Looking for an off-campus apartment can be a very nerve wracking process. I just went through my first ever apartment search this semester after securing my second co-op at Wayfair, and I would be lying if I said I wasn’t stressed out the entire time. Thankfully, I was able to secure a sublet for the summer and a lease for the fall, and now I feel a lot more at ease. In order to mitigate any fears you may have about apartment hunting, here are some tips that I learned during my search process.
1. Start searching as early as possible.
Apartment hunting is not something you want to leave until the last minute because spaces can become available and get taken by someone else in the span of days. Also, securing your living situation early on will give you more time to plan other important things such as moving logistics and buying furniture.
2. Determine which criteria are essential for you and look over every option that meets those criteria.
Unfortunately, it will most likely be difficult to find an apartment that has every amenity you want and still be within budget, so I would focus on a few criteria that are absolutely non negotiable. For me, essential criteria included a rent that was within my budget, an in-unit kitchen and bathroom, a commute time that was under 30 minutes, and laundry facilities in the building. After you figure out your essential criteria, you should evaluate every option that meets those criteria to make sure you’re not overlooking anything.
3. Take note of extra costs such as utilities, WiFi, the security deposit, and broker’s fees.
Some apartments come with utilities as part of the rent and others do not, so make sure to consider these extra costs when you are evaluating your options. Additionally, upfront payments will likely make a significant dent in your bank account. For my September lease, I had to pay an upfront cost that included first month’s rent, last months’ rent, a security deposit, and the broker’s fee, which totaled over $5,000. Knowing this information ahead of time will prepare you from being blindsided.
4. When you find a place you like, reach out to the realtors immediately to schedule a tour and get any questions answered.
Like I mentioned before, apartment listings come and go very quickly, so if you find a place that you’re interested in, make sure to reach out to the realtors immediately before it is taken by someone else.
5. Double check the lease terms—make sure that the apartment allows subletting if you need that flexibility.
Some apartments do not allow tenants to sublet their property, which means you would be tied to the place until your lease term is up. Terminating a lease early usually costs at least one month’s rent as well. If you do not want to end up in such a situation, make sure you clarify with the landlord that subletting is allowed.
In addition, here are some sites you can use to look for apartments:
- Apartments.com
- SplitSpot
- Northeastern Off-Campus Housing Search
- Facebook Marketplace/Facebook Groups
- Airbnb
I hope this advice was helpful, and good luck with all of your future apartment searches!