When it comes time to decide where to live for the next school year, many Georgia Tech students are surprised by how early other students begin their search for housing. With busy school schedules, work and internships, and maintaining your social life, the school year can fly by fast, and it can be hard to find the time to search for student housing.
At Whistler, we know how time-consuming the search for student housing can be. That’s why we have written this article on the most optimal time to begin your search for student housing, so you can find the next place you’ll call “home” with ease.
Read Next: 8 Steps to Finding an Apartment Near Georgia Tech
The timeline for starting the housing search can look different for everyone. In this article, we will provide you with the information needed to make a decision on when to start your housing search so you can find the best apartment for you.
In this article, we will discuss:
- Typical student housing timeline for a Georgia Tech student
- Signing early and how it can save you money
- The best time to begin your housing search
When Should I Start Looking for Student Housing Near Georgia Tech?
Many Georgia Tech students begin their search for student housing early to secure their spot in popular off-campus student apartments and to receive better rates.
What is the typical student housing timeline for a Georgia Tech student?
While every person’s timeline will look different, most students will begin signing leases as early as the fall semester of the year prior to when their prospective lease will begin.
For example, incoming first-year students will most likely sign a lease for the following year, or begin making plans to sign a lease, just a few months into the fall of their first year.
Your timeline will also look different depending on where you want to live.
Student housing apartments lease earlier in general, and this is especially true for new locations. Brand new properties want to fill their units quickly and fully, so they offer discounts and perks in order to incentivize students to do so. If you are hoping to live in a new development, it is smart to start your search over the summer and look to sign a lease early in the fall of the year prior.
Read Next: 5 Benefits of Living in New Construction
Can signing earlier save me money?
Whenever properties begin leasing for the next year, their websites are filled with phrases like “our lowest rates,” “don’t miss your chance,” and “sign now.” You may be wondering, is this actually true? Will signing early actually save me money?
The short answer is yes, rates for student apartments typically start on the lower end when leasing begins. They then gradually increase as the apartments fill up and demand increases.
However, there is no guarantee that leasing early will get you the lowest possible rental rate. Many properties may offer flash sales and discounted rates if the school year is approaching and there are still empty rooms available. While you could wait and lease late to try and catch these discounts, this can be risky. Leasing late will most likely leave you at a less desirable complex, location, and floorplan, as well as with less flexibility for roommate choice.
Should I Lease Early?
Leasing early has many advantages. Outside of getting a discounted rate, you will also have first pick of location, floorplans, and roommate choice. This can make a large impact on your overall living experience for the next year.
Read Next: 5 Benefits of Leasing Early
If you would rather risk having these advantages and lease late to get the best possible rates, you can do that too. It all depends on what you value as most important and how determined you are to find the lowest possible rates.
When should I start my search?
Start your search around one to two months before you actually want to sign a lease so you have enough time to evaluate all of your options.
Now that you have read the above, you probably have some idea of when you want to actually sign your lease. So, how far in advance should you start your search so you have ample time to make decisions before signing?
Before signing a lease, you should research locations and floorplans, take tours of different properties, and even talk to potential roommates about where they are interested in living. Altogether, this process can take a month or two.
Read Next: 8 Steps to Finding an Apartment Near Georgia Tech
Plan to start your research for an apartment one to two months before you actually want to sign a lease to ensure you have enough time to make the right decision on the right apartment for you.
If you have any more questions about the leasing process or would like to learn more about Whistler, please contact our leasing staff. We are more than happy to help you in your search for student housing!
