What to Look for when Choosing Off Campus Housing

Living off campus comes with quite a number of advantages as compared to living on campus. However, it all depends on whether you choose the right place to live. The following are some of the things you should be on the lookout for when choosing accommodation off of campus.

Well-maintained student housing

You should always go for well-maintained housing units. Some student housing are notorious for being poorly maintained and students have ended up living in damp, mould and pest infested accommodation simply because they did not make the right decision when choosing where to live. Always be on the lookout for telltale signs like creaky stairs, damp walls with paint peeling off or simply a rat scurrying across the room! Luckily, there are a few student-housing units that practice good maintenance and service delivery and these are the best to stay at.

Location is everything

As a student, you do not want to start a 40-minute commute routine every time you need to get to campus early in the morning. Public transport may be unreliable and buying a car is a whole different expense. Choose housing near the campus, preferably a maximum of a 15-minute walking distance so you can get to campus quickly without needing to catch a cab or get a bus. You also need to consider how close you are to other resources like hospitals, malls and newsagents among others. Avoid getting drawn to locations where majority of other students live just to be close to the party center when you could be giving up something better at another location.

Safety and security

The importance of safety and security cannot be stressed enough for a student living off campus. Worrying student crime statistics are often published by the police every year. If you do not want to be a victim of crime, you should be wary of the kind of environment you choose to live in. You should make sure the area you choose to live in has enough security measures in place. These include security lights, neighborhood watch or police patrol, burglar systems, safety locks on doors and windows.  Some of the best neighborhoods to live in are those near well-lit main roads so you can get home safely even late at night.

Another important safety features to be on the lookout for is whether the building has working fire extinguishers, fire blankets, and fire alarms as well as emergency exists in case of fire hazards.

Kitchen appliances

Kitchen appliances can be quite costly. Find out if the accommodation offers kitchen appliances as part of the tenancy and these appliances should be in working order. If you are going to share the apartment with other students, bear in mind the size of the appliance to the number of people. One fridge between five or six students may be too small.

Furnishings and fittings

Furnishings and fittings are also something else that could be included in the tenancy package to save you a lot of money. A bed, couch and a study table is a good place to start when it comes to furnishings. These may be all you need to push you through your entire time in campus.

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How to Keep Yourself Safe Living in a Small Student Community

Student communities do have their own fair share of safety concerns. Students have electronics and gadgets that are pretty expensive and targeted by criminals. To keep yourself safe, you need to take some precautionary measures.

1.     Always tell someone where you are going

If you are planning on meeting someone you don’t know or visiting a place you’ve never been to, make sure you tell one of your friends. Everyone is vulnerable to crime and it’s important to keep people on the loop in case of anything.

2.     Use safe means of transport

Using your own car in a small student community can be costly and inconvenient which is why most students use public transport. However, if it gets late, don’t over think about the cost of a taxi because your safety is more important especially if you’ve visited a place you are not familiar with.

3.     Know what’s happening around you

You need to always be on the lookout for any signs of danger or security concerns. Listen to the buzz around campus to familiarize yourself with common criminal activities and how to keep yourself safe. Beware of the people around you and do not invite strangers into your apartment while you are alone. This applies to fellow students as well. 

4.     Don’t show off

You might have the latest electronic gadgets in your apartment but nobody needs to know. Make sure you position these items in such a way that they can’t be easily spotted from the window. Don’t leave money lying around in your apartment especially when you have friends coming over.

5.     Keep your spare keys safe

Leaving your spare keys under the mat or close to the window is a huge security risk. In fact, your spare keys should never be left outdoors.  Have one of your close friends keep one for you and do not attach a tag on the key that reveals your name and phone number. Criminals can connect the dots and find their way into your house. 

6.     Lock all doors and windows

Leaving your doors and windows open when you go for classes can be a huge risk. In fact, many burglaries can happen during the day when most students are out for their classes. If your doors or windows cannot lock properly, call for maintenance services to be done as soon as possible.

