Your First Appartment!

So you're ready to move out, but where to? As a university student, you have several options open to you:

Residence housing provided on campus by the university:

PROS:

Residence housing is often cheaper than living in an appartment, especially if you share with a room-mate. There are often food programs at the residences where you pay a certain amount of money and have the balance transferred to a food card which you use to buy your meals at the campus food outlets. You won't have to take the bus or drive to get to class. This cuts down on wasted time and money. Furnature may be provided. You will be in contact with many other students and you will have the chance to get involved in on-campus activities. MAY have direct internet access.

CONS:

If you prefer your own way of doing things, the closeness of residence life may not suit you. Your room will not be big, especially if you share it with a room-mate. You may have to use communal bathrooms that are shared with the other people on your floor/wing. When and what you eat will be restricted since you will probably eat at a cafeteria which has set meal-times. If your room does have a sink, fridge, and stove, expect them to be cluttered and old. Some residences may be noisy, so be careful where you choose. Space is limited and furnature is often provided, so don't try to bring your mom's antique writing desk.

Residences off-campus:

PROS:

These housing opportunities are often owned or leased by the university for "Mature" or "Married" students. I don't know how frequent they are, but there is one at the University of Alberta (Michener Park). If you and your significant other are looking for a place to live, this is probably the best bet. You probably can't live in Res (they won't let you and its too small), so you'll end up with an appartment (real stove, your own bathroom, etc). The rent at these places is often quite cheap and the housing is kept to a standard. You have privacy but you also have contact with other students and have a line of contact to the university that you wouldn't have with a regular appartment. Usually have excellent public transportation services.

CONS:

You won't have much choice about where you want to live. Since there would be only one off-campus housing complex, you take what you get. You'll have to get to Univeristy somehow (bus, car, LRT), and this will raise the cost a little (Edmonton student bus pass is $43.00 per month). You will have to grocery shop and cook for yourself and you will have a big appartment to clean. You will have to get your own computer and probably your own internet access.

Regular appartments:

PROS:

You have a large choice of location, cost, and furnishings. You have more freedom than an on or off campus residence.

CONS:

You don't have the security and safety that the residences do. You are out to fend for yourself, and this might be difficult and frightening if you don't know anyone. Be careful! Make sure you can live in your apartment (i.e. it's clean and functional) and don't end up paying too much. Price will increase the closer you get to the university. Make sure you are close to grocery stores, a mall, a postal outlet, and a public transportation stop. If you are living downtown, take precautions to make sure you're safe (don't go grocery shopping alone when its dark out). You'll have to cook, clean, shop, etc. just like off-campus housing. You will probablly have to get your own computer and your own internet access.

Sharing apartments (residence or normal)

PROS:

You can split your rent and utility costs and end up paying less. If you are living with yout sweetheart or best friend, this shouldn't be too much of a problem. You have someone to go grocery shopping with (they can carry groceries as well as keep you company when its dark out). You can probably take turns cooking and cleaning, reducing the workload that you would have if you were alone. You might be able to share a bus pass and other costs.

CONS:

You might end up with noisy room-mates! Make sure the person has similar tastes as you and that you can put up with their habits. Make sure you reach an agreement for how long (minimum) you will share the appartment and what you will do when one wants to move out (or wants the other to move out). You will have a little less privacy than if alone, so be prepared to share yourself and your things.

Special note: if you are close enough and fit enough, try biking to university when there's no snow on th ground. Just don't let your bike cost more than several months bus passes! Don't forget that you may not be able to bike every day! 

What to look for in an apartment: Ask some questions

Location: Can you get to the university easily? Is it worth living close and paying more as opposed to living further away and paying for a car/public transportation? How good is the public transportation system between your appartment and the university, the nearest mall, the nearest transit station, and your possible place of work?

Are utilities included in your rent? (Obviously NOT the phone bill).

How much is the damage deposit? What are the terms?

Are you allowed pets?

Are there leasing agreements? Are they worth it? (consider what will happen if you decide to move before your lease is done) Is there a program where you can keep your appartment over the summer months and pay a reduced rate?

How good is the parking? Is it underground? Heated? Surveilanced? Protected?

What condition is the appartment and furnishings in? If you have allergies, be sure to get a relatively new and clean place.

How big is it? Will you have a good study area? It it well lit?

It it somewhere that you feel safe and relaxed? This is important since you will have to be in good mental shape to study and learn.

What sort of furnature will you need to buy/bring for each particular appartment?

How big are the fridge and feezer? This is very important for cooking on your own. See cooking and grocery tips.

One final tip: Consider not getting cable. If you want entertainment and information, get real internet access (there may be internet access provided by the university but it will probably be slow). You'll get the regular "peasant-vision" channels on TV and you'll be able to do a lot more with the internet, especially when nothing's on! The internet will help in allowing you to send e-mail and research toipcs as well. To clear up poor reception on your non-cable TV, consider buying some rabbit ears (they're cheap).

Search for appartments using metacrawler (a wonderful search engine) or Yahoo!

Search for appartments in Canada and the U.S. by using Rent.net!

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E-Mail Karen: [email protected]

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