Every year as the leaves start to change and temperatures drop, students are struck with a paralyzing fear that has little to do with the first exams of the semester. One month into the new school year, and the hunt for the perfect off-campus residence begins.

Figuring out where to live a year from now, when people have just settled into their new spaces, might seem daunting. And too often students wait until the last minute to make their housing arrangements or will skip crucial steps along the way, making the process more stressful than it needs to be. The best options get taken quickly, so the sooner the start, the better.

Elin Riggs, director of the Off-Campus and Commuter Services program, suggests that students start preparing for their search early and stay organized throughout the process to avoid chaos come lease-signing time.

“The first thing that students should do is determine their budget,” Riggs said. “And before they even do that, they should talk to their parents and make sure it is OK for them to live off-campus.”

One factor many students do not take into account when looking for a place to live is how much it is going to cost them, Riggs said. Some students forget that after they sign a lease, they will often be expected to immediately pay first and last months’ rent, in addition to a security deposit. And financial aid will not be dispersed until these primary, or upfront, costs have been paid, Riggs said.

After creating a budget, students should then begin figuring out with whom and how many other people they want to live.

Kelley Simon, a sophomore public relations major, faced a number of difficulties in her search for an off-campus residence because as a junior, she plans to study abroad. In this case, Simon had to find someone to sublet her place while she is out of the country. She found that her desire for a place close to campus with parking and her own bedroom came at a steep price, but ended up being the best option for the one semester she will be on campus next year.

For many students who are unfamiliar with the off-campus area, apartment complexes like Park Point and Castle Court or homes on streets like Euclid and Lancaster avenues seem ideal. These residences are close to campus and therefore cut down on travel time to class — allowing a few extra minutes of sleep in the mornings.

But Alex Romeo, a junior advertising major, began his search outside of the typical off-campus housing spots in hopes of finding a more affordable place to live.

“Some of the places really close to campus are absurdly priced,” Romeo said.

Romeo kicked off his search on West Genesee Street because of its proximity to Marshall Street, where he works and spends time on the weekends. However, he then decided to look into homes on Clarendon Street in order to be closer to friends and classmates.

Knowing what you want out of a home or apartment is key before knocking on a random stranger’s door and asking for a quick peek inside. Ask questions when apartment searching, too, like whether a house is pet friendly or includes utilities in the monthly rent.

For Romeo, he knows that no matter where he ends up, he wants his place to have a spacious kitchen to cook his meals in and a few homier touches like a porch, a backyard and hardwood floors that don’t smell like beer. In order to get all that he wants in a home, it was crucial to start looking at places as early as possible.

“If I was smart, I would have started looking earlier, maybe even before all the students got here,” Romeo said. “Within a couple of weeks, you aren’t going to be able to have the luxury of choosing where you want to live.”

When students plan these details out ahead of time, it makes the house hunt process run much smoother.

Oftentimes, new residents will eagerly find their perfect home or apartment without asking the important questions, said Riggs. She added that to make the most of an off-campus experience, students should get to know their neighbors, both permanent residents and students.

Said Riggs: “Getting invested in the community is going to make you feel like you are living on your own, like a grownup. This is the chance to do that with a safety net.”

Published on September 16, 2013 at 10:33 pm

Contact Katie: kjrichar@syr.edu | @ktjrichards