Finding a new home - timing

Hi everyone,  thanks so much for all the advice I've been given on the various other boards that I've posted my ramblings on.  It is much appreciated and makes thinking about everything way less stressful 

I am wondering how to approach finding somewhere to live.  I thought I had a friend to share an apartment with, but he dropped off the face of the earth - so Plan B is to go it alone.  Now I am looking for a flat/house share, ideally with other young, social professionals, so I can go out with them, be introduced to their social circles, etc etc.  Been searching mostly on spareroom.co.uk.

Not that I've found the "one" yet, but I've been messaging a great deal of people, as places available for November are now starting to pop up.  Once my visa is approved (clearly not signing anything before that), if I found a great one, should I scoop it up before I arrive?  My tentative plan is to arrive 9 November and I have a short-term flat booked through airbnb through 22 November.  I start my new job 17 November.  Is it possible that I could find a place in those two weeks or should I keep searching to try to find one before I get there?

I am looking around Hammersmith and Fulham or Canary Wharf (office will probably be there, so short commute, but I don't want to get 'trapped' there on weekends without transport).  I want to be west/southwest, as it's where I feel most comfortable until I get my bearings in London.

So many unknowns!  Sorry to throw them all at you.
Thanks so much, UK Yanks!

If your office is in Canary Wharf, you may want to be looking more central or east side of the city than Fulham/Hammersmith because of the commute (always seems like those west london lines are broken down or delayed).  Greenwich has lots going on over the weekends, parks, good public transport (DLR never goes on strike or difficulties), and a lot of young folk due to proximity to Canary Wharf and U of Greenwich.  Theoretically you could also bike to work easily.  There is also a huge shopping center under Canada Place that is open over the weekend, so its not like it is completely dead. 

We were looking for a shared situation earlier in the year and most people will want to talk to you first and get to know you. And you will REALLY want to get a look at the housing because the quality can be all over the map here. You should be able to get something in a week, or at least something short term till you get your bearings in town.  You will certainly have to move fast though, and it is worth it to pay for the Early Bird postings service on spareroom.

I agree with Bertine re: paying for the Early Bird service, and Spareroom.co.uk is probably your best bet for finding a good flatshare.

What kind of commute are you hoping for?  Travelling from Hammersmith to Canary Wharf seems like it could be a bit of a pain, so if I were you I might be tempted to consider places in east London, or maybe even north London to get the young professional vibe you seek.  

For example, taking the Overground from somewhere around Highbury&Islington/Canonbury/Shoreditch and changing at Canada Water for the Jubilee line could be alright.  Highbury in particular is quite popular amongst young professionals, and has a nice range of restaurants, pubs and bars for socialising. I just travelled through Shoreditch tonight at about 8:30, and it was definitely buzzing -- but could be a bit noisy at night.  You could also consider near Angel/Old street station and take the Northern line down and change at London Bridge.   All of these places are still quite central, so it shouldn't take too long to get your bearings, and may be a little more convenient travel-wise (the district line can be a bit temperamental...).

I like rentonomy to get a general (visual) idea of where places are in relation to one another, and also to compare rents/crime rates/council tax.  If you click on a particular area, it pulls up a profile with different tabs describing transport options, leisure facilities, the general population (displayed as a pie chart with various age ranges).

If you're considering different areas, Ludlow Thompson Area Guides can be helpful.  For some of the places I mentioned (Highbury, Angel) it doesn't say much, but I'd say they match that which is captured in the ones for Canonbury or Islington.  

Have a look and see what piques your interests most of the places already mentioned by yourself/Bertine, and consider these in line with what your commute would look like-- heck, even try it out during the morning/evening rush between when you arrive and when you start work, to get a better idea of the daily bump and grind.

But I do think you should be able to find a houseshare in the first two weeks -- just do make sure you see the place and meet the flatmates first, to get an idea of whether you could actually live with these people, and what sort of state the flat is kept in. This website gives a good starting point for things to consider/ask when you meet potential flatmates.

Thank you two so very much!!! I really appreciate your advice.

I just got into a super busy time at work, but I cannot wait to dig into the information you provided when it's over and I can focus on the move more