The College Student Apartments Blog
Helping college students survive, one topic at a time!
How to Ensure You Get Your Security Deposit Back
September 18, 2024
By Ashley Paskill
When you are getting ready to move into a new apartment, you often have to pay a security deposit. Security deposits is a sum of money you pay to ensure that you uphold your end of the lease, including paying rent on time and keeping the apartment clean and undamaged. While it is sometimes considered the last month’s rent, it can be earned back if you know what to do. Getting your security deposit back can be done if you are mindful and take care of things about your apartment.
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Read your lease...
Mistakes to Avoid as a College Student Renting Your First Apartment
August 16, 2024
By Garth Brunner
You’re finally moving off-campus and looking for an apartment to call your own--at least for a few months or so. Renting an apartment can be great as it gives you a stronger sense of freedom, but do not be so hasty as you search and sign the lease for a new apartment. There are plenty of mistakes first-time renters make just because they are so excited to get out there on their own. Luckily, we’re here to help! Here are the common mistakes you should avoid as a college student renting your first apartment.
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Negotiating Rent With Your Potential Landlord
July 15, 2024
By Kaitlin Hurtado
Picture this: You’ve gone on an extensive and exhausting hunt for the perfect apartment. After a series of misses, you’ve found it -- the perfect apartment. It may have the exact amenities you’re searching for, or may just be the location you were looking for. Either way, there could still be one major obstacle in your way -- rent. Rent can be a huge deciding factor in what rental property you ultimately choose, even if you give yourself a window of rent to look for, something on the higher end of the ...
6 Questions To Ask During an Apartment Tour
June 16, 2024
By Ashley Paskill
Whether you are looking for your first apartment or you have lived in an apartment before, touring a new apartment can be challenging. Apartment tours can give you an opportunity to ask questions and find out more information to help you decide if you want to rent there or not. Asking questions, especially ones that pertain to you and your situation, can give you the necessary information to help you decide where to live.
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What is included in the rent?
One of the most important pieces of info...
What To Look For In An Apartment Lease
May 15, 2024
By Garth Brunner
Navigating apartment leases, especially your first lease, can be pretty tricky. You’re just eager to move out of the college dorm and start living even more independently, but unfortunately, you might have a very difficult time living alone if you do not read the lease carefully. Not all landlords are created equally and some lease buildings as their sole way of making money. You’re probably wondering, what should you look out for in your apartment lease before you sign it? While we are often looking solely ...
6 Apartment Rental Red Flags to Look For
April 17, 2024
By Alicia Geigel
Whether you are a second-year college student looking to get out of your dorm or someone who is venturing out to get a place of your own, apartment hunting is no easy task. There are many factors that go into searching for an apartment but sometimes it can be hard to tell what exactly is the right place for you, especially if this is your first time getting a place of your own.
Outside of considering factors like location, proximity to public transportation, and price, you should also weigh red flags, like property c...
How to Keep Your Apartment Makeover Affordable
March 16, 2024
By Kaitlin Hurtado
As a college student, there’s always something coming up that you have to incorporate into your already tight budget. From planning out vacations with friends to having to buy another set of textbooks for a new semester, the spending may seem endless for your current lifestyle. With all these costs to consider, you may find your budget not having a lot of room for other projects or things you want to do. For example, you may want to give your apartment a small makeover but have no idea where to start when consider...
Pros and Cons of High-Rise Apartment Living
February 15, 2024
By Ashley Paskill
When you are searching for an off-campus apartment, you may come across high-rise apartments, especially if you live in the city. These apartment buildings are more than seven stories high. For any city lover, living in a high-rise apartment may be a dream. However, like any living arrangement, there are pros and cons to consider before moving into a high-rise apartment.
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Pro: Less risk of flooding
If you live on one of the upper floors of a high-rise, there is less of a risk of your apa...
Packing Tips for Moving in Winter
January 15, 2024
By Aidan Cannon
Moving into a new living space can be an arduous process at the best of times. You have to pack up everything you own and endure the stress that comes with moving it all into an unfamiliar environment. You may even realize that you own more things than you thought you did! Unfortunately, things can get more difficult if you find yourself moving during the winter. The elements will conspire against you, and you need to take extra precautions to make sure you and your valuables are safe during the transition. While this migh...
7 Apartment Decor Gifts to Ask For This Holiday Season
December 13, 2023
By Alicia Geigel
If you’re a bit behind on sharing your winter holiday gift list, there is still time to share your wish list items with your friends, family, co-workers, neighbors, etc. There are several companies offering heavily discounted products, so why not take advantage of the post-holiday rush and look into certain items that you may have been wanting, but never had the urge to buy for yourself!
If you’re stuck as to what to add to your list, you can never go wrong with home/apartment decor items. Everyone can util...
