| Each year college students all over the country | | | | rents it and you can sometimes secure an |
| decide to take a big step into the real world by | | | | apartment even before it is put out on the |
| renting their first apartment. Up until this point, | | | | market. |
| they have been living at home with their families | | | | When visiting apartments, use your time wisely |
| or living in the university dorms. The transition to | | | | but be open to surprises. Do not bother checking |
| apartment living from the dorms can be a tough | | | | out places that are distant from campus or |
| one, but there are some things that you can do | | | | where you work, but do follow up on |
| to make the apartment searching easier and to | | | | advertisements even if it does not seem like a |
| prepare for the move. | | | | perfect match. Try to avoid ruling out specific |
| Prior to beginning any search, it is a good idea to | | | | characteristics unless you have real reasons for |
| ask around and look online for information about | | | | wanting to avoid them. For example, basement |
| renting in the area. In cities like Boston and New | | | | apartments in one city might be vastly different |
| York, brokers handle a lot of rental properties and | | | | from what you normally imagined. On the other |
| have high fees that you often must pay. Search | | | | hand, if you hate elevators, do not bother visiting |
| for alternatives with websites and the local | | | | apartments located on floors high up in tall |
| newspapers. Many universities also provide advice | | | | buildings. |
| for students wishing to move off campus so be | | | | Throughout the entire apartment search you |
| sure to find out if yours does. | | | | should attempt to imagine what your life will be |
| Another aspect to keep in mind is what you will | | | | like next year. If you know you will need to make |
| need in order to rent a place. Many apartments | | | | frequent trips home, keep that in mind when you |
| require co-signers, so talk to your parents about | | | | decide what locations you would be willing to live |
| this possibility. If you cannot find a lease because | | | | in. If you will need a lot of study space, avoid |
| you do not have someone to sign for you, | | | | buildings with reputations for their parties. Small |
| sublets or direct rentals with security deposits are | | | | apartments attached to homes or in buildings |
| options that you should focus on. | | | | where mainly professionals live are usually the |
| It is also very important to plan ahead when | | | | best options when you want peace and quiet. |
| moving into an apartment. In many cities there | | | | Lastly, if you are planning to live with a |
| are limited rental properties available, and the best | | | | roommate, complete as much of the apartment |
| places go fast. Pay attention to what students | | | | hunting together. If it seems like you just cannot |
| from the upper classes are doing, and ask any | | | | agree in the search stage, you might want to |
| older friends if they have suggestions. You might | | | | re-consider living together. Finding an apartment |
| discover, for instance, that the graduating senior | | | | can be tough, but your first place in your college |
| who sits next to you in Spanish has a great | | | | years is sure to create memories that you'll |
| apartment that will be available next year. Ask for | | | | never forget. |
| the number of the landlord or the company that | | | | |