When you leave dorm life behind and move into your first off-campus place, there are a lot of things to consider. It can be a major challenge to go from having activities, meals, the library, and other parts of the college experience all in one location to the first instance of really living on your own. If you’re searching for the first time, you need to know what to look for in your residence. Here are a few things to consider.
Laundry
One of the first things you look for when searching Athens housing for rent should be the laundry situation. Does the location have its own washer and dryer in the unit? If not, does it have a laundry facility for residents to use? If neither of those are true, you need to make sure that it’s near a laundromat, because you’re going to have to schedule trips there to wash your clothes. If the closest laundromat requires a long walk or drive, it’s going to be a major issue during your time there.
Living Space
You need to make sure that the place you choose has enough living space for the number of people who will be occupying it. You might think that anywhere is big enough after spending a year in a small dorm room, but whether it’s big enough is only a portion of determining the right size for you. You also need to make sure that it isn’t too big. A house that’s too big is only going to cost you more in rent and electricity, both of which can make it harder to really enjoy the year.
Odds are, you’re not going to have enough money to be able to order pizza every night, so you’re going to have to make sure that you know your way around your kitchen. Make sure that you’ve got a working stove, oven, microwave, and refrigerator so that you can feed yourself every night for a reasonable price.
Having your own place is a great step toward real adulthood, but you need to make sure that you’re prepared for the challenges that come with it. If you plan ahead for those, however, finding the right place shouldn’t be a problem. Instead, it should be a great learning experience and a positive experience for you.
