You must sign a lease in October or you will have no place to live next school year.
There are plenty of apartments and time to find a place to live. Don’t be pressured by friends or leasing companies. That could result in a poor decision with serious financial consequences.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS MYTH AND OTHER INFORMATION ABOUT LIVING OFF CAMPUS, COME TO AN OFF-CAMPUS 101 SESSION AND
GET FRE E STU FF! For the full list of sessions, visit
DeanOfStudents.IllinoisState.edu .
Also check out the new Off-Campus Housing Database—the only place to search for all apartments in one location—at
/ISUOffCampus
OffCampusHousing.IllinoisState.edu .
@ISUOffCampus
If you need a special accommodation to fully participate in these events, please call (309) 438-5951. An equal opportunity/affirmative action university encouraging diversity. 15-0058
Welcome!
Kellie Flaherty Editor in Chief
Rental Guide
Finally being able to live off-campus after two years of constricted dorm-style living can be an exciting time – until the stress of open leasing kicks in, that is. There’s no denying that finding an apartment that suits you, your roommates and budget can be a difficult process. That’s where this guide steps in to help you navigate through the renting steps. So many factors, steps and decisions go into finding your desired apartment -- I hope our Rental Guide can ease some of the stressors that come along with your journey to finding a great apartment. I’ve been lucky enough to live in the same apartment for the past two years and couldn’t be more satisfied with my experience. I hope that with the help of our advice from upperclassmen, articles with tips from realty companies and important dates you should keep in mind, you are able to find the same enjoyment I’ve had with my apartment. Welcome to off-campus living and go tackle this year’s open leasing!
Signing time! Just when exams are starting to pick up, projects are due and essays are being slammed together the eve of its due date, you have to figure out where your living a year from now. Not to mention, if you act too slowly your dream pad could be snatched up before you pick up the pen. But not to fret, this rental guide is here to walk you through all the steps of signing a lease. As a senior, I have been through the signing process twice now. I’ve also made my fair share of mistakes looking for an apartment. And while I can’t promise you won’t make any mistakes, we did our best to cover stories that would help in finding the best apartment for you. Happy shopping!
Kristi Demonbreun Supplemental Editor
Breanna White Advertising Production Manager
In designing this year’s Rental Guide cover, I thought a lot about my own rental experiences. I began honing in on the path I took to sign that coveted lease. Although I may have hit some rough waters along the way, with the right amount of guidance and organization, I was able to breeze through the renting process without jumping overboard. As cliche as that last sentence sounds, that is exactly what inspired the cover. From researching and comparing leasing companies, to picking the best apartment for you and your roommates, the process may seem long, confusing and frustrating. My hope is that this Rental Guide will act as your treasure map to finding the gold that will become your home away from home and you experience nothing but smooth sailing. Happy hunting!
Clip Art Courtesy of dreamstime.com 1
The Vidette
Off- Ca m pus Options Matt Johnson/News Editor
A
fter two long years of living within the dormitories at Illinois State University, nearly every student is ready to embark on the new adventure of off-campus apartment and house shopping. Even though the anticipation to live in a person’s first apartment can be exciting, simply diving in and signing the first lease you can get your hands on may not be the best option.
Rent an apartment? Thus, here are a few helpful tips on how to make frugal and feasible decisions when moving out of the dorms and into off-campus housing. The first option for a student would be to sign a lease for a new apartment. Some of the advantages of taking this step, depending on certain circumstances, are that sharing rent with several roommates, and doing your own cooking, can cost less than room and board in a residence hall. But keep in mind; it can also be more expensive depending on the cost of rent each month. A student should start looking early and have proper documentation or payment ready. The good locations can go quick, so it is always helpful to move fast, but smartly. On the other hand, choosing to live in university owned houses has advantages too. This could include the proximity to classes, the social atmosphere of the floors and the convenience of prepared meals in a
Photo Illustration by Nick Thompson/Photographer
dining center. According to University Housing Marketing Coordinator Rachel Kobus, because of large class sizes there are limited spaces in the dorms for upperclassmen. However, you can file an exception form and turn it into University Housing for a chance to live in the dorms again. The University has other options, as well. It owns three different apartment complexes you can live in. Kobus advises students to visit University Housing’s website for more information. In addition, another option not always sought, but still performed by college students across the country is the purchasing of a house on campus. By comparing the cost of renting for four or more years to the cost of buying the property for college students it could be at an advantage for students. If a student chooses to purchase a property it will probably require a down payment and closing costs,
but this may still be cheaper in the end if you own the property for at least five to seven years, according to a Citizens Bank statement. Furthermore, in terms of houses, students have the option to rent houses from leasing companies on campus. This can be a benefit to students if they wish to cultivate a sense of home while staying at school, as well as they will not have noisy neighbors blasting music all hours in the apartment below them. As a disadvantage, students in this situation may not reap the positives of the social network of an apartment complex. As a final note of advice, read the lease carefully before agreeing to anything. A person should understand how long the lease will be, what they are expected to pay as a deposit and first and last month’s rent and any other restrictions a particular leasing company may have. Happy shopping.
Buy a house?
Rent a house?
Live in University Apartments?
Live in the dorms?
2
Rental Guide
3
The Vidette
4
Rental Guide
Steps i n th e r ight dir ection Jessica smith / Senior staff
1
You’ve served your two years time in the dorms and now it’s time to apartment hunt. But where to begin? Here are some steps to point you in the right direction.
