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Creating your dream apartment

By Julia Dunn U L O O P

It’s no small feat to find great housing in 2018 — much less your dream apartment.

Between outrageous housing prices and high competition between renters to find the coolest housing setups, it’s a true struggle out there, especially if you’re a college student trying to focus on classes while worrying about where you’ll be living this summer (and whether you can afford it). So if you’ve somehow managed to find an apartment, congratulate yourself. This is a big deal, and it’s time to celebrate.

Now that you’ve found a place, you’ll probably want to begin thinking about

decor–this is where the fun starts. Here are four ways to make your dream apartment a reality: 1. Set up your furniture for optimal functionality before decorating For me, a dream apartment needs to be extremely functional in its setup. For instance, I need a laundry basket set up somewhere near my closet, otherwise, I’ll end up with a mound of clothes all over the floor. In the bedroom, I need to place my bed beside an electrical outlet so that I can easily charge my phone and laptop (then again, extension cords make this an easier problem to solve).

2. Separate your personal

space from your working space Assuming you have the space in your apartment to do so, try to create a distinct workspace away from your bedroom. Some students love to do all things in their bedroom, from schoolwork to dinner to socializing with friends over board games, but it’s not always a good practice.

3. Do some research on interior design If you’re really committed to creating a stylish, puttogether dream apartment, it can’t hurt to do some research online. Look at housing magazines, blogs, Pinterest and other resources for pictures of different

room layouts, decor styles, and other design ideas that you could replicate in your apartment somehow. This can help you determine a design aesthetic that is consistent throughout your apartment.

Even watching HGTV can be a fun way to entertain different looks, especially for common areas like the kitchen or living room. I love to watch Design on a Dime for inspiration; the show is all about recreating expensive looks and intricate furniture pieces on a low budget, so any college student could surely find some inspiration in watching a few episodes.

4. Consider your lifestyle Your dream apartment– no matter your design

p re f e re n ce s – s h o u l d also complement your lifestyle.

Make sure there’s enough seating for friends to visit, for study sessions and weekend get-togethers.

Stock your drawers with essential cooking tools to make your favorite meals easily, fill your bathroom cabinets with extra soaps and hair products, and check that you’ve got plenty of basics like paper towels and toilet paper. When we think “dream apartment,” we usually think of appearance, but a dream apartment to me is one wellstocked with everything I could possibly need to feel comfortable and happy.

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How to find your perfect college home

By Amanda Cohen U L O O P

Apartment hunting.

Let’s all take a minute to groan, roll our eyes and bash our heads against the wall. Okay, we don’t have to take it that far, but let’s be real, apartment hunting is annoying, time-consuming and all around just a burdensome task.

This issue has become all-too-real for me since I’m graduating soon.

Questions constantly are running through my head: how much rent am I willing to pay? How many roommates do I want? Do I even want a roommate? Do I want a walkup? What location should I live in?

Should there be a washer and dryer in my actual apartment, or can I settle for having one in the building?

And so on.

These questions are frightening, but they can all be solved.

Location, Location, Location Deciding on the proper location for an apartment is crucial. There are a variety of concerns to take into consideration: safety, convenience, liveliness, and age-range people in the location.

When choosing an apartment, safety needs to be your number one concern. You want a building that has strong security measures to deal with possible intrusions and you, in general, want to feel safe in your home.

Convenience is huge. When I say convenience, I am taking into account a variety of factors. For example, you want to be close to your classes and/or job or you want to be close to a transportation hub that can take you to where you need to be.

When it comes to liveliness and age-range, they truly go hand-inhand. You want to live somewhere in

which there are fun activities, bars, restaurants, shops, etc. that you can easily get to. In addition, you want your location to be lively in terms of the people you are living around.

When headed to your neighborhood restaurant, you want to meet people your own age. All in all, when you start your apartment hunt, narrow down your options based-off of “location, location, location.”

AMENities Can I get an AMEN for amenities?

When I’m talking about amenities, I’m talking about both the building itself and the individual apartment.

