Questions you should answer before you start looking for your USC off campus housing

BY MOSAIC / October 22, 2019

Where should I look for USC off campus housing?

Spend some time walking the areas and neighborhoods you are thinking of looking for housing in. See if you like them and feel comfortable. Determine if they are in close enough distance to university, if there are good restaurants, stores or places to hang out that you would enjoy. You can also look for fully furnished and unfurnished USC off campus student housing at https://www.livewithmosaic.com/.

How much should I pay for rent?

Ultimately this depends on your personal budget, but make sure your budget allows for the cost of utilities and living expenses. A general rule is that you spend no more than 30% of your income on rent, but this is up to you and your needs.

What questions should I ask the owner or the leasing company?

Once you have chosen your favorite USC Off Campus housing, you will have to start making phone calls and be ready to ask the owner or leasing agency some simple questions. One of them should be: Are there basic utilities included in the rent? Are there any amenities? How long is the lease for? What are the consequences of breaking the lease early? And, any other concerns that you may have and should get answered before moving forward.

What things should I consider when looking for a roommate?

Once you’re all set, make arrangements to move in and look for a good roommate. Ideally a roommate is someone you can trust. This is clearly hard to know when you are first meeting someone so always run a background check and check references. Also, create a set of questions which address compatibility, things like sleeping habits, social life, cleaning habits and so on, and make sure your values and habits match up.

Should I look for a USC off campus housing close to campus?

When you are looking for a good USC off campus apartment, the closer you can be to campus the better. In particular, if you do not have a car, this simple task could save you up to six hundred dollars a month. And with the traffic in LA, it will be a huge savings in time and energy commuting.

What should I do once in my USC off campus housing?

Make sure you have everything included in the lease agreement.
Try all of the faucets in case there is one that fails, flush the toilets, and check that all appliances are working.
Open all the drawers and doors of closets and cupboards. Check that there is no hidden moisture, and that no door or drawer is locked or broken. You may not find very serious failures, but it is important to establish anything wrong with the unit before you are living there. This can save you money in fees later, and potentially can give you some power to negotiate.
Look and ask what type of air conditioning your USC off campus apartment has. Both winters and summers will require it.
Find out what the available means of transportation near your USC off campus apartment are.

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