Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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The sear RYAN W1S0N Managing Editor As the end of another school year quickly approaches, thousands of USC students must begin making decisions that will affect them in the upcoming year. One of the most important decisions the average student will make is where he or she is going to live. Considering that the majority of USC students live off campus, this time of year becomes key for those looking for a place to call home next year. Columbia offers a wide variety of affordable apartments that should suit everyone's needs. Like many of my peers, I will graduate from USC without ever living in a dorm on campus. In my collegiate career, I have run the gamut of possible living arrangements, from living at home to living in a apartment complex to finally living in a duplex. Spring has always marked the time when most students begin apartment hunting, and my experiences have been no different. I have picked up many hints and unwritten rules in the quest for the perfect apartment, and I think most of them are very helpful for any student looking for a place to call home. If you know that you are going to need a place for the summer, I sug* ' 1 1? X Xl __X gest starting to loonng ai uie apartment listings now, so you can get the feel for what areas in Columbia have a faster turnover rate. Then, if an apartment comes up that you might be interested in, you will know about how long it will last on the market. Another benefit to looking at the listings early is you can see which apartments are not being grabbed. If How ca STAFF REPORTS A good student tenent is "< pays the rent on time ? alway University Commons Property j Diane Taylor. Taylor has be< University Commons since th Columbia apartments opened in 19 University Commons in C ch for af m t*m tutmm ArAnl IVItlwf wftln t fi Proximity to campus Proximity to railroad trac Be aware of low rent apj Conduct your own searc area. Renting from priv* Be aware that many hor Be aware of policies reg Consider the apartment I apartment an apartment has been listed consistently for a more than a month, then there is probably a good reason why nobody has grabbed it. When looking at the listings, there are three major characteristics to look for when on the apartment hunt: affordability, location and quality. Affordability should be the first thing to think about. I understand most students looking for apartments do so in pairs, and most apartments are of the two-bedroom variety. This makes figuring costs easy by going CA/CA a11 4-Ua killa (AVrtln/lmnr 1/mn 0\J/UV UII CU1 tile U111D \CAUUUillg iv 1X0 distance bills, because I shouldn't have to pay for your calls to some girl from Raleigh you met once two years ago). With that in mind, you' re ready tc start thinking about rent. You car find a good two-bedroom apartmenl within a reasonable distance to cam pUS 1UI auuut ijTtuv i/V/ ?fwv a luviiui Using the roommate rule, you shoulc look to spend about $250 a month for your part of the rent. There are four other monthly bills that also need to be assessed: electric, phone, water and cable television. (01 course, cable is an option, but most students would rather scrape to get a renter is one of 15 similar apt 3ne that which span across the 1 s!" said College Station, Tx., Manager Athens, Ga., (UGA). T sn with P'ex has 144 units and te West hall and volleyball court 94. recreational games. If Columbia their rent within 30 da1 j-. pi a special publication 1T hfft the gamecoi )artments iks artments in prime locations. i|r? k?( rtrlwinn fhc/Minh iin .1 I uy uitviity viii wuyii wi ite owners has its benefits, nes around USG are older, arding repairs. complex vs. a single WPB the $30 a month than miss "Singled Out" on MTV.) Your monthly total for tViaao hillc oVimilrl run ahnnt. $150. depending on how thrifty you can be with the lights and the phone. Contrary to popular belief, location should not be the most important feature when apartment hunting, but it is the one that will most likely affect your decision. Location will affect the cost of your apartment more than anything else, so don't be too set on wanting to live in a certain area because you might never find a place that suits you. Here are some other hints and warnings that you should consider i when looking for an apartment in a lnrtnfirvY"? LCI UX111 IUWIUU1I. ) i Close to campus. This can be seen : in three out of five apartment listings, but I have never found a consistent definition of what "close to campus" I actually is. If the listing does not have a street address, call to find out exactly where it is located. This also holds i true to the "short drive to USC" ; phrase that can also be found. ' Remember, drive time is relative, and ; some people consider Irmo a short ; drive to USC. s becom irtment complexes magistratre alio' Jnited States from over. (Texas A&M) to he Columbia com- RWatbud nam has tennis, baket- "A goo< s, a pool and other enjoys having students don't pay enjoy the comi ps, Taylor calls the infrincnncr on th< o o I of ;k : a how-t The train factor. Be aware rail- < road tracks can be found near many student-oriented apartments down- | town. If you are a light sleeper, take ] this into account or be prepared for a rude awakening. Inexpensive apartment, good location. Be weary of inexpensive anav+man+a in aimnnaAfllv ornnH U^/UI blUVHW AAA tions. There are some real dumps very close to campus, so always remember; If the price looks too good I to be true, it probably is. Drive around neighborhoods. If you have your heart set on living in a certain area, the best thing to do is drive around the area and look for rental si cms Some of the best aDart ments are privately owned and never make the newspaper listing. This is usually the best way to find that perfect apartment. Renting from a private individual has its advantages. The third thing to consider is quality. Always look at the perspective apartment before signing anything. Ultimately, the quality of the apartment should make the decision for you. Most students put unrealistic expectations when looking for an apartment near campus. My definition of "near campus" is the area including Shandon, Olympia and the area in-between. Vau mnot folra mfft /v\nai^orofinn 1UU iUUOb MUVV 111UV WI1MIUV1 MV1V1I that most of the rental units around campus are fairly old and lack many comforts we grew up with back home. Sacrifices are going to be made if you want to be close to campus. Here are some hints and warnings p rrnnrfl v v ws law enforcement to take PmcMh Property iger Judy Fallaw tenent's 1 tenent is someone who ment." ? a good time but can still neighboi nunity as whole without the nois< i rights of others." I o o guide pou should look for when looking at quality: | Old home syndrome. Expect hardwood floors, window AU units and central furnaces. Window units get a bad rap, but they can be very effective if you are cutting power costs. Most of the homes are so drafty, a central unit would be running around the clock anyway. I Repairs. Make sure you know what can be done if repairs are needed. Most rental agencies will state that all repair work be handled through them. This will better benefit the less mechanically inclined. Complex vs. single. Living in an apartment complex has its advantages, such as on-site round-the-clock repairmen and watchmen. Another benefit to living in a complex is the communal effect. A major disadvantage to living in a complex is if you didn't like making two trips carrying those groceries up three flights of stairs, then chances are you are going to despise doing it eight months from now. iuch items include respecting their 's right to live in peace by keeping i level down. I I hope I made your apartment search easier. The key to a successful search is to make sure you use common sense and check all options. Last time I was in the hunt, I didn't find a place until a week before my lease for my previous apartment ran mit an dnn't. wnrrv? the Derfect apartment is out there to be found. All it takes is a little planning and good timing. enants? m Place Regional f Manager Mary Gregory "We would certainly appericiate Hnnnrincr items in the lease acrree