In the third and final post in our series of Freshers blogs, providers of student housing Liverpool and Salford based Mistoria Estate Agents, advise you on how to make the most of Freshers’ Week and beyond…

Join Clubs

No, we don’t mean as a club promoter. (Seriously, we don’t care that its Voodoo Wednesdays, you told us that last week…) At the Fresher’s Fair, you have the opportunity to join potentially hundreds of clubs and societies. Make the most of this opportunity. They range from sports clubs and dance troupes, to the really wacky, like the Humous Society or the Extreme Ironing Society. Don’t try and join every single one, otherwise you’ll be bombarded by emails for the rest of your life, but choose a broad selection that both caters to your interests but also pushes the boat out. If you’re interested but unsure, many societies offer free taster sessions.

Whilst you’re wandering around the Freshers’ Fair choosing clubs, milk the stalls for all they’re worth. Get all the freebies you can. You can easily get a lifetime supply of pens there, but also vouchers for free pizza and snacks.

Get In On The Discounts

As a student, you can get hold of an incredible number of discounts. Get a UNiDAYS or NUS Extra card to get massive reductions in most high street shops. Even if a shop doesn’t actually advertise that it offers student discounts, it’s worth asking anyway, as many do.

Cooking

Whether you decide to cook with your housemates on a rota, or do it just for yourself, try and bulk-buy and bulk-cook. Try to make enough for three meals when you cook, and freeze the portions you don’t eat for a later date. This will save you lots of money, and will mean you don’t buy things you don’t need. Similarly, don’t shop on an empty stomach; you’ll be more likely to buy rubbish. It’s worth getting your hands on a cookbook before you arrive at your new house. You can get student ones with quick recipes using cheap ingredients. If you’re not a great cook, try and learn some recipes beforehand. As amazing as living off takeaway kebabs sounds, it can really destroy you.

The First Lecture

When you first start university, you may feel a bit too relaxed about going to lectures. Don’t sleep through them though, even if the hangover is awful. Sometimes, later in the year, you might feel too ill to go to a lecture here or there. Don’t make a habit of missing them though. Even if you take notes on a laptop, bring a pen and paper too, in case your computer runs out of battery. Sometimes, actually writing out your notes can help you remember them better.

Don’t be scared to shout out ideas in a lecture. Everyone is just waiting for someone else to answer, and there’s nothing worse than an awkward pause after a lecturer has asked a question. If you have queries after a lecture, don’t hesitate to email the lecturer or go to their office. It’s what they’re there for, and given how much you’re paying for your education, you should make the most of it.

The First Assignment

Your first assignment can be a daunting prospect, but don’t fret, it’s doable. Lecturers are well aware that it’s your first real taste of uni work. The most important thing is that you don’t leave it until the night before it’s due. That just causes unnecessary stress. Plan what you’ve got to do in advance, and begin reading. Try to work on the essay in chunks, rather than all in one go. This way you won’t get bored, and it won’t look rushed.

Don’t leave referencing until the end either. Trying to find out where you got a quotation about 1st century BC Roman cheese production can be incredibly frustrating, and isn’t something you want to be doing at 2am. The other thing you don’t want to be doing in the early hours is crying when your computer crashes and you lose your work. Back-up all your work.

Mistoria Estate Agents

If you’re still looking for student housing Liverpool and Salford based Mistoria Estate Agents are here to help. We still have a range of properties available in both cities. To find out more about what we can offer you, call 0800 500 3015, email info@mistoria.co.uk, or fill in the contact form here.

In the second article in our series of Freshers blog posts, experts in Salford and Liverpool student homes, Mistoria Estate Agents, give you top tips for a successful start to your university life…

Get Creative

When you move into your student accommodation (Mistoria Estate Agents have many Salford and Liverpool student homes available), start decorating your room. Put up photographs of friends from home, your family, your dog, your pet snail, whatever makes you feel happy. Put up posters and some plants, too. Having a room that isn’t entirely bare will help you feel less homesick. And don’t worry, feeling homesick is normal. Try and meet up with your new-found friends and go somewhere together to keep your mind off it. Don’t forget about university health and support centres for more formal help. You can also explore student mental health websites such as Student Minds if you’re really struggling to settle in.