Certain amenities are imperative to have in an apartment: good security, a washer and dryer in the building (or, preferably, your individual unit), a gym, and, if you’re in college, a study room. Apartments that have nice amenities are often pricier but think about all of the advantages of living in a place that can offer you so much.

Yes, an apartment that has a gym will be more expensive but think about how much you would pay for a gym membership and it basically comes out about even. Actually, with gym membership prices these days, you would be doing yourself a favor by paying higher rent for an apartment that has a gym vs. an apartment with no gym.

If you’re a college student and are comparing an apartment with study rooms vs. an apartment with no study rooms, just think about finals week and how impossible it is to get a spot in the library during that time. If you have an apartment where the building has a study room, you can kiss that problem goodbye! Some people don’t need or even want amenities, but others do, so this is definitely something to take into consideration when choosing a roommate (if you want one) and deciding where you both want to

live.

This Ain’t about the Money, Money, Money (but it Totally is) I don’t want to start the obvious, but the price of rent is extremely important when deciding on an apartment. When you first look at the rent price, you need to ask yourself, “Is it worth it?” Sometimes, rent prices are higher for apartments that have amenities or, for example, an apartment that has washer and dryers in each room. Or, if the apartment building has top-notch security, rent prices are likely to be higher. However, you don’t want an apartment that’s going to break the bank. A way to lessen rent prices is by having multiple roommates or opting for an apartment that doesn’t include as many amenities as you would like.

Unfortunately, you have to learn to make sacrifices when finding your

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Transitioning from a dorm to an apartment

By Victoria Robertson U L O O P

As a student, housing decisions can be some of the more stressful choices you will have to make. Whether you choose to stay in a dorm or rent an apartment, the costs can be high and the responsibilities higher.

So what happens when you’re used to living in a dorm and need to transition into apartment life?

Responsibility increases In a dorm, while you do take on more responsibility than you likely had living at home, a lot is taken care of for you by your housing complex.

However, in an apartment, this responsibility falls on you.

Apartment responsibilities can include (but are not limited to) ensuring your monthly

rent is on time, setting up and paying for utilities, submitting maintenance requests, financial responsibilities, etc.

Health considerations When you’re living in a dorm, healthy options are all around you, whether it’s the gym or healthy food items at meals. In an apartment, these are things you will have to actively seek out. You buy your own food (and healthier foods can be more costly) and most complexes don’t have gym equipment.

Lack of security In dorms, there is security everywhere. Many have a guard or other security system keeping those off the premises that don’t belong. In an apartment, you don’t have this luxury. Instead, you need to make sure your apartment is always locked up and be responsible for your own

safety. While this is again not a top concern for most students, it should be a consideration.

Terms of living Finally, when it comes to the terms of living, in a dorm, you are there for the school year (or semester) and that’s it. In an apartment, you may only be able to sign a one year lease, which means you have to pay for the apartment over the summer (or sublet it).

This is, again, an added cost and an added concern you wouldn’t have had to think about in living in a dorm. Choosing between an apartment or a dorm can be stressful and overwhelming as a student, especially considering the fact that most students are new to the experience of living on your own.

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How to turn your dorm into a college sanctuary

By Lorena Roberts U L O O P

With today’s college students on strict budgets (and likely suffering under a mound of student loan debt), it is not unusual for student housing to be a bit of a tight fit. Whether you are able to swing living by yourself, or you are sharing a house with seven of your “closest” friends, everyone needs a place to retreat.

Whether you use your bedroom for sleeping only, recovering from your latest hangover or for most of your entertainment, your bedroom should be the place where you feel most comfortable – somewhere you can find peace within yourself – a sanctuary.

There’s more than one way to turn your college bedroom into

your sanctuary. Additionally, there are many parts to a bedroom that require personal attention if you are wanting to create a serene space for peace, quiet and comfort. Here are six specifics that you should analyze when you decide to transition your bedroom into a sanctuary.

Scents Keeping your favorite candles wax scents on hand are going to be important to the overall feel of your bedroom.

Coming home from a long day of classes, or that double-shift you worked waiting tables should mean walking into a place full of your favorite smells. Avoid anything too strong – as your roommates or visitors may not appreciate it.