Must-Have Amenities When Hunting for a Luxury Apartment
November 14, 2023
By Kaitlin Hurtado
Everyone has different expectations of their living space. Some simply want a place to call home and rest up when needed, barely spending time in their living space. Others want something more - a place that offers much more than the minimum of a living space, with a more luxurious feel. If you find yourself in the latter category, you may find yourself wondering just what amenities are necessary for a rental property to qualify as a luxury apartment.
When a rental property has certain on-site amenities, reside...
7 Ways to Make Your Apartment More Like Home
October 19, 2023
By Ashley Paskill
Moving into an apartment, especially for the first time, can be a difficult adjustment. It may have seemed easier to make a dorm room more at home since you had less space. With an apartment, you have more space and likely more room to fill. Decorating your apartment will help you feel more at home, but figuring out how to begin can be challenging. Luckily, it does not take too much to make your space feel more like home.
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Deep clean
When you first move in, give your space a deep clean. Yo...
How to Maximize Your Space in a Shared Apartment
September 16, 2023
By Aidan Cannon
Chances are if you're a young adult, you're going to be living in a lot of apartments while you try to get your career off the ground. While it would be really convenient to have a space all to yourself, the economic realities of the day make that quite difficult. In all likelihood, you will be sharing an apartment with one or multiple other roommates. Despite living in a shared space, you'll still want to have an area or areas that belong to you so you can feel at home. This can be difficult when the space you ar...
6 Common Moving Mistakes You Should Avoid
August 18, 2023
By Alicia Geigel
Unless you’re a professional mover, the moving process is a time filled with chaos and stress, no matter how much you plan for it. As you are planning and going through the process of a move, unexpected mistakes and mishaps can occur, which can undoubtedly send you into a spiral of anxiety and anger.
If you’re in the middle of a move, preparing to move, or are looking for some moving tips, here are six easy moving mistakes you should avoid.
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Packing At the Last Minute: During a move...
Apartment Upgrades Renters Can Make On A Small Budget
July 15, 2023
By Kaitlin Hurtado
As a renter, you may be struggling to find a living space to call your own that truly feels like a space that reflects you as an individual. For many rental properties, units may be more “bare bones” and equipped with the typical neutral tones, appliances, and so on to make the property appealing to a larger population. Unfortunately, this means that the rental property you end up with lacks the upgrades you want in your living space.
If you are looking to upgrade your rental, keep reading for apa...
Questions To Ask Before Signing A Lease
June 17, 2023
By Ashley Paskill
When you find the perfect rental space to live in for the semester or school year, your first instinct is likely to jump right in and sign the lease right away. However, if you do this, you may not be as mindful while reading the lease and you may miss crucial information you need to know about living in your space. Taking time to make sure you have all of the needed information and that all of your questions are answered will help save you a major headache down the line.
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How can rent be paid?
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How to Legally and Effectively Sublet Your Apartment
May 15, 2023
By Aaron Swartz
There’s a steep learning curve when it comes to living in an apartment. If you’ve been doing it for a while you’ve probably dealt with your fair share of hurdles — rent payments, broken appliances, utility companies — but one other unique part of living in a rented space you may have heard a little bit about is subletting. But what is subletting exactly? Why would you want to sublet your space? And what are the rules you need to follow when subletting? Read on to find the answers to all those ...
6 Ways Enjoy Your Outdoor Space This Spring and Summer
April 18, 2023
By Alicia Geigel
Spring is in full bloom and summer is quickly approaching, and what better way to enjoy the seasons than to spend time outdoors? Whether you have a balcony, patio, or a pair of chairs on your front porch, having an outdoor space gives you the opportunity to host gatherings with friends, enjoy some peace and quiet, play games, and have barbecues. But creating the best outdoor environment doesn’t come without some elbow grease and effort, and it doesn’t have to take a lot of money or time to get the job done.
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Tips for Apartment Hunting Near Your College
March 15, 2023
By Kaitlin Hurtado
College students are going to face many challenges throughout their college years, from maintaining a consistent study schedule to landing internships - one thing many college students experience is finding an apartment near campus that fits their needs and budget. Finding the right apartment is easier said than done, from the ideal apartment community not having any vacant units to apartments being out of budget.
Keep reading for tips for apartment hunting near your college.
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What to Know About Apartment Rental Applications
February 16, 2023
By Ashley Paskill
Filling out your first apartment rental application can feel daunting. What information and documents do you need? It can seem difficult since each application and landlord will be different, but knowing what to have on hand will help you prepare for anything the applications ask you.
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Where to apply
Each landlord will have a preferred method of how they like to process applications. Some may have online-only, which may be quicker in the long run, especially for those who are tech-savvy. Olde...
