This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Exeter Cornwall chapter.
DO:
- Start looking early
- Go to see the properties- they can be very different in real life! Don’t trust a pretty picture.
- Ask any questions you may have- e.g. is there a parking space? What are the neighbours like?
- Check whether the price includes bills- and which bills exactly.
- Look at lots of different places.
- Take in consideration the amount others in your group are willing to pay.
- Look at the property carefully- check for mould/ dampness/ structural problems.
- Read what you’re signing! Check how long you have the property/ that the rent is right- once it’s signed it’s a lot harder to change terms!
- Consider location- is it near a bus stop? If you surf a lot is it near the beach?
- Talk to others- find out the best areas, see if anyone has recommendations.
DON’T:
- Sign anything without reading it!
- Leave it til the last minute- it just makes it a rush and will stress you out.
- Trust that someone else will sort it out- grab the steering wheel yourself.
- Go for something you’re not happy with- you’ll have to live there for a year.
- Assume that you can trust everyone- get it all done legally; the property isn’t yours until the paperwork has been done.
- Get into a fight about it! Work out who gets the biggest bedroom fairly!
- Get stressed! You won’t be left homeless so don’t worry about it too much.
- Set your heart on one property- you might not get it. Have several options.