When looking for off campus apartment, it's important to consider the property to studio ratio in your area and the type of accommodation you want. For most students, a simple studio is ideal but one and two bed apartments are more common and obviously best suited if you plan to room with a friend. And this brings us to the first of our tips to help you find off campus accommodation quickly.
1. Start Your Search Early
It's true, the longer you wait to start this search, the fewer options you will find. On the other hand, if you start too early you just might miss out on the best off campus apartments or you might jump too soon and have a change of heart long after you make arrangements. That being said, it's best to start your search as early as possible so that you can keep your options open and better understand the process. In case you might be wondering, the end of January is a popular time to start.
2. Define What Type of Apartment You Want
Living in an off campus apartment will provide you with your own living space away from the hectic life at university. What's more, you can forget about shared bathrooms and live in a more desirable area - possibly closer to a nearby town or amenities. With this in mind, you should always keep in mind what you actually want and the precise location, apartment or logistics you desire.
3. Stick to Your Criteria
Don't waste time looking at apartments that don't fit your criteria. If you want a studio, stop looking at one bed apartments and if you hate commuting on local transport, either buy a push-bike or avoid living too far from campus. Many students end up with unsuitable accommodation due to lack of patience and the unsettled life that follows is the last thing you should want during your studies.
4. Contact Your Housing Office for Help
As you may know, your housing office can also help you match with other students that want to share similar accommodation. What's more, this office will often have an approved list of properties and landlords that you can use to find more off campus accommodation.
5. Check Out Student Focused Agents
If you find the process too slow or daunting, contact a student letting agent. Just so you know, student focused agents act as a matchmaker between students and landlords. While this may limit your search or criteria, this option can often take much of the hassle out of the process.
6. Know the Importance of Budgeting and Documentation
Budgeting is super important for students and something that seems to get in the way of every last decision. However, if you can manage your bills and document all spending, this will help remove, or at least alleviate, much of the unnecessary stress that students suffer in their first years of college.
7. Remember Your Reason "Why"
Aside from the extra costs associated with living off campus, the prospect of living alone is one of the main factors that some students find challenging. It's true, for many students, this will be the first time to live away from home or familiar surroundings and it takes time to adjust to living alone. Either way, try to embrace this process and not allow fear to dictate where or how you want to live.