It felt like I had just gotten used to being back at Cornell when I was met with the jarring realization that it was already time to start looking at off-campus housing for the next year. I currently live in an apartment with three friends, but we don’t anticipate living in the same place again, which meant that the search was on. I’m certainly not alone in this situation, and apartment hunting can be a stressful and time-consuming process for many.
So, for those of you who haven’t braved the off-campus housing search before — or, if you just need a little help — here is a guide to apartment hunting to hopefully make your process as smooth as possible.
1. Start early.
The off-campus housing window for Cornell students is short. With so many students wanting to live off-campus, housing options that are both affordable and convenient in location go off the market quickly. It’s best to start looking in late August or early September to not only give yourself a wider variety of options, but also a window of time that accommodates for any unexpected changes in your plans for the following year.
With that being said, don’t panic if you weren’t able to secure a place that early on for whatever reason. Many students search for housing through September into October; my friends and I found our current apartment, for a reasonable price and location, in late October following a particularly disastrous on-campus housing selection. So, although there will be less options available, there definitely won’t be none.
2. Don’t be afraid to have difficult conversations with the people you’re considering living with.
People have different plans, such as studying abroad, that can affect what they’re looking for when apartment hunting. Your closest friends may not be who you actually end up living with. It’s crucial to have conversations about your needs and expectations even before actively searching. Living off-campus comes with additional responsibilities, such as cleaning shared spaces and paying rent, which can pile up during busy academic seasons. Being clear about your lifestyle and the distribution of shared responsibilities will ease points of tension that might pop up if left unaddressed.
Moreover, leases for multiple individuals will almost always feature a joint and several liability clause, which means that each individual is responsible for the others’ timely rent payments. Therefore, it’s helpful to look for roommates with similar budget requirements to you.
3. Have (many) backup plans. You may need to compromise.
Building off of the last tip, because plans change and every individual’s preferences are different, there may be an unanticipated need for last-minute adjustments. Be open to fluctuating group sizes and be ready to possibly pivot to looking at different options that you might not have initially considered.
There are also tradeoffs between the different places that you might look at. Apartments near West Campus, such as ones on Stewart Avenue, are usually cheaper but are farther from classes. Apartments in Collegetown are in an ideal location but can be expensive. House-style apartments, rather than formal apartment buildings, may offer more privacy but also have less community amenities. Consider factors such as noise level as well: Are you a light sleeper who goes to bed early? If so, Eddy Street may not be the street for you.
A spreadsheet is a helpful method to visually organize the pros and cons of each place you look at. Make a spreadsheet with column headers for rent price, utility cost, location, number of beds/baths and other miscellaneous notes.
4. Don’t rely solely on Apartments.com.
This is my most important tip. Listings on Apartments.com are not always accurate; for example, actual rent prices may be slightly different or the utilities included in rent may vary. Additionally, not every rental company posts all their available units on online rental search platforms.
A resource I found super helpful during my search was CUAPTS, a resource created by Cornell students that contains apartment reviews from students. Not only can CUAPTS help you gauge what living in a certain apartment may be like, but it can also help you find potential buildings that you can look into and tour.
I would also recommend checking a rental company’s website for available listings and up-to-date prices. Some rental companies you can look into are Ithaca Renting, Urban Ithaca, Modern Living Rentals, PJ Apartments and Ridgetop Apartments.
5. Always tour (even if the pictures look nice).
There have been several times where I’ve looked at pictures of a seemingly beautiful and renovated space, only to tour and find out that the pictures were exaggerated. Besides aesthetic purposes, a tour is incredibly useful to check things such as bathroom and kitchen size, water pressure, bedroom layout, natural light levels, location, amenities, etc. It’s always easier to make a decision when you have a sufficient understanding of the space you’re preparing to move into.
6. Look through your lease carefully and know your rights.
You’ve made it! You applied to your chosen unit and are ready to sign the lease. It’s important to read every clause in the lease carefully so you aren’t met with surprises later on. Also make sure that all the information you need to make an informed decision is present. Don’t be afraid to question your landlord; they should be able to answer all of your questions. Landlords might try to take advantage of you but reading the fine print can mean a world of a difference.
Keep in mind that resources exist to help you, the tenant, if the need ever arises such as the Cornell Tenants Advocacy Program.
Lastly, it can feel immensely stressful to be apartment hunting amongst all your other responsibilities. At the end of the day, you know yourself and your needs best, so don’t panic, and hopefully you’re able to find a home in the place you end up choosing.
Krystal Kymm is a member of the Class of 2028 in the College of Arts and Sciences. She is a staff writer for the Lifestyle department and can be reached at klk239@cornell.edu.
