Here is a list of house hunting tips that I hope are helpful~ 1. Virtually all housing is advertised for immediate occupancy. Your search should begin no earlier than 4 to 6 weeks prior to your targeted move-in date. In the current housing market, it is likely you will secure housing well within a month, but you may want to build in a little extra time to search if you are new to this process. 2. Shared housing is the most affordable housing and the easiest to secure. Shared housing is where you get your own room in a shared apartment or house (usually with other students). A similar category is Room Rentals. If you're on an especially tight budget, consider a Work Exchange, which is usually a room rental in exchange for approximately 10 to 15 hours a week of work such as child care, gardening, manuscript typing, etc. 3. Rentals with 3 or more bedrooms are harder to find. If you have your heart set on finding a rental that has 3 or more bedrooms, be aware that local rental housing consists primarily of small units with 2 bedrooms or fewer. Be prepared for a longer search and consider communities outside of Berkeley if you can. If you are looking with a group of people, be sure to read “Seeking with Friends.” Students should enlist the help of parents or guardians for the search process if you can, especially if parents/guardians will pay all or part of your rent. 4. Get a good map. Maps are available from campus bookstores or online (MapQuest or Yahoo! Maps for example). Although all of our listings are pinpointed on an online map, it's a good idea to view the whole area within 3 to 5 miles of campus just to have a general idea of where places are located. 5. Be accessible by phone. You will be leaving lots of messages with landlords and some will call you back. If you aren’t available, landlords simply will go to the next prospective tenant on their list. A cell phone that you carry with you at all times is best. (Cal Rentals has information on how to rent a cell phone locally.) 6. Script a short, positive statement about yourself that you can leave as a telephone message to landlords to encourage a landlord to call you back. Repeat your name and telephone number slowly and clearly. Express an eagerness to see the rental. Offer to accept a collect call if the landlord must call you back long-distance.