After the previous blog post about budgeting, it is appropriate to dive into searching for housing off campus- especially because leasing contracts are available now. As future upperclassmen, thinking about housing for the next school year is important to do early on. For many college students, the transition from living on-campus in traditional dorms to living off-campus unleashes new found independence. Finding an apartment can be stressful, especially with no prior experience. In this week’s blog post, the most important tips about renting an apartment, such as leasing, pricing, location, and size, will be covered.
Establish a Budget
- Before searching for an apartment, the very first step is to establish a budget. Do so by calculating your income such as part-time jobs, scholarships, and contributions from your parents.
- Next, list out expenses. Make a note of monthly expenses that would include groceries, rent, utilities, transportation, and miscellaneous expenses.
- Research rental listings near the college campus to see what average prices for apartments are.
- Include one-time costs such as initial deposits, furniture, and needed appliances.
Start the Search!
With a clear price range in mind, it will be a lot easier to narrow down the apartment space you want. So, let’s begin the search!
- Start in advance. Starting early is the only way to guarantee your spot with an apartment.
- To find online listings, utilize websites and apps such as Zillow, Apartments.com, and more to aid your search. You can filter your search based on your budget, location preferences, and sizing.
- Use campus resources to your advantage. Check your college’s housing office for more information. They often may have ample resources that share off-campus housing options. Furthermore, some universities also have housing fairs where rental companies may come out to give more information about leasing.
- Schedule tours with the apartments that interest you. See if they are safe, close to college, and fit your guidelines for what you were looking for in an apartment.
- Search for roommates! Sharing an apartment with roommates will significantly reduce costs and make living off campus a cheaper option than living on campus. Network with friends, or use roommate finding apps to find compatible living partners.
Understanding Lease Agreements
The leasing contract is legally binding, and it outlines the terms of your residence. To navigate it, here a few important tips!
- Read through the lease agreement in depth. Pay attention to important details like the monthly rent, lease duration, security deposits, and additional fees.
- Ask questions! It is so important to ask any questions to your landlord about any part of the lease that may confuse you.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/What-Is-Lease-Landlords-and-Tenants-ONOKY-Eric-Audras-Brand-X-Pictures-Getty-Images-58307cb55f9b58d5b104ba7e.jpg)
- Be aware of your rights: depending on your state, there will be different regulations with issues such as maintenance, security deposits, and more.
An important thing to note is that living on campus for another year is always an amazing option to consider if an apartment is not a feasible option for you and your needs! Remember, it is important to make the best of your college experience, including your housing situation.
All of this information came at just the right time. Originally, I was thinking I would live on campus for one more year. I changed my mind when I drove past some of the apartments near here and I think it would be an entirely different experience. So I’ve started to look into apartments near me and seeing what could be a good fit for me. It’s a lot to look at because I’ve never done anything even close to this but I will use your advice here to help me.
I think this post is very helpful and relatable because a lot of people want apartments but don’t know how hard it is to actually get a good one and maintain it. For instance, I was thinking about getting an off campus apartment, but i didn’t know it would be that expensive and I would basically have to go food shopping myself with my own money and stuff. It’s a lot to handle, and that’s not mentioning the rent prices! I think its important you highlighted making a list of expenses that you need to get because it is very important and if you don’t, you risk spending majority of your savings on one thing. I also think its very important you highlighted understanding your lease! This is also VERY important because your could be signing your life away and wouldn’t know if you didn’t read. I always like your post and think they are very helpful!
I definitely needed to read this post. This has been such a stressful time for me and so many other Freshman students. Having to decide where we will live next year while we are only in our third month of college is a hectic decision to make. Luckily, I have a great roommate and a wonderful support system, but I know not everyone is as lucky as I am. This post is super helpful and simple with the way you laid everything out, so thank you for providing all of us with college tips and information in a great way!