Start Out Right
Just starting out? Going to college? Looking for that first apartment? It's true that student budgets are often pretty tight, BUT, with some careful planning you can manage quite well.
When apartment hunting there are several factors to consider:
1) Cost
2) Location
3) Amenities
4) Safety
Begin your search by looking online or in newspaper classified ads to see what's available.
Most college towns offer a variety of student housing. I attended OSU many years ago and had friends living in a variety of different places. If you don't have a car, then living close to campus is key so you can walk or bike to classes. Some of my more studious friends who weren't into the weekend party scene opted for housing away from campus. This was more conducive to studying
for graduate students. They all either had a car or were positioned along the COTA bus line. You need to weigh the pros and cons and decide which option best fits your lifestyle.
Before you commit to anything do your homework and check out the area to make sure it's a relatively safe neighborhood. Talk to others who live in the area. Find out which fast food places, grocery stores, pharmacies, banks and other services are close by.
Check out more than one place. See what options are available. Take note of the overall cleanliness of the area. Check the kitchens and bathrooms to be sure there is no mold or mildew lurking in the cracks and crevices. Do the buildings and grounds seem to be well maintained? Does the building
provide 24-hour maintenance? Is there an on-site laundry facility or laundromat close by? Once again, if possible, talk to others who live there to get the scoop.
Before you sign the lease find out if any of the utilities are included in the rent. If not ask for an estimate of what you would need to pay monthly for heat, electric, water, sewer, etc. If you're looking at something like a condo there will most likely be association fees to pay.
Once you've done all your research and gathered all the information, make a chart listing each place that you looked at and all the pros and cons. Once all these things have been taken into consideration you can then make a decision on what is right for you.
Happy Apartment Hunting!
When apartment hunting there are several factors to consider:
1) Cost
2) Location
3) Amenities
4) Safety
Begin your search by looking online or in newspaper classified ads to see what's available.
Most college towns offer a variety of student housing. I attended OSU many years ago and had friends living in a variety of different places. If you don't have a car, then living close to campus is key so you can walk or bike to classes. Some of my more studious friends who weren't into the weekend party scene opted for housing away from campus. This was more conducive to studying
for graduate students. They all either had a car or were positioned along the COTA bus line. You need to weigh the pros and cons and decide which option best fits your lifestyle.
Before you commit to anything do your homework and check out the area to make sure it's a relatively safe neighborhood. Talk to others who live in the area. Find out which fast food places, grocery stores, pharmacies, banks and other services are close by.
Check out more than one place. See what options are available. Take note of the overall cleanliness of the area. Check the kitchens and bathrooms to be sure there is no mold or mildew lurking in the cracks and crevices. Do the buildings and grounds seem to be well maintained? Does the building
provide 24-hour maintenance? Is there an on-site laundry facility or laundromat close by? Once again, if possible, talk to others who live there to get the scoop.
Before you sign the lease find out if any of the utilities are included in the rent. If not ask for an estimate of what you would need to pay monthly for heat, electric, water, sewer, etc. If you're looking at something like a condo there will most likely be association fees to pay.
Once you've done all your research and gathered all the information, make a chart listing each place that you looked at and all the pros and cons. Once all these things have been taken into consideration you can then make a decision on what is right for you.
Happy Apartment Hunting!
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