7.     Get insurance for your valuable stuff

Student insurance is quite cheap and you can be able to protect your most valued assets from theft. Keep photographs of all your stuff that you want insured together with their receipts and serial numbers. It’s going to be easy for them to be found if they are stolen.

8.     Consider secure storage when you are away

If you cannot manage to travel with your valuables when you are going home for the holidays, arrange for a storage company to keep these items for you. You can enjoy your holiday in peace; resting in the knowledge that your valuables are safe.

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Three Tips for Finding Off Campus University Housing

Your first year of college can be an amazing and intense experience. Many people are living away from home with no supervision for the first time. There are new things to learn, new people to meet, and a new city to explore. Freshmen also have the experience of living in a dormitory for the first time. Living in the dorms is a great way to meet friends and form a social group, but it can also be loud and chaotic at times. For those students who are considering a different living option, here are three tips to help you find a great place.

Ask Your School For Suggestions

Nearly every college in the country that has university housing cannot offer an on-campus room to every student. As a result, they know that a large portion of their pupils will live off-campus, either by choice or necessity. The same departments that manage dormitories will often have a physical or online list of properties that they recommend to students looking for a new house or apartment. These suggestions are generally vetted in some form or another. They are often included in the list due to recommendations from past student tenants. If tenants who live in them complain to the university, the housing option will be removed from the list. Since there will always be a ready supply of potential tenants coming from the college, many of the landlords of these properties do not advertise their availability outside of the school list, making the university housing department a valuable resource.

Use Social Media Shamelessly

Anyone who uses social media has seen posts or messages from friends and acquaintances saying they are looking for a new car, new job, new computer, or new apartment. Even if you find your friends' posts irritating, do not let that keep you from doing the same thing. The best rental properties are on the market for very short periods of time, if at all. Many are simply passed from one acquaintance, friend, or family member to the next. Getting the word out to your friends and family that you are looking for a place will increase your odds of finding a great spot significantly. A recent study by universities states that roughly 45% of students living off-campus move every year. This means a lot of university housing is changing hands every year. Social media is your surest bet to know ahead of time about a great property.

Get In Touch With Greek Housing

Greek housing is not for everybody. You have to be open to having more parties than the average house would have. If you can handle that, you can often find a wonderful deal on rent. Many Greek organizations rent out unused rooms to non-members. Since the dues paid by members helps subsidize the cost of the house, rent is often well below market value. Some houses even include a daily meal with the rent.

In conclusion, there are a lot of options available to students who want to live off campus. If you follow these tips, you will have a great chance at finding an amazing place.

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So You're Getting a New College Roommate: What to Do to Prevent Roommate Conflict

Whether a college roommate or some other living situation, moving into the same space with another person can be exciting-sometimes in a good way and sometimes in a bad way. At college, the housing department will do their best to get everyone a good match by putting you in a room or suite with someone who, hopefully, shares some similar interests. What they can't do is detect in advance all those habit and stylistic differences that you and your new roommate will have. Your job is to make sure that-as much as possible-you prevent small differences from becoming unbearable problems.

Truth be told-college students may have had little preparation in knowing how to live in close proximity with another person or how to work out difficulties. Some estimate as many of 25% of college students have always had their own bathroom rather than sharing with another person. Something as simple as scheduling when the room can be quiet for studying and what to do about a dirty toilet can be challenging when you've never had to think about these issues before. Add in the complexity of creating a new life at college with new people, and it is easy to see how roommates sometimes make a bad start.

The Effects of Roommate Conflict

Here's what we know about roommates who have a bad experience.

It is stressful. As a result, students who have roommate problems tend toward less overall success at college. Students who want to get away from a roommate problem, may do so my quitting college completely. Stress also is linked to personal problems such as fatigue, depression, and alcohol use.

One of the best determinants of roommate success is the individual's hardiness-ability to deal with problems and day-to-day stress. Hardiness is related to stronger feelings of being in control of one's life.

