As fun as the thought of moving away from home for the first time can be, it is important never to lose sight of just how pivotal choosing university accommodation can be. The student accommodation in St Andrews you choose, for example is not simply a place to keep the rain off your head for a temporary period of time, but is in fact a crucially important residence that will have a marked impact on your studies and your enjoyment in general. You cannot expect to have a good time or to be as successful as you possibly can be at university if you find yourself living somewhere you can barely tolerate. Nevertheless, this is a reality tens of thousands of students have to face each and every year having made poor decisions during the selection process.
So in the interests of those looking to make a positive decision for their own benefit, what follows is a quick introduction to a few of the most important points to consider when choosing university accommodation for the first time:
1 – Location
First of all, try to bear in mind that in this instance, just like in most instances, when choosing property, location really does matter. It really doesn’t matter how great the building is or how wonderfully well equipped the room may be, if it is miles out of the way and means it is going to take you a ridiculous amount of time to get anywhere at great expense, chances are you’ll find yourself sick of it soon enough. Choosing a good location means finding a place that is conveniently located for access to and from the university campus itself, along with all essential amenities and conveniences. After all, you really don’t want to find yourself in a position where you have to get a bus every time you want a loaf of bread.
2 – Building Condition
There are far more important things to take into account than the way the place looks from the outside, but when and where it appears as if the building is in pretty terrible condition, chances are you should think twice about moving in. Not only does the building condition say a lot about the landlord, but it also tells you a great deal about how much priority you will be given should you have any problems with the building. When a building has been allowed to fall into a poor state, it can be interpreted as a sign that the owner or manager of the building really doesn’t care too much about either their property or their tenants.
3 – The Landlord
On the subject of the landlord, it is also true to say that regardless of how great a building or room may be, it is never a good idea to choose a place unless you know the landlord is both trustworthy and personable. In about 99% of instances when a student has a problem with their accommodation or some kind of grievance, it comes down to the landlords rather than the actual place itself. Just as a poor landlord can quickly change something minor into something wholly more major, fantastic landlords tackle the really big issues as if they were entirely remedial.
4 – The Costs
Try to bear in mind from start to finish that the costs associated with the accommodation do not begin and end with the monthly rental price. Far from it in fact as when you have factored in your utility bills, transportation costs, administration charges and all other bits and pieces, the initial cost can escalate quite quickly and quite substantially. So before diving into a place having found that the monthly rental cost is in the region you were looking for, be sure to factor in all other costs and be realistic in terms of what you can afford.
5 – Past Tenants
Last but not least, do your very best to find out exactly what past tenants have had to say about the place prior to making your final decision. It really shouldn’t be too difficult to get hold of feedback and recommendations either through the agent or with a bit of your own online research, as it is pretty standard these days for people to leave feedback and reviews regarding their experiences. Suffice to say that personal opinions are never the be all and end all of things, but they should certainly be factored in when it comes to making your final decision.