When you’re hunting for a place, it’s easy to get caught up in the photos. Nice floors, big windows, a kitchen that looks like a magazine. But after a month, what you’ll notice most isn’t the kitchen. It’s how your mornings feel.

If you’re heading to class every day, your route matters more than almost anything else. Here’s how to think it through.

Do the walk yourself. Maps apps will tell you it’s twelve minutes. They won’t tell you it’s uphill, or that the sidewalk disappears for a block, or that you cross a busy intersection with a very short light. Walk the route once, ideally at the same time of day you’d actually be going. You’ll learn more in that one trip than from an hour of scrolling.

Think about winter early. If you’re new to Montreal, this one catches people off guard. A ten-minute walk in September is a different thing in January, with snow, ice, and wind coming down the street. Ask yourself honestly whether you’d still be happy making that walk on a grey morning in February. If the answer is “probably not,” look at how close you are to a metro station or bus stop, so you have a backup.

Count the little things around you. Where would you grab groceries? Is there a pharmacy close by? A café where you could study when the apartment feels too quiet? Having these within a short walk makes a place feel like home much faster than a long list of amenities does.

Visit at different times. A street can feel calm at 2 p.m. and completely different on a Friday night. If you can, stop by in the evening and again on a weekend. Listen for noise, notice how lit the street is, and picture yourself coming home late from the library.

Be realistic about the trade-offs. Being very close to campus often means smaller spaces or higher prices, and living a bit further out can get you more room for the same budget. Neither is wrong. Decide what you’d rather give up: a longer commute or a smaller place. Be honest about how much a daily trip will drain you.

Ask the people who already live there. If you spot a current tenant in the hallway or on the street, say hi and ask how they like it. People are usually happy to tell you about noisy neighbours, slow heating, or how good the landlord is.

Keep a short list and compare. After viewing a few places, jot down how each one felt, plus the commute, the cost, and what bugged you. Memories blur together fast, and notes make the final decision easier.

If you’d like to see a few options close to the McGill campus so you can start picturing what the daily trip might look like, that page is a handy starting point.

In the end, the best place isn’t the prettiest one. It’s the one that makes your week a little easier.