Things To Consider For Housing: A Check List
By Judy Lee ‘17
If you’re trying to live off campus this year, you need to have started planning for it by now! But if you’re having some trouble starting out, here are some things you should consider before you sign that lease!
Leasing Office
If you’ve been here long enough, you know that unfortunately it’s a matter of finding the least-worst management. There are generally complaints all around, but here are links to Yelp pages for the ones I know so you can get a better sense of who is helpful and who isn’t:
StuHo
First Choice Housing
Rampart
NuPac
Gateway
Lorenzo
Tuscany
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Proximity to Campus
This really depends on how comfortable you are with biking. If you are walking, staying less than 7 minutes away from campus is your best bet. If you’re biking, you can get away with closer to 10 minutes walking from campus (as it’ll translate into about 7 minutes biking).
It’s also notable that students generally try to stay on the north side of campus as the west side is “sketch”. While I have yet to read police reports to verify whether or not there are actually more crimes committed on that side, it’s generally said that it’s further down west than any housing near campus that caters to USC students. As an added plus, rent on that side is lower, usually.
Rent
Self-Explanatory
Appliances/Furnishing
Perhaps you don’t want to buy your own furniture and it’s worth paying the extra hundred or two to have your home furnished for you. However, this might also incur costs later if you damage them. On the flip side, you can mess up your own furniture however you want—BUT, you also have to worry about moving it in and out of the apartment.
A/C
Central A/C or A/C per room? Does the place even have A/C? If it’s an older building, it might not. If you don’t want a repeat of the dorms, stick to finding out beforehand.
Internet/Cable
Obviously, a plus.
Parking
Do you have a car you need a space for? Some places charge additional fees for spots, so be aware of that! They usually range from $75-200 for a spot, so if that’s going to have a significant impact on what you thought your budget would be, consider not bringing your car or looking elsewhere with better rates.
Laundry
Living many-a-place has taught me to really appreciate in-house washers and dryers. However, this luxury also usually entails a spike in rent or a place far from campus using this to attract otherwise hesitant students. Make sure the laundry facilities are working and up-to-date. If you’re not about that coin bag life, perhaps check to see if they have a card option
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