It’s been almost a year since I posted here. A lot has happened since then.
I completed the FRACP examinations. I got a new job as an Advanced Trainee in one of the specialties that I intend to specialise in (I plan on dual-specialising) at a major tertiary hospital in Melbourne. This new job necessitates an inter-state move from Newcastle. We’ve been packing, and now we’re looking for a place in Melbourne.
My wife is coming down with me. She’s leaving her job in Newcastle, and is looking for one in particular, though she has a casual vacancy job lined up already (with her credentials, she was a shoo in, even if I do say so myself). She’s very excited about the move and to start work in a new place.
Looking for a place in Melbourne has been like looking for a needle in a haystack. Sure, there’s plenty of places to rent, but the prices are ridiculous, and even the moderately priced ones are the size of shoeboxes. Well, one definitely qualified as a shoebox, but was going for about $500. Needless to say, we did not apply for that one.
The number of people inspecting each place was also quite surprising. Up to 5 minutes before the inspection time, the street could be dead quiet. Then, when the agent arrives, a swarm of people would just emerge out of thin air, and if someone didn’t know any better, they’d wonder if there was some sort of protest or other gathering occurring.
The most I’ve seen so far was about 30+ people waiting to inspect a unit, the inspection of which had to be cancelled for two reasons. Initially, the agent didn’t know it was booked. When the agent finally did arrive, we found out the tenant had not been informed and she declined to let the inspection go ahead, as was her right. The crowd almost turned into a mob then. They had been waiting in the sun for at least 30 minutes, only to be turned away due to miscommunication. I’m not sure how an inspection could have been posted on their site without either the agent or tenant knowing about it.
We have seen 13 places over the last 3 days, with 6 on Friday. We didn’t however, apply for any of the ones we saw on Friday, due to various reasons, including one that smelt of mold and had weeds growing in the house itself! We’re not fussy about the place we get, seriously, but I’m not sure I want to sleep with weeds and mold, or in a place that looks like it may have been a drug den.
Tomorrow (Saturday), we’re going to be inspecting 15, yes, 15, places between 10am and 2.30pm. Hopefully, it’s fruitful.