Off Campus Living

You just got accepted into the college of your dreams and are ready to begin your journey. With excitement and anticipation, you bought a whole new mature wardrobe, registered for classes, bought your books, and are in the process of saying your goodbyes to family and friends. But wait; have you decided where to live? Is dorm life for you?

Dorm life is loud. You will always be surrounded by people, so privacy is a major concern. Unless you're accustomed to studying to the sounds emanating from a multitude of iPod speakers, pack your earplugs or seek shelter in the library. You can get stuck with a roommate whom you not only dislike but who is also the biggest slob (or neat freak) you’ll ever see. Sorry, but pets are against the rules at most every school. If you need some love from furry friends, volunteer at a local animal shelter, or seek a realtor.

If you decide that off campus living is the right choice for you, where do you go from there? Meg Smith and Associates Real Estate wants to help you in your journey. As agents, we can show you ANYTHING out there. We can show you an ad on Craig’s List, multiple listing service, anything.

A Realtor will be with you during every step. He/She works with you to find your ideal apartment. A good Realtor will assist you in determining a good offer by showing you comparable properties that have been rented and are currently available in the neighborhood. The most important thing a Realtor will help you with is finding a legal structure. They will do all the negotiations for you to help you get settled.

When searching for an apartment on Craig’s List, Local Newspapers or even Community Boards in the area there are certain safety precautions we want you to follow. First, get the full name and contact information of the landlord. There are certain websites that you can visit that will find criminals in your area. (meganslaw.ny.gov) Also, Google is a wonderful tool for this situation. Make sure you Google the name of your future landlord.

When scheduling a visit to your possible future apartment, NEVER GO ALONE! Bring your realtor. Using a realtor will cost extra but it was well worth it. It will save you time, stress and aggravation. Other benefits of hiring a realtor are legal rentals, binding leases, and they are very familiar with the area. You will be more concerned with planning your college future, so let the realtor plan you living situation.