8 Tips For University Apartment Hunting

University apartment hunting is a task that the majority of upperclassmen at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville conduct on a yearly basis. For students, one of the most sought-after neighborhoods is right next door to their beloved campus. To help you optimize your university apartment hunting task, we have gathered together eight helpful tips.

8 Smart University Apartment Hunting Tips

1. Narrow your search. — Don’t waste time searching in a neighborhood that you don’t want to live in. Instead, keep the focus on one or two neighborhoods that are conveniently located near the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, campus.
2. Identify your list of apartment “must-haves.” — Every student will have a different list of apartment “must-haves.” From furnished apartments to spacious floor plans to lots of natural light, make sure that you know what you can’t live without before you begin your university apartment hunting journey.
3. Use a comparison checklist to keep track of multiple floor plans. — Sometimes the hardest part of university apartment hunting is not finding the best building, it is finding the right floor plan. A comparison checklist will help you to keep track of the pros and possible cons of each floor plan; so, when the time is right you can more easily make a decision.
4. Organize your finances. — Part of the university apartment hunting process is filling out application paperwork. Make sure that you have your references ready and that your finances are in order. You should have good credit and the funds needed to pay the deposit and monthly rent.
5. Ask about any hidden costs. — Whenever you look at a new place you should ask about hidden costs. Ask the leasing agent if there is a move-in fee, application fee, or yearly complex fee. These types of hidden costs can suddenly turn your “apartment deal” into an “apartment disaster.”
6. Use your senses. — Can you hear cars whizzing by during your tour? Does the trash room smell funny? By relying on your senses you can avoid accidentally leasing an apartment that has major issues.
7. Search smarter via multiple methods. — Use a combination of university apartment hunting tactics to find the best deals. From searching on multiple websites to asking around campus, you are more likely to find the best apartment deals when you use multiple search avenues.
8. Don’t forget to negotiate! — When you find your ideal university apartment, you might be hesitant to negotiate … don’t be! It never hurts to ask if there are any discounts or fees that can be waived on your lease. Excellent credit and a strong rental history might help you convince a leasing agent that the amenity or other fees should be waived. Additionally, you should always explore different lease lengths to see if a 12-month or 15-month lease offers better rates.

Now that you have these tips in your back pocket, are you ready to begin your university apartment hunting journey? If so, be sure to call, email, or swing by The Standard at Knoxville to discover a luxurious student apartment complex with multiple spacious floor plans. From one-bedrooms to five-bedroom apartments, The Standard at Knoxville is waiting to make your university apartment dreams come true!