and he’s in no rush to force me out the door, but I feel I’ve intruded on them for long enough and the sooner I find a flat the better.

I have a wish list of things I want in a flat. Nothing too unreasonable considering my price range and area I’m in. Budget is £500pcm, the area I’m looking at is Ealing/Acton or anywhere not too far away from Iain’s and my job. I’d like all bills inclusive of the price of the rent too, no hidden extras that leave me out of pocket at the end of the month!

I’m excited to be on the verge of moving out, bit different from the ill-fated move to Sherwood all those years ago. This time I will actually have the money, plus I HAVE to make this work, no running back to Radcliffe for the safety net of my parents house. Plus, I’m 28 – there is absolutely no intention of moving back home, I’d like to think I’ve left Radcliffe alone for good.

Once I’m paid at the end of the month, I’ll be ready to be getting in contact with potential new flatmates to sort out viewings. It’s all so grown up!