5 College Apartment Must-Haves

By Kylie Exline on April 26, 2016

When searching for an apartment, there are numerous factors that are considered a must. Before signing a lease, we have to know the specifics and prepare ourselves with what to expect.

In other words, we want to know what we are getting ourselves into, and what things the apartment complex will be offering us. Will free Wi-Fi be included? Are pets allowed? Can we request a hot neighbor? All legitimate questions.

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Proximity

As college students, being close to campus is a necessity. It is already difficult enough trying to force ourselves to attend class. Throw in being a half an hour drive away and consider me a drop-out.

Being close to a job or internship is also a vital aspect. Who wants to be stuck in happy hour traffic and not even experience happy hour? Exactly.

Deciding which apartment to sign also depends on what is nearby. I am talking about food, stores, gas stations, and did I mention food? These are all imperative to us because we use them only about 7.3 times a day. Plus, in this day and age, instant satisfaction is desired … err, required.

Pricing

As mentioned before, we are in college. Therefore, we are always ballin’ on a budget. We already spend way too much money on alcohol, food, and anything else we claim we need right this minute. This leaves us with not that much money to spend on rent per month.

We need an apartment complex that will maybe have a low security deposit, allow us a few (seven?) warnings before late rent is a thing, and include cable in the monthly bill.

It is a lot to ask for, I know, but you would be surprised to find that some complexes are actually lenient and understand the never-ending college struggle. So look for an apartment that is relatively cheap, as well as somewhat sympathetic toward our economical ways.

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Furnished

No one aspires to sleep on a mattress on a floor, or to have sheets as curtains, unless you are in a rock band of some sorts. What this means is that we need a furnished place.

I am not talking about a free shower rod or “Welcome Home” mat, which are nice nonetheless, but rather actual furniture. This includes a couch (couches if you are ever so lucky), a bed with a headboard, and a few, ready-to-use appliances.

This still grants us the freedom of decorating our apartment with framed photos and placing a beer pong table in the center of our living room, all while providing us with some drawers and a T.V. stand. Basically getting the best of both worlds.

Quality

Although in college, we still should be getting what we pay for. And what we deserve is quality. We want a decent enough apartment so that when the ‘rents come to visit, they will not be completely disappointed with what we chose to live in.

A nice exterior makes for a nice interior, or something like that. Plus, if you have better appliances and whatnot, it will be less likely to break and easier to fix if something does end up going awry. The last thing we want are there to be prevalent issues such as a high crime rate, a tendency of mold, and a dishwasher that will not stop leaking.

To avoid, sign with an apartment that is known for its quality. If anything, knock on random doors and interview the inhabitants on their time there and their overall experience. Might sound slightly creepy, but it is legit, guys.

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Amenities

This is a bonus, but also very important for our well-being. What in the world would we do after a bad day and having a hot tub to escape to was not an option?

Life is stressful. A way to cope with that is to have a pool to dive into, or a gym to release pent-up anger. Having to go to another apartment is just too out of the way at times.

These luxuries will make our living experience better, but also enhance the overall appeal of the complex. Plus, it is easier to befriend your neighbors when you are all chilling by the pool and drinking some beer. Yay for amenities.

Searching for an apartment can be tough, but also worth it in the end if you find a nice one. Being close to campus and work is a huge must-have, as is the price you are paying. And don’t forget the convenience of it being furnished, and certain amenities that it comes with.

Basically, you want an apartment that will offer you deals, as well as zero complaints (we can wish). Throw in a few hot neighbors and we have found ourselves a winner. Now go out there and sign that lease, people!

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