Here is a list of a few decisions you will likely need to make before you decide on your new home for the next year:
- Choose your roommates wisely.
- Consider your neighborhoods - mostly college students versus mostly family.
- Location - proximity to bus stops, restaurants/bars, grocery stores, churches, banks, major highways, etc.
Roommate Decisions
Some of the roommate issues to consider:
- Study versus Party
- How to deal with significant others - Wow a new roommate who is always around but doesn’t pay rent!
- Neat freaks or minimal hygiene requirements for the home.
- Who parks in the garage and who gets the less desirable parking spots?
- Music/TV in the house - Thursday night Grey’s Anatomy versus Thursday Night ESPN Football.
Budgeting
If the Bank of Mom and Dad is no longer freely sponsoring your college lifestyle, it will be time to develop a budget. This may be the first time you need to keep a budget. When renting a property, typically all expenses are not included. Click here to view a budget worksheet.
Special note: While free clothes and Frisbees are awesome, credit cards are not a great way to budget!
Utility Issues
Ask the landlord what needs to be done to get your utilities turned on. If living with roommates, you will need to decide whose name to put the bills under. This is not an easy decision and you really are going to want to discuss this before moving forward. Note: Most college students no longer use a land-line telephone (this is a way to save $30-40 per month).
Thank Goodness for the Food Network!
It is time to learn how to cook, or at least to find someone who can cook for you. When you leave campus food behind it can seem like a positive. However, if you do not know how to cook this can lead to expensive bills for eating out. Also, speak to your roommates about whether you are going to go grocery shopping together and share everything or if you are all on your own.
