Going off to college may be the first time you need to search for your very first apartment. This can seem overwhelming at first, but don’t despair! There are lots of helpful resources out there to make your search go as smoothly as possible.
A great source is the Internet. You’ve probably used the Internet to communicate, for fun, and for research purposes before. Well, you can also use it to locate the perfect apartment! All you need to do is go to the search engine of your choice and type in your city plus the words ‘apartments for rent.’ You’ll find pages and pages of sites that can help you find great places to rent!
Another good source are the classifieds in your college or local newspaper. Most landlords still use this traditional method of advertising their properties for rent. Also, check your college or university’s newspaper, as many student-friendly apartments may be advertised in there.
After you’ve identified the listings you like, you need to prepare yourself to look at apartments. It’s a good idea to have some criteria established first. Such as, how much can you afford to pay for an apartment? If you’re paying for your own housing, then you need to take that into consideration. Your apartment should cost no more than one-third of your income. However, if you’re a college student, there may be special programs that help you pay your rent. Check with the financial aid office of your college or university to find out if there are any programs available that can help you.
To make it easier to to afford the perfect apartment get a roommate, or even two! Roommates can allow you to live in a place you never could have afforded on your own. However, make sure you choose roommates that are compatible with you. Such as, if you’re a non-smoker, it’s probably not a good idea to choose a smoker. If peace and quiet is your thing, don’t pick someone who you think would have a lot of loud company. The right roommate can perhaps even turn into a close friend. So be sure to pick someone you like!
With a bit of research, you can find the perfect apartment that will be your home throughout your college years — an apartment that is affordable, close to school, and a nice place to come home to!