Caution: Apartment hunting takes time, requires patience

I have a new job, and it’s one you’ll probably have soon, too: I call it “apartment hunter.” In fact, you may have spotted me recently in the jungle of apartments behind the Hill with a calculator in one hand and some Post-its in the other, trying to track down the perfect place to live.

If you applied for University housing, you received your housing offer yesterday. But before you accept it, examine all your options carefully. Westwood has a plethora of residences, and if you shop around you may be able to find something less expensive that better suits your needs. I’m hoping my experience will be of some use to you if you’re at a crossroads between UCLA Housing and off-campus apartments or simply new to the hunt.

I currently live in the dorms, and while I did have the option of living here again as a senior, I’ve decided to live off-campus for both the sake of change and to save some big bucks. Right now I pay $13,722 for nine months in a double at De Neve Plaza and two meals a day. Comparably, sharing a one-bedroom apartment with one person will only cost me about $7,500 to $10,000 for the same time-frame including utilities, food, furniture and one or two parking spots. Sharing a larger apartment with more people is even cheaper.

University Apartments, which are UCLA-owned off-campus apartments, are a popular option, with 54 percent of third-year students who lived on campus last year deciding to live in university housing this year. They are comparable in price to other apartments in Westwood, are furnished, include internet service, and most have cooling systems. They’re also available just for the school-year, though this means you’ll have to move out after nine months even if you want to stay for two years. Parking spaces are also very limited and not guaranteed.

The biggest downside of the University Apartments is the online sign-up process, which is a virtual frenzy of students trying to nab spots before they disappear. Single-occupancy apartments disappear right away, and you may well have to sign up with a random roommate. And if you didn’t live in university housing the previous year, you can only enter a lottery in which you will be notified of availability in August”“too close to the start of school to find other apartments.

You have considerably more flexibility deciding where you want to live if you look beyond UCLA housing, but there are several important things to keep in mind.

Those who will be seniors next year should ask about nine month leases unless they’re planning on staying during summer. Although the majority of apartment managers we’ve encountered will only sign a 12-month lease, we’ve nevertheless found a few who are willing to sign for just the school year. I’ve found that the quaint, older buildings with only four or five units are owned by people who are more willing to negotiate these terms.

If you do sign a year-long lease and won’t be staying the whole time, be prepared to find “subletters” ““ people who will rent the apartment in your absence for a short term.

This is not, however, hassle-free; not all apartment complexes allow subletting, it isn’t always easy to find renters, and you may risk incurring damages from your renters. Furthermore, there are many, many apartments available during the summer for between $500 and $650. Because of this (and because renters are probably less picky about where they’re staying for a short time), you’ll have to keep your rate low ““ go above $650 a month, and you may be out of luck.

Ask whether or not utilities are included in the rent; many places include water and trash and a few include everything. Also know that air conditioning and dishwashers are luxuries in Westwood. Inconvenient though this may be, it’ll at least keep your electricity bill low.

My roommate and I started seriously looking for an apartment last week. We’ve scoured every street in the residential area between Le Conte Boulevard and Veteran Avenue, combed through this newspaper’s classifieds and checked Craigslist, Uloop and Facebook Marketplace daily. And the hard work has paid off: We’ve found a few places that meet our needs and are within our budget.

Before you decide on a place, ask yourself this vital question: Will I want to come home here every day for a whole year? Go too cheap, and you’ll find yourself stuck in a dark, smelly building with poor management. The quality of your apartment will affect your life on a daily basis, so don’t rush into a decision. Take the time to shop around, be flexible, and you should be able to find yourself in a place you’ll be happy to call home.

On the hunt? E-mail Nijhawan at anijhawan@media.ucla.edu. Send general comments to viewpoint@media.ucla.edu.

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