When you’re looking for a college apartment, there is often more to it than meets the eye. In addition to deciding whether you want to live on or off-campus, you need to decide the location, cost and amenities that are important to you.
Finding the right place to live is a task that should be approached systematically. Driving around looking at random housing won’t get the job done.
The best way to start is by making a list of what you want.
Your list should include:
- Location – where do you want to live? Near campus, off campus, in a house, an apartment complex? Decide where you’d like to live to narrow your search before you start looking.
- Cost – How much can you afford to pay? If your budget is $300 a month, you’re limited to finding an apartment that is $300 or less. If you plan to have a roommate, and your roommate also has $300, you can find a place for $600 a month and do just fine. Be sure you know what is included with your rent. All inclusive rents are the best. That means the rent covers the cost of electricity or natural gas for heating and AC, as well as trash pick-up and water service.
- Amenities – Do you want laundry facilities in your apartment or are shared services going to work for you? Are you looking for a place with a swimming pool, a clubhouse or other shared spaces? If so, you can narrow your search even more by focusing in on the complexes that have the amenities you want.
These are just some of things that you should think of when deciding on where to live during college.
What criteria would you use to determine the perfect college living situation? Let us know about it in the comment section below.
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3 Comments. Leave new
I can’t believe the awesome amenities available at almost all of the college apartments now! Plus, with so many being all-inclusive, it really helps with the budgeting, since I don’t have to think about how much I’m spending on utilities each month. So I agree- cost and amenities are probably my top two priorities!
I love lists! And at the top of mine is LOCATION!!!!! I know student housing can be noisy, but if they have a study lounge or even a “quiet corner” of the complex, I would certainly consider it. I also SWEAR by individual leases. Those can be so important — you never know when you roommate is going to flake out on you.
[…] you pay hundreds of dollars more each year for amenities you may not use, be sure to evaluate all your leasing options. Your bank account may thank you […]