Spring is here and that means one thing. University students get to play rental-shuffle: swap houses, swap apartments, move to the other side of the block. Looking at apartments can be challenging and tiring, and you may just want to say “good enough.” But the right apartment can make or break your next year’s college experience.
Here are some things to look for and ask your potential landlord about when selecting an apartment:
Proximity to campus
The majority of landlords in college towns describe their apartments as being within walking distance of campus. It has been my experience that this walking distance may extend out to 30 blocks, which, for my intents and purposes, is not walking distance. Landlords will also advertise that an apartment is close to campus, yet fail to mention terrain obstacles that may be in your way: for instance, the Willamette River, Alton Baker Park or the town of Glenwood. Look up the address on Google Maps. Figure out the route you would actually have to walk, bike or drive, and decide if it’s something you want to do twice a day, five days a week, for the next nine months.
Parking/bike storage
The number of parking spots for a rental is key if you’re a driver. Be sure to ask the landlord how many parking spots there actually are and how many people live there who also park there. It may sound weird, but ask about significant others, family members or friends who frequently park in the spaces. Additionally, ask how big the spots are: A lot of parking lots and driveways are for a generation of smaller cars. There is nothing more frustrating than moving in someplace and having to park two blocks away.
In this same vein, ask about bike racks and how secure they are. Not having to carry your bike upstairs to your rental is a start for any place to live. And no one wants a wimpy rack that bikes could easily be stolen from. Also ask about the visibility of the rack. Racks that are obscured from street or window view and not well-lit are prime targets for bike theft, which runs rampant in Eugene.
Roommates
This probably isn’t something the landlord can give a satisfying answer on. Meet them, hang out with them, drop by for a surprise inspection; ensure he or she is someone you can stand for nine months.
Showers and hot water heaters
Showers are a big deal; chances are (hopefully) you’ll be using them at least once a day. A lot of places have small or shared water heaters that run out quickly. The only thing more frustrating than being chased out of a shower with a burst of cold water and soap in your eyes is having to get back in to rinse it out. Ask for the gallon capacity of the water heater and whether it’s shared. Ask how long it takes to recharge. If you can, run it out of hot water with a regular shower temperature mix on a morning and see if you are content. And finally, because water and electricity are expensive, ask if it is energy efficient. The Home Depot says that if your annual hot water energy cost is $520, an eco-friendly heater can save you up to $286. That’s a lot of money.
Bus stops
It’s not the biggest issue in Eugene, but it does come up. A lot of landlords will advertise that their rental is right next to a bus stop, which in reality may float to about five blocks away. The whole point of taking the bus is so that you don’t have to hike to school in the pouring rain, right?
Stadium/arena proximity
It may sound like a boon, especially when you attend games, but what about when you can’t? A rousing Ducks football game in the fall can make it so loud you can’t even hear yourself think, and if you wanted to go but couldn’t, well, that’s just disappointing to listen to. Ask your landlord how loud the stadium noise is in an apartment with the doors and windows closed, and look up on Google Maps exactly how far away it is from the stadium or arena.
Ants
Ants love student housing filled with pizza crusts and spilled beer. In the winter, they aren’t usually an issue, but they can be present if a rental is kept warm. Also problematic is if the people renting below you crank the heat up and it affects your place, as well. Ask if the landlord deals with ant problems or if you will have to yourself. Be sure to ask about the frequency of ant outbreaks. Morning coffee is much less appetizing when you sit at your kitchen counter and watch a trail of ants climb up the side of your coffee mug.
Large appliances
Washer and dryer seem to good to be true? Ask how old they are, whether they are energy efficient, how well they work and if they have any problems. Many a student has moved into a rental, excited about a dishwasher or washer and dryer only to find out they’re stuck on one setting, or are barely functioning. I had a dryer once that took three hours to drive five pairs of jeans. Make sure you test them and play with them before committing to rent. Also make sure they actually vent outside and not just into your garage or laundry room. You may end up doing dishes by hand or heading down to the laundromat more than
you’d like.
Lawns
Lawns are great, and some landlords even take care of them for you. Figure out how much mowing and weeding you’ll have to do. Also ask about the types of grasses that are growing, as well as plants and trees. Lawns with walnut trees are a mistake and a half, especially come mowing time. The walnuts kill the grass and go flying out of your mower in sharp, high-velocity chunks. Many yards have plants that are high maintenance and require a lot of work to keep halfway decent looking year round. Ask what all the plants are, then look them up in a guide and see if you want to deal with them year round. Also, scope out blackberries growing near fences that have been neatly trimmed so as to appear benign — they won’t stay that way for long.
Meet your landlord
Sit down and have a face-to-face chat with him or her. It’s a lot easier to lie over the phone than in person. Have them show you around the place, and firmly ask them the hard questions. When you’re both looking at something, point out the flaws or concerns and ask for elaboration. Don’t take “kinda” or “OK” or “sometimes” as an answer. Get specifics and clarity. Don’t worry about being terse or pushing them; you don’t need to be friends with your landlord. You’ll be investing a substantial amount of money into this place, so make sure it’s what you want. Finally, don’t ever accept: “Oh, we’re planning on fixing that before you move in,” or “We’ll fix that soon.” Chances are, it’s not going to get done until you’re ready to move, if it ever gets done at all.
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