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.Posted By: Athens Commons http://athenscommons.com
