University of South Carolina Libraries
The seai 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. t *i r t in L?iKe many 01 my peers, i win 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 apart ment minting, ana my expenences 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 suggest starting to looking at the 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. A il 1 1 . 1 1 * _ A il Anotner Denent 10 loosing at tne listings early is you can see which apartments are not being grabbed. If How ca: STAFF REPORTS A good student tenent is "C pays the rent on time ? alway University Commons Property h Diane Taylor. Taylor has bet University Commons since th Columbia apartments opened in 19! University Commons in C "ch for aj apartment hunti Proximity to campus Proximity to railroad trac Be aware of low rent ap Conduct your own searc area. Renting from priv< ? Be aware ttet many bor I 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 rln an in nnira nnrl mnat annrtment.a are of the two-bedroom variety. This makes figuring costs easy by going 50/50 on all the bills (excluding long 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 to start thinking about rent. You can find a good two-bedroom apartment within a reasonable distance to campus for about $450 to $550 a month. Using the roommate rule, you should 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. (Of course, cable is an option, but most U7A1l1/l A?? flA1*nT\A 4A /VAI otuuciiuo nuuiu i atuci ouapc tu get n renter is one of 15 similar apai 3ne that which span across the U s!" said College Station, Tx., ( lanager Athens, Ga., (UGA). Th >n with P*ex has 144 units and 1 e West kail and volleyball courts 94. recreational games. If s olumbia their rent within 30 days j~l [~l a special publication of |? jQ0 the gamecock )artments: NG HINTS 1WMM - 'ks tow artments in prime locations. this ;h by driving through an S 3 rue ate owners has its benefits, nes around USC are older. ] arding repairs. loc complex vs. a single . . . ?1 vei ren the $30 a month than miss "Singed to t Out" on MTV.) Your monthly total for ' these bills should run about $150, g I depending on how thrifty you can be y0u with the lights and the phone. cer Pnntraru tn ivmnlar Vialiof J_:. vwuwwi; rTulul MWlvM un tion should not be the most important ren feature when apartment hunting, but me: it is the one that will most likely ma affect your decision. Location will usv affect the cost of your apartment more feci than anything else, so don't be too set vat on wanting to live in a certain area because you might never find a place that suits you. ity Here are some other hints and api warnings that you should consider Ult when looking for an apartment in a me certain location: you Close to campus. This can be seen exj in three out of five apartment listings, ap? but I have never found a consistent tio definition of what "close to campus" inc] actually is. If the listing does not have are a street address, call to find out exactly where it is located. This also holds tha true to the "short drive to USC" can nViroaa + V? a + nor\ a Ian Via fm-ir?aatv |/111 UOV bllUb VU11 UlOU KJ V IVUUUi tULL Remember, drive time is relative, and Sac some people consider Irmo a short wai drive to USC. c hprnmp "tment complexes magistratre allows lai nited States from over. Texas A&M) to ie Columbia com- Rtvwfand manager J las tennis, baket- "A good tern , a pool and other enjoys having a goo tudents don't pay enjoy the communil j, Taylor calls the infringing on the right J a howHie train factor. Be aware raild tracks can be found near many onortmonla riAttrn. utut ui i&iitC'U a|jai im&ino uunir ti. If you are a light sleeper, take 3 into account or be prepared for a le awakening. Inexpensive apartment, good ation. Be weary of inexpensive irtments in supposedly good locans. There are some real dumps y close to campus, so always lember: If the price looks too good >e true, it prooaDiy is. hive around neighborhoods. If i have your heart set on living in a tain area, the best thing to do is ve around the area and look for tal signs. Some of the best apartnts are privately owned and never ke the newspaper listing. This is tally the best way to find that pert apartment. Renting from a prie individual has its advantages. The third thing to consider is qual. Always look at the perspective irtment before signing anything, imately, the quality of the apart nt should make the decision tor u Most students put unrealistic lectations when looking for an irtment near campus. My definin of "near campus" is the area luding Shandon, Olympia and the a in-between. You must take into consideration t most ot tne rental units around ipus are fairly old and lack many iforts we grew up with back home, rifices are going to be made if you it to be close to campus. Here are some hints and warnings good t n enforcement to take Peacht Proparl udy Fallaw tenent's ent is someone who ment d time but can still neighbc ;y as whole without the nois ts of others." . - o to guide you should look for when looking at aualitv: 1 J Old home syndrome. Expect hardwood floors, window AC 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, n rpntral unit wrmM hp rnnnincr around the clock anyway. 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 j.1 m _i_i._ f i _ mree mgnis 01 siairs, men cnances are you are going to despise doing it eight months from now. 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 out, so don't worry? the perfect apartment is out there to be found. All it takes is a little planning and good timing. enants? MS PtaCA R?dOMi ty Manager Mary Gregory "We would certainly appericiate 3 honoring items in the lease agreeSuch items include respecting their >r's right to live in peace by keeping 3e level down. i