How to Rent a First Apartment

Are you finally ready to move off campus? Here's how to take advantage of your first semester in your first apartment, without getting taken advantage of.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Secure your roommates. Decide who you want to live with, and discuss what you're looking for in an apartment or house. Talk about whether you will need enough bedrooms for each resident to have his own, whether the apartment needs to be pet friendly, and whether it should be within walking distance to campus. These are the types of questions you should discuss to make sure you're all on the same page before you start browsing the want ads.

2. Check your budget. Before you agree to move into an off-campus apartment, be sure you can afford it! Not only will you need to factor in rent, but consider your share of electric, cable and Internet, as well as any potential necessary utilities that could not be covered by your landlord, including water, garbage and sewage. You may consider canceling or decreasing the number of meals on your campus meal plan, so be sure you can afford to cook your own meals, even if it's just Ramen noodles. Also, most landlords require a full security deposit plus first month's rent (some also require the last month's rent up front) before you even move in.

3. Peruse the For Rent sections of your campus and community newspapers. Many websites also feature rental listings, including Facebook and Craigslist. Some universities even link to a Housing section where students and landlords can post and respond to ads.

4. Make sure that all residents CAREFULLY review the lease before anyone signs it. College landlords are notorious for sneaking items into their leases to potentially get more money out of you in the end. If you need to, send a copy of the lease to your parents, a lawyer or an older sibling for review if you don't understand the terminology. Once the lease is signed, it will bind you to its terms, including any money you owe for damages when you move out.

5. Take photos. Most landlords will take new residents on a walk-through of the premises when they move in to identify existing damages. Even if you do this walk-through, be sure to take photos of any damages you find with a date-stamped camera. These photos could serve as evidence if the landlord later accuses you of causing these damages.

6. Be careful! Try to report any issues immediately to your landlord to ensure quick repair. And don't throw any wild parties or engage in reckless behavior that could result in damages to the property. This should ensure that you receive the majority of your security deposit back when you move out.

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure you find roommates who are on the same page as you when looking for an apartment. You don't want to live with a party animal if you like to study on weekends; likewise you shouldn't move in with a cat lover if you're allergic to animals.