It's that time of year again. You scramble to visit houses and apartments in between classes, keeping all of Charlottesville's top student leasing companies on speed-dial. Signing a new lease is one of the most stressful things to deal with in the midst of midterms and, yet, it's one of those things that has to be done.
As of the beginning of next school year, I will have lived in four different places for my four years in college. Luckily, my roommates and I think we finally got it down to an art form. Plus, we decided that our three years of classes, countless all-nighters and the consumption of 456,789,837 Red Bull cans have earned us the right to splurge on quality next year. Although that will mean most of us have to work double jobs in the summer, it's a price we're willing to pay. No matter what your reason for moving, house-hunting always comes at the most inopportune time for University students. For those who have never ventured into the scary world of off-Grounds housing, house-hunting can be a bit daunting.
But after having signed three leases, I've come up with a formula.
First, you've got to have a good group or person to live with. The No. 1 mistake people make in this department is picking friends they only know they have a good time with while at Littlejohn's at 2 a.m. on a Friday night. Picture this You're sick, lying in bed and still have to go grocery shopping for the week. Is your roommate the kind that is going to jump in and save the day with a complimentary trip to Kroger? Mine is. I hope yours will be, too, and that you return the favor. You might think that's a pretty pessimistic way to look at things, but you know what they say: "If you fail to prepare, you're preparing to fail."
And please, no matter what you do, never blindly sign yourself up for arranged roommates. If you must do arranged assignments, make sure you meet them in person and are completely comfortable with sharing a home with them. After first year, everything is more hectic, and you become a lot more involved and a lot less tolerant when it comes to room assignments.
Once this is set, gather your posse for a meeting where you voice any and all concerns, whether they be financial, personal, etc. Determine what kind of budget is feasible for everyone and make a list of possibilities using online resources such as BRAC.com, Uloop and hoohasit.com. Remember, it'll be almost impossible for each of you to get exactly what you want if your group is more than just two people. Compromise is key, people. Keep in mind that although the Corner area is fun and full of life, you pay for this accessibility to stores and restaurants. And although housing on Jefferson Park Avenue is, generally-speaking, less of a strain on your wallet, it can be a bit isolating and annoying when you're running late - take this from someone who has lived on both sides of this college town.
Once you've narrowed down your list of possibilities, schedule appointments to view each location with the prospective landlord or leasing company. Make sure all your roommates attend the viewing and ask ahead of time if there is an application fee or security deposit. If you like what you see, you will want to sign on the spot. U.Va. housing gets snatched up quicker than free food at a class event, so you've got to outwit your housing competition!
Last, but not least, don't forget about the cost and stress of extra utility bills that your landlord or leasing office won't cover. I took it upon myself to keep track of these bills for our household because it's an excellent way to build good credit under your name, granted that you pay everything on time! It is, however, extra stress - just one more thing to add on top of that 15-page research paper or exam. So, think about your future and weigh the options.
And then, once that entire burden of finding housing is lifted from your shoulders, you get the joy of finding a summer job to pay for your new crib.
Vanessa's column runs biweekly Fridays. She can be reached at v.stephenson@cavalierdaily.com.
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