It’s that time of year again—school is ending for the year and you need to find somewhere to live for the summer. When the need to find an apartment mixes with the stress of finals, things can get pretty hectic. However, it’s not as difficult as you might think! Here are 6 steps to finding a summer room.
Step One: Plan out what you want
Decide what kind of place you want to live in. Do you want your own room? Are you planning on living with friends? Do you want the place to be furnished? If you’re finding a place with other people, map out a price range together—this will make it easier to narrow down your options.
Step Two: Look at your school’s options
If your summer plan is to take a few classes or do an internship with your school, contact the university about summer housing. Often, they will be able to provide a dorm or other on-campus housing for you to stay in during the summer. However, sometimes it’s best to check your other options before doing this—university housing can be expensive with not many benefits. However, your school might offer jobs over the summer that come with free housing, such as camp counseling and orientation staff. If something like this is available, jump on it!
Step Three: Ask your friends
Ask your friends or people you know from school what their plans are for the summer. Perhaps they’re staying too, and need a roommate, or they need to sublet their apartment. Rather than renting an apartment and dealing with the hassle, subletting is easier and more convenient for both parties. Often times, fraternities will rent out rooms to students for the summer, even if you aren’t a member. However, these rooms will most likely be small and shared with another person, and you may be asked to leave a couple weeks before the end of the summer so that they can be prepared for students to move back in.
Step Four: Craigslist or local newspaper
If worst comes to worst and you can’t find anything, Craigslist or similar sites will always show you apartments and houses to rent in your area, as well as the local newspaper. Check these often because they are likely updated every day!
Step Five: Check out the place
It’s important to make sure the place is suitable before signing the lease. Especially when you are renting from someone you do not know, make time to visit and bring a friend for safety reasons. Some things to check for are electricity, running water, an excess of bugs, and a safe area that you will feel comfortable living in. It’s not worth living in a place that is falling apart or unsafe!
Step Six: Signing a lease
Once you’ve found the room you want, it’s time to make it official! Make sure you are given the document and read the fine print before signing. If there’s anything that looks fishy, don’t hesitate to ask about it!
Whether you live on campus or not this summer, enjoy your housing choice and have a fun, safe summer!
