Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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9 The Ga 9 STAFF REPORTS As the end of another school year approaches, thousands of USC students must begin making the 1 _ _ _ AV _ i !ii _ np. i ii decisions mai win anect mem m the upcoming school year. One of the most important decisions students must make is where to live. Considering that the majority of 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. Spring has always marked the time of year when most students begin apartment hunting. If you know you will need a place Q for the summer, start looking at 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 what apartments are not being grabbed. If an apartment has been listed consistently for more than a month, w then there is probably a good reason why nobody has grabbed it. When looking at the listings, there are three mqjor characteristics to look for when on the apartment hunt ? affordability, location and quality. Affordability should be the first thing to think about Many students ^ looking for apartments look in pairs, Make roon STAFF REPORTS Good Rules Make Good Room the site and the people who want to ra summit meeting. Hammer out the record your derisions in a contract signe Your agreement should cover the fo] Escape Clause: It might make s 30-day trial period before signing th if you and your roommates have jus discuss what will happen if one of you the lease is up. It is a good idea to ? leaving will give 30 to 60 days written now who will be responsible for fillii ^ Paying Fair: Will you make rent j check or separate ones? Split utility 1 person responsible for one utility? H< staples be paid for? Freeloading at resentment, so decide who will pay fc how. Food: Usually, each person gets cu space for their own favorites. But whe and flour? One idea is for each roomr meal for the rest of the group once i _ the rest of the basic staples. Other keep everything separate and labeled and cottage cheese. Overnight Guests: Can friends c on the spur of the moment, or do roo few days notice? And how about slee stay on the sofa, like significant otl rwuTiio'a lmror tnma infn a u lurv/i i/uiiw uiuu a. uuauu^av boyfriends/girlfriends aren't welcome i of nights a week, unless they start example, make an agreement that ce: for roommates only. This could help Do you need a pi We've got just the SECURI We can offer si U-STORE k Check with our i Why not give us a c< Stoi and en SEC Security 7437 G< elf v torage ? SPE imecoc APARTMENT Proximity to campus Consider an apartmenl complex vs. a single apartment - "n _ _ j __ a *i i rroximity to raiiroac tracks and many apartments are the twobedroom variety. This makes figuring costs easy by going 50/50 on all bills; 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. Even though cable is an option, most students would rather scrape up the $30 every month than miss "Singled Out" on MTV. Your monthly total on these bills should run about $150, depending on how thrifty you can be with the lights and phone. 1 ~_ i?l: vuiiui cii y tu pup uiai ucuci j location should not be the most important feature when apartment 1 for your i avoid resentmen Dirt: Clarify des:You've found Waning the kiti share it. Time for down the fridge ! issues below and roommates dra\ d by all roommates, divide chores a [lowing: cant sleep with c ense to propose a jg horrified by h e lease, especially 0f the bathroon t met. You should again, many ro l must move before $10 to $20 apie tgree that anyone oxrni/1 nknrn uroi ^ - uvuiu wiv/iv/ noj l notice, and decide e Have T ig the empty slot, prickly" situat >ayments with one soon as you mc bills or make each SOme ground r 3W will communal quickly. Here a any level breeds Speak imn tr what, when and Try to brir present. ipboard and fridge Address t] it about eggs, milk individual, eve nate to cook a $10 This keeps defe a week and share a spoken roommates must note. If you do i , down to the milk a confrontation and keep the n< rash on the couch Diffuse te mmates require a natured joke p-overs who don't (not a sarc lers? Before your more results th live-in, agree that nore than a couple paying rent. For Sources: Univei rtain evenings are off Campus" an ease tension and Guide" iaHMHii lace to store youi 3 place. Whether it be whatever yc TY SELF STI afe, secure storage w and our resic IT' ' U-LOCl Tianagers for further det all today and reserve yoi re your goods... ijoy your summer!! IURITY SELF STOI jrners Ferry Road (Sumter Columbia, SC 29209 (803)783-2708 jcrnj k offer" HUNTING HINTS 5 Be aware of low rent ? apartments in prime s : locations z i Be aware of policies ? regarding repairs. r I c Renting from private owners has its benefits. 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 may never find a place that suits ' you. Here are some other hints and warnings you should consider when looking for an apartment in a certain location: i Close to campus. This can be < seen in three out of five apartment 1 listings. If the listing does not have i a street address, call to find out i ' exactly where it is located. This also holds true to the "short drive to USC phrase that can be found. 1 Remember, drive time is relative, 1 and some people consider Irmo a i short drive to USC. The train factor. Be aware of i railroad tracks, which can be found ] near many student-oriented j apartments downtown. 11 you are i roommates ts that often build up between roommates. r your standards from the start. Does hen mean mopping the floor and wiping i or just running the dishwasher? Many v up rotating cleaning schedules. Others ccording to natural inclinations: If you lirty dishes in the sink and your roommate air in the shower, put him/her in charge 1 and you keep up in the kitchen. Then ommates feel it's well worth spending ce for a weekly cleaning service just to rs. 