We also know from research about 25% of students will have some degree of conflict with their roommate and that females are more likely to seek help from resident advisors than males.

What roommates typically have conflicts about also is relatively clear. While every situation will be somewhat unique, the most common areas of difficulty are:

• cleanliness
• noise
• drinking
• having sex in the room/shower
• sharing of expenses.

What Can Be Done?

The most important thing for new roommates seems to be talking to each other early and clearly about expectations and negotiating rules for living in the room/suite/house. The New Roommate Conflict Kit and other ideas you will find from your university or on the internet are good tools for roommates to work through that conversation. By taking a simple survey about some of the main issues that research shows cause conflict, roommates can work out a plan for these flash points before they occur.

Resources to Help Negotiating with a New Roommate

McCorkle, Suzanne, Ph.D. "The New Roommate Conflict Kit: How to Manage College Roommate Conflict" I-Tunes book store.

Research on Roommate Conflict

McCorkle, Suzanne, Ph.D and Mason, Susan, Ph.D "Conflict in Residence Halls: A Preliminary Study of the Efficacy of Roommate Negotiations to Reduce Roommate Conflict,"2009. Available through Boise State Universeity Scholar Works.

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Questions to Ask your Potential Off-Campus Housing Roommate

You have decided that you wish to live with a roommate in your off-campus housing unit. The problem is, you do not know of any close friend who wishes to live in the same area. This leaves you with the option of choosing a roommate from the sea of strangers who are looking for similar accommodation. How do you decide that a certain roommate is suitable and another is not? Here are some questions you should ask your potential roommate to determine whether they’re a good fit. 

Are you able to pay for the lease upfront?

This is a crucial question, because you do not want someone who is looking to sponge off your lease. You are taking in a roommate, not a dependent. As such, you must clearly establish whether the said roommate is able to meet their financial obligations as far as the lease is concerned. Do not get into agreements that will leave you in debt afterwards.

What’s your ideal way of unwinding?

Depending on whether your potential roommate says, relaxing with a friend over a game of chess or throwing a huge party, you’ll know what kind of troubles await you in the near future. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with someone who likes to party. However, you must consider whether you will be okay with having parties and multiple friends crashing at your apartment, courtesy of your roommate.

Have you had roommates in the past? What was your experience living with someone?

Most people who are eager to get roommate status will lie about this. But if you are asking these questions in person, you will be able to tell when the truth is being stretched. It is necessary to find out whether a potential roommate can actually share a space with another person. If it seems like they cannot, proceed carefully.  

Do you consider yourself a clean person?

Again, the answer to this question will be a resounding yes for almost everybody. Again, you might want to look out for indicators such as how well cleaned up they are.

What’s your idea of privacy?

Just because someone is living with you does not mean they are entitled to front row seats to all aspects of your life. It is necessary to find someone who understands this; otherwise there will be major clashes along the way.

Are you okay with sharing duties?

Sharing a house means sharing in the cleaning and maintenance work, among other duties. After enlightening your roommate to be on what their duties will be, ask them whether they are okay with that. Do not coerce them to accept their duties, however badly you need a roommate. Find someone who can do what is expected of them willingly. This is the only way you will ensure peaceful coexistence.

College roommates go on to become some of the best friends you will ever make. But this only happens if you select your roommate carefully. So take time to ask the right questions. And if you feel like asking the questions as phrased sounds interrogative, spin them and fix them into casual conversation. The bottom line is that you need answers.

Posted By: Toby Arnheim  http://athenscommons.com/

Questions to Ask when Selecting Off-Campus Student Housing

Choosing off-campus student housing can be nerve-wracking, especially when so many options are involved and you do not know where to get started. The trick to selecting the best off-campus student housing is to have a clear picture of what you want, then work towards getting that. Here are some questions you should answer before you choose a particular student housing community.

How far from college do you want to live?