Candle warmers or wax

melting lamps are the safest way to smell up your room when you aren’t home. I leave my candle-warmer on while I’m at work, so when I come home, I’m greeted with the smell of my favorite Yankee Candle.

Febreeze and other scent sprays are less effective, so I would recommend using candles with scents that will last.

When the season changes, change up your scent. You will enjoy walking into cinnamon in the winter, but maybe not during the summer. Find what works for you.

Lighting Lighting can make or break the overall comfort of a room.

Avoid using lights that are too bright and overwhelming.

Lamps (floor or table) are best

when it comes to transitioning from the day into evening/ bedtime. You will find that it is important to feel calm in your space, so lamps are the best way to go.

Also look into the lighting that comes from windows.

Natural lighting is the best kind — so the more often you can open your blinds and let in the sunshine, the better you will feel about your college bedroom turned sanctuary.

Texture When picking out textures for your bedroom, always go for soft and fluffy. Whether it is an extra pillow or an area rug that your bare feet will enjoy, the extra softness will bring loads of comfort. You will be thankful for the rug when your bare feet hit the floor in the mornings at

the sound of your alarm. You’ll love cuddling up in your chair with that extra soft blanket that you love.

Organization No one enjoys coming home to a disaster of a living space.

If your stuff is scattered all over the place, your clothes are strewn about all over the floor, and you can’t tell the clean socks from the dirty ones, you aren’t coming home to a space that’s welcoming and inviting.

Keeping up with your bedroom organization is just as important as washing your sheets (weekly, let’s hope).

When everything is in the right spot and you know exactly where your things are located, you’ll be much happier about spending time in your bedroom.

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perfect apartment because there isn’t such thing as the perfect apartment.

When deciding what your ideal rent price is, you need to take into account your employment situation, your “infatuation” for the apartment, the amenities, the number of roommates that you have, or are planning to have, and so on. I’m not an expert on rent prices, but brokers are, which is why you should get one when searching for an apartment (I cannot stress this point enough). Ultimately, when thinking about what a realistic rent price is, you need to take a lot into account, including everything that I’ve listed in this paragraph as well as what I talked about above.

Roomies 4 Lyfe Deciding about your roommate situation is actually a crucial first step to finding an apartment. You have to consider a few things: (1) do you want a roommate? (2) If not, how will this affect your rent price? (3) If yes, how will this affect your rent price?

(4) If yes, how many roommates do

you want? (5) Does wanting/having a roommate make things more complicated when searching for an apartment? And so on. If you are talking about a college apartment, the roommate situation is far from permanent, so the stakes aren’t as high. However, when deciding on a roommate post-grad, you have to expect that your roommate situation will be a long-term situation, so you need to consider these questions in a much more serious light.

When deciding on who to live with, you want to consider the demands of his/her job and the demands of your own job. You also want to consider if you want a roommate of the same sex or not and whether or not you and your roommate have compatible personalities. In addition, you have to ask yourself if you want a random roommate, a friend, or an acquaintance from college. Just don’t put yourself in a roommate situation that you think you will become uncomfortable with or live with someone who isn’t on the same page socially, career-wise, and so on. If you

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know that you want a roommate, but you don’t know who yet, you can probably work out a deal with your broker, landlord, and/or the person you are renting the apartment from so that they give you a month or two to find a roommate for your (for example) two-bedroom apartment.

Hold on, We’re Going Home Wherever you decide to live, you want to make sure that your landlord and/or the person you are renting the apartment from will allow you to decorate the apartment in a way so that it feels like a home to you and not just an apartment. Before signing any sort of lease, you need to understand all of the legal and creative aspects of the lease. If you insist on painting your walls blue, make sure you find an apartment where you’re actually allowed to do that. If you have to be able to put nails in the wall to hang up paintings and other artwork, make sure that you talk to your landlord about this. If your apartment would simply not be a home without a dog, you need to ensure that your building and/or individual apartment unit is

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pet-friendly.

