The Dos and Don'ts of Choosing College Housing
When it comes to choosing college housing, there are many factors you need to consider before you make a final decision and sign the lease. You might think that as long as the price is okay and you get your own private bathroom, things will be fine. In some rare cases, this might turn out be true. However, you could save yourself a lot of regrets and stress later in the semester by taking into consideration these other aspects when choosing college housing.
Think of the horror stories you’ve heard from your friends and classmates about getting stuck in a place we’ll just call “Nightmare Housing”. The beginning of the semester was rolling in quicker than your friend might have expected, so they did what they had to do: they rushed and they settled. Or maybe the apartment complex they were at told them they could get a free scooter or TV if they signed the same day of the tour. Who doesn’t like free stuff? Before they had time to rethink their decision, their name (or their parent’s) was signed and they were officially a tenant at Nightmare Housing.
Now, they didn’t know that the walls were going to be so thin that they would be able to hear their six or so neighbors arguing at three in the morning. No one told them that none of those sparkling amenities were going to be in working condition until their year-long lease was up. They certainly didn’t expect that the first place they’d want to drive their new scooter to was as far away as possible from Nightmare Housing because their unit is filled to the brim with cockroaches. But they were rushing and didn’t have time to do proper research on their potential home.
Don’t let yourself become a tenant at Nightmare Housing. The price may be tempting and the offer of reduced rent for same-day signing might make you want to sign the lease right away, but hold off. Don’t rush. Choosing college housing shouldn’t be a decision made while you’re in a hurry. Your decision will definitely have an effect on your college experience, so don’t take it lightly!
So, when it comes to choosing college housing, what should you take into consideration to make sure you’re moving into the housing that’s right for you? Better yet, what are some things that you really shouldn’t be thinking about when you’re on the hunt for a new home?
THE DO’S OF CHOOSING COLLEGE HOUSING
Let’s begin with completing the following “do” objectives when you go on your next college housing hunt. The following are things that you should keep in mind when choosing college housing.
#1 – Think of how much you’ll be able to spend on rent
The amount of money you have to spend on rent will narrow down your housing choices, so this should be one of the first things you consider when choosing college housing. When you think of rent, it’s important to not just think of how much you’re going to have to pay for the rent, but also what your other expenses during the semester will be. This will help you get a more realistic idea of how much money you’ll have left that will be able to be used on your monthly rent payment.
Here are a few examples of things you might have to pay for during the semester:
- Tuition
- Groceries
- Utilities
- Gas
- Pet expenses (if you own a pet)
- Health insurance
Once you create a budget that reflects any potential expenses, you’ll be able to see more clearly how much money you can put towards rent. You might be surprised to find that you can afford to stay closer to campus or get your own private balcony!
#2 – Distance from campus
How close do you want to be to campus? Some students prefer to be as close to campus as possible so they’ll still feel “connected” to the school. Other students prefer the privacy and quiet that comes with living a bit farther away from campus. Which appeals more to you and your lifestyle?
Think about your mode of transportation. If you have a vehicle, living far from campus is a viable option for you. Without a car, getting to campus from a home that’s over ten miles away will be difficult (unless you can get creative).
If you’re the type of person who enjoys solitude and prefers silence when you’re studying, choosing college housing that isn’t close to campus will be ideal for you. You’ll be spared the hoots and hollers of aspiring frat boys prowling the campus and girls who like to yell out your school’s team name at the drop of a dime. But if you like to be where all the action is and be a short distance away from the school that you worked so hard to get to, then you should begin your housing search at places nearby campus.
Don’t forget that housing closer to campus is going to be more expensive when compared to housing farther away.
#3 – How many roommates do you want?
Often, the more roommates that you have, the less expensive your portion of the rent is going to be. But just how do you feel about sharing your space with one or more people? Living with friends might seem exciting, but maybe you blanch at the idea of having to share a bathroom with a complete stranger. Some students prefer to live alone after staying on campus in one of the dorms.
You have to decide what you want out of your college housing before you sign the lease. If you’re looking to possibly make new friends or just try living with strangers, you could look for housing that will be shared by four people. A studio, on the other hand, would be ideal for students seeking peace and quiet this semester. If you have someone in mind that you’d like to room with, you both might try for a townhome or a 2/2 apartment.
