Questions to Ask when Selecting Off-Campus Student Housing

Copyright (c) 2015 Athens Commons

Choosing off-campus student housing can be nerve-wracking, especially when so many options are involved and you do not know where to get started. The trick to selecting the best off-campus student housing is to have a clear picture of what you want, then work towards getting that. Here are some questions you should answer before you choose a particular student housing community.

How far from college do you want to live?

Usually, students want to live as close to campus as possible so they can get to class easily, without even requiring to drive there (that is, within walking distance). You must clearly determine how far is too far and then slowly eliminate the housing options that do not meet this criterion. Remember you do not want to spend lots of time commuting, and you also want an apartment that is centrally located to allow access to other areas as well, including libraries, bookshops, restaurants, theaters and so on.

What kind of lifestyle are you looking for?

Different student housing communities offer different types of lifestyles, based on the kind of accommodation and facilities offered. Some housing communities will offer townhouse living while others will offer single-family homes. It is up to you to determine what you are looking for, then seek a housing community that enables this.

Are you looking to live with someone or alone?

This is a question that is crucial as it determines the kind of lease that is best for you. If you wish to live alone and pay for the housing on your own, go for housing that offers individual leases. If you want to have a roommate, choose housing that has leases for shared spaces.

How important is security to you?

Usually, the best answer to this question is 'very'. However, for some reasons, you may feel that the security features put in place by a particular housing community are not very important to you, maybe because you know the neighborhood to be particularly safe and so on. Both ways, you must decide what you feel about security; and whether it matters to you that a housing community have state-of-the-art security systems or not.

Is there sufficient parking space?

You do not want a housing community that does not provide adequate parking space, as this will pose a big problem later on. Of course, if you prefer to use a bicycle, you should enquire whether bike racks are provided. The bottom line is to ensure your mode of transport is secured at all times.

Are there common areas provided?

Depending on how important socialization is to you, you should find out whether common areas have been provided by the housing community. Common areas include common indoor rooms, outdoor kitchens and even swimming pools. College demands excellence in not just academics but in the social sphere as well; and social interactions begin in these common areas.

Of course, these questions are just guidelines to helping you choose the best housing community. You should have a list of other things that matter to you, to enable you make the best choice for off-campus accommodation.


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Athens Commons offers student housing across the street from the University's Business School. We take pride in managing our property to ensure our residents have the opportunity to enjoy the great social and academic experience Athens University offers. http://athenscommons.com/