2
Make a Budget
Talk to current roommates, friends or classmates who you’d be interested in living with next year. It’s important not to rush into anything if you don’t know someone very well; avoid drama later by being sure that you can put up with each other, acknowledging possible pet peeves you may have or cleanliness problems the others might need to fix. Also, make sure there price range matches up with yours, you can’t live with someone that has a $800 budget when yours is only $500.
It’s important to go over finances and talk with parents or anyone who is helping to pay for living expenses so that you can determine an appropriate price range. Factor in how much you’ll have to spend next year, subtracting tuition and fees, books, food costs, etc. When you know how much you have to spend on housing, you can narrow down which apartments will be a good fit without causing stresses of being unable to pay rent.
3
Do your Research
Visit the websites of all the local realtors, such as SAMI, Redbird Property Management, First Site, YA Realty, Sami and Class Act. Other choices might include The Edge, The Flats, JSM, Walk 2 Class, and the list goes on. Keep in mind that you have tons of options. Look through the apartments, check out floor plans and pictures, and narrow it down to a few from each realtor that are within your price range.
4
6
Find Roomies
Take a Tour
Look at a few apartments in person. Make an appointment with the realtor and visit the apartments—try to visit one that is actually available for next year and not just a model so that you can get a good idea of what your new home will really look like. Take notes of the pros and cons of each location you look at.
5
Sign the lease
When everyone is on board and you’ve made your decision, go into the realty office to sign a lease. Make sure you know what your realtor requires when signing; often, a legal photo ID and a security deposit are required. Also, it’s important to make sure every roommate signs around at the same time, preferably. You don’t want to get stuck paying double the rent because your prospective roommates wait to sign and tehn end up changing their minds last minute.
Review the lease
If you can, it’s a good idea to get the lease read over by the Students’ Attorney. Faxing a copy to parents might also be smart, as they probably have a lot more experience with legal documents than you do. Images courtesy of: -newavarts.co.uk -treehouseparty.com -clipartbest.com -cajnews.org -birthdayexpress.com
5
The Vidette
To throw a party or not?
compiled by Josh C. Tolentino / reporter
You have the keg, the Facebook event is marked full of guests and it’s an hour before the party begins. But not so fast—did you check with your realty company on party limitations?
“
SAMI has no limit on the amount of people a tenant can have inside their apartment as long as the party is contained and controlled. If damage is created because of a party, the tenant will be charged the amount to cover the damages. However much it costs to repair damages will be split between however many tenants in the apartment.” Marc Elder General Manager
“
Parties may not exceed 20 people in number. A party may not cause nuisance to any neighbors or surrounding buildings. A party may not host any illegal activity. Illegal activity equals the cause for eviction. Tenant will be responsible to charges to cover all damages caused.” Darien Jacobs Leasing Agent
“
Class Act does not have a particular policy in lease on hosting parties. Parties held are up to the discretion of tenant. Tenant is responParties are to be done sible for any consequences under city laws. that may happen when Any damages will be throwing a party. Tenant charged towards the tenmust abide by all city and ants security deposit made state laws. at the signing of the lease.” Any damages caused will be charged to the tenant.”
“
Ken Witte Leasing Manager
David Whittman Office Manager
“
Tenant agrees that any parties held are to be small and controlled, no disturbance to neighbors or neighboring companies. No parties are to be held outdoors or in the common areas. No open alcohol allowed in the common areas. If found violating the policy on hosting parties, first offense will result in a warning. Second offense, $250 in fines. Third offense, $1000 in fines and cause for possible eviction.” Elaine Penman General Manager
Companies
mark your calendars Leasing Begins
Open leasing beghins Oct. 1 for students whodo not already have a lease with Sami
October 1, 2014
Move-in Date
Apt. Showings
1st Month’s Rent
June 12, 2015
First months rent depends on the lease, most are 12 month leases so begin a few months before move in, in April sometime
Depends on the lease, most are 12 month leases so begin a few months before move in, in April sometime
People who already have a lease can view other properties beginning Sept. 29
June 2015
Anytime – vey flexible but again Sept. 15
June 8, 2015
October 1, 2014
June 2015 6
Showings begin September 15, but also available earlier if asked
October 1, 2014
April 1, 2015
May 1, 2015
April 1, 2015
Compiled by holly petrovich / news editor
Rental Guide
309.829.0460
LIVE RENT FREE FOR ONE MONTH now pre leasing for 2015/2016 school year
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The Vidette
Ca m pi ng Ou t: Do or Don ’t Gianna Annunzio / Features Reporter
S
igning dates for next year are right around the corner, and most of you haven’t even taken first exams yet. A line of tents are already being set up on Main Street and you are just looking at the website for the first time. No worries, we asked the question that everyone is thinking: Is it really necessary to camp out at the reality offices to sign? Young America Reality is one of the more popular reality offices that students sign with each year. Manager George Graham said that YA Reality has about 2,000 students who are renting or plan on resigning each year. Approximately 3,500
students camp outside the office to sign their leases in the fall.
While, it is not necessary to camp out to sign with YA, there are some apartments
MCT Campus Graphic
that are more competitive to get. “Last year we had some remodeled apartments that were extremely popular and those apartments with four bed four baths were also extremely popular,” Graham said. YA calls their leasing process “Open leasing” which basically means that anyone can come sign on Oct. 1 to sign. However, if you already have an apartment with YA and you want to sign with them again, you can go in between Sept. 24 and Oct. 1. For those who camp see camping page 16
SKYELINE