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Off-Campus Living Check List
The Off-Campus Living Check List
is designed to assist you through your transition to off-campus
living. You will find the check list to be a helpful tool and full of
resources for your journey as a commuter student.
1.
Preparing for off-campus living
Who and What?
□ What
type of living environment do you want? Does a house, townhouse,
or apartment best fit your lifestyle, interests, and budget? Will
you have a roommate (or two), pets, or other family members to
consider? How will you get from your new home to work and school?
Where?
□ How
close to Winthrop University do you need to be?
□ Do
you need to be close to a place of employment?
□ How
close will your new home be to other weekly activities like
shopping, church, fitness center, and friends?
□
Whatever the distance, give it a trial
run to see how long your commute will be during different times of
the day.
When?
Give yourself
plenty of time to do research and explore your options. When asked,
many students consider the end of spring break to be the crucial
time for locating an apartment. Do your research in the weeks before
spring break to make sure you’re prepared and fully informed.
□
Set a budget
□
HINT: Consider not only
your monthly costs, but any one-time, up-front costs such as security deposits or set-up fees such as .
. .
Electric Service:
$75 to $150 deposits depending upon your credit score
Water Service: $15
to $30 deposits depending upon your credit score
Sewer Service: $15
to $30 deposits depending upon your credit score
For more information on electric,
water or sewer deposits click here to be directed to the City of Rock Hill.
Telephone Service:
Local Phone: $39.00
connection fee, $50.00
deposit,
if getting long distance service
Internet: No deposit
for dial-up, $25.00 for high-speed
For more information on local phone and internet
Natural Gas: $25.00 set-up
fee plus up to $300.00 initial deposit depending upon your credit
score
□
If you will be living with
a roommate, discuss the costs of renting and have a plan before
making any commitments. Good communication now will save a lot of
frustration later.
▪ Consider a roommate contract to clearly outline expectations
and agreements
-
Law Depot
-
University of Virginia
Version
□
Contact
Financial Aid to be
informed about your financial status before you move off-campus. Hint:
Some student may receive a refund, but not until the school year
begins. Plan ahead to avoid frustration and let that refund work
for you!
□
Create a list of housing
priorities to help decide where to look. Things to consider:
Location, Cost, Roommates, Services (amenities, included utilities)
2. Preparing for off-campus
living
Research Available Places
by:
□
Talking to fellow students,
reviewing the classified ads in newspapers, searching the internet, and
driving around town.
□
Helpful sites include
SCHousingSearch.com
SCIway
The Herald
The Fort Mill Times
The Charlotte Observer
Apartments.Com
ForRent.Com
RentBits.Com
MyCheapApartments.Com
CollegeRentals.Com
ApartmentList.com
Picking up a copy of
Apartment Finder at
newsstands
◦
Found a better site for information
on housing? Let us know by clicking here.
□
Schedule a time to walk
through properties
□
Talk with Landlord about:
costs, services, terms of the lease, roommates policies, parking,
utilities, amenities, availability, pets, what if something needs to be
repaired, and references.
◦
Helpful Sites on What to Look
for in a Landlord
▪
WashingtonPost.com
□
Review Ten Tips for Tenants
□
Pick a place that meets
your needs
□
Prepare for signing a lease
□
Sign a Lease
□
Pay Housing Deposits
3. Preparing for your move
Connecting Utilities
□
Water/Sewer/Trash
□
Electricity
□
Natural Gas
(if necessary)
□
Television (if desired)
□
Local Phone (if desired)
□
Long Distance (if desired)
□
Internet (if desired)
Plan your move
□
Rent/Borrow necessary
vehicles
□
Purchase necessary supplies
□
Pack personal belongings and
personal property
□
Confirm move-in date and
procedures with Landlord/Roommates
□
Confirm activation date for
Utilities
□
Consider purchasing renters
insurance to protect your property in case of emergency.
For more information . . . visit
Living.Apartments.com
4. After
your move
□
Set a schedule that will
allow for your additional commute time
□
Plan your day to maximize
your time on-campus
□
Include time to stay
involved in activities and connecting with friends
□
Review
“Being a Good Neighbor”
□
Review Rock Hill Ordinances
5.
If you should need assistance with
□
Roommate conflict
▪ Address conflicts as soon as possible. The
sooner you make your roommate aware of a problem, the more
likely a mutually satisfying solution may be reached.
▪ Address concerns directly to your roommate,
preferably in person. Avoid communication through e-mail, IM,
text messages or other roommates or friends. The more personal
and direct your communication is, the easier it may be to solve
the problem.
▪ Communicate clearly and avoid accusations or
blaming. Use “I statements” when possible and talk about the
results of situations or behaviors instead pointing fingers.
▪ Consider drafting a roommate agreement that
clearly describes expectations and solutions.
Click here for a sample from
Residence Life.
□
In a fix? Get your landlord to
repair or maintain your apartment
□
Getting your security deposit back
□
Help with evictions and terminations.
Do you have an item
you think we should add to the Off-Campus Living Check List?
Disclaimer:
This information is provided as a service. While care is taken
to ensure the accuracy of the information, there may be unintended
errors, changes or deletions without notification. Those using
this list communicate, contract and do business with individuals,
companies or firms at their own risk. The Board of
Trustees, officers, agents and employees of Winthrop University
shall not be liable for any errors or omissions made in the
compilation or printing of this list.
Report an error here!
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