It’s finally time to move up to the big leagues: off campus housing! This means a whole new kind of freedom, and a lot more space. Being an upperclassman is gonna rock.

But since this is (probably) your first time getting your own place, let’s face it, you might make some rookie mistakes. Living off campus can be a schooling in itself, from choosing the right place to rethinking your budget, adjusting your meal plan, and getting your HO4 insurance in order.

So before you jump into planning your housewarming banger, here are a few things you’ll need to consider:

(Pre-move)

1. Choose Your Roommate Wisely

When selecting your roomie, remember there’s a difference between the perfect going-out buddy and an ideal roommate. You’ll want to make sure they’re clean, trustworthy, and compatible with you.

Discuss everything with them upfront before making a decision, from study habits (music or silence?), to schedules (morning person or night owl?), and leisure activities (do they cook? Smoke? Party?). These are things you’ll want to know before, not after.

2. Research Each Apartment Or House You Visit

Don’t simply settle on the first property you visit, or one that looks good in the pics. You’ll want to do your homework and know what to ask when renting off campus: tour quite a few properties, and chat with the people who’ve lived there in the past and their neighbors (extra bonus if they end up becoming yours!). Ask about the noise level, whether the building or appliances has had any issues, whether the landlord respects renter’s rights, etc.

P.S. Don’t forget to map out the distance from the living quarters to class!

3. Check The Safety Of Your New Digs

Chances are, your dorm room came with some pretty snug security. Off campus housing? Not always the case.

To ensure your building is perfectly secure, here are a few things to double check:

1. See if your building requires a key to get onto the first floor, and another to get into the apartment.
2. Be sure the windows lock properly.
3. For an extra layer of protection, try not to live on the first floor. You’ll thank yourself later.

4. Get Renter’s Insurance

Once you choose a new place, you’re set and ready to move, right? Almost. You’ll want to make sure your stuff in your shiny new place (ex: furniture, TV, laptop, phone, etc.) is insured, in case your laptop is stolen or your candle tips and catches your stuff afire. Yeah, renter’s insurance covers theft (most people don’t know that!), which happens way more than you think.

Getting renters insurance in college can save you serious $$ down the line. Bonus? If you don’t want to deal with annoying paperwork or phone calls, you should talk your parents or guardians about adding renter’s insurance onto their policy.

(Post-move)

5. Create A New Budget

Hate to break it to you, but moving out of your dorm can mean a whole bunch of new off campus living expenses. We’re talkin’ new furniture, weekly groceries, and refills on things like toilet paper – not to mention utilities (and they add up).

Because of this, you might have to revamp your budgeting efforts.  It’s easier than it sounds, as long as you do it right. Here’s our guide to creating a healthy budget for your first off campus housing venture. which’ll help you offset cost of living off campus effortlessly. (Pay Your Landlord On-time).

6. Rethink Your Meal Plan

Now that you’re living off campus, you probably aren’t enrolled in your full meal plan. But eating a few meals on campus might save you some spare cash (and time). We recommend signing up for a 5 meal-per-week plan, so you can grab lunch on campus between classes.

Added bonus: Hangin’ in your dining hall will induce some good ol’ nostalgia for your freshman year days.

7. Grocery Shop Smart

Now that you’ve graduated from a mini fridge, and don’t have a janitor changing out the toilet paper (you kinda miss that, right?), you’ll have to monitor your own supply. #Adulting.

Remember, things like hand soap, TP, paper towels, and tin foil go faster than you think, so buy ‘em in bulk to save $$ and avoid extra trips to the grocery store. This goes for food items too – get your cereal, frozen meat, etc. in bulk so you’ll always have food on hand.

8. Create Foolproof Systems With Your Roomies

With all the responsibilities that come with off campus housing, it can sometimes feel like added coursework. From grocery shopping to cleaning up the common areas, there’s a lot to handle. You’re gonna want to have a system in place with your roomies to handle these responsibilities to save both time and conflict.

Create a cleaning schedule (example: you alternate weeks cleaning floors, counters, and bathrooms), and divide up the grocery responsibilities early.

