Finding your Second-Home in College

Moving out and living on your own is one of the big steps in transitioning to college life and your adulting journey. It can be daunting and exciting at the same time, as you may feel ready for new independence but with new responsibilities. Just like picking classes, making an early plan for house searching can help you find a place that’s most convenient, affordable, and comfortable for you and your rest of the year in college. Here are some questions to ask yourself while planning:

• What’s your budget? 

  • Your housing budget should be no more than ⅓ of your monthly income. So if you earn $2400/month (after taxes), then you shouldn't pay more than $800/month for housing.

  • Have a family conversation if needed to determine what you can afford to pay for rent. 

  • Ask around or look at housing prices to determine what are the average price ranges and then determine your budget around the price ranges. 

  • For off-campus housing, consider counting in utility fees (ex: electricity, water, gas, internet) and other extra fees (ex: transportation, storage units over long breaks) 

  • For off-campus housing, be prepared to provide money upfront for typically first and last month’s rent plus security deposit
    
    

• Are you comfortable living and sharing spaces with roommates or housemates?

  • Having roommates in your first year of college is a great way to meet new friends and get used to being in social environments, but it’s not suitable for everyone’s personality.

  • Ask yourself if you will feel okay with making accommodations and compromises to live with roommate(s) that might not have the same living habits as you. 

  • In the next article, we will talk more about tips on finding suitable roommates for yourself! 
    
    

• Is on-campus or off-campus housing more suitable for me?

  • Ask yourself if you’re comfortable being further from campus. 

  • Compare the benefits of both choices below.

• • •

On-Campus Housing

• What are the benefits?

  • Typically recommended for Freshmen who want to have an easier transition to live independently

  • Easier to make friends in residential halls and apartments usually have RAs (Resident Assistants) who plan get-together events

  • Every dorm typically have a designated Resident Assistant for you to go for any housing or living assistance

  • On-campus housing accommodations like cleaning can remove stress to let you focus more on your studies

  • More convenient to use on-campus meal plans if you are not ready to cook often

  • Typically saves more time and money to go to classes without any extra transportation fees
    
    
    

• Tips when looking at on-campus housing

  • Go on campus tours to check out how the rooms and common areas actually look in person

  • If you can’t go to in-person tours, search online for student vlogs that give you a general vibe of how the rooms and environment feel like.

  • If you have already determined to live on-campus, consider taking notes of what’s provided or not provided in the room to see what you might need to buy/pack when moving in. 
    
    
    

• What to ask for 

  • How many roommates will I have?

  • How many people will I be sharing the common area or shared bathroom with? 

  • How convenient or close is your potential room to the laundry room? 

  • Does the dorm or apartment provide good AC or heating system?

• • •

Off Campus Housing

• What are the benefits?

  • Typically much cheaper and more affordable than on-campus housing

  • A change of scenery can be nice if you don’t want to be at school 24/7 and get breaks from being in the study mode

  • Being off-campus typically motivates you to explore outside of your campus more

  • You can invite friends over to your place without any curfews or RAs knocking at your door. But keep in mind that you could get cops knocking at your door instead if you have noise complaints from your neighbors! 

  • Rent is due every month instead of paying in a lump sum for on-campus housing

  • Download the college budgeting worksheet here
    
    
    
    

• Where can I look for off-campus housing?

  • The best scenario is asking someone you know if you can take over their lease. That way you can ask them about their personal experience with the housing and landlord, and possibly have an advantage in getting the place without competing against others.

  • Look for your school’s rent and housing community groups on Facebook or other social media. Facebook’s rent community groups usually have search filters that can narrow down your housing preferences or budget. 

  • Other popular housing search apps are: Zillow, Redfin, Zumper, Trulia
    
    
    
    

• Tips when looking at off-campus housing

  • Make sure to consider not just how far the housing is from school, but also the nearest grocery stores, parks, gyms, public transit.

  • Ask yourself if your school workload is manageable on top of additional chores and living habits that are necessary for off-campus living. 

  • If you know you’ll be hosting parties frequently, consider finding housing that doesn’t have wall-to-wall neighbors to prevent noise complaints.

