Things To Do Before Signing a Lease

1. Decide on a move-in date.

Try to give yourself lots of time to do all the things you need to with changing addresses.

2. Read and understand the lease.

If you don’t understand the lease, contact student legal services (252-737-1067).

3. Visit the location during the day, night, and weekends.

Get to know the environment you might be living in outside of regular leasing hours.

4. Visit the unit you will be in.

Find out if the “best fit” for you in regards to location in the complex, neighbors, and floorplans. If you like to have a dark bedroom for sleeping, you may not want a unit that has a street light right outside your bedroom window.

5. Talk to the people who live there.

This is a great chance to first meet a new neighbor/friend. Also, you can talk about what it is like to live there; if there are any problems or issues to know about. See who lives there and if it is majority student renters or if student renters a part of the whole demographic.

6. Make a budget for what all the costs are and what you can afford.

If you don’t know the all the costs, research them: internet, cable TV, (landline) phone, water/sewer, electricity, garbage/recyclables pickup. Some of these costs may be included in your rent, but there will most likely be monthly costs on top of your rent.