Get a calendar and put it up in a prominent position in your room. The number of events you plan to go to can be difficult to keep track of, so record everything. You might also want to fill it with your lecture times too.

Work with your housemates to try and make the rest of the house more homely. Take this as an opportunity to organise how bills are going to be split, and how you’re going to share out cooking and cleaning rotas as well. If you decide to get a TV, remember to get a TV licence. If you don’t have one, but watch TV, you can be fined up to £1000. It’s not worth the risk.

Make Friends

Easier said than done, but it IS possible, even for the shyest person. Really try and make an effort to socialise. It can be exhausting, but it’s well worth it. Go to as many events as you can to meet more people. Don’t try and pretend to be someone you’re not; people will see right through that. But one idea might be to fake-it-til-you-make-it. Sometimes if you force yourself to be sociable and confident, that’s exactly what you’ll become. Consider joining Facebook groups with your future coursemates before you arrive. It can be a great way to start to make friends without the initial pressure of meeting people face-to-face.

Keeping Up The Friendships

Not all the friendships you make in Fresher’s will last; don’t expect them to. Don’t feel obliged to stick with the first person you meet. Yes, initially, linking up with one person to help you make more friends is a good approach, but you’ll quickly find other friends. Similarly, don’t get into a Fresher’s relationship with the first person who shows an interest in you. You’ve got three or more years for that; think of the huge number of other people you’re going to meet in that time.

Take Part in Fresher’s Events

Don’t lock yourself up in your room for long periods. You don’t want to be known as the hermit housemate. Make the most of all of the Fresher’s events the university puts on for you. However, don’t be that person, and drink to excess. You’ll just end up embarrassing yourself. Eat something before you go out drinking to avoid unfortunate occurrences. If drinking isn’t your thing, remember that alcohol isn’t the be all and end all of university life, and that there are many other options for you. Even if you do drink, don’t think you can’t join the non-drinking events. Sometimes a night off from the partying can do you a world of good. Don’t let FOMO dictate your life!

Fresher’s events aren’t just limited to partying. The university might organise tours and trips to cultural spots in the city. Go to these not only to make friends, but also to orientate yourself. You might also want to find out where your lectures are and go and find the buildings before term starts properly. That way, you’ll know how to get to your lectures on the first day, and won’t end up panicking when you can’t find a room.

Mistoria Estate Agents – Providing Excellent Salford and Liverpool Student Homes

If you’re still looking for Salford and Liverpool student homes for next year, Mistoria are here to help. We have a range of properties available in both cities. To find out more about what we can offer you, call 0800 500 3015, email info@mistoria.co.uk, or fill in the contact form here.

For the first in a series of blog posts, Mistoria Estate Agents, specialists in Salford and Liverpool student houses, asked a current student to tell us, and you, their advice for Freshers’ Week and beyond. Here’s what they said…

Don’t Worry

The most important advice for Freshers is not to worry. We know, it’s hard not to. But it’s normal to feel anxious or nervous about leaving home, especially as moving-in day looms. Remember though, that everyone else is in the same boat. Even if the first people you meet don’t seem to be worried, they definitely are. They’re just trying to put on a brave face. Don’t worry if you don’t settle in immediately when other people seem to be doing so. People settle at different times.

Plan Ahead

Before you leave for university, make sure you have everything you need. Many student websites have itineraries you can use, but we thought we’d make some suggestions too. Remember, you don’t have to pack absolutely everything you own. If you do forget something important, you can still buy it in Liverpool or Salford. Set up a student bank account straight away. They often offer better interest rates than regular accounts, and have large free overdrafts (which you shouldn’t need to use, but give you some peace of mind.) Don’t be sucked in by freebies either – some offers are better than others. Make sure you have all the documents you need for your arrival, such as your letter of acceptance and ID. Check any information the university might have sent you via email, and check their social media pages for useful updates.

Remember to pack flu medicine as well. You WILL get Freshers’ Flu. THERE IS NO ESCAPING IT. Bringing paracetamol and Lemsip* will make your days of suffering just that bit more bearable. Register with a doctor’s office near to your new house too. You can find your nearest GP here.
*other branded remedies are available!

