Tips for Navigating the Housing Search

Are you stressed out searching for housing? Are you just starting your search and feeling a bit alarmed by this article? Don’t panic! Because of the 70 day Early Lease Ordinance, many apartments or homes with a September-September leases are not yet eligible for Fall 2018 signing. However, many students begin researching housing options in the fall. This is where Beyond the Diag comes in! We want you to have the best possible experience looking for housing. Here are some tips to make the search a smoother, less stressful process.

In Person Search

Plan on attending Beyond the Diag’s Central and North Campus Housing Fairs in October to meet landlords in person and connect with Neighborhood Ambassadors. 

Online Search

Our off-campus housing listing service is a great tool to help you customize your housing search to fit your needs. There are over 500 companies that you sort through. Modify filters by the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, lease options, and price range to tailor available properties to your preferences. It is also a great resource to list or look for sublets for the winter or summer semesters!

Roommate Selection

Another integral part of deciding on your next off-campus home is finding roommates to live with you. It is certainly a challenging and taxing choice to decide who exactly you would want to live with for an entire year! When searching for a roommate, think about who you would feel comfortable sharing a room or house with and discuss how you will handle cleanliness levels and sleep schedules in a shared living space. If you’re still looking for a roommate or an extra person to fill that last bedroom, the roommate finder is a great tool to help you search students looking for similar housing options. Because a UM uniqname is required to login, you can only search members of the UM community.

Whether you live with an acquaintance or a good friend, be sure to create a roommate agreement together. This form can help you have important lifestyle conversations before moving in together. Sign it and hang it on the fridge where it can be easily revisted if there is a conflict. 

 

If you have any other questions regarding housing or the leasing process, please feel free to contact the below services. We are here to help you!

Dean of Students Office (home of Beyond the Diag) for 1:1 support: (734)-764-7420

Student Legal Services: (734)-763-9920