July 30, 2010
Hey there! Now that our new blog is well and truly up and running, we want to know what YOU want! What do you want to read about? What do you want to say? Posting comments on this blog or our facebook page, tweeting us, or emailing me (georgia@furnishedproperty.com.au) are all perfect ways to share your Sydney experience with people just like you! So jump on and tell us what you think!
September 23, 2009
We all know that backpacker accommodation in Sydney is an awesome way to find a temporary home on a short trip to Sydney. But, when you’re coming to Sydney for studying, a working holiday, or an extended visit, is Furnished Property’s short-term accommodation in Sydney a better option?
We certainly like to think so, and to prove our point, we have decided to put together this post on why our short-term accommodation options are so much better than backpacker accommodation in Sydney.
Costs Less – The amount of money you spend per week on a small, hostel bed in a crowded dorm room downtown Sydney can end up costing you more than you think. It can even cost you more money than some of our great, spacious and fully furnished rooms!
More Privacy – In a guest house, or shared house, with Furnished Property, you have the option to share with one or two other people, or get a room by yourself! Did you need a little more privacy than that 10 bed dorm in downtown Sydney? Or, were you looking for more sleep without others constantly disrupting it? If so, our short-term accommodation in Sydney will be just what you need!
Fewer People – Along with having fewer people in your sleeping area, our short-term accommodation options around Sydney can get you more space in the kitchens, bathrooms and common areas! Don’t you hate when you want to cook dinner, but you either have to dance around people, or wait for them to just finish their own meals?
Not only that, but while in backpacker accommodation around Sydney you may have to deal with people partying any night of the week. Now, we’re definitely not saying that there won’t be parties in our shared accommodation options, but you will find that you will be surrounded by more like-minded individuals. Most of our tenants are those here on working holiday and student visas, so if you’re needing a place to study or get a good night’s before work, then we will have a place that suits you!
How short is our short term accommodation in Sydney?
Glad you asked! The shortest stay is only a 1 month commitment in one of our shared houses / guest houses. If you are looking for residential options, the minimum stay is only 3 months! Besides this, all accommodation is fully furnished and ready to go. Just give us a call and we’ll help you get sorted.
What are your thoughts, Furnished Property tenants? Do you think our short term accommodation options are better than backpacker accommodation in Sydney, or not?
September 7, 2009
Sitting on the train yesterday, I overheard a couple talking about the new Quentin Tarantino film “Inglourious Basterds”. They obviously liked it and spent the entire ride to Central replaying clips with excitement, including the gory, bloody parts that can make someone squeamish. The guy had even seen it two times at the cinema, which in my mind means a lot for a movie, so I thought – after seeing it myself and loving it – that it deserves a little shout-out.
The short story, as put by MovieWeb.com, is: “In ‘Inglorious Bastards,’ a band of U.S. soldiers facing death by firing squad for their misdeeds are given a chance to redeem themselves by heading into the perilous no-man’s lands of Nazi-occupied France on a suicide mission for the Allies.”
Users on the Internet Movie Database gave the movie a rating of 8.7/10 from 44,671 votes!
Rotten Tomatoes gives the film an 88% on the Tomatometer and describes it as “…a classic Tarantino genre-blending thrill ride. Inglourious Basterds is violent, unrestrained, and thoroughly entertaining.”
Not convincing enough? Have a look at the trailer:
What do you think Furnished Property tenants? If you’ve seen it, did you like it? And if not, are you going to go to the cinema now?!
September 2, 2009
From language barriers and dirt roads to poisonous snakes and unforgettable landscapes, travelling to developing countries (formerly known as the Third World) is no doubt an exhilarating experience. The differences from exploring the Western World are countless, but it is those differences, both good and bad, that combine to make it a life changing event.
photo credit: Duquesa Mercedes
The Good
Cheaper - The most important point for many backpackers comes down to the price tag. Travelling in lesser-developed countries gives them the ability to stretch the money that much further since the cost is frequently much lower. In this sense, backpacking often gives people the opportunity to build on their budgeting and planning skills and helps them learn how to make decisions based on value (*tell that one to your parents).
