It’s exciting when you are about to go off to college. All your hard work through high school and hours spent applying for schools really pays off when you receive your acceptance letter. It’s like a new world opens up for you and you start anticipating college life, complete with new academic courses, newfound freedom and a lively social scene.
Among the many new choices you’ll have to make at your university is where you will live. Increasingly students are foregoing life in the dorms and instead choosing to live in off-campus student housing. When compared to dorm living, off campus apartments offer far more amenities. Student apartments feature private bedrooms and private bathrooms for each tenant, a fully furnished kitchen, living area and a washer-dryer in each unit.
When you begin your search for the best off-campus student housing, there are important things you will need to evaluate.
Distance to Campus
The closer you are to campus the easier it is going to be to get to classes, the library and all the events going on there. Ideally you’ll want to be within walking distance or be on a direct bus line that can take you right there. If you select an apartment close to your university, you will also save money because you won’t need a car. If you study in Denver, then you have to check rent price trends in Denver, Colorado so you’ll know where you can find affordable apartments to rent.
Proximity to Grocery Stores, Restaurants and Shopping
It’s important to have easy access to local stores for grocery shopping and other items you need to buy. If you are a quick walk away then everyday shopping trips will be a breeze. It’s also great to have some inexpensive restaurants nearby so you can quickly grab a meal when you don’t feel like cooking or you have too much studying to do.
Maintenance of the Apartment Complex
When you go to check out a potential place to live, it helps to walk the property and see who well everything is maintained. You can visit during the day and then later in the evening to get a good sense for how it feels to live there. It’s also helpful to talk to existing tenants you meet and ask them how responsive management is to fixing things and responding to requests.
Safety of the Neighborhood
The overall safety of the surrounding neighborhood is critical. You want to feel safe walking to and from school and on your trips to get groceries. Walk from the apartment to campus and back during the day and also make the same journey at night. You can also look online to see if there are neighborhood crime statistics.
Online Reviews of the Property and Management
Before you commit to moving into an apartment, it pays to check out the online reviews for the complex. By doing this you will get insights into the day to day things people love about living there and some of the things that tenants think could be improved. You’ll be able to make a more informed decision after reading all the reviews.
It’s important to take the time to carefully check out your off-campus student housing choices. By doing your due diligence you’ll be comfortable knowing you’ve made the best decision and picked the perfect apartment for you.