Usually, students want to live as close to campus as possible so they can get to class easily, without even requiring to drive there (that is, within walking distance). You must clearly determine how far is too far and then slowly eliminate the housing options that do not meet this criterion. Remember you do not want to spend lots of time commuting, and you also want an apartment that is centrally located to allow access to other areas as well, including libraries, bookshops, restaurants, theaters and so on.

What kind of lifestyle are you looking for?

Different student housing communities offer different types of lifestyles, based on the kind of accommodation and facilities offered. Some housing communities will offer townhouse living while others will offer single-family homes. It is up to you to determine what you are looking for, then seek a housing community that enables this.

Are you looking to live with someone or alone?

This is a question that is crucial as it determines the kind of lease that is best for you. If you wish to live alone and pay for the housing on your own, go for housing that offers individual leases. If you want to have a roommate, choose housing that has leases for shared spaces.

How important is security to you?

Usually, the best answer to this question is ‘very’. However, for some reasons, you may feel that the security features put in place by a particular housing community are not very important to you, maybe because you know the neighborhood to be particularly safe and so on. Both ways, you must decide what you feel about security; and whether it matters to you that a housing community have state-of-the-art security systems or not.

Is there sufficient parking space?

You do not want a housing community that does not provide adequate parking space, as this will pose a big problem later on. Of course, if you prefer to use a bicycle, you should enquire whether bike racks are provided. The bottom line is to ensure your mode of transport is secured at all times.

Are there common areas provided?

Depending on how important socialization is to you, you should find out whether common areas have been provided by the housing community. Common areas include common indoor rooms, outdoor kitchens and even swimming pools. College demands excellence in not just academics but in the social sphere as well; and social interactions begin in these common areas.

Of course, these questions are just guidelines to helping you choose the best housing community. You should have a list of other things that matter to you, to enable you make the best choice for off-campus accommodation.

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Features of a Good Housing Community for College Students You Never Knew About

Finding the right housing community as a student is important as it allows you to find a haven where you can retreat to and replenish your energy at the end of a long day at school. Not to mention, a lot of memories will be made at your apartment; memories that you will remember fondly years after you have graduated from college. When it comes to choosing a housing community, it is important to keep in mind certain things. First, the community needs to be strategically located, so you can get what you want with minimum hassle. You should be able to get to class easily, and if you need to grab a bite, you should be able to do so without spending hours on the road. In simple terms, location is key. In fact, one might say that location is everything.

A good housing community offers excellent choices for the student who wishes to enjoy the privacy and lifestyle they deserve while they pursue their university studies. The community will allow you to have the best social and academic experience while you study at the university.

The outstanding features that make a great choice, and indeed a favorite among many students include:

1. Easy access: You should be able to easily walk to class. This is definitely a huge plus, and especially so on those days when you are direly constrained for time.
2. Key controlled access: This means that not everyone gets access to the apartments, just the authorized persons who have access keys.
3. Convenient easy parking: This is so that you never have to worry about where to pack your car. It’s college, the time to build yourself academically and socially; and not the time to worry about parking spaces.
4. An outdoor kitchen where you can grill some food with your friends while you enjoy a warm evening outdoors.
5. Individual leases which give you much more freedom of choice.
6. Security lighting to ensure that everything stays illuminated, and everybody is seen whether they are coming or going.
7. A mail center that ensures correspondence is received and no checks get lost in the mail.
8. A resort style swimming pool for those days when you are tired of studying and want to get some much-needed hydrotherapy to get your senses working again.
9. Bike racks for the bike-lovers who prefer this alternative means of transport.

When you look back on your college years, many years after graduating, you should not have to regret about the apartment you lived in or the roommates you had. Having a comfortable living space goes a long way in ensuring you remain productive and focused during your years in college. Make the right choice and the years will fly by, the memories will be many and you will be happy about your college years. Choose the wrong living quarters and you will dread going back to your apartment every day.

Off Campus Accommodation: Balancing Between on and off-campus Life

Deciding on the best place to reside while pursuing studies at the university depends on various factors. Besides finding a house with the right facilities, the rental amount that fits your pocket and where the off campus accommodation is close to essential services, you should also decide on the place you’d like to spend most of your time. This means deciding whether you’ like to append a bulk of your time off campus or on campus. The latter will play a major role on where you should rent your apartment.

