Find Your Match! Fall 2016 Housing Sponsored by University Housing, Student Legal Clinic, and Off-Campus Community Relations

On-Campus Off-Campus Benefits Benefits Convenience Easy access to events/activities Furniture, food & fuel Higher grades One payment Safety Service Cost 10-month contracts Independence Privacy Choice of living environment Life skills & responsibility Credit Pets Roommate choice Amenities Convenience: Living on-campus puts students within walking distance of all their classes, the library, all the gyms, great food, downtown Boone, the Boone bus system (Appalcart), and many friends. Exciting Events and Activities: If students want to get involved in college life outside of classes there is no better place to be than the residence halls Friendship: When students are asked what they remember most about living in the residence halls they almost always mention the close friendships they formed that are still in place after college. Higher Grades: Students who live on-campus have higher grades in both their first and second years in college! One Payment: Living off-campus usually results in a multitude of bills students on-campus never need to worry about. Students off-campus should be prepared to have someone pay monthly bills for rent, cable TV, electric or fuel oil, water and sewer, internet access, and maybe even trash pick-up. In the residence halls all the services are wrapped up in one payment, once a semester. Safety: Residence hall main doors are controlled by a keycard access system in which only students living in the residence hall can access the building.  Every night there is an RA on duty from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.  All RAs are trained in noticing and responding to security risks (i.e. propped exterior doors).  In addition, the main desks of most residence halls are staffed every night from 10:30 p.m. to 4 a.m by a Night Star staff member (A.S.U. Police are also minutes away) who walks through the residence hall on a regular basis. Service: All the residence halls are well-maintained with quality service. Maintenance and housekeeping staff are available for late night emergency response 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

University Housing ReApplication Process In order to be considered for on-campus housing, you must submit an application: Go to housing.appstate.edu Click on the icon for ReApplication You will be directed to instructions to apply for on-campus housing for academic year 2016-2017

Dates and Deadlines Reapplication: 1/11/16 – 1/31/16 Notification: Early February to ASU E-mail Response to On-Campus Housing Offer: Within 48 hours / Immediately binding Up to 3 reminders sent within 48 hours June 30 – Deadline to request release from housing contract for the fall semester with a $250.00 non-refundable cancellation fee (No Release After June 30, 2016) Open Wait List available March 1, 2016

Residence Hall Rates 2015-2016 Apartment Style - $2500.00 Per Semester Hotel Style - $2500.00 Per Semester Suite Style - $2400.00 Per Semester Renovated Traditional Style - $2335.00 Per Semester East Hall / Justice Hall - $2180.00 Per Semester Non-Renovated Traditional Style - $2112.50 *2016-2017 Rates will be posted in January, 2016 *All Residence Hall Contracts are for an Entire Academic Year

On-Campus Housing Questions? Sheila Burleson or Blair Berry University Housing 828-262-6111 burlesonst@appstate.edu berrybm@appstate.edu Questions/Requests: uha@appstate.edu

Finding Off-Campus Housing Internet: www.offcampus.appstate.edu Rental Company List Links to “for rent” or sublease ads Interactive Map of Boone Transportation Information www.offcampushousing.appstate.edu Look around Housing Fair: Wednesday, February 3rd, 10am-2pm, International Hallway, Student Union

“For Rent” Signs

Rental Company Signs

ASU’s February Housing Fair

BEFORE YOU COMMIT: PLAN AHEAD VIEW THE RENTAL PROPERTY BE ACTIVE: ASK QUESTIONS/ GATHER INFORMATION READ AND UNDERSTAND THE LEASE

Don’t Rush Into a Decision Plan Ahead Don’t Rush Into a Decision Take time to consider: Timeline for finding housing Who you will be living with Rental costs Additional costs Location, parking and transportation Zoning: Single Family Residences

Timeline November: Explore Options December: Talk It Over Plan Ahead Timeline November: Explore Options December: Talk It Over January: More Research & Decide February: Confirm On-Campus OR Move forward w/ Off- Campus March: Secure Off-Campus housing!

Know Your Roommate(s) Discuss Compatibility Roommate Contracts Plan Ahead Know Your Roommate(s) Discuss Compatibility Lifestyles (your own choices, not your parents’), Importance of Studying, Significant Others (overnight guests), Paying the Bills, Sharing Food, Cleanliness, Pets Roommate Contracts Individual vs. Joint Leases

Cost On-Campus Off-Campus Plan Ahead Cost On-Campus Off-Campus $450 - $525/month per person Includes: electricity water trash basic cable tv phone & internet maintenance $350 - $800/month per person Some offer no utilities or extras, while others include utilities & extras Average monthly cost of utilities per person: $60 - $200 Electricity, heat, internet, cable, phone, water Often apartments that cost more, include more (such as utilities). Do the math to determine which pricing structure may work best for you and your budget (inclusive vs. a la carte apartments).

