You will be attending that university/campus after all. Finding somewhere to stay is your only remaining priority at this point. Students today have a lot more options available to them when it comes to the combination of where they live and where they go to school, which is good news for those who remember living in dingy, mouldy quarters.
However, there is no need to freak out about it. Take a look at the advice provided here for finding your accommodations.
Tips On How to Find Accommodation Near Your Campus
1. Become Familiar With Your Financial Plan
If you are familiar with both your city and your immediate neighbourhood and ready to venture out. Now is the time to select the ideal apartment for you within your financial constraints. What is the starting salary for your position? What percentage of that salary are you willing to put toward housing expenses each month? When searching for an apartment within your price range, these are some questions you need to ask yourself.
The general rule of thumb is that your housing costs should not exceed 30% of your annual salary at any given time. However, this varies depending on the city where you make your home. Be prepared to spend more than 30% of your income on housing if you live in a more expensive city.
If you spend more than 30% of your income on rent, you will need to reduce your spending in other areas to maintain the same standard of living. Regarding your spending plan, you need to exercise some common sense. Your yearly income shouldn’t be spent entirely on covering your living expenses. That can’t keep going on forever.
2. Take A Stroll
Just take a short walk around the campus and make a mental note of any significant landmarks you come across to identify them when you see them again easily. It will give the impression that this area is much more cramped!
Your circumstances will significantly impact where you will live during the first year of your program. If you were accepted to the university of your first choice, you would most likely be required to live in the university’s halls, which can either be catered or uncatered. However, depending on the availability of the halls at your university, you may need to consider other choices if you applied late, took your second choice, or are currently going through the clearing process.
3. Select A Community
Now that you’ve decided on a city you want to relocate to; the next step is to consider the community in which you want to make your home. The majority of significant cities offer a variety of neighbourhoods from which to select.
Some neighbourhoods are far more secure than others. If you know individuals who already live in a community you’re going to, ask them for their advice on areas they would suggest and those they would avoid before making your move.
4. Give Some Consideration to How You Like to Live Your Life
If you are not staying in university housing, you should probably look for a place near the university grounds, unless you don’t mind the distance and are willing to walk or use the bus.
If you don’t want to live in close quarters in a dorm or share a kitchen with many other people, then private halls may be able to provide you with studios or shared flats in which you can live alone or with one to two other people.
5. Check Out Several Apartment Listing Websites
There are hundreds of websites dedicated to listing apartments. It would be best if you still exercise caution, though. Because this will be your home, you want to ensure that it is a secure environment and that the listing is authentic. If you live in Canada, you can look up Waterloo student housing to see if there is an option available to you!
There is a huge variety of websites available. However, you need to ensure that you look in the appropriate locations. Certain apartments may give you the impression that they’re too good to be true.
Conclusion
There is a lot to think about, but it is important to be strategic about it. Spend some time thinking about everything that needs to be considered. This will be your home, and this will be where all of your belongings are stored. You want it to be affordable, you want it to be secure, you want a roommate or roommates that you can trust, and you want to make sure that it won’t break your bank.
Also read:Â 6 Tips to Help You Find the Best Student Housing in 2022
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