SETTLING IN - CultureShock! A Survival Guide to Customs and Etiquette - page 97

underground parking, but the older ones do not and street
parking is difficult. If there is no parking, inquire about garage
possibilities in the neighourhood. (See also page 166.) In
this case, visit the garage to see how cars are parked and to
determine hours when the car is retrievable.
Searching On Your Own
First, scan the ads in FUSAC regularly. Also, good apartments
can occasionally be found by referrals from friends or in les
petites annonces (classified ads) placed in newspapers by the
owners themselves, who hope to avoid paying the landlord's
share of the real estate commission. These ads often say
propriété à louer (property for rent). Some landlords advertise
privately in order to escape signing a lease, to avoid taxes,
or perhaps because the apartment is not up to standard.
Although the price might seem reasonable, do not accept
substandard facilities or fail to be protected by a written
contract. Ultimately, there are few bargains.
If an apartment appeals to you, call right away to set up
an appointment. Some properties will have open houses,
listed as ce jour , giving the time of the open house and the
address. Bring your passport and proof of financial means
in case you decide to take the apartment. Because the rare,
desirable, reasonably priced apartments go quickly, make a
commitment as soon as you can.
If you do not speak French fluently, bring someone
with you who does. Sign a document only after you have
understood every word.
Understanding the Ads
To decipher advertisements, start with the building itself. Its
location in the quartier is given as the closest métro stop. Standing
means it is a high-class building, as does bel immeuble .
Apartments are advertised by pièce (room), excluding
bathroom and kitchen; by the area in square metres; or
by the number of main rooms, as indicated by F1 or F2.
An apartment of deux pièces has two rooms, a kitchen and
bathroom. A studio is one room and a studette may be as
small as 18 sq m. A chambre may be as small as a studette ,