Establishing a batch of good apartment hunting tips can save you a lot of time and frustration if you are ready to move and need to get the job done in a hurry. It’s important to know what to expect as well as have a few tricks up your sleeve to make the process go as smoothly as possible. So without delay, here are…
7 Apartment Hunting Tips for Students
1. Find a Roommate or Two
If you are a student at West Chester University seeking West Chester off campus housing, and you are stressing about any bills associated with having an apartment, take a deep breath. You don’t have to go in on it alone. An easy way to offset the costs of “living on your own,” is by finding a couple of responsible roommates (responsible is the keyword here folks;-). Roommates will reduce your share of the bills as well as your share of the cleaning. If you have lived with siblings, having a couple of roommates won’t seem so out of place. And living with your “bestie” is part of the college experience.
2. Don’t Plan Your Move Along With Everyone Else
If you have established that you will be having roommates, and you’re moving in with two… three…or four roomies, a wise moving tip is to plan and stagger your move-in times and even the date if possible. This will allow each person to move-in without much restraint or conflict.
3. get all the facts
It is wise to to know most of these before you sign your lease. However, some just come with learning the lay of the land. Nevertheless, be sure to have a list of commonly asked questions answered and easily accessible in case they come up, which they more than likely will. Some examples are: Are there late fees associated with late rental payments? Do you have access to a laundromat? How close is the nearest grocery store? You might also want to know about any pet clauses in your lease.
4. Take a Look at Mid-Floor Apartments
Instead of being on the ground floor or on the top, look at middle-floor apartments. Some apartments charge less for these units because they don’t have the best view or they may be a little noisier than other units, especially in a college town.
5. Try Finding a Newer Rental
Look into the newer rentals or ones that have been recently remodeled. These can reduce maintenance requests. Also, depending on the time of year you move-in, your rental agency may be offering move-in specials to get people into new units during the off-season, and you might be pleasantly surprised at the price you get for the first year. Nevertheless, get all the details before signing on the dotted line.
6. If You Like it…Get It
We’ve all heard the saying, the early bird gets the worm. So if you are in search of a student rental, we encourage all our tenants to jump on it while you can. If you wait too long, someone may come in behind you, put down a rental hold, and snag it before you have a chance to get your name on the lease. Look at all the positives and negatives and if it works for you, we encourage you to begin the application process.
7. needs vs. wants
Generally, an apartment with a lot of amenities (especially newer ones) will be more expensive than one that is rather basic. Can you do without the washer/dryer hook-up if you have a communal laundromat right down the hall? Do you really need that parking spot or extra storage area to store your 1985-1995 Encyclopedia Britannica Collection? Probably not. Write out exactly what you need, and stick to the game plan.
Looking for an apartment?
If you are currently looking for a fantastic student rental, contact Zukin Realty today. We would love to find you the perfect apartment for the 2020 school year.
