The Trick of Picking a Student Property Early
11th December 2018
Going to university can be a daunting task in itself, and there's so many things to think about, that you probably didn't even consider when you applied such as, student accommodation. The first year, you may have decided to live in the student halls so at least that's one less thing to worry about when you start, but what about your second year accommodation? Choosing your student property early can ensure you get the best digs, as well as taking a huge weight off when you come to the end of the academic year.
So, we're here to give you a bit of advice and a few tips on picking your student property early, and making your life easier!
Types of Student Property
Student properties can range from a two bedroom apartment to a ten-person house, so it's a good idea to start looking around at the different types of properties available and choosing which type you'd like to live in. This will give you an idea of how much it is likely to cost, and also how many friends you need to find to live with.
Housemates
When you start making friends at university, ask them what their plans are for student accommodation. If they are already sorted, then this will give you plenty of time to start looking for other people to share a property with. You should also think about the people you would like to live with. Are you a quiet person, who is likely to be having nights in, and spending time in your room? Or are you the type of person to be out most nights, and partying at the house? This is something you should seriously think about when picking your housemates. You could make your life pretty difficult for the next 12 months, or make it an absolute blast!
If you're happy to just take a room with housemates you don't know, looking for somewhere early gives you more time to get to know the people you may be living with, so there are no surprises later on when you come to move in.
Location
Think about the area you would most like to live in. The most popular areas i.e close to campus, and to the student bars etc. are likely to fill up really quickly, so pick your ideal location and start looking there. This is a major upside to starting your student property search early, you won't be disappointed when you find that all the best places are already taken.
Budgeting
Finding a student property early gives you plenty of time to pay deposits and admin fees, as well as, getting all the boring paperwork stuff sorted well in advance, and before everyone starts jetting off on holiday during the Summer. The last thing you want is to be waiting around for the letting agents to get back from their annual leave to get your property sorted. Getting this side of things done early means you don't have to worry about it, and you can focus on university and, more importantly, getting back to the pub with your mates!
Being Picky
Looking around early probably means that you have more of a choice when it comes to the actual property. All of the nicest properties will be gone quickly, so the later you leave it, the worse the property is probably going to be. So, it's a good idea to go to view a few different houses and apartments, and make sure to ask questions about the properties to ensure there will be minimal issues. Make sure there are nice communal areas, to encourage yourself and your housemates to spend time together, rather than just in your rooms. Check that it has things like central heating, properly running water (this one sounds like a given, but you don't want to be waiting for 2 hours to run a bath!), and don't forget to check for any signs of damp or mould etc. Doing this early will give you a bit more time, and you can probably afford to be a bit more picky about which property you choose however, there will be others also looking early, so if you find the perfect place, don't wait around as they could still be taken pretty quickly!
So, if you're ready to start looking to find your perfect student property and get ahead of the game, contact the team at DEU Estates today to arrange your viewings of some fantastic, high-quality student accommodation.
