Advice for Moving Off-Campus
Today we have a guest post from an aspiring Higher Education author…..
The time has come when you want to move off campus. It’s exciting but a little nerve-wracking. Moving off campus is taking one more step to independence. There will be no dorm rules to follow – but also no dorm advisers to help as issues arise. It’s important to plan your move wisely, so you have a safe, enjoyable place to live.
Location is Everything
Find out which are the safe – and the unsavory – places to live. Is there a particular neighborhood where crime is more common? Are there apartments most known for rowdy parties? Safety is the most important concern as you find your first home. For tips about staying safe as you live off campus, check out the State University of New York at Buffalo.
Affordability
Make sure you know how much you can afford to pay each month. You will be signing a contract with your landlord. If you can’t keep up with the payments, you will either start using your money meant for food and school expenses or you just won’t be able to pay the rent. The worst thing to happen would be to get evicted in the middle of the semester. Consult with your parents about a reasonable rent and learn about how to interact with a landlord. Puget Sound University provides a list of rights and responsibilities of tenants and landlords.
Type of Housing
Living off campus will probably mean having roommates. Housing arrangements include sharing a house with several other students, so you have your own bedroom but share the kitchen, bathroom and living areas, sharing an apartment in an apartment building, so you have your own bedroom but share common areas, or having your own studio apartment in an apartment building, so your entire living space is your own but you have fellow students down the hall. Prices range in each of these scenarios.
Insurance
It’s important to insure your belongings in the event of a fire or other loss. No one wants to think about catastrophes, but they can happen. Go to RentersInsurance.com to find out about renter’s insurance, which covers your personal things in case your landlord’s building is damaged.
Taking the time to research your housing options and make an informed decision about where to live will make sure the rest of your college experience is a safe and comfortable one.
