On October 14th, hunched over a table in the main lounge of Stanley Residence Hall, me and one of my best friends let out the biggest sigh of our lives as we finished signing the lease for our apartment next year. In that moment, the two of us just smiled weakly at each other, too exhausted to feel excited or happy. There was nothing but the sweet sensation of relief in that room.
Finally, our search was done, the hunt was over. What felt like blood, sweat, and tears, (you may think I’m exaggerating, but I promise you, I’m not) had been worth it. We had the most perfect location in Iowa City, and finally, we could relax.
My future roommate and I were fortunate that we had some help from our parents through this process, especially since we had never had to worry about housing in the past. Our parents were always on speed dial in case we needed help with anything, and while we were lucky to have their encouraging voices, that help still came from afar. Overall, me and my friend were entirely on our own. From finding places, to reaching out to managements, to finding days to tour, and even just making sure we communicated on a day-to-day basis with each other, all of that was entirely up to us. There were no how-to guides on how to navigate Iowa City’s off-campus housing labyrinth besides social media and, weirdly, the UIowa Moms Facebook page (those women RUN this city!).
So, I figured I make my own little Iowa City Apartment Hunting Survival Guide. My advice, take notes. We’re in for the long haul…
Finding Your Roommates and Communicating with Them
Okay, this may be obvious, but you have to find a roommate. Yes, there are studio apartments sprinkled throughout Iowa City, but the more roommates you have, the more money you’ll save. College students gotta budget, you know! I also recommend continuously double checking that the people you room with are rooming with you. Sometimes things happen or come up and it changes the game. All good, just be sure it’s communicated to all parties!
Once you have the people you want to room with, I recommend making a GroupChat with them and asking their budgets. It’s important to know where everyone stands, so you can have an estimate of what everyone can pays, what your wiggle room is, and what your maximum rent is for every month. Again, it may seem obvious, but this is crucial for your search and will lay the groundwork for you and your friends before the actual fun begins.
Download the App, “Notion”
My future roomie is the one who told me about this super handy app. It can be downloaded on your phone and laptop and serves as a note sharing app! You can create apartment tabs, make notes on them, put them into different columns, link the website where you found a place, and so much more! Overall, it helps you and your roomie(s) stay on the same page as you begin your search. Having this at my disposal was a massive game-changer and was a great way for the two of us to see what the other was up to. Of course, we still texted each other every time something was done, just to make sure the other was always in the know. If you haven’t guessed, communication is key in this process, and having ways to share thoughts/notes is a must!
Find Those Apartments
Everyone’s favorite part, apartment shopping!!!
Below, I’ll link a couple websites that had a great selection of apartments to look through while I was still deep in my search. Once you find a place, and this is probably my biggest suggestion: CALL THOSE NUMBERS!!! Yes, you can send a message through the website, but the most efficient, fastest, and easiest way to get in contact with property managements to schedule a tour with them would be to call ahead. Scheduling the tours on the phone really puts you ahead of the game. Trust me, this will save you so much time just waiting around and hoping that your dream place doesn’t get snatched up!
Apartments for Rent in Iowa City IA – 1,102 Rentals | Apartments.com
1,102 Apartments For Rent in Iowa City, IA | Apartment Finder
University of Iowa | Off-Campus Housing Search (uiowa.edu)
Make a List of Questions for the Tour
Before you tour any place, definitely, definitely, DEFINITELY make a list of your biggest questions and concerns to ask the renter. A couple of things I recommend asking about are as follows:
- Confirm the original rent you saw on the website
- Are utilities included in rent (if not, how much do they cost on average?)
- Where is laundry located?
- Ask about the security deposit
- Is renter’s insurance required?
- Where do you sign the lease and where do you pay the rent?
Also, I’d recommend checking the faucets, toilets, shower, lights, and if there are smoke detectors. I know, I know, all of this takes the fun out of the tour, but I promise, all of this is necessary to have a good experience in your first apartment!
If You Like a Place, Sign it ASAP
Apartments in Iowa City (especially the ones located within Iowa City) tend to go fast. So, if you find a place you like, I highly recommend signing the lease for it right after you tour. The same day that me and roomie toured the apartment, we signed the lease to live there. It was super easy, and stress free (thankfully). And once you know you have a place to live, then comes the next fun step, decorating!
But maybe I’ll save some apartment must-haves for another post.
For now, I hope these tips helped. Apartment hunting can be scary, but you got it! Just take it one day at a time, and the right place will fall right into your lap. Happy hunting and may the odds be ever in your favor…