Plan Ahead Fuel Tanks

Location, Parking, and Transportation Plan Ahead Location, Parking, and Transportation

Zoning: Roommate Restrictions Plan Ahead Zoning: Roommate Restrictions Single-family dwellings (R-1, 1a, & 2 Zones) - no more than 2 unrelated tenants permitted Ask landlords and/or the Town of Boone (some landlords are aware, others are not) Overnight guests can result in ordinance violations Violations can result in eviction and/or fines Contact the Town of Boone Planning and Inspections Dept. to verify zoning: 828-268- 6960

What’s Coming up in the Future? Plan Ahead What’s Coming up in the Future? Think about: Contract length Security deposit timing (when lease is signed) First month’s rent (due on the lease start-date) Check your Appalnet account to make sure that you have completed financial aid forms The security deposit is typically paid when you sign a lease. Ask your landlord if you can make payments if you don’t have the security deposit money up front. Also remember that you need to set the money aside over the summer to pay your first month’s rent – i.e. that you will likely have to pay this out of pocket. Remember that you will have rent money for January in your fall financial aid check – if you pay out of pocket for August. However, this can work against you because you may spend January’s rent without realizing it. If you know that you’re not very good with keeping up with money and you’re afraid that you’re going to spend it, it may be a good idea to pay for the entire semester.

TAKE A LOOK… View the apartment that you will actually be living in (if at all possible) Avoid surprises Think about what’s important to you before you go to look Inspect carefully!

TAKE A LOOK: What’s missing here? If windows are important to you, and you are only able to view a layout of the apartment, be sure to ask if your unit will have windows – even if you have viewed the building and it appears that some units have them.

TAKE A LOOK: What about Parking? *Use a different parking available picture Parking Available Parking UNAvailable

Take a Look: Mold and Mildew Mold and mildew exist in every dwelling – especially in the High Country. Rental companies usually do not release tenants from contracts due to mold, so if you know you are allergic to mold, it’s important to do an inspection of the property prior to moving in. If you have allergies, do not rent a basement apartment: 1 wall or more is underground (definition of basement apartment).

GATHER MORE INFORMATION Ask questions – What is important to YOU? Use other sources to get more information Current and former tenants Internet resources (apartment review websites) Utility companies

Read and Understand

What’s in a Lease? Lease Period Monthly Rent Security Deposit Read and Understand What’s in a Lease? NC General Statutes Lease Period Monthly Rent Security Deposit Pet Deposit Late Fees Court Fees Other costs/ fees Administrative fee “Additional Rent” Cleaning fee Penalties for violating landlord’s rules (i.e. fine for having a party or an unauthorized pet)

Rules and Regulations: Read and Understand Rules and Regulations: Parking Pets Occupancy Parties Trash pick-up Appearance/ cleanliness Heat – responsibility for pipes freezing Illegal activities

Rules and Regulations: Use of Porches Read and Understand Rules and Regulations: Use of Porches

Remember: The written lease rules! Read and Understand Remember: The written lease rules! Don’t rely on oral promises made by the landlord that are not contained in the lease Even if your landlord has not previously enforced a rule – or has not enforced the rule consistently – the rule can still be enforced if it is in the written lease Know what’s in your lease and make sure you can live with it!

Renters Insurance Purpose: To provide protection against loss and give peace of mind Covers: Fire, theft, flood, snow, hail, smoke damage, etc. Cost: $100-$150/annually (estimate) Liability Without It: No protection (i.e. YOU pay to replace) Parents Homeowner’s Policy: Might cover you already(if your parents own their own homes) Links to companies of Off-Campus website

AFTER You Move In NC General Statutes: Landlord’s duty to provide fit and habitable premises Boone Minimum Housing Code: Additional Protections within Town of Boone Document conditions Know the security deposit law

After You Move In: Rental Company Issues Communicate with your landlord: In a civil and timely manner, If you have a question, In advance if you have to make a late payment, If there is a problem with the rental property Take responsibility if you have violated a policy Payment: Use checks Financial aid can be applied to off-campus rent Be aware of: Reserved right of entry Illegal activity can affect your status as a tenant Landlords know that you may make mistakes. They are more likely to work well with you if you tell the truth and take responsibility, instead of lying.

After You Move In: Interacting with the Community Safety Being a Good Neighbor Relevant Town Ordinances

Safety Lock Your Door emergency.appstate.edu AppState-Alert Local Law Enforcement Contact Numbers ASU: Know the Code of Student Conduct On AND Off-Campus

Being a Good Neighbor Meet and talk with your neighbors Keep gatherings small and quiet Maintain a clean appearance outside (lawn mowed, trash up, etc.) Be respectful; you are part of a community! Exchange contact information with neighbors you trust to encourage open lines of communication.

Town of Boone Ordinances Noise Ordinance Fines begin at $100 and can increase to $500 upon a third violation. Alcohol Open containers prohibited -- $50 fine Leash Law Pets must be leashed within town limits Bikes and skateboards No skateboarding Bikes prohibited on sidewalks $50 fine for violation of helmet ordinance

Questions? Karla Rusch Student Legal Clinic & Off-Campus Community Relations located in the Dean of Students Office Suite 324, Plemmons Student Union 828-262-8284 ruschkp@appstate.edu