With the renovation to Webb Hall, many Milligan students will be looking for places off campus to live, but before you pick out a shower curtain, you need to know what you can actually afford. Unlike the dorms, your rent is just the starting point. You’ll need to budget for:
- Utilities: Electricity, water and trash (expect $100 to $150 per month)
- Internet: Essential for those 11:59 p.m. Canvas submissions (expect $50 to $80 per month)
- Food: You’ll likely move to a smaller meal plan, so you’ll need a grocery budget.
Most landlords require a security deposit (typically one month’s rent) and potentially the first and last months’ rent before you move in.
With rent in Elizabethton averaging $1,411 and $1,500 in Johnson City, according to Zillow Rentals, going solo is expensive.
- Split the bill: Dividing a $1,500 two-bedroom apartment costs about $750 per person, which is much closer to the affordable range for many students.
- Shared responsibility: You’ll want to room with people you can trust to pay the electric bill on time. Choose roommates based on cleanliness and financial responsibility, not just who you have the most fun with on Wonderful Wednesday.
Landlords are wary of first-time renters with no credit history. To get your application approved fast, have these ready:
- A co-signer: Most landlords require a “guarantor” (usually a parent) since most students don’t have a full-time salary.
- If you have a job, have your last three pay stubs ready.
Don’t sign a lease without seeing the actual unit.
- Check for unusual odors (which could indicate mold), flip every light switch and test the cell service and Wi-Fi in the back bedrooms.
- Drive from the apartment to Milligan during the time you’d usually have an 8 a.m. class to check traffic for your commute.
Photo: Boxes in a room ready to be unpacked (Photo Credit: Faruk Tokluoğlu)
