How I found off-campus housing last minute

Jake Rahe
Thu, 07 Feb 2019 03:23:36 +0000
Campus, News, Spring Housing, finding a house, finding an apartment, housing, housing guide, last minute, off-campus housing, ohio state, ohio state campus, ohio state housing, ohio state university, osu, procrastination, rent, renters, renting

With a good plan and an early start, housing is not hard to find at a fair price and in a convenient location. For some, like Jake Rahe, procrastination will get the better of you, and you’ll need to find housing at the last minute. Credit: Casey Cascaldo | Photo Editor

Ohio State offers several great ways to find housing that allow students to find housing quickly and easily.

With a good plan and an early start, housing is not hard to find at a fair price and in a convenient location. For some, like me, procrastination will get the better of you, and you’ll need to find housing at the last minute.

I was also in an unfortunate situation of having a roommate with whom I planned to live back out on me due to financial issues in June.

Finding housing in just a few weeks has many challenges. Many places are already taken and the ones available are expensive or extremely far from campus.

I found myself in this situation just last summer. I waited too long to find housing and had a month before I needed to move out of my old place.

I kept searching without much luck. I did not want to be a filler roommate for anyone, so I was searching for a single-room apartment.

The housing websites are much more helpful when you look for a place months in advance like potential renters are supposed to.

Without any luck finding a place online and with limited, unappealing choices, there was really only one option left: contact the realtors directly.

Procrastinating renters like me will have to resort to the old-fashioned method of finding housing by reaching out via phone or email.

I know this might be daunting for many in our generation. Phone calls can be awkward or uncomfortable, but when you need a place to live, drastic measures need to be taken. So I looked up contact information for the realtors with houses listed in Ohio State’s housing portal. When I found their websites, I called a few places — still without luck.

When I called my current realtor and asked if there were places available, I was told one location not listed on websites was available.

Finally I was in luck.

They said it was available for about the same rent I was already paying at my old apartment. It was also at a convenient location on Lane Avenue right across the street from campus.

I moved in at the beginning of August and have loved my new place so far.

This might have worked out for me, but I think I got very lucky. Please do not be like me. Sit down, think about where you want to live next year and who you want to live with. Find a place sooner rather than later.

Finding a place last minute is not fun. Do not do it.