11 Weeks To Go:  House and Home  June 16, 2008

Residence hall and apartment living done right

Life in a residence hall

"A residence hall is a place where one is able to not just dwell, but to learn and grow. It is one of the very best ways to form friendships that will last throughout college and beyond. It also will provide a small community feel and give you plenty of opportunities to get involved and hone your leadership skills."

Living away from home for the first time and living with people who are not immediate family members can be as challenging as it is fun. Keeping a few simple things in mind should help you create a successful and supportive living arrangement.

On living with a roommate:

- Communicate your needs and habits to your roommate early-on.

- Recognize that there are many different ways of interpreting events and ideas. Something you assume is "common sense" might not be.

- Housekeeping habits have a way of bringing out the worst and best in people. Set up some ground rules you both can live with.

- Entertaining others in a small space can be intrusive to your roommate if she or he is trying to study or sleep. Search out some alternate places for visiting with friends and for studying so you have options if need be.

- Be open, be flexible, and above all, communicate.

- For more information, go to http://www.fordham.edu/Student_Affairs/Residential_Life/Lincoln_Center/Resources_For/Current_Students/Living_with_a_Roomma_11168.html

Life in an off-campus apartment:

When looking through an apartment, make sure you…

-  turn on and off lights, and make sure electrical outlets work.

- flush the toilet and turn on water to check water pressure.

- make a note of any open wires, or discolored ceilings or walls. Open wires could be a hazard, and discolored ceilings can indicate an unattended leak.

- find out which utilities you will be responsible for setting up and paying for. If heat is not included in the cost of rent, make sure you ask for an estimate of average monthly heating costs.

Before you hand over the first check, make sure…

- your landlord gives you a signed copy of your lease. If possible, get a copy before you sit down to finalize your rental plans.

- do a walk-through of the apartment with your landlord. Make a note of anything that needs to be fixed, and give the list to the landlord. Also make a list of damaged, but not necessarily fixable items, such as cracked windows and stained counters and flooring, so your landlord will not charge you for the damage when you move out.

- For more information and to search for off campus housing, go to http://www.housing.umn.edu/offcampus/resources.shtml.

Finally…

Enjoy living in a new situation and with new people. A little planning and some straight-forward communication will go a long way!

Related links:

Before you Rent (http://www.housing.umn.edu/offcampus/pdfs/BeforeYouRent.pdf)