The pleasure of a company-sponsored guest house facility for a fortnight made me sink into the much-to-be-avoided comfort zone. Also, for worse, it heightened my expectations about how my own apartment should be.
Well, i looked and my friends also looked. Then Parents and relatives joined the gang and then the friends of friends chipped in. Soon, i’d forged newer friendships this way than the number of houses i’d seen. I was liking it. We swapped house-hunting stories and shared tips to resolve our respective house-broker miseries. But the point was, i was still homeless. In a way…
With all and sundry cued in on my quest, you’d think that i’d have a home. Not to be- at least, not yet. There were no 1BHKs in this city- it was bigger houses and bigger spaces. And i was super-spaced out…
Finally, I altered my criteria and settled for a more realistic search: a 1 BHK or an individual room in an apartment shared by girls. Some of the Hostels also provided this kind of living facility but they did have their share of thefts and bad food made compulsory upon residents. But even this way, you had a place to call your home; a place you could come back to. I only was still, at best- a housed guest!!
At the end of two weeks of house-hunting in Hyderabad, I had, with the help of my wonderful new acquaintances-turned-friends, a database. Now, those of you with a knack for an excel sheet filled with relevant info might really appreciate this. I have contacted almost all the brokers listed on all realty sites as well as those with locality specializations. I know who has which person in his team and who will pop a receipt in your face and demand for service charge (this, apart from the brokerage) to the perfectly unsuspecting. Another class will stick only to one’s rate or locality, seeming like it’s a niche catering of housing services. Some will discreetly mention that they forgot their wallet or have no money and need a hundred for petrol. They’d add a 3-5k margin on the usual house-rent to increase their brokerage, knowing you are a newbie to the city and will take his quote at face value. Moreover, there’s the Demand-Supply law at work. All said and done and philosophized, there’s no place like home…
I have some house-hunting dates (!!) lined up for tomorrow morning and that’s the day i also need to check out from the guest house. The company will now charge me a nominal cost for the additional days of accommodation. It’s not about saving the cost but saving the face; as the Chinese would say. Two whole weekends and I couldn’t find a shelter; a roof over my head?!! Well yes, it’s come to that…
Now, ideally, all i need is a house to call home.