Once you’ve already secured your place at university, the next important thing that immediately comes to mind is finding a place to stay. If you are moving to a new city or in another state, securing fantastic student housing can be a daunting task. There are specific crucial issues you have to keep in mind. First, you want to make sure you choose the perfect location that is convenient for your commute to and from campus. You also have to make sure that the price is within your budget. Perhaps you may want to find a place where you can live among fellow students or you want to have a feel of the local culture. Here are some useful tips on how to go about finding a place that’s right for you.
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Your Expectations
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Give some thought to your lifestyle and expectations. Would you rather live in a student hostel or apartment in a lovely suburb or live in a community with active and welcoming young people? There are many beautiful big cities that have incredible locations and neighborhoods with a lot of students, but if you are used to cars, running around town, or stopping for a quick bite at a local restaurant, you will need to adjust.
Consider the Housing Options that Suit You
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There are two main options when it comes to finding student accommodation; On-campus dormitories or hostels and shared student apartments. Most universities also run university halls where most students are allocated a place. Choosing what best suits you will depend on a couple of factors like what types of student housing are available, your preferences, and your budget.
Have a PLAN
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Finding the right student accommodation is never easy, and although some people have great luck, they may also find that things aren’t quite what they imagined. There are always obstacles that need to be overcome, which is why it’s still a good idea to have a plan. You can do this by looking online. Start by using an online property-search service like Kijiji or Zillow.com.’ The site allows you to search by location or type of property and even by price range.’ You can also look for homes for rent on sites like Airbnb and HomeAway.’
Online services also have the benefit of making house hunting more approachable.
That can seem a little obvious at first, but when you think about it, it just makes sense. Having a plan means that you’ll know what you can count on and what you can’t.
Look for References
Source: unihomes
One of the hardest tasks to overcome when searching for student accommodation is finding a reference for a place. Searching the internet to locate information from a previous home, or friends and family is a good starting point. Make sure you look for past tenants and check over the place(s) to see what it looked like before you start shopping.
Check Rental Rate: Because the cost of renting is the most significant determining factor in your final decision.
On-Campus Accommodation
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Most universities have on-campus hostels or dormitories where students can book a spot. But there’s a significant drawback to this beautiful arrangement. First, the number of places is minimal, and you can’t always choose what you get. And, if you think that university is your opportunity to enjoy your freedom from home, you can kiss that thought goodbye since you’ll probably be sharing these accommodations with even more people than your siblings back at home. However, you get to be near campus, so that’s less traveling for you, and you get to be on time for your lectures. If you have to go for this option, it’s best first to weigh the pros and cons.
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Private student housing is one of the great options if you like to live communally with fellow students but with more privacy and independence than University hostels or dormitories. You get to enjoy having your private bedroom while sharing a living space/kitchen/bathroom with your housemates. You also get to take advantage of other resident amenities like cafes, gym, or swimming pool. Private housing is typically located off-campus but in a student-friendly suburb of the university town, providing you an opportunity to explore a new area that you call home. If you’re lucky enough and can afford it, you can even get your private studio apartment within the student apartment block.
In a nutshell, there are two main options for university students when it comes to finding student housing. One is on-campus dormitories/hostels or university halls, and the other is private student housing. Choosing what best suits you will depend on a couple of factors like what types of student housing are available, your preferences, and your budget. You can check Digstudent to learn more about the best off-campus housing options.
