Moving into an off campus hostel can quickly turn into one helluva nightmarish situation if you make the wrong decisions. So I’ve taken the time to outline 8 easy points to check off while making a choice on a new hostel off campus.

1. Conveniece. Your off campus hostel should not be too far away from the main campus so you can get to lectures, the library and other campus locations quickly and easily, when you need to. Make a list of the places you’d like to be nearby, like the market, salon, atm and then check to see if these places are located within the area.
2. Budget. Map out your area of choice and research what the rent ranges for hostels in that area are. You can do this by asking the locals around. When you get the area(s) that best fit into your budget, then you can go ahead and start hunting for a hostel in those areas.
3. Security. How safe is the environment? Try as best as possible to know the crime statistics of your chosen area. This information can be gotten once again, from the locals. They’ll be able to give you the required information and also recommend whether or not they feel it’s safe for students.
4. Go with a partner. Don’t be shy to get a second or even third party opinion from your friends, family or agent. Going together reduces the chances of oversights. It actually makes the task look less tedious and more fun.
5. Hostel size and room space. A bigger hostel means more rooms and more neighbors, which will inevitably mean more drama. You should put this into consideration if you’d prefer a quiter less drama environment or if you don’t mind. Another thing to put in mind is the room space. Make a mental note of your properties and belongings and picture them fitting into the room. You don’t want everything being crowded in, and you don’t want too much space so your room doesn’t look scanty either.
6. Electricity and water supply. These are the two other topmost priority besides security. Don’t compromise on stable electricity and water supply. Have a conversation with the landlord/ caretaker about this and be sure to make your expectations clear.
7. Pay attention to details. During the walk through, check the installments. Is the room well ventilated? Check the positions of the windows, the locks, wall sockets, floor tiling, cracks on the wall, kitchen sink, toilet, shower, water pressure, taps head, door fittings and wiring.
8. The neighbors are important too. Do the neighbors look friendly and cooperative? Do they seem honest and reliable? A bit of gut instinct helps a lot here. The last thing you’d want is to be stuck in an hostile environment for a whole year.
9. Maintenance. When you are searching for a place, be aware of how much maintenance you’re willing to put into the apartment. You should have a conversation with the landlord/ caretaker concerning these expectations. Who would be responsible for repairs? Is it included in the rent? Are there any monthly charges? Be sure to be aware of your maintenance responsibilities and be up front with your landlord if you feel you cannot carry out such.

I hope these points have helped. Don’t forget to tell me as well as the other readers how this post has helped you on the comment section. Happy hostel hunting.

xoxo