For many
people, everything about college is exciting – from the academics to the social
environment to the housing. Living on campus can be a whole new world for students,
but there are some that crave or even need more. For those students, living off
campus provides the “something more” they’re looking for. However, not everyone
knows how to choose the right student housing Waterloo offers. Fortunately, there are
some tips that can help you narrow down your options.
Create a Realistic Budget
No
matter the purchase, your budget should always be a consideration. This is
especially true for college students who are moving off campus and into their
own apartment for the first time. You’ll have to budget for more than just
rent, which means you’ll have to decide if you want an inclusive or
non-inclusive apartment. Inclusive simply means that your monthly utilities
will be added into your rent, while non-inclusive means they won’t.
Apartments
that are inclusive are slightly more expensive, but certainly more convenient
for students. They’re slightly more expensive, but property management pays the
hydro, Internet, cable, garbage collection, water and sewer bills. While you’ll
be charged monthly, the fees will be nominal and never fluctuate, unlike normal
utility fees.
Your
monthly apartment budget should include room for groceries, laundry, clothing,
school supplies and personal items or luxuries. If off-campus housing doesn’t
fully fit into your budget, you should consider living with a roommate(s) to
reduce your expenses. Just keep in mind that off-campus living isn’t necessarily
more expensive than on-campus living.
Calculate the Proximity to Your
School and Amenities
The
proximity of your apartment to campus is important, because it’ll help you plan
your transportation and time of commute. Besides that, you should be as close
as possible to your campus library facilities and other resources. The proximity
of your apartment to other amenities, such as laundromats, grocery stores,
local libraries and more is also important. Of course, your apartment will come
with its own amenities, such as a gym facility, game room, lounges, outdoor
entertainment space, biking/walking trails and maybe even a pool. Combining
your community and apartment amenities should give you all you need at
your fingertips.
Consider the Benefits of a
Furnished or Unfurnished Apartment
Furnishing
an apartment can be expensive, even for people who aren’t university students.
Plus, apartments require more furniture than dorm rooms. This means you’ll have
to come up with some cash to furnish your new space. However, a furnished
apartment could be the cure for this dilemma. They’re slightly more expensive
than unfurnished apartments, but they come with their own furniture and major
appliances, including a washer and dryer.
If you
want to personalize it, then you could simply decorate with your own accent
pieces. On the other hand, unfurnished apartments are typically cheaper, can be
decorated with the furniture you want and always come with major appliances,
such as a refrigerator and stove. If you can’t afford to buy furniture, then
you could rent it, especially if you’re splitting the expenses with
roommates.