  • Ask yourself if you are okay with sharing a bathroom with housemates. Be communicative with your future housemates about chores responsibilities. Keep in mind the number of bathrooms to fit your expectations.  

  • Meet with the landlord and schedule to look at the rental in person

    • Be sure you are viewing the room/house that you will actually rent, not just a model

    • If you are renting out a single room only, take this chance to meet with potential housemates who are already living in the place. 

  • Read over the lease carefully before signing (and this goes for any type of contract). Be clear on: 

    • What are the security deposit and upfront costs?

    • What do utilities provide and for how much?

    • What are the conditions for getting the full security deposit back? 

    • What are the leasing start and end dates?

    • Are tenants responsible for appliance maintenance or repairs and/or cleaning fees?

    • What are the rules regarding subleasing? (common during summers)

    • What are the consequences of breaking your lease early? (helpful to be aware of during Covid)

  • Consider purchasing renters insurance 

    • All your personal belongings will not be covered by your landlord’s insurance. Renters insurance can protect you from property damage and injuries in the house or apartment. 
      
      
      
      

• What to ask for 

  • What are typical utility costs?

  • How much will the security deposit be? 

  • Is the distance of the housing from your school acceptable? 

  • Are there nearby public transportation to the campus or grocery shopping so you can save on gas and campus parking money?

  • Will you need to purchase furniture and appliances?

  • What is the condition of appliances?

  • What is the laundry situation? 

  • What are the security features within the unit or complex?

  • What is the parking availability? How much would an additional parking spot cost?

  • Do you have the option to renew your lease?

  • Is subleasing allowed?

  • Are pets allowed? (If you are interested in living with pets)
    
    
    
    

• What to check off when you walk through the rental

  • Is there enough natural lighting? That way you can save on electricity bills. 

  • Is the neighborhood area safe? Do you feel safe being alone at night? 

  • Does the lock work? 

  • Do the windows open and close smoothly? 

  • Do the toilet and faucets work properly? 

  • Does the shower provide enough water pressure?

  • Are there any stains on the ceiling, walls, or carpet/floor?

  • Are appliances up to date?

  • Do all the outlets work?

  • Does the AC and heating system work properly?

  • Does the landlord seem responsible and easy to contact for any repairs? 

Take notes and photos of current rental conditions and damages during your walk-through. When signing the lease, be sure to pay attention and document any stains, holes, cracks, or leaks that are already part of the rental condition. That way you can use your documents as proof if there’s a dispute in getting your security deposit back. 

• • •

Essential items to pack for moving-in:

Self-packing list:

• Bedside lamp

• Alarm clock

• Storage bins

• Desk lamp (if housing doesn’t include) 

• Comforter (if your housing bed is not suitable for your back) 

• Clothes hangers

• Laundry bag/basket. Consider one with roller if your laundry room is far from your room.

• Laundry detergent 

• Desk supplies 

• Linen supplies (Sheets, pillow, towels, etc.)

• Bathroom amenities (best in travel sizes if you are using a communal shower)

• Shower caddy (great for communal showers) 

• Shower shoes (great for communal showers) 

• HDMI cord or ethernet cord for computer (check if room has wireless) 

• Mini fridge (if room doesn’t provide) 

Things to share with housemates:

• Microwave

• Cookware & gadgets (pans, pots, toaster, knives, coffee maker, etc.)

• Trash bin + trash bags

• Food storage containers

• Eating utensils (bowls, plates, cups, etc)

• TV

• Furniture (if housing doesn’t provide)

• Bathroom amenities (toilet paper, body wash, shampoo, hand soaps, etc.)

• Shower curtain

• Cleaning supplies (dish soap, rags, vacuum, broom, toilet plumber, etc.)

Things that save space:

• Over the door storage hanger

• Adhesive Hooks

• Closet organizer

• Under-the-bed bins

The best way to pack is to organize items together and add labels to your moving boxes. You should pack a box of essential items where you can easily access them. Put the heaviest items into the box first and wrap fragile items with your clothes instead of using plastic bubble wraps. Now you’re ready to make your big move!

Now you should be all set. Happy house/apartment hunting!