Spring term is approaching, which means that your Facebook notifications are flooded with subletting posts. Students who aren’t staying in Ann Arbor during the warmer months are desperate to ditch their apartment and make some easy cash. If you’re looking for a place to sublet for the spring or summer months ahead, don’t stress because the ball is in your court! Here are some helpful tips to help streamline your apartment subletting process.
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Diversify your search
While the constant stream of Facebook posts can be a tempting resource, it is also very competitive. You don’t want to miss out on any opportunities so it’s important to diversify your search by using different resources. Social media and websites like Craig’s List are very easy to skim through to get an idea of price ranges and amenities; however, some resources many students overlook are the actual apartment buildings themselves. You can call the front desk of an apartment building you’re interested in living in and they will give you a contact list of all of the people who’re looking for someone to move in for the spring and/or summer terms! This is super helpful because you don’t have to go digging through social media groups or websites. It’s as if they’re doing all your research for you!
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Let them come to you
Instead of responding to Facebook subletting listings that you’re interested in, try reaching out in the group. Simply post a sentence or two saying that your looking to sublet an apartment for “x” amount of time, what price range you’re looking for and the amenities you need, such as parking. Instantly, you’ll receive tons of comments with offers from students who are desperate to get their apartments off their hands.
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Don’t settle!
One of the most stressful things about apartment hunting is haggling. Since nothing has a flat price, anything is fair game. Before you discuss rent, make sure you have a clear range of how much you’re willing to pay. Make a list of three or four different prices that work with your budget. When you’re ready to share your offers, start by saying you’ll pay the lowest amount on your list for rent. If they want more money, go to your next price up. Ideally, you won’t even have to say your maximum offer for rent. Just make sure that you have a plan so that you don’t get caught up in the moment and say a crazy high number to secure yourself housing!
If one deal doesn’t go through, don’t worry! It’s not the only chance you’ll get. Just keep searching for posts and listings because there are so many students who are desperate to make money on their apartment, even if it’s a lot less than their asking price. It’s better than nothing and sooner or later they won’t have a choice but to accept your offer!
Images courtesy of: University of Michigan Housing, giphy.com