Finding college apartments is usually one of the more tedious aspects of college life because of the prospects of paying rent, finding suitable living conditions and compatible roommates. While all three of those are just extras, you’ll discover you have so much more that could potentially pass over your head while thinking about your main concerns. Before you even look at an apartment, you already have some pending issues that could make the process more stressful than necessary.
The time of the year for your college apartment search, plus the type of neighborhood you’re looking in are all important, but overlooked aspects of the research process. Expectations are a major problem with students, and you can’t always expect to find something perfectly in tune with what you’ve envisioned.
Here are a few tips to keep in mind during your college apartment search:
Looking During the Right Time of Year
It makes a big difference in what time of year you search for apartments since it could get crowded if you start searching immediately before the school season starts. When this happens, the chances of finding what you really want becomes more scarce since you’ll have more competition than you calculated.
Your chances are even worse when you look at apartments and housing a mere week or two before the fall school semester begins. The struggle is due to the fact that others will likely take the best apartments and houses before you can even make a deal. It doesn’t matter what time of the day you look, it’s a highly competitive time when students with perhaps deeper pockets placed a deal on your dream place.
You should start searching right after the current semester ends. The best time is just before summer since most college students are taking time off. In turn, you will be set up several months in advance before fall classes begin. Nevertheless, the end of any semester during the year opens up better opportunities.
Scoping Out the Neighborhood
You probably already know this, though it pays to do more research than just doing a quick study of your prospective neighborhood. It pays to talk to some of the neighbors if possible before you commit to an apartment or housing.
In addition, the Internet does wonders in helping you understand a neighborhood and the kind of people who live there. When researching online, you can find information about crimes that took place there in the recent past, and what the income level is. While you don’t want to become biased about the kind of people who live there, online information can tell you more than you perhaps even wanted to know.
Flexibility in Your Expectations
You need some flexible expectations when you’re searching for an apartment. Some neighborhoods or apartments aren’t always perfect, yet it could be what you need in the sense of being nearby to your college. It’s times like this when you should list what you absolutely need to make college life more comfortable rather than worry about unnecessary things.
No doubt you want a great view out your windows, plus certain amenities. You could probably live without them if it meant walking less than a block to get to school. Would you rather have a washing machine and dryer in your apartment, yet have to walk more than a mile to your university?
Perhaps with life balance, you’d still manage to have it all, though you should never expect it when so many other students are looking for the same thing.
What are some of the things you overlooked during your college apartment search? Let us know about them in the comment section below.
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