Most university students heading off on their own want an affordable place to live while they study. The problem is finding good and affordable apartments, especially near big universities like the University of Akron. The following are a few tips to make this search easier.
Start Early
One smart thing to do is to start early. Cheap apartments are hard to find. Therefore, you’ll need some time to find the perfect place.
You need to start searching before school starts. The earlier you start, the less pressure you’ll feel, which is important for students. There’s a lot on your shoulders.
Focused Student Housing
The next you want to do is look for student housing opportunities. Looking for any apartment might widen your choices, but not every apartment complex offers what students need.
For example, The Depot at Akron Student Apartments is situated near the University of Akron, close enough for you to walk or ride your bike to school. It’s hard to find the right apartment if you don’t narrow your choices.
Smart Budgeting
It would be nice to use your money however you want and find a place that’ll take whatever you have leftover. That’s not the way life works.
You need to budget your cash so that you have enough to pay your rent. Yes, you are trying to find an affordable place, but you won’t find dirt cheap prices either. Budget accordingly, and you’ll see that you have more choices than you thought possible.
Get a Roommate
This is something most students do, and you’ll have to consider it if you want to find an affordable apartment. You need to find a place that allows you to have roommates so that you can split the cost.
Try to find folks that you can live with, or your life won’t be so peaceful. Take your time interviewing potential roommates.
Be sure to stick with apartment complexes that allow this sort of arrangement, even if you’re not planning on having a roommate. You may need this in the future.
Always Compare
The next thing you must do is compare rent prices. Sometimes, when a student doesn’t have a lot of time or is tired of looking, they settle.
You don’t want to settle for something when you haven’t given yourself a chance to compare prices. You don’t know which apartment complex is going to offer the best price until you ask a few. Once you have a few to compare, you can make a choice.
Negotiate
Yes, you can negotiate for a better monthly price. Most people don’t do this. They just accept the monthly rent without thinking it could be lower. The truth is that, in most cases, it certainly can be lower, and all you need to do is offer something landlords want.
For example, if you can offer money several months in advance, you might be able to get a lower monthly bill. If you can sign a longer rental agreement, you might be able to get a lower monthly bill. If you find a similar apartment that is cheaper, see if the landlord is willing to match that price.
Subleasing
Those who need a temporary solution could go the subleasing route. You’ll find that many of the people offering this opportunity are willing to offer pretty good deals.
They know you won’t be staying long. They know they need you more than you need them, and the price reflects that reality. Now, you will have to find another solution soon after, which is a bit of a drawback, but this can be an affordable option either way.
Outskirts
The next thing you can do is take a look at what’s available to you in nearby cities or towns. Look at towns nearby, and you might find a good option.
The drawback is that this housing will be further away from everything you need. If you don’t mind commuting, then this is a good way to go, but it will be annoying and time-consuming. You will spend more on transportation.
These are some things you can do to try to find affordable student housing. Try to keep these suggestions in mind, and always look for a place that makes your life as a student easier.
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