With on-campus living options becoming more limited by the year, most Georgia Tech students are familiar with off-campus living and the types of housing available to them.
Because the off-campus housing market has become so competitive in recent years, new student housing properties are opening every year boasting new, luxurious amenities and hard-to-beat locations.
Just because these new properties come at a higher price tag than on-campus living doesn’t mean there are no ways to make off-campus living more affordable.
At Whistler, we want to help you find an apartment that best suits your needs. To help you in your search for housing we have written this article on the six best ways to save money on off-campus student housing.
6 Ways to Save Money on Student Housing in Midtown Atlanta
1. Having More Roommates
Having more roommates can lower your monthly rental rate.
It’s no secret that the price of square footage in Atlanta is high and increasing by the year – and student living near Georgia Tech is no exception.
One of the best ways to save money on your monthly rental rate is to optimize the square footage of your apartment through roommates. Having more roommates divides the square footage per person, thus dividing the rental rate per person as well.
For example, signing a lease for a 5×5 (five bedroom, five bathroom) will usually cost a couple hundred dollars less per month, per person than a 2×2 or 1×1.
See Whistler’s 5×5 floorplan options.
2. Shared Bathrooms
In the same way that having more roommates decreases the price per square foot of your apartment, signing a lease for a space with shared bathrooms can decrease your overall rental rate as well.
Student apartments near Georgia Tech may offer 5×3, 4×2, and 2×1 floor plans at a cheaper rate than their 5×5, 4×4, and 2×2 floor plans.
If you don’t mind sharing a bathroom with a roommate or two, shared space is a great way to lower your price per square foot of your apartment and your rental rate.
See Whistler’s 4×3 floorplans.
3. Sign Your Lease Early
One of the easiest ways to guarantee a lower rental rate is to sign early.
Student apartments, especially new developments, want to fill their units quickly. In order to incentivize students to sign early, they will typically offer a discounted rental rate when leasing first begins. Leasing begins around 10 months prior to the prospective move-in date for most student housing apartments.
As apartments fill up and demand increases, the pricing for these apartments will also increase each month. Outside of flash sales and last-minute discounts, leasing early will usually get you the best rates for your apartment.
Read Next: 5 Benefits of Leasing Early
4. Find Rental Rates That Include Extras
Depending on what property you chose to sign a lease with, what is and what is not included in your rental rate can greatly affect your overall cost of living.
To get the most bang for your buck, look for apartments that include extras like WiFi, cable, or floor plans with more windows or balconies in your base rental rate. Some apartments even include utilities in their base rates, which can save a lot of money in the long run.
Read Next: 10 Additional Costs to Consider When Looking for an Apartment near UT Austin
5. Opt for a Less Popular Unit
Choosing a less popular unit is another way to save money at off-campus student apartments.
Less popular floor plans may feature smaller rooms, units on lower levels, or units with less desirable views of the city. Every property is sure to have units that fit into these categories, so keep an eye out for these if you’re searching for a cheaper rental rate.
Because these floor plans are seen as “less desirable,” the demand for these units is low and they do not fill up as quickly. When you choose a less popular floor plan, you can expect to see lower or discounted rental rates.
6. Minimize Furniture Costs
Representative kitchen featuring Whistler’s standard finishes and appliances.
Decorating and furnishing your apartment is a great way to make your new place feel like home, but can come with a big price tag. Even outside of optional decor, everyone needs a bed for their bedroom and a couch for their living room.
To cut costs, look for a fully furnished student apartment. Outside of the obvious advantage that your furniture is included in your rental rate, having a furnished apartment can also cut costs on storage units if you study abroad, take an out-of-town internship, or sublease your apartment over the summer.
Knowing this, most student housing properties near Georgia Tech’s campus come fully furnished. This can be an important factor when deciding between a traditional apartment and a student apartment.
Read Next: Student Apartment v. Traditional Apartment: Which is Right for Me?
While off-campus living can be expensive, there are plenty of ways to save on your monthly rental rate. Before making any final decisions on where you want to live, remember that taking advantage of these discounts and hacks can help make off-campus living more affordable.
If you have any questions about off-campus living or would like to learn more about Whistler, feel free to reach out to our leasing team. We are more than happy to help in your search for housing!
