When you’re a student, it’s easy to feel like you don’t have a lot of choices in life. But when it comes to finding housing, you have quite a few. In fact, as long as you know what to look for and what questions to ask, finding the right home can be really fun!
Location
Location is one of the key factors to consider when looking for student housing. You want to be in a safe place, as well as somewhere that’s convenient for you. The location of your apartment or house will affect how much it costs to get around campus and other parts of town, so it’s important that you understand where you’ll be living before signing a lease.
You should also consider whether or not proximity to public transit is important to you because if so, then some areas are more suitable than others depending on how far they are from bus lines and subway stations. Some neighborhoods have better access than others do because they’re closer to bus stops and train stations; this may make certain types of apartments more expensive but also ensure convenience if there is something nearby that could benefit your lifestyle (such as shopping centers).
Room Layout
When looking for student accommodation, the first thing you should consider is how many rooms you need. Note that “room” can refer to a bedroom or an entire apartment, so make sure you’re clear on this. When determining how many rooms you need, it’s helpful to consider what your roommate situation will look like. If every person has their own bedroom and shares a living room and kitchen, then one room will suffice. However, if some people are sharing bedrooms but not bathrooms or kitchens (as is common in certain dormitories), then they’ll probably be better off with two rooms each, one for sleeping and another as a study space.
If there’s no chance of getting multiple bedrooms in one place, or if having roommates isn’t right for the lifestyle you want, consider renting an apartment instead of living in campus housing (or perhaps vice versa). Apartments come with kitchens and living areas; if these are shared spaces between several tenants but still not big enough for everyone’s needs (say someone wants privacy), then individual units may be worth considering instead of one large apartment or house shared by several students at once.
Roommates
Check the roommate policy. Check the roommate application. Make sure you have common interests.
Read the roommate agreement, and make sure you are comfortable with your potential roommates’ answers to questions like “What is your favorite color?” or “Where do you see yourself in five years?” This will help ensure that everyone involved knows what they’re getting into when it comes time for move-in day!
Utilities and Bills
How to find out if utilities are included in the rent and/or paid by landlord:
Read the lease. Look for any clauses that outline what’s included in the rent, such as electricity, water and internet access. If there is no specific reference to utilities, then it’s likely they will come out of your pocket. However, some landlords may offer a discount on those costs depending on how long you sign the lease for (usually six months).
Ask your landlord or property management company before signing a contract if any utilities are included in your rent or if they’re paid by either party (landlord vs tenant). Make sure that you understand exactly how much each utility costs per month so that you can break down how much money you’ll need from working part-time jobs during the summer vacation without worrying about getting stuck paying bills later down the road when school starts back up again next fall!
Parking
Finding a place with parking can be a big deal if you have a car, especially if you’re new to town and don’t know where everything is. If a place doesn’t offer parking, it could be hard to convince yourself that it’s worth the money to rent there. Some places do include parking as part of the rent, but others charge extra for it.
If you do find a place that offers free or cheap parking, don’t get too excited yet, the spaces might be limited, so try getting there early if you really want one!
Safety
Safety is important to consider. Safety should be a top priority when choosing a place to live. Living in an unsafe neighborhood can be detrimental to your overall well-being.
Conclusion
Finding student housing is a lot of work, but the payoff will be worth it. If you keep these tips in mind and do your research, you’ll find the perfect place to stay. Good luck!