College is usually the first independent living experience for most people. While learning to live on your own is definitely a learning process, it’s a good start to consider the implications of where you decide to live and the environment you create.

Below, I dive into the two largest things that you will need to consider when finding a place to live during your college years.

1. Should you rent a house or an apartment?

The two biggest rental options provide two very different living experiences each with their own sets of pros and cons.

The benefits of living in a house include having more square footage to live in, having a backyard and side yard that might act as a buffer between you and your neighbors, and having extra storage space for bicycles in a garage. If you are intending to live with several other roommates, a house will be ideal. However, with more space requires more responsibility, so that when time comes to move out, there will be territory for you to clean.

Apartments have their benefits as well. While the space may be smaller, you are likely to have access to onsite maintenance during business hours. Appliances breaking down in rentals is common and with many houses, it can take a couple days (if the landlord is prompt) to have something fixed such as a broken oven or refrigerator while with an apartment, you may be able to get your appliances serviced the same day. While apartments benefit those that keep to themselves, if you expect to have a louder presence, you are more likely to encounter issues with neighbors.  

But, the main differences between renting homes and apartments are in the way they are managed. The managing styles of many apartment complexes tend to be similar in that they are more strict and more professional. On the other hand, the relationship between a renter and a personal landlord varies from situation to situation. Sometimes, you might never see the landlord, other times they will be around your house every weekend (though, legally they are supposed to let you know 24 hours in advance).

This extends to finding the house or apartment in the first place. Most apartment complexes have a leasing office that you can visit and inquire if apartments are available. While you can find apartments on Craigslist, you can find them on a variety of other rental websites which helps cut down on spammy listings. On the other hand, most personal landlords use Craigslist to advertise their house. But, the key to finding a nice house to rent in any college town is to actually drive the neighborhoods and look for rent signs before the semester starts.  

2. Choosing the Right Roommates

Finding the right roommates can often be difficult for a variety of reasons. When looking, be vocal about the type of environment that you’re seeking for the next year. Here are a set of questions to consider to help you figure out what environment you want to live in:

1. Do you mind lots of noise on weekdays and weekends?
2. Or do you prefer a quiet atmosphere?
3. How important is studying for you versus your potential roommates?  
4. How important is it for you to keep a clean kitchen and household compared to your potential roommates?
5. Are you looking for a house that spends a lot of time together and has communal dinners?
6. Or, do you prefer having your own space?

Rooming with friends can make for a great time, but if your living habits are too far off both your friendships and your ability to adequately study can be tested.

Adam Busch writes for RentLingo, an apartment finding service, on everything apartment related. For more advice on renting an apartment for the first time, check out RentLingo’s First Time Apartment Renter’s  Questions Checklist.

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April 19, 2018