House hunting is a familiar, and sometime stressful, scenario for many students as they choose to move out of the dorms and into off-campus housing. There are many options to choose from, and the decision can be overwhelming. It can be tempting and easy to agree on the first place you find on Craigslist, but it’s important to be savvy and examine every option thoroughly before you sign a lease. Once you’ve signed that piece of paper, you’re legally bound into a contract, and there could be repercussions if you try to break it because you realize the living situation was not quite what you signed up for. Here are some things to consider before you make the final decision.

Location

When it comes to rental rates, it’s all about location, location, location. If you want to live a block or two away from campus, you’ll probably pay for it. For example, Housing and Food Services’ (HFS) apartment building, the Commodore Duchess, is conveniently located on Campus Parkway, but rates start at $850 for a studio. If money is an issue, consider living slightly farther away from campus. Anywhere that’s within the confines of Montlake and Northeast 55th Street is walkable or bikeable. If walking isn’t your thing, there are usually bus lines that will take you within a block or two of campus. It’s also a good idea to look into areas like Wallingford and Green Lake, as well as Lake City and Northgate. Rental rates will typically be cheaper than the U-District, which is often more expensive because landlords know students will pay the extra amount for convenience. All of those areas are filled with bus lines.

Price

Besides safety, this is probably the number one thing for students to consider while looking for housing. For money-strapped students, often the most difficult thing to do is come up with the first payment, which often includes the first and last month’s rent plus a security deposit. However, this isn’t always the case; many times, only the first month’s rent is required, and often, the security deposit can be negotiated or paid in a couple of installments. It’s important, however, to be upfront and honest with the landlord about your financial situation so that if you need a little extra time to make a rent payment later on, it won’t be such a big surprise.

Amenities

While it’s important that your apartment building have basic amenities like recycling and a laundry room with working machines, be aware that other amenities may mean increased rent. Some apartment buildings come with workout rooms, pools or tanning beds, but this is rare within the U-District, and you’re more likely to find this in places like Lake City or in the suburbs. It’s a tradeoff, since you get the added amenities but have a longer commute to campus. Instead of focusing on amenities, focus more on location, safety and price.

Pet friendly

Be warned: As much as you love Fido or Fluffy, it’s very likely your landlord or building manager will not. A large majority of apartment buildings in the U-District have strict no-pet clauses in the lease. Others will allow small cats and dogs but will add a pet’s deposit or an extra monthly payment to your bill. While it may be tempting, it’s really not a good idea to hide your pet from the landlord. You’ll be constantly worrying about being found out every time a maintenance person comes in, and leaving your pet locked in your room is not fair to the animal. There’s also a strong chance they may do their business in your room or destroy your things. If you must have a pet, come clean about it and enjoy a peace of mind.

Safety/security

This is hands down the most important thing to consider when looking for an apartment, besides location. With all of the crime notifications sent by the police department, it’s easy to get paranoid about how safe the U-District is to live in. Ultimately, no matter where you live, it’s not a good idea to walk home alone at night, and campus services such as the NightRide shuttle and NightWalk should be used. However, it’s important to check out the area and make sure you feel safe there before signing a lease. It’s also a good idea to look for a secured building, where guests must be buzzed in, making it less likely that strangers, or burglars, will wander in.

Extras

Most of the time utilities, cable and Internet will not be included in the monthly rental rate, meaning there will be extra bills to pay that have to be factored into your budget. It’s a good idea to ask your landlord — or the other roommates if you’re moving in with other people — approximately how much monthly electric and utility bills are, so you can add this to your rent. Depending on how many people you’re living with, cable and Internet can be as little as $20 per month and as much as $100 if you’re living alone. Parking will also usually cost you, especially if it’s a covered spot in a parking garage. Usually this will be about $50 per month or more and is a good thing to invest in because it can be much safer than parking your car on the street.

Landlord

Before you sign a lease or move in, it is important to make sure you’ve reached out to the landlord and feel you can trust them and have an open and communicative relationship with them. Nothing is more frustrating than a bad landlord relationship, as you will depend on them for things like repairs and maintenance issues. Make sure you can tell they will listen to you and take your problems seriously.

Reach reprter Katie Paff at specials@dailyuw.com.