Find Your Match!Find Your Match!

Fall 2011 Fall 2011 HousingHousing

Sponsored by University Housing,

the Student Legal Clinic, andthe Office of Off Campus Relations

BEFORE YOU SIGN A BEFORE YOU SIGN A CONTRACT OR LEASE:CONTRACT OR LEASE:

•Stop

•Look

•And Listen (or Smell)

““STOP”: STOP”: Don’t Rush Into a Don’t Rush Into a DecisionDecisionTake time to consider:

◦Timeline for signing applications◦Rental costs◦Additional costs◦Zoning: Single Family Residences◦Location, parking and transportation◦Recycling site availability and pets

TimelineTimeline

November: Explore Options

December: Talk It Over

January: Decide and Apply

February: Confirm On-Campus OR Apply Off-Campus

March: Apply Quickly!

CostCostOn-CampusOn-Campus Off-CampusOff-Campus

$370 - $525/month per person Includes:

◦ electricity◦ water◦ trash◦ basic cable tv◦ phone & internet◦ maintenance

$350 - $700/month per personSome offer no

utilities or extras, while others include utilities & extras

Average monthly cost of utilities per person:

$60 - $200

Living off-campus is often more Living off-campus is often more expensive than living on-campus.expensive than living on-campus.

Other Off-Campus Costs Other Off-Campus Costs Per Residence/Month Per Residence/Month

Electricity: $40-$200/monthFuel: $100-$300/monthWater & Sewer $25-$75/monthCable/Phone/Internet:

$70-$150/month

Total: $235 - $710/month

*Note: Costs provided above are approximate.

Zoning: Zoning: Roommate RestrictionsRoommate Restrictions

Single-family dwellings (R-1 Zones) - no more than 2 unrelated tenants permitted

Ask landlords and/or the Town of Boone (some landlords are aware, others are not)

Overnight guests can result in ordinance violations.

Violations can result in eviction and/or fines

Contact the Town of Boone Development Services Dept. to verify zoning: 828-268-6960

Location, Parking, and Location, Parking, and TransportationTransportation

Recycling and PetsRecycling and Pets

““STOP”: STOP”: Consider the FutureConsider the FutureThink about:

◦Contract length◦Security deposit timing (when lease is

signed)

◦First month’s rent (due on the lease start-date)

◦Check your appalnet account to make sure that you have completed financial aid forms

““STOP”: STOP”: Know Your Know Your Roommate(s)Roommate(s)Discuss Compatibility

◦Lifestyles (your own choices, not your parents’), Importance of Studying, Significant Others (and overnight guests), Paying the Bills, Food Sharing, Cleanliness, Pets

Roommate ContractsIndividual vs. Joint Leases