Every student will of course have their own unique idea as to what exactly it is that makes for the perfect university accommodation. What matters to some really doesn’t make any difference to others, but at the same time there will always be certain comprehensive areas of interest.
Most would of course agree wholeheartedly that to select student accommodation in St Andrews completely randomly doesn’t necessarily constitute the best idea. Nevertheless, experts suggest that comparatively few students come even remotely close to fully considering the most important accommodation-selection criteria, before going ahead and signing on the dotted line.
So in the interests of both first time students and those looking to secure the ideal accommodation for a return to university, here’s a quick look at six of the most essential things the experts advise all house-hunters to remember:
1 – There Are Plenty of Agents Out There
First and foremost, there’s absolutely nothing to gain be diving headfirst into the first property listing that comes along, or even the first agent that appears to tick all the right boxes. The reason being that there are so many different agents and letting companies out there of which each and every one will have its own unique listings and deals. There is of course a certain amount of urgency when it comes to ensuring you net the very best place for the best price, but at the same time it’s always worth checking out at least a few agents before making your final decision.
2 – Keep it Close
It doesn’t matter how fantastically glamorous or attractively priced any given property is, if it’s a nightmare to commute to and from the university campus, it’s probably a bad idea. The reason being that not only will you find yourself stacking up enormous transportation costs over the course of your study period, but chances are you’ll also be infinitely more likely to skip lectures and find excuses not to bother going in. If by contrast you were to choose accommodation that was no more than a five-minute walk from the main campus, your life in general would be made infinitely easier.
3 – Check the Kitchen
If you are looking to move into accommodation with a shared kitchen, try to realistically consider whether the appliances and amenities will cut the mustard. For example, there may be a shiny-new fridge of the highest quality, but if it’s about the size of a milk carton and the building houses 8 people, there will be trouble ahead. The same also goes for washing machines, cookers and so on – when there’s something that needs to be shared, it needs to be something that’s capable of getting the job done or available in multiple quantities.
4 – You Need Storage Space
It’s also a good idea to check out just how much storage space there is available as even when it is you and only you living in a room/apartment on a temporary basis, you’d be amazed just how much detritus and clutter you’ll accumulate. There’s really no such thing as having too many clever storage solutions around the place, though there is very much such a thing as not having enough storage space to get by comfortably.
5 – Bothersome Bathrooms
Never under any circumstances be so won-over by a place in general that it leads to your overlooking of the bathroom situation. While it may not be the case, you have to at least assume that those your will be sharing the bathroom with may be exactly the kinds of people who tend to go in there for an hour at a time. And when there are multiple individuals all looking to do the same thing, you’ll soon realise that insufficient bathroom provision can become the biggest dampener of your entire university living experience. If there aren’t enough bathrooms, nothing else matters – you can forget about it.
6 – Love the Lounge
Last but not least, one of the biggest bonuses you can possibly come across when it comes to university accommodation is the provision of a spacious and well-equipped lounge. And in this instance, bigger always tends to be better as the more space you have in which to socialise with your housemates and those you invite over, the better time you’ll all have. By contrast, small and cramped lounges not only look messy in a hurry, but can lead to unpleasant territorial squabbles. A large lounge isn’t necessarily 100% mandatory as such, but in terms of added bonuses it is a biggie.
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