Wherever you decide to live and whoever you decide to rent from needs to be transparent about what you’re allowed to do in the apartment and what you’re allowed to do with the apartment. You don’t want your apartment to be an apartment, you want it to be a home. It’s hard to make an apartment feel like home, so you need to make sure that you can take certain measures that allow you to make your new apartment your second home. Happy home, happy life (I would add the happy wife part, but most of us aren’t getting married yet so that doesn’t apply). You want to be comfortable and happy in your apartment, which is a major factor when you are apartment hunting.

Finding an apartment isn’t easy, but you want to make sure that whatever you decide to do, wherever you decide to live, and however you decide to go about finding your apartment, that you are comfortable, happy, and, ultimately, you make it feel like home. I highly recommend listening to what I wrote above, and

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I’m not just saying this because I wrote it. I’m saying all of this through my own experiences and from observing the headache of a process that it was when my sister was finding her first apartment, where she has happily been living in for two years now.

You want to make sure that you aren’t getting ripped off and that you are living in a place that is safe. Safety is the most important factor when it comes to any living situation, so don’t let roommates, amenities, rent price, or anything else get in the way of that. If you’ve already found the perfect apartment, kudos! Be sure to check out my articles about how to decorate your new apartment in a way that suits your personality and turns your apartment into a home.

To all of you who are searching for a place to live, like me, I wish you the best of luck and I know that we will all find a place to live that we love and that we feel comfortable living in. Happy apartment hunting to all of my readers!

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Things to keep in mind when subletting ●

By Tamiera Vandegrift U L O O P

Summer vacation is just around the corner and if you don’t plan to stay in your living space, you might want to consider subletting.

Subletting is the process of temporarily allowing another person to live in your apartment, house or rental space while you are away. Since most leases last an entire calendar year, you can’t move out halfway through without landing yourself in legal trouble. If you’re not taking summer courses nor planning to remain in your college town, it would probably be too expensive inconvenient to continue paying for rent for a room you’re not even living in. Picking up a subtenant is the best way to save money on rent as you’re essentially playing landlord and allowing another tenant to occupy and pay for the space while you’re away. You’ll be providing another person with a living space and saving money for yourself. It’s the definition of a win-win. However, if you’re unfamiliar with the subletting process, it’s easy to fall into tricky territory.

Since most leasing offices aren’t too helpful with the subletting process, it’s easy to fall into a variety of subletting pitfalls. These pitfalls can leave your living space in rough conditions upon your return, leave you with a bunch of debt in your name, or worse, land you in some serious legal trouble.

Mistake #1: Not informing your Property Manager Before you even think about subletting, you need to be sure that your lease allows you to do so. If you sublet your living space without your landlord’s knowledge or permission, you could find yourself breaching the terms of your lease, which could get you into serious trouble and

potentially evicted from your space altogether! A lease is a binding legal contract and needs to be treated with respect and seriousness. Before you post an advertisement for a sublease or start asking around, review the fine print of your lease several times to make sure that subletting is possible. Then, reach out to your landlord, property manager or leasing office to double check that you’re allowed to sublet your space. To be extra safe, get your property manager’s permission in writing for your records just in case.

Many students try to sublet behind their property manager’s back just to save money, but no rent payment is worth a breach of contract on your record.

Mistake #2: Not Meeting your Subtenant(s) As you have probably seen, most subletting is done via social media.

Renters will post advertisements for their space on Facebook group pages and wait for interested parties to message them directly.

While this certainly saves both parties a lot of time, you should definitely reconsider handing over the keys to your space to some random stranger before meeting them face-to-face first. As much as we would all like to believe that all potential subtenants are good at heart, respectful, and responsible, it simply isn’t the case. Plenty of horror stories have circulated the subletting world of subtenants that have caused exponential damage to the property, stolen valuable things, or were simply unreliable with payments. To avoid this issue, do as much research on your subtenants as possible. People can put on all types of digital disguises on social media so it is up to you to truly get to know who will be living in your home before they have the

keys to the space. Meet with them a few times before you officially put their name on the sublease and most of all, trust your gut. If a potential subtenant does not seem trustworthy, reliable or financially responsible, you should rethink subletting your space to them. You will definitely save yourself from a splitting headache later down the road if John Doe from Facebook Marketplace ends up putting several bowling ball-sized holes in your bedroom walls and misses several months of rent.

