Prioritize Your Priorities
The most important aspect of searching for an off-campus house is to leave yourself enough time to find the right one, and therefore, to ask yourself exactly what you want in an off-campus home.
The following are some things to consider when making your off-campus house wish list:Logistics
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Apartment or house
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Character of neighborhood
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Furnished or unfurnished
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Rental Parking or Street Parking
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Carpeting
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Access to washer/dryer
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Policy regarding pets
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Trash removal
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Snow and ice removal
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Policy regarding decorations
Finances
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Security deposit
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Rent
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Cost of utilities
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Additional costs
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Bethlehem City parking permit (zoned areas)
Management
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Reputation of landlord
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Condition of unit
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Is the property licensed and inspected? The property should be licensed/inspected annually.
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Ask to see a copy of the official Certificate of Occupancy
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What current tenants say
Questions
It is important to ask questions about your landlord before signing your lease. Some questions to ask previous tenants:-
What they have liked and not liked? Why?
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What types of problems have occurred, if any?
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Does the landlord provide service in a timely manner?
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Does the landlord live in the area? If not, was a name of a manager in the area provided?
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How are maintenance repairs done? Are maintenance concerns addressed in a timely manner?