Whatever you decide, make sure it’s before you sign the lease!
#4 – Make sure your apartment is in a safe area
The rent may be low, the amenities may look great, but if you’re in a really dangerous part of a neighborhood, none of those things are going to matter. You want to feel safe in your home, period. If an area has a crime rate and it’s known to be a dangerous place to live, look elsewhere for your college housing.
To check the crime rate of a certain area, you can use websites like NeighborhoodScout.com CrimeMapping.com, which will show you color-coded crime maps based off of rates and statistics, as well as recent crime activity in the area.
THE DON’TS OF CHOOSING COLLEGE HOUSING
Now that we’ve gone through the “Do’s” of choosing college housing, let’s turn our focus on the “Don’ts” of choosing college housing. These are the things that you shouldn’t do when it is time to select your new home.
#1 – Make a hasty decision
Making a hasty decision usually equates to making a bad decision. Don’t wait until the last minute to find good college housing. To spare themselves stress, students typically begin signing for their new place many months in advance of the move-in date. Beat the crowd of stragglers by giving yourself plenty of time to find a home that you’re going to love living in. That way, you won’t feel like you have to make a decision every time you tour a house or apartment complex.
If you can’t make it to your college’s town that far in advance to begin looking at houses, you can start your search online instead. Sites like Uloop.com offer students listings of available college housing in all parts of the United States. You can view pictures of the property, find out details, speak with the landlord, and plan a tour for later, all online.
Don’t feel rushed–give yourself time!
#2 – Go with the cheapest place you can find
Every college student wants to find ways to save money, but there are some things that you really shouldn’t skimp on, and one of those things is your home. You’ll be living in the home you choose for the next year or so, if things go according to plan. You don’t want to be tight-fisted with your money and wind up in a house that has all sorts of problems.
Instead, find college housing that’s affordable and comfortable. It might take a lot of research and budgeting, but if you can find a home you love, it will be worth it.
I do know how it is to not have much money to put towards rent every month and you might be in a situation where you have no other choice but to look for the cheapest option. If that cheapest option has health violations, is in a sketchy area, or is just too far from campus, you might have to consider cutting back on other expenses to afford a place where you’ll feel safe, comfortable, and happy.
#3 – Search for the place that throws the best parties
I get it—you want to have a good time in college. We all do. But do you really want to live in a place where the police are constantly being called because of the noise complaints? Or what if you have a test you need to study for, but there’s a gigantic party going on in the unit above you? Suddenly, living at a place known for its wild parties might not seem like such a good idea.
I understand wanting to be close to where there’s going to be a lot of fun happening, especially since you won’t be living on-campus. Instead of finding a place that’s known for how wild it can get, you should look for an apartment complex that throws social gatherings where tenants can come out, party, and get to know each other, without the police needing to be involved. You can also look for college housing that’s close to a few bars and nightclubs.
#4 – Choose your home based off of the amenities
No. Just … don’t do this.
As a transfer student coming from a small town community college, I got so excited at the prospect of living somewhere that had a pool and a 24-hour access pool. Pool parties? Pizza? Free stuff? Sign me up!
It took some gentle guiding from family, friends, and teachers to remind me that I shouldn’t get dazzled by the extras. Instead, they told me that I needed to focus on the place I’d be laying my head at every night and where I’d be spending the most of my time at when I wasn’t at school—my actual apartment.
Amenities are great to have, but you shouldn’t choose your home (or not choose your home) based on whether the property has access to nice-looking amenities or not. Often, your school will have these same amenities offered to students for free. You’ll also probably end up making friends with at least one guy or gal that lives at the apartment complex that has the biggest hot tub in the neighborhood.
There you have it—the do’s and the don’ts of choosing college housing. To summarize, don’t get blinded by low rent and fancy amenities when you begin your search for a new home. You have to focus on which things will really affect you in the long-run and what might not be easy to get out of once you sign that lease.
Choosing college housing should be a fun experience. After all, you might be picking out your very first apartment since leaving your parents’ house. Trust yourself to pick out a great home but don’t block out the advice of your parents or other parental figures in your life. They’ve had to go through the same process of choosing college housing, so they’ll be able to provide you with great advice.
Happy house-hunting!