Filed under College Life on June 16th, 2008:
What to Look for in a College Apartment
You’re all packed up and ready to go. You’ve been itching to get to your new college town for a while, find an apartment and begin your new life. Finding the right apartment to meet your needs and budget, however, can prove to be quite the chore.
Don’t worry though; there are some great tips to help you find a college apartment that suits your wishes. Some of the things to consider as you look for the perfect place to call your own – or yours and your roommate’s – include:
Individual leases – If you plan on sharing an apartment with a roommate, individual leases are worth considering. This will help you both remain free of blame if the other happens to default. What an individual lease basically means is that the apartment complex deals with each tenant individually in regard to all responsibilities. So, if your roommate does not pay their rent, then you are not held liable for the missing or late rent.
Furnished apartments – If you don’t have the budget to buy a lot of furniture, this is a great way to go. You can find apartments that are fully furnished or partially furnished. While the accommodations aren’t necessarily up to Ritz standards, they work well for students that want off campus apartments. Finding an apartment that is already furnished will allow you to spend more money on accessories or decorations, and it will be easier to move at the end of the semester without having to lug a bunch of furniture around with you.
Room locks – Chances are you can install these if they’re not in place, but some apartment complexes offer pre-installed security locks for individual bedrooms. This can be important if you’re sharing a place with a relative stranger. It can also come in handy to keep drunk strangers out of your room for those nights when your roommate suddenly decides it’s time for a party.
Location – Considering the price of gas, you’re not going to want to sign an apartment lease unless you are close to campus or public transit. It’s not impossible to find apartments so close to campus that you can walk to class. Pay attention to the location before you decide an apartment is perfect and you can save yourself a lot of money in the process.
Co-signer options – Since most college students don’t have a rental history or strong credit report, it is Sometimes necessary to find apartments that offer leases where a guarantor can sign. Whether this is your parents, another relative or a friend, having this option can sometimes land you a better place than you could obtain on your own.
Remember, college apartments don’t have to be “perfect” to be ideal. They should offer the basic amenities, a reasonable price, a good location and decent security features. If you keep these things high on your priority list, you will find an apartment that suits you.