Mistake #3: Not Knowing your Responsibilities Even though you are technically putting the lease in someone else’s name by subletting, you are still responsible for the space. You are responsible for the monthly payments still (your subtenant would simply be sending you their share in most cases), you are still responsible for the state of the living space and you are responsible for recovering and handing in the keys to the space when the lease is over. Depending on the specific subletting terms of your specific living space, you might find yourself being responsible for more or less.

The more you know, the more you can prepare for and keep an eye on.

The less you know, the more dollar signs that might come out of your security deposit at the end of the lease.

Subletting is a great way to save money on your living space when you’re away from your college town, but if you’re not careful to avoid these mistakes, you could land yourself in a lot of financial and legal trouble.

Get to know your subtenant, review the terms of your lease, and exercise responsibility so that you’ll have the smoothest subletting experience possible.

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What to consider when ordering delivery

By Brittany Loeffler U L O O P

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As a college student, you probably order food delivery pretty often.

With classes, assignments and extracurricular activities, it can be hard to find time to cook yourself a homemade meal, especially during finals week.

Food delivery can get expensive if you do it multiple times a week, though. It can also take up a lot of your time if you don’t account for delivery time. With these tips, you can optimize your food delivery order and get the most out of your time and money.

The hardest part of ordering food delivery is figuring out what you want to eat. There are hundreds of food options waiting for you. To reduce the time you spend on food delivery, decide what type of food you want to eat before sitting down and ordering it.

Narrowing it down by type of food

is extremely helpful because you can pick from a smaller number of restaurants. You can also look at other factors such as delivery time, delivery cost, and if they have the dish you would like to order.

Don’t wait until you are starving to order food delivery. Keep in mind that it will take some time to prepare your food and then deliver it to you.

Depending on location and the time of day, it can take almost an hour to receive your food.

If you are in a rush, look for restaurants that have quick delivery time.

Nowadays you can seamlessly order food delivery online and not have to talk to a single person!

Ordering online reduces the chance of miscommunication. When talking on the phone ordering food delivery, there can be a lot of miscommunication.

Imagine working in a busy pizza

shop with customers walking through the door and chefs yelling in the back a while writing down your order, address, and contact information. It can be difficult to concentrate and get your food delivery order 100% correct.

To avoid this miscommunication and ensure that you have a higher chance of receiving the correct food delivery order, place your order online.

Some restaurants will have specials and combo deals over the weekend or for big parties who are ordering food delivery. It’s worth it to take a look at what they offer. Most of them will save you money if you are ordering food for a large group.

This is great if you are studying for exams with a study group and need a late night pick-me-up. Everyone can pitch in and receive a ton of food! It’s all about saving money when it comes to optimizing your food delivery order.

Another way to save some money

when ordering food delivery is to look for coupon codes. A simple search online can save you a few extra dollars. It’s also worth it to look in your mailbox at menus and flyers that local restaurants hand out for coupons.

If you order from certain restaurants or websites a few times, they will give out loyalty coupons to their customers. Find a restaurant you love and keep ordering from it!

Before you place your food delivery order in your cart, consider the delivery fee that is charged.

Sometimes it can be an astounding amount that makes you cancel your order and restart the whole process.

Before you decide what restaurant you want to order from, take a look at their delivery fee and minimum purchase.

Reviewing this information can save you a lot of time and headache when it comes to checking out and ordering your food.

One of the best ways to optimize your food delivery order is to order it in a group. This will save you money when it comes to paying the delivery fee and making the minimum delivery order. When you split the delivery fee with people, you’re paying a few cents to a dollar. You’ll also definitely make the minimum delivery. When you don’t order in a group, you may find yourself ordering food that you don’t actually want to make the minimum purchase to receive delivery.

There are a few ways to optimize your food delivery order. To cut down time, you should have an idea of what you want to order. Order online to reduce the risk of miscommunication.

Some things to consider are delivery time, delivery fee, and the minimum purchase for delivery. Order in a group and use coupons to save some money too! So, what will you order next?

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