On campus

If you prefer to be on campus most of the time while studying, then you need to consider searching for off campus housing that’s not very far from the institution. This will ensure that you don’t waste a lot of time commuting to and from your campus. It will also keep you near the essential services of the campus.

Are you planning to spend most of your time around the campus premises? Then you should get prepared to benefit from the services available at the university. You should consider the following:

• Get a good meal plan: Given that you intend to be on campus most of the time, you should think about getting a meal plan. This will save you the energy and time required to prepare food for your campus visits. It will also reduce your spending on groceries. 
• Buy from campus stores: Most university campuses have computers, pharmacies, dry cleaning, bookstores, postal services and computer cafes. Instead of looking for such services outside the campus, get them on campus because that’s where you’ll spend most of the time. This will greatly save you the time and effort required to search for such services off campus.
• Work on campus: Most colleges offer work study programs to students and so if you’re in need of a part time job, you ask around the university campus for the available work study opportunities.

Off campus

If you would like to spend most of your time off campus, then you can widen your options for off campus housing. Instead of worrying about the distance between the campus and your accommodation, you should consider living near retail establishments and other essential services. Spending more time off campus will require that you stay at a place that’s within a walking distance to retail stores, grocery stores, and pharmacies.

Here are the determining factors if you’d like to spend most of the time off campus:

• If you have online classes that may not require your presence on campus
• If you don’t have many lecture hours in the week
• If you like studying from home instead of using the library
• If you’ve plans to be going home in between class breaks
• If you have plans to stay home on weekends and study

Choosing off campus accommodation depends on whether you will be spending most of your time off or on campus. Therefore, other than the other factors that influence your decision to stay off campus, you should carefully assess where you’re likely to spend most of the time while attending the university.

Benefits of Living in a Student Housing Community

One of the most important decisions you’ll have to make when going to college is where to live. Many students prefer to live off campus for certain reasons. Living in a student housing community has its benefits. Let’s look at some of the things you may wish to consider to arrive at this decision.

For a start, living off campus gives you an opportunity to become independent and experience adult life. It gives you a chance to pay your own rent, cook, clean and take care of all financial matters in regards to that living space. You get an opportunity to experience the real world even before you leave campus.

Secondly, off campus living also allows you to meet and network with non-students who may be living in the same community. It gives you an opportunity to interact with people you would have never gotten along with. You never know, some of these strong bonds may come in handy in the future. You don’t just have to interact with other students; there are lots of people who can offer you great opportunities out there.

Other than that, living in a student housing community allows you to take time away from the school environment and just enjoy your own privacy. Staying in campus can be a little stressful and especially if you have a roommate who you don’t get along with. But staying in your own apartment where you don’t share a bedroom with anyone else is actually nice.

In many cases, living off campus can be less expensive. Most college housing demands that you pay for the accommodation together with a meal plan which can be quite costly. To avoid this, you may want to look for accommodation off campus that costs much less and without the many limitations that come with living inside campus.

On top of that, having a place in a community outside campus can present fewer distractions. You don’t have to contain the noisy roommates and students who are constantly throwing parties in campus. It gives you time to focus on your studies and stay away from distractive habits. At the end of the day, you get an opportunity to perform better in school.

The other main advantage of living off campus is that it builds your credit history. The sooner you start paying your own monthly bills the higher your chances of security credit in future. So long as you don’t mess up your credit by failing to settle these bills on time, you will be recognized as a responsible individual even before you leave campus.

Most importantly, living off campus gives you so many choices in terms of the type of living space you want. You can rent any kind of home you want based on what you can afford. However, you need to consider other factors such as location and security when choosing a place to stay. Unlike the halls of residence in campus, you don’t have to settle for a living space you don’t like. You’ve got so many options when it comes to living off campus.

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