9. Nail Down A Sub-letter, Early. Talk With Your Property Manager.

Unless you plan to spend your summer days strollin’ around campus (not a bad choice!), you’ll have to find a subletter to take over your apartment during the summer. This’ll help slash those off campus living expenses by saving you a few months rent. But chances are, tons of people on campus will be trying to do the same, so start looking a few months before.

The post 9 Tips For Living Off Campus appeared first on HBCU Off-Campus Housing.

You should always conduct a formal walkthrough with your landlord or property manager before signing a lease. When you view the rental property:

• Double check the addresses to make sure you are visiting the correct unit. Some property managers are in charge of hundreds of dwellings, and it is possible they have made a mistake.
• Make sure the amenities match what is advertised in the listing, and ask questions regarding missing or damaged items.
• Test out light switches, locks, doors, windows, and other facilities to identify current or potential problems.

REVIEW THE LEASE

Always read your entire lease. You may very well discover restrictions and procedures counter to your assumptions of how the terms of a lease agreement work. Most landlords will provide lease agreements with a high level of detail in order to protect both parties. For example:

• What are the penalties if you are forced to break a lease due to work, school, or family responsibilities?
• What charges are you liable for?
• If you decide to move away during summer break, are you allowed to sublet your room for two months?
• Are you allowed to add roommates to your lease?
• Pet policies?

The post Before Signing A Lease appeared first on HBCU Off-Campus Housing.

Before Your Off-Campus Move

Moving off-campus offers incredible autonomy and opportunity, balanced with news risks, responsibilities, and challenges. But the decision to trade the routine and familiarity of a dorm dwelling for an off-campus abode is definitely an exciting one.

There are a few factors to consider before you commit to a contract or dive into decorating. The following are six things to do before moving off-campus to make the process as stress-free as possible.

1. Choose your new home wisely.

The truth is, not all landlords or locations are created equal, nor are rental prices always the best indicator of the quality of a space or the management overseeing it. For this reason, it’s recommended to carefully research apartments in advance, rather than getting tangled up with a landlord or lease that’s less than ideal. So before signing on the line or putting down a non-refundable deposit, do your best to vet the situation to ensure you can trust who’s in charge and feel confident it’s the right move for you.

2. Draft a realistic budget.

Along with the increased independence living off-campus offers, it’s important to note that it may involve greater financial responsibilities. The only way to know if you’ll handle the bills for your off-campus residence is to plan a preliminary apartment budget. Be sure to factor in all future expenses like a security deposit and monthly rent, utilities, groceries, transportation, and decorating costs. By planning, you can prevent a mid-semester panic from realizing you don’t have the funds to get you through to finals.

3. Anticipate additional responsibilities.

While living off-campus can give you more flexibility and new freedoms, some of the comforts you’ve enjoyed on-campus could disappear once you move. For example, you might lose access to your university meal plan, scheduled cleanings, and 24/7 laundry facilities. If any of these amenities will no longer be accessible, you’ll have to be proactive in finding nearby grocery stores, laundromats, or other necessary services. By anticipating these changes and additional responsibilities before you receive your keys, you’ll be more prepared to embrace all the best parts of being off-campus.

4. Choose the right roommate(s).

Often, roommate pairings on-campus are assigned by the college or university you’re attending. But when moving off-campus, you have the luxury of choosing the perfect roommates for you. Screen potential roommates to find someone ready to split financial responsibilities, and who you can count on to be there for the duration of the lease. A roommate who is a fellow student is likely to understand and respect your need to study and will hopefully provide support and accountability for a successful semester.

5. Create a roommate agreement.

Drafting an agreement among roommates is beneficial in making sure everyone shares the same expectations for living together. Items in this document may include how bills are divided, who makes sure those bills are paid on time, roommate chore charts, baseline rules (noise, houseguests, etc.), and any other pertinent information for your living arrangement. With this agreement, everyone can fully understand and commit to their responsibilities, and use this as a reference later on if someone is not upholding their end of the bargain.

6. Find your mode of transportation.

Maybe you used to live right across the lawn from your classes, but your new apartment is located across town. If that’s the case, you’ll need to think through your transportation options and determine what feels most convenient and cost-effective. Will you have your own car, or can you carpool with your roommate? Are you close enough to walk to campus, or bike there if you need to? Or do you need to look into bus routes or a rideshare service? With so many choices for your commute, you can easily have a plan before the start of school.

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