Finally, pack lots of fancy dress. Freshers’ Week in particular, but pretty much every night out after, revolves around some kind of outfit, and there’s often a competition for the best one.

Make A Budget

University might be the first time you’ve had to budget, but budget you must, if you want to avoid spending half the term eating Pot Noodles. Plan how much money will leave your account each month in bills, rent, and food costs, and allow for extra emergency costs too. Remember, you’ll need money for textbooks, but you can get these secondhand for a much better price than new. You’ll invariably spend a lot more in Fresher’s Week than at any other time, so you might want to make a mini budget just for that. Saving up some extra money over summer before uni just for Freshers’ is a good idea. Don’t feel pressured to spend money you don’t have, and try not to go into your overdraft unless it’s absolutely necessary.

Mistoria Estate Agents – Provider of Salford and Liverpool Student Houses

If you’re still looking for Salford and Liverpool student houses for next year, our last bit of advice is not to worry. Mistoria Estate Agents are here to help; we still have a range of properties available in both cities. To find out more about what we can offer you, call 0800 500 3015, email info@mistoria.co.uk, or fill in the contact form here.

With so many students looking for a Liverpool student house share, make sure you don’t leave it too long before starting your search.

We’re already in the final semester of the year and our Liverpool student houses are filling up fast for next year! But don’t panic. We still have plenty of decent properties for you to choose from but you need to get looking NOW!

Don’t be left disappointed and panicked into accepting a house you’re not happy with because the end of term is approaching and you need to find somewhere before heading home for the summer. Check out the selection of properties available from Mistoria Estate Agents. We can help you find a great Liverpool student house share.

If you want to choose your housemates, then get together with a group of friends and look for a house together. The advantage of this is that aside from sharing with people you know, you can choose a house that everyone likes and with rooms that everyone will be happy with. If it’s just you or you and just one friends, we can also help fit you into a suitable larger Liverpool student house share with other Liverpool students. You’ll still have your own private room that is just yours, and you’ll share the rest of the house and facilities with the other tenants. We do have a very limited number of properties with ensuite bathrooms so please ask us about these when your enquire.

What to look for in a student house share

One of the most important aspects of choosing a student house is location. When you’re looking for a Liverpool student house share you want to be in an area that is convenient for university but also has easy access to shops, transport, nightlife and entertainment. Many of our properties are in prime student locations, meaning everything you need is in close proximity. Our website also allows you to search for properties using a map search so you can be sure the houses you’re looking at are in exactly the location you want.

If there are four or more of you looking for a Liverpool student house share, go for a property that has two bathrooms. This avoids the common disputes over showers and the amount of time spent in the bathroom!

Don’t be influenced by superficial “extras” like a massive TV, iPod docking stations or inbuilt sound systems. They’ll cost you so much more in rent and whilst they sound great, everyone just watches Netflix on their laptop and listen to mucis on the phone anyway. A flashy TV is far less important than a good location,  nice rooms and reliable facilities.

Facts and figures of a Liverpool student house share

When you’re looking for a Liverpool student house share, it isn’t just about finding a house that you like. There are a number of financial issues to consider as well. Make sure you read the tenancy agreement thoroughly and know what you’re signing up to. Plus you’ll each need a guarantor, so get your parents to read through the tenancy agreement. Are bills included? They are with Mistoria Estate Agents. Remember that if you’re all students, the house will be exempt from council tax. You’ll probably have to pay part rent during the summer vacation if you want to retain the property next year. Also find out what the landlord’s policy is if one housemate wants to move out during the tenancy. It’s almost certainly the first time you’ve entered into an agreement of this kind, so be sure you understand the legal side of being a tenant.

If you’re a Liverppol student and still haven’t sorted your accommodation out for next year, browse the student properties at Mistoria Estate Agents before they’re snapped up! There’s only a few months left of the academic year. Visit www.mistoriaestateagents.co.uk or call 0800 500 3015. Or you can pop into our Liverpool letting office on Picton Road and chat to our friendly staff.