Starting college thrusts students into the adult world without much time to adjust– what with laundry-machine malfunctions, caffeine-sponsored all-nighters and researching what lofting a bed means for the first time. However, perhaps one of the greatest challenges comes after freshman year–moving off-campus. Though searching for off-campus living can be an intimidating and draining process, here are some considerations to bear in mind as you prepare for your new home.
While some colleges guarantee housing for all four years, others only allow underclassmen to live on-campus and a number of universities never require students to live in the dorms at all. Before deciding to live off-campus, consider the pros and cons of living in university housing.
After an RA lurks outside your door and strains to hear sounds of clinking bottles, the idea of your own apartment can seem like a burst of freedom. However, some of university housing’s restrictions can be beneficial. For instance, your college housing office is likely to be more accommodating than a landlord. If you have a substantial roommate conflict, for example, finding a new dorm room in your building is much easier than breaking your lease. Having an on-campus living space also guarantees a short walk to classes and most necessary furniture.
Depending on when you’re planning to move off-campus, subletting could be a cheaper and easier option than signing a new lease. Suppose you lived in a dorm for three years of your college career or know you want to study abroad for two semesters. Signing a lease for just your senior year may not be worth the hassle of apartment hunting and lugging furniture up three flights of stairs. In your university’s Facebook housing group, several students may be looking for someone to sublet their apartment for a year. Students may offer subletters a discounted rent or the opportunity to buy the current furniture in the unit. Perhaps you could find someone who is willing to let you sublet for just 9 months instead of the full year (if you know you will not be on campus after graduation). Before starting your housing search, it is worth speaking with other students who may have an offer that could fit your needs.
Though it goes without saying, once you decide that off-campus housing is the best option for you, start thoroughly researching all of your choices. While reading reviews of past residents provides valuable information, touring houses and apartments in person fills in the gaps that you can’t find online–how the layout flows, the noise level outside of the building, the condition of the walls and floors.
If you are able to get a tour, compile a list of questions you are hoping to have answered during your visit. Try to brainstorm every detail that may be relevant to your housing experience (what are the security measures, do they have a maintenance service, when the first available move-in date is, how often repairs are being made).
While on-campus housing is always located a reasonable distance from your classes, the same may or may not be true for an off-campus buildings. Before signing the lease for that brightly-lit, hardwood-floored apartment that is a mile away from campus, consider whether you would like to make that trek in snow or 90 degree heat. Maybe you are a morning person, but living far from campus will also make your 9 A.M. seem even earlier.
Just adopted a Shih Tzu you walk down brick paths each morning before class? Thinking about fostering a kitten for the year? Ask your landlord about the apartment’s pet policy and any pet charges. While some apartments allow pets for a monthly fee, others only allow service animals.
To furnish or not to furnish? Perhaps the most essential question of apartment searching, deciding whether or not to look for a furnished or unfurnished apartment will narrow down your search. Both options have pros and cons. While the monthly rent of a furnished apartment will likely be more expensive, utilities and overpriced furniture could make an unfurnished apartment just as pricy. If you plan to buy furniture, you also should consider where you will store it when you are not living in the apartment. Will you be able to easily transfer the furniture to your next housing? Or, will you have to find someone to sell the furniture to before you move out?
This can be a positive or negative depending on the person, but moving off-campus will almost always require you to cook your own meals. Though apartments typically come with a fridge, stove and dishwasher, many do not include microwaves and almost none of them have toasters or specialty appliances. Before moving off-campus, consider how buying kitchen items fits into your budget, and determine whether you want to give up a meal plan so soon.
Searching for off-campus housing compounds the stress that students already face from academic deadlines and packed schedules. However, moving off-campus not only allows students to make memories with their best friends, but also provides lessons applicable to post-graduation life. For me personally, some of my fondest college experiences have come from spending time in my apartment–whether I was making cheese boards with my roommate, hosting a Halloween celebration or just talking with friends in the living area. My search for apartments has also taught me the value of taking time to plan and consider what life may look like a year from now before making a decision. I now feel more confident in knowing what features are necessary for me to sign a lease.
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