Guide to Off Campus Housing
There are numerous different paths a college student can choose. First, is become a dormie. Those people that decide to spend their entire college life on the dorm floor. Think the stereo-typical campus tour guide. Lives for campus activities, possibly president of the dorm board. This choice often limits the chance for partying given that most dorms are dry. The next option on some campuses is to go Greek. Most campuses with fraternities and sororities have Greek housing that can offer a much nicer housing option to the dorms. But if you are not enthralled by campus housing and are to much of a non-conformist to go Greek, you must find adequate housing.
First step is to decide a few things about what kind of living arrangement fits you best. Ask yourself a few questions. Do I want to live with roommates or do I want to live alone? Keep in mind that living with others usually decreases the cost of rent and utilities. Plus the added bonus, that you don’t have to furnish the whole apartment or house. On the other hand, you have to deal with the ups and downs of living with someone else. What kind of apartment do you want? Do you need a dishwasher? Would you be ok going to a laundry mat or must your new place have a washer and dryer? Do you need a furnished apartment or do you have the money and items to furnish your own apartment? Finally, what is the total cost you can spend on living? This should included rent, utilities, furnishing, food, and maintenance. Answer these questions and make a rough list of what you want and don’t want in an apartment. Compare that list with your finances and figure out what you can afford.
The next step is to find information about student housing in your college town. Good places to look are newspapers (the city paper and also the college paper), bulletin boards, word of mouth, and online posting boards. If your campus is in a big city try Craigslist. Find phone numbers and call. The only way to know if a place is right for you is to look at it. Never rent without seeing it.
Watch the landlord closely. Is he or she friendly? Do they mind answering your questions? You need to write a list of questions out and be sure and ask them. Remember this is the person you will have to deal with if any problem arises during the term of you lease.
After viewing the possible rentals make one more list, pros and cons about each place. After picking the best one, compare it with your finances. If you can afford it, you have found your apartment. Call the landlord. You have found the place you can hang your hat and call home.
