The first-apartment guide
Your first place, explained
Student housing has its own vocabulary: by-the-bed leases, installments, guarantors, matching. Here's the whole thing in plain English, in the order you'll meet it, from a team that has walked a few thousand students through it. It applies to any building, not just ours.Student leases in plain English, in the order you'll meet them.
Start earlier than feels reasonable
In Tallahassee, leases for next August sign the fall before. The best plans (studios, four-bedrooms near campus) go first and rates step up as a building fills. Touring in September for the following year is normal, not early.Leases for next August sign the fall before. The best plans go first, and rates rise as buildings fill.
By the bed, not by the apartment
Most student communities lease each bedroom separately. You sign for your room and your share of the common areas. If a roommate leaves or stops paying, it isn't your problem. Ask any building whether its lease is individual; if it isn't, you're on the hook for the whole unit.You sign for your room only, so a roommate who stops paying isn't your problem. Make sure the lease is individual.
Installments, not rent
The academic-year lease is one price, split into one, two or twelve installments. "Twelve installments" is not "twelve months of rent"; it's the same total, spread out. Compare buildings on the total, and on what's inside it.One price for the year, split into one, two or twelve payments. Compare buildings on the total.
What "all-inclusive" should mean
Furniture, internet, cable, water (often to a cap), the washer and dryer, and the amenities. Electricity is almost always separate and split among roommates. Ask for the fee schedule before you sign: utility admin fees, community fees, parking, pets and insurance are where the surprises live.Furniture, internet, water and amenities. Electricity is usually separate. Ask for the fee schedule.
The guarantor
A parent or guardian co-signs the individual lease, online, as part of the application. No U.S. guarantor? Most buildings accept a guarantor service or a larger deposit instead. It's a routine question; ask it.A parent co-signs online. No U.S. guarantor? Ask about a guarantor service or a larger deposit.
Roommates: bring them or get matched
Signing with friends groups you in the same home. Signing solo puts you through a matching questionnaire (schedule, cleanliness, noise, guests) and pairs you with people who answered the same way. Good buildings let you meet before move-in.Sign with friends, or take the matching questionnaire and get paired with people like you.
What to look at on a tour
The walk to campus, timed. Ask about the bedroom, and what it's like. The bathroom count. Where packages go. Who answers the phone and how fast. The gym at the hour you'd use it. Then ask to see the lease and the fee schedule.Time the walk to campus. Check the bedroom, baths, packages and gym. Ask for the lease and fees.
Insurance, credit and the pet account
Renters insurance is required almost everywhere ($100,000 liability is typical), with the building named as an interested party. Many leases include credit reporting of on-time payments; you can usually opt out before move-in. A PetClear account is required whether you have a pet or not.Renters insurance is required, credit reporting is often included, and everyone needs a PetClear account.
Move-in day
Everything is due before it: insurance, first installment, the guarantor. Then it's a time slot, a tent, a cart and your keys. The buildings that do it well tell you the dates months out and text you the week of. Ours does ›Insurance, first installment and guarantor come first. Then a time slot, a cart and your keys. See ours ›
Questions?
Ask a person
The leasing team has answered every version of these. Text (833) 904-8178, or come by 501 Chapel Drive with your family.Text (833) 904-8178 and a person answers.