Don’t buy into housing hysteria
As I surfed through the sea of e-mails cluttering my inbox – some from professors reminding me of looming paper and project deadlines, others from money-sucking honors societies soliciting me to join – my eyes locked on a screaming subject line.
REMINDER: FALL 2015 LEASE SIGNING DEADLINE APPROACHING
In years past, I bought into the housing hysteria. For fear of living on the streets, I scribbled my signature on the first contract that landed in front of me. If I did not commit to an apartment half a year in advance, I thought, there would be no place for me to live the coming semester.
I chuckled at my naivety as I moved the e-mail to the trash without offering it more than a moment’s attention.
While it never hurts to plan ahead, hashing out living arrangements for next fall this early in the school year is ridiculous.
I don’t sign leases until the summer. Four years of being a student has taught me there are no constants in the college life.
First, I barely have enough money for Top Ramen, much less a couple hundred bucks to throw at a down payment. Second, it takes a great deal of time and inspection to determine who the best roommates will be. Lastly, I sadly lack the ability to predict the future and see where I will be in a year.
A heck of a lot can change in the matter of only a few days, which is why I encourage students to think twice about making a major commitment so far ahead of time.
Many landlords and apartment owners are fair, kind people, while many others are greedy and seemingly soulless. It is important to meet them in person and make sure you will get along with them. Nothing is worse than eight months of living with a landlord from hell.
Amid the influx of apartment advertising and increasing pressure to make a living decision, do yourself a favor and avoid making a spur-of-the-moment decision. Instead of signing a lease, conduct some preliminary research on review websites such as apartmentratings.com. Talk to friends of friends about living situations and gather their opinions toward housing.
Nothing, however, is more crucial than visiting these places in person. Make sure you clarify with housing owners the total price of living – which often includes utility fees, Internet, cable and other charges on top of rent. Ask about the length of leases and gauge the flexibility of the owner.
Housing might be a mere afterthought to some students, while others take the reminders and advertising too seriously.
Before you sign the lease, remember, you have to live with the decision.
