Overview:
- Always read and understand the lease before signing.
- Don’t choose based on looks. Check functionality and comfort.
- Visit the property in person to spot hidden issues.
- Match with roommates who share your habits and expectations.
- Consider neighborhood access to campus, safety, and daily services.
Living off campus gives you more freedom and privacy, but it also comes with added responsibility. You’re managing rent, utilities, roommates, transportation, and more. And unlike campus housing, where most choices are standardized and supervised, off-campus options vary widely in quality and cost.
Students often get caught up in the excitement of living independently and rush into leases without a full understanding of what they’re signing up for. Mistakes made at this stage can affect your finances, comfort, and daily routine for the rest of the semester.
To help you avoid those common traps, here are ten mistakes students tend to make when choosing off-campus housing and how you can make smarter decisions instead. These insights come from common student experiences and real rental situations.
1. Signing a Lease Without Reading It Carefully
Some leases are straightforward. Others include clauses that can leave you stuck with hidden fees, penalties, or obligations you didn’t expect. It’s easy to skim through when you’re eager to secure a place, but skipping the fine print can backfire.
Leases often use legal language that isn’t always easy to interpret, especially for first-time renters. If you’re unsure about something, it’s worth asking a parent, legal advisor, or even a university housing office for guidance.
For example, some leases automatically renew unless you give notice 60 days in advance. Others might prohibit subletting, which matters if you plan to leave for an internship or study abroad. Some include cleaning fees that aren’t negotiable.
Before signing, review the full lease. If anything seems vague or restrictive, ask the landlord to clarify in writing. If something feels off, don’t assume it’s standard. Ten minutes of reading can save months of trouble later.
2. Prioritizing Aesthetics Over Practical Details
It’s tempting to choose a place because it looks good in photos. But a modern kitchen or exposed brick wall won’t help if your room barely fits a bed or the heating barely works. Focus on what makes a living space functional and liveable, especially over time.
Look into how noise travels between units, especially in apartment buildings where walls may be thin. Check whether the windows open properly. Ask current tenants about water pressure, insulation, or pest problems. These small things can affect your day-to-day experience more than upgraded fixtures or stylish layouts.
This is especially true in college towns like Rexburg, where visual appeal is sometimes used to distract from basic shortcomings. For example, students browsing BYUI men’s housing listings might find properties that photograph well but fall short on comfort, privacy, or shared-space layout.
Don’t skip a walk-through, even if the place looks perfect online. It’s easy to fall for photos that show staged furniture or flattering lighting. But daily living comes down to function. Small frustrations like a lack of outlets or poor lighting build up over time.
3. Not Visiting the Property in Person
Photos, videos, and virtual tours can help narrow down options, but they rarely tell the full story. An apartment might look spacious in photos because of wide-angle lenses. A quiet-looking neighborhood could sit near a noisy bar or busy road.
Walking through a unit gives you a better sense of scale, light, and general condition. You can also check for musty smells, sticky doors, or lingering maintenance issues. If you’re out of town and can’t visit yourself, ask a friend in the area to go for you.
Skipping the in-person visit increases your risk of making housing decisions based on curated impressions. A quick tour often reveals what marketing photos leave out.
4. Choosing the First Place You See
Time pressure can push you to lock in a place quickly, especially during a busy campus search period. But that sense of urgency can lead to rushed choices that don’t reflect your needs or priorities.
Give yourself time to compare locations, prices, amenities, and lease terms. Create a checklist before you start, ranking what matters most: commute time, price, apartment size, included utilities, and so on. The checklist also helps when comparing options later. It’s easy to forget which unit had better heating or more kitchen space when you’ve seen several in one day.
Choosing the first option that ‘seems okay’ might mean missing a better-suited one down the block. Compare several, even if one grabs your attention right away. Your future self will thank you.
5. Ignoring Commute Logistics
A longer commute may not seem like a big deal at first, but it adds up fast. Walking 20 minutes to class twice a day becomes nearly 3.5 hours a week. That’s time you could use for study, work, or rest.
