If you're a sophomore or a junior in college you're probably contemplating the decision to move off campus and become independent or stay on campus and be closer to everyone. Well, there are positives and negatives of both living on campus and off campus. Don't get me wrong, I love living off campus, but there are some obstacles that people never told me when searching for an apartment.
When you think of living off campus, you think of cool apartments and your own room with a bigger bed and closet and living room. Just imagine all of the privacy! Reality check...sometimes it's not perfect. In my experience living off campus (only for one year) I have come across some obstacles that very few people warned me about when searching for an apartment.
1. Good Realtors Are Hard To Come By
Some realtors treat you like you're just a young college student and don't treat you with respect. We're at an awkward age where we are not adults yet...but not kids either. Sometimes adults don't treat us college students with respect, and it's quite frustrating. Make sure you find a realtor that makes time for you to answer any/all questions and makes time for you. I can't tell you how many realtors that are hard to work with because they have a schedule (we all do) and they will make it difficult for us to schedule showings. College kids have weird schedules and sometimes they do not understand that.
2. Landlords Suck 75% Of The Time
Most landlords just see you as a way to make money. Yes, that is their job and they have to make a living too but my experience with landlords have been terrible. In my experience, landlords make forever to fix what is broken and don't give you the time of day when you're having any other issues. So if you are thinking about getting an apartment just be aware that landlords are a hassle but they come with the territory.
3. Neighbors Are Not Always Considerate
Most off campus students live close together. Therefore on the weekends it gets super noisy and sometimes people who live in your building are not always considerate. They stomp, yell and blast their music so your walls are shaking. If you're friends with the people in your building you can always ask them to politely turn it down or you can always report it to your landlord.
Yes, living off campus is cheaper (most of the time) and gives you a sense of independence. But just before you make that decision to switch over, make sure that you're aware of the obstacles ahead! Good luck and remember, this is your first big step into the real world...it's not always gonna be easy!