'o Talk...": You should be aware that ions will probably start cropping up as ive in together, but frank talk ? with ules ? can help solve some problems re some guidelines: aediately if something is bothering you. ig up concerns when all roommates are he group rather than singling out one n if there is only one "troublemaker." inse to a minimum. word is usually more effective than a leed to put something in writing to avoid ., make the tone pleasant and general, ite brief. Later, ask if everyone saw it. nsion with a sense of humor. A good:astic or biting comment) usually gets an an exasperated complaint. sity of South Carolina "Guide to Living d Christine Larson, "Roommate Survival ' belonninns fnr the -w - -w - m m mji w w < ? a * s your stereo, furniture, I )u can store at until you rel 'ith our individual burgla tent managers. KIT! U-KEEP ails. (f TO vFOF jr unit... 76 CD VA^ HOSPITAL RAGE Highway) ^ \ i honsin de > t ex ap ? Conduct your own learch by driving through cai m area. bai Be aware that many lomes around USC are wa >lder. IOC < ha am a light sleeper, take this into account, gel or be prepared for a rude awakening. Inexpensive apartment, good 008 location. Be weary of inexpensive a c apartments in supposedly good ^ locations. There are some real dumps * 1 very close to campus, so remember, if the price looks too good to be true, ne' it probably is. sta Drive around neighborhoods, thi If you have your heart set on living the in a certain area, the best thing to * * do is drive around the area and look an for rental signs. Some of the best apartments are privately owned the and never make the newspaper A11 listings. is 1 This is usually the best way to find that perfect apartment Renting in from a private individual has its 1118 advantages. UP The third thing to consider is wo quality. Always look at the fr? perapective apartment before signing anything. Ultimately, the quality ^ of the apartment should make the g?< I A bicycle could be an economh Although there are few parking bike racks at most building on? i summer break? books, clothes, or :urn to school, r alarm system THE KEY! IT JACKS OK L_LA%% cms'-**! ATIASHP \ JIDE^ g tips ! cision for you. Most students have unrealistic f pectations when looking for an artment near campus. You must take into consideration T it most of the rental units around ' npus are fairly old and lack many the comforts we grew up with ^ ck home. ? Sacrifices must be made if you iint to live near campus. Here are some hints and irnings you should look for when iking for quality: Did home syndrome. Expect rdwood floors, window AC units d central furnaces. Window units : S bad rap, but they can be very L ective if you are cutting power ts. Most of the homes are so drafty nt :entral unit would be running )und the clock anyway. Fj Repairs. Make sure you know 1( latfcan be done if repairs are eded. Most rental agencies will in te that all repair work be handled ough them. This will better benefit .. aj i less mechanically inclined. ai Complex vs. single. Living in to apartment complex has its fa vantages, such as on-site, round- Ci Kiock repairmen and watchmen, other benefit to living in a oomplex lei he communal effect. th A /^ian/1?rnv\^Arrn f a litnmrr rx iiicijvjx uiisauvaiiwigc tu 11 v ixig a complex is if you don't like ge iking two trips carrying groceries til the stairs now, chances are you "I n't like doing it eight months fo m now. Good luck apartment hunting. co it takes is a little planning and "9 xl timing. ai in w3 ss at ?| ? . ? er _?-? of at ai Q. 1st jjj FILE PHOTO |? : alternative to a car at (JSC. E spaces, there are plenty of sampus. I [NO TUR vv. This is no time to turn back on treatments and cures for ne Keep MDA's lifesaving rese? mm Muscular Dystrophy j 1-800-572-1 People help MDA. .. because A. Vpartment air brings cc )ii-campus :o campus DAM SNYDER Office Manager Students may find a place to live act year on the Russell House Patio. Not literally, but the Apartment air will be held on the Patio from ) a.m. to 3 p.m. today. If it rains, the fair will be set up i the Russell House Ballroom. Officials from more than 25 Dartment complexes, two banks id a few utilities will be on hand answer students' questions. The ir is sponsored by the Office of Off ampus Student Services. "Last year, some students signed ases at the fair," said Corbin Smyth, ie graduate assistant in the OCSS. "We have the fair for students to it one-on-one interaction at one i i n n *v j me ana in one piace, omyin saia. t's good for the students and good r the apartment community. He said there are more than 90 immunities in Columbia, so there's omething for everybody." The banks id utilities will provide additional formation that students will need ben going out on their own, he said. "Time-Warner is coming," Smyth lid. "They are going to be talking >out their sports, arts and HBO itertainment packages. Wachovia and the National Bank South Carolina will talk to students xiut checking and savings accounts id credit cards and debit cards, nyth said this is important because ~ udents might be away from their irents for the first time. "I know they are going to provide >od information," he said. OCSS and the fair "cater a lot to - aduates and upperclassmen," wording to Smyth. He said there e only 6,000 spots on campus, hich leaves 20,000 people looking r housing. "We are not trying to compete ith housing," he said. Because the Department of ousing is filled to capacity, imetimes they refer students to e OCSS. Smyth said the Apartment lir is intentionally held after housing gn-up so it doesn't compete or terfere. "We've got a good relationship ith on-campus housing," Smyth id. i Tune into 90.5...your lyrical gangster! f] u] NJ MDA is closing in iuromuscular diseases, irch moving forward. f Association 1717 IDA helps people.