More Culturally Authentic – If the culture hasn’t been touched as much by present technology, then chances are it will provide a more authentic cultural experience, allowing you to get a better idea of the true behaviour of the people.
Unforgettable Scenery – Some of the most untouchable places on earth supply the most breathtaking scenery. Envision climbing volcanic peaks, crossing desert mounds and trekking through jungles.
The Bad
Less Security – Funding proper police forces and other security measures is problematic for developing countries, meaning many officers turn to corrupt methods to get a decent paycheque. Because of this, a traveller can never be 100% sure of their protection.
More Difficult / Dangerous Transport – Funding problems also mean that roads might not meet proper safety regulations, or be nothing more than a dirt road. Transport can lead through dangerous terrain, such as mountainous hills, making it something to be concerned about.
More Petty Theft – Watch your pockets! Money belts will become your best friend as sneaky pros and rambunctious kids eye your wallets. Again, economies with less money will have more sticky fingers to worry about, especially when they see a traveller coming their way.
The Ugly
Greater Health Risks – Japanese Encephalitis, Hepatitis, Yellow Fever, Typhoid, Malaria… the list goes on. Some of these illnesses can have horrible side effects, or even cause death if not treated. Be sure to get your vaccinations and take all necessary precautions.
Greater Security Threats – It might be possible in some countries to become the target for terrorist activity, or to get caught in the middle of a war. If you happen to be travelling in a country full of civil unrest, try your best to stay on top of the news.
Is it worth it?
My personal story:
“I was overcome by anxiety before my flight to Kyrgyzstan, a small, unknown country that most people don’t even know exists. I had all my necessary medications, vaccines, and safety tactics I could think of, only to be surprised by the extreme ease at which life travelled. My host family took me in as one of their own, and when I decided to leave for my own apartment, I was surrounded by glorious mountains in every which direction and neighbours that quickly proved why the Kyrgyz are known for their hospitable ways. I cannot even begin to explain the ways travelling to this country has changed me. In my opinion, it is very much so worth it.”
What do you think, Furnished Property tenants? Does the good of travelling to the Third World outweigh the bad? We want to hear your personal stories on how this type of travel has, or has not, changed you.
August 28, 2009
As you are sitting in your cosy little Furnished Property home, what type of YouTube videos might you find yourself watching? Are they funny, cute, shocking or made by friends? With that in mind, have you ever wondered what the most watched video of ALL TIME is on YouTube today?
Well, I have. As I was sitting in the office thinking of things to post on the blog today, I got to thinking that I should get to the bottom of this easily-solved mystery and share the answer with you.
Here is YouTube’s top watched video of ALL TIME:
That’s right! The video that has been viewed 49,280,111 times, commented on 88,790 times, and given 121,846 ratings is no other than the Free Hugs Campaign – Official Page video. To make the accomplishment even more impressive, it outranks the 2nd place video (Aerosmith’s I Don’t Wanna Miss a Thing) by more than 6 million views, and it has all happened since September, 2006!
Are you surprised? I have to admit that I was sort of expecting the top video to be something scandalous and/or involving a power pop idol. Instead, we get this ultra cute family friendly goodwill type of video with a song by the Sick Puppies, but I guess that’s the power it possesses. When you watch it, you just can’t help but smile. 
June 17, 2009
Whether in shared housing or private apartments, there is generally always the issue of having to deal with loud neighbours at one point or another. The question I am posing to you is this: “How do YOU deal with it?”
Sometimes the problem is a group of younger tenants having a loud party, or it could be an old lady with bad hearing watching TV. Perhaps your neighbours are doing some renovation work, or maybe they are having an argument. Any of these situations can become quite annoying at odd hours of the day, so what to do?
Generally, people stick to these three procedures:
1) Keep it all in. What this means is the person being annoyed just takes it without giving any feedback to the loud neighbour(s). Sometimes, such a person will complain to other people about the problem, but never get the courage to take it to where it counts. Other people in this category choose to give no feedback because they understand that dealing with loud neighbours is just a part of living in apartments, especially if they also want to have the occasional party or two.
2) Contact the neighbour. If the noise is too bothersome, some people will take the time to phone the neighbour (if they have the number), or even knock on their door to ask them to quiet down. This can sometimes be viewed as a more confrontational approach, but generally effective.
3) Straight to a higher authority. To avoid the confrontation, but get the job done, some bold tenants will take it directly to a higher power – the landlord or even the coppers! Some people do this after countless confrontations without a resolution, while others go directly to this method. I may be going out on a limb here, but I would think most people would enjoy a phone call first before jumping to this method.
Which do you choose? Take this poll and let us know your method of dealing with noisy neighbours.
Can you think of other ways to get your neighbours to quiet down? Also, what happens if the noise is not coming from your neighbours, but from flatmates??? Leave us a comment below!
June 9, 2009
Everyone has their own reason for deciding to take a long trip down under, so what was yours?
Was it the endless beach, or the climate that rarely sees snow? Was it the culture, or maybe the crazy amount of dangerous wildlife that runs around the country? Feel free to take our poll, or leave a comment below.
May 22, 2009
Last week, I wrote a post posing the question to Working Holiday Visa holders on what should be done first upon arrival in Sydney: find a job, or a place? In my particular situation, I really felt it necessary to find a flat before I was able to properly find work, but it ended up having a not-so-good outcome because of my quick/rash decision. I felt it should have been done in another way.
This week I’m putting out an idea that could have solved my problem, and possibly help others in the same situation. This solution would be taking advantage of the short-term contracts available in the guest houses of The Furnished Property Group. That’s right – The minimum stay is only a month, so why not go for it and have a great – temporary if needed – home while you are looking for that job?!
Because it is only a month minimum stay, you won’t be “stuck” somewhere for long if you happen to find a job that is far away. There’s no true commitment involved which allows you to rest your worried head and not fret when you should job hunting and having fun.
Furthermore, all the places with The Furnished Property Group are fully furnished, meaning you won’t have to spend a dime in order to get your day-to-day living under way.
Not bad, eh? Short-term contracts are definitely a great thing, especially for those coming to Sydney on a Working Holiday Visa.
May 15, 2009
So, this post goes out to all the Working Holiday Visa-ers who have found their way to the Sydney area. It was definitely a concern of mine upon arrival, so I’m sure you’ve had to think about it as well. What is the best route to take after arriving – find a job, or a place, first?
photo credit: SOCIALisBETTER
The decision was a difficult one for me to make, even after weighing all the options. If I decided to find a job first, I would then be able to find a place closer to it and have a better idea of the budget I was working with. This could mean the difference between living in a dive, or living in comfort during my time in Sydney. It could also spare the cost of certain travel expenses in the future.
On the other hand, I found it was just too difficult to look for a job while living in a hostel. There’s a certain amount of preparation that goes into getting interviews, as well as looking the part, and living out of a backpack was just not cutting it. Just finding a quiet place to talk on the phone to potential employers was difficult, not to mention the fact that internet use was limited. Some nights, I didn’t quite get the sleep I was in dire need of because of the sounds from my other roommates. Also, getting ready for the interview itself seemed to take me twice as long as it would otherwise.
Because the stress of needing to find a job was breathing down my neck, I cracked one Sunday and decided that I needed to find a place first so that all efforts could be focused towards the job. I hurriedly made appointments to view whatever I could for the cheapest I could. But, what did I know? I barely knew the area, or the market.
I ended up taking something that day, and later regretted the decision immensely. I won’t get into the details just yet, but I’m sure they will come up in future posts. Overall, I do think getting my own place first was the way to go because my ability to look for jobs was significantly improved, but really it should have been done in another way.
What do you guys think? Find a place, or a job, first? Take our poll below, or share your own experiences by leaving a comment.
