So, you’ve decided to finally move out of your varsity residence and get settled off campus? And, of course, you’re really excited. Finally, you’ll taste real freedom and not have to share your living space with a ridiculous amount of people. Soon you’ll be able to leave milk in the fridge and return to find it still there.

The thing is, choosing a digs isn’t always as easy as you think it will be. You need to make sure you land up in the right space.

Roommate or bachelor pad?

Do you want to live alone or are you prepared to have some other people hanging around? If you’re looking for a house to share, there are tons of those around. You just need to be certain about whether you want a one bedroom, a two bedroom or a large house with many roommates. And do you want to choose your own housemates or are you happy fitting in with anyone? Just be careful, you don’t want to end up with a housemate from hell.

Distance from campus and town

It doesn’t matter whether you have a car or not, you don’t want to live too far from campus or from town. For one thing, early morning classes exist and you also may need to pull some late nights at the library. You don’t want that extra twenty minute commute when you’ve got an exam starting in fifteen. You also don’t want to be isolated from the town. As a student, chances are that you’re going to want to party as well. And driving home after a late party is never a good idea, especially if you’ve been drinking.

What kind of fittings are there?

You don’t want a place that comes with just any old fittings and appliances. There is a difference between an old stove that’s been around since 1967 and a quality appliance like an Elba gas stove. You also don’t want to move in anywhere where you’ll have to supply your own basics. But buying things like a kettle and a microwave is fine because it’s likely you’ll need those things in the future.

Landlord

You should always know your rights as a tenant and you want a landlord that knows them too. A bad landlord can make your life hell. For one thing, you could end up with a landlord who ignores your calls and refuses to pay for plumbing or electrical issues. You could also get a landlord who complains about your every movement or invades your privacy. You need to be careful.

It’s important to find the right place because you’re going to be living there for a while. You don’t want to have to move in the middle of the year.