5 Overlooked Factors When Moving Off-Campus

By Ashley Paskill on November 29, 2020

This article is brought to you by GradGuard. We protect college students and their families from the financial risks of college life, like providing a refund for tuition or replacing a stolen backpack when your school may not. When the unexpected happens, GradGuard’s tuition insurance and renters insurance can help you get back on track.

Many students who choose to live at college are required to live in the dorms at least their first year at the school. Afterward, they have the option to stay in the dorms or move off-campus into a house or apartment. This decision may seem like a simple one for those wanting to escape the dorms, but there are a lot of factors that are crucial to the decision that are often overlooked. Being aware of these factors can help you be more prepared if you do choose to move off-campus or may influence you to stay in the dorms.

Renters’ insurance

Renters’ insurance is a crucial thing to have when you move off-campus. While your school will not replace any personal property stolen or destroyed while living off-campus, your renters’ insurance will in many cases. Your best bet is to choose a company like GradGuard that focuses solely on renters’ insurance and tuition insurance for students. You may also choose to shop around for a policy that fits your budget and coverage needs. Renters’ insurance is an added cost to moving off-campus, but it can be less costly than having to replace multiple items that were stolen or destroyed.  Like many insurance policies, renters’ insurance may need to be paid monthly, so keep that in mind when you are creating a budget.

Home needs

When you lived in the dorms, most if not all of your furniture was provided for you. However, when you move off-campus, you will likely have to supply your own things such as furniture and small appliances. Even if you remember to get furniture, things that get overlooked include things like silverware, cups, plates, and other things you will need. Before moving, look around your family’s home and make sure you have everything you will need to live comfortably. Communicate with your roommate to make sure they have not purchased these items or to make sure they are willing to pitch in the necessary funds to purchase these items. If you do not have the money needed to buy these items, it may be best to keep living in the dorms.

Image: Ian Dooley via https://unsplash.com/photos/_-JR5TxKNSo

Amenities and utilities

When you live in the dorms, you most likely do not have access to a kitchen, so you are unable to cook. You are also limited to what your dorm offers. When you move to an apartment, you may have access to things like pools, fitness centers, and other extras that were not available in your dorm. While they may seem awesome at first, these things can be distracting and often come at a cost. Even if you are able to focus, be aware of the costs that these extras may bring and budget accordingly.

In the dorms, you likely had a single payment that covered the room plus things like electricity and water. However, when you move into an off-campus living arrangement, these utilities are extra. They are necessities, but they do come at a cost. Be aware of the amount of electricity and water you use, and if your utility bill is high, you may be able to reduce it. Keep in mind that these utilities should be a line item in your budget.

Finding a roommate

One crucial step to moving off-campus is finding a roommate. You may want to live alone, but having a roommate can help ease the costs, especially in terms of rent and utilities. However, you are on your own to find a roommate. When living in the dorms, you likely had the option to have a roommate randomly assigned to you. Those who move off-campus have to find their own roommates. One key challenge of having a roommate in an apartment setting is having to figure out how to deal with any issues that may arise, such as your roommate not paying their share of the rent, not doing their chores, or just not being a compatible roommate. If you live in the dorms, you have your RA to help you, but you have to deal with these issues on your own in the dorms.

Extra costs

Moving off-campus may bring about costs that you may not know about. You will have to pay a deposit when you move into your apartment, and you may also be expected to pay your first and last months’ rent upfront. You may have to rent a storage unit until you are able to get all of your stuff unpacked. If you have a car, you will likely have to pay for a parking spot at your apartment as well as a parking permit for parking on campus. As mentioned above, you will be responsible for paying for rent and utilities, and you will also have to pay for things such as internet.

Moving off-campus is a choice many upperclassmen face. While it may seem like a simple decision, there are many factors that you may have overlooked that you need to consider in your choice.

It’s no secret that college costs a lot of money. Make sure your investment in higher education is protected with GradGuard. Our affordable tuition insurance and renters insurance plans are specifically designed for college students. Customizable plans make it easy to protect your tuition, room and board, laptop, bike, and so much more.

Follow Uloop

Apply to Write for Uloop News

Join the Uloop News Team

Discuss This Article

Back to Top

Log In

Contact Us

Upload An Image

Please select an image to upload
Note: must be in .png, .gif or .jpg format
OR
Provide URL where image can be downloaded
Note: must be in .png, .gif or .jpg format

By clicking this button,
you agree to the terms of use

By clicking "Create Alert" I agree to the Uloop Terms of Use.

Image not available.

Add a Photo

Please select a photo to upload
Note: must be in .png, .gif or .jpg format