Look beyond Google Maps. Think about how the route feels when it’s icy, raining, or dark. Does it feel safe? Is public transit reliable, or does it leave you stranded on weekends?
Even if you’re okay with biking or driving, ask where you’ll park and what it costs. Living a little closer may cost more in rent, but you might save on gas, time, and stress.
6. Overlooking the Importance of Roommate Compatibility
Roommates can shape your housing experience more than the property itself. It’s easy to assume that because someone is polite or familiar, they’ll be easy to live with. That’s not always the case.
Talk openly about routines, cleaning habits, guests, quiet hours, and personal space. Think of it as building a roommate profile for yourself and others to help clarify expectations early on.
Mismatched living styles cause tension quickly. Clear communication at the start helps prevent misunderstandings and sets realistic expectations for shared living. Living with people who share your lifestyle helps maintain focus, comfort, and sanity throughout the semester. It also reduces unnecessary conflict. Misaligned expectations, such as disagreements over shared expenses or overnight guests, often cause more stress than the property itself.
7. Assuming Utilities Are Included
Some rental properties list attractive monthly prices that don’t include utilities. That makes them appear cheaper than they actually are.
Ask what’s included. If only water and trash are covered, get estimates on electricity, internet, and gas. Heating in cold areas or air conditioning in warmer ones can drive up costs more than you’d expect.
Also check how utilities are split if you’re sharing the unit. Are they divided evenly? Based on room size? Are there late fees? These small financial details often go unnoticed until the first bill lands.
8. Failing to Consider the Property Manager’s Role
A great apartment can quickly feel unlivable if the property manager is unresponsive. If maintenance requests go unanswered or communication is poor, you’re left to deal with issues alone.
Before signing, try to get a sense of the manager’s reliability. Ask current tenants how problems get handled. See if reviews mention recurring complaints or praise. Good management matters when problems come up, which is almost always the case in student rentals.
A responsive property manager also helps with lease clarity, repairs, and move-out procedures. The quality of management directly affects your experience as a tenant.
9. Overcommitting Financially
Even if you qualify for a certain rental amount, that doesn’t mean it fits comfortably in your budget. Students often overestimate how much they can afford, especially if income varies by season.
Try this: Add up all your fixed monthly expenses (rent, food, insurance, transportation, and tuition fees) and then leave a buffer for emergencies and personal needs. Then look at what’s left.
Stretching your budget too thin creates stress and can interfere with school and social life. Short-term perks often lose their appeal when the cost creates ongoing financial pressure. It’s better to have a slightly less ideal apartment you can easily afford than to struggle every month.
10. Ignoring the Neighborhood and Local Services
The location of a rental affects your daily routine and overall convenience. Nearby services and surroundings are just as important as the unit itself. Are grocery stores nearby? Is the area well-lit at night? How far are campus buildings, libraries, or health clinics?
Some neighborhoods might seem cheaper but offer fewer community services. That can affect everything from your daily routine to your personal safety. A lack of nearby resources can increase your reliance on transport or force late-night walks from campus.
Ask around or check local forums to understand what it’s like living in the area. Find out what support services or facilities are within walking distance. The right environment can make life easier in ways you don’t notice until you’re there. Choosing a place to live also means committing to the routines and conditions that come with the surrounding environment. A walkable area with access to reliable community services can improve your daily quality of life.
Final Thoughts
Off-campus housing is a major part of college life. It affects your finances, mental health, study habits, and downtime. Housing mistakes can lead to ongoing stress and affect your focus, energy, and overall well-being.
Take a thoughtful, methodical approach to your campus housing options. Pay attention to what really matters in a living space: practical layout, commute, budget, compatibility, and reliability.
Housing decisions may seem minor now, but their impact stretches across the semester. Asking more questions up front helps you avoid regrets later. One honest conversation, one extra visit, or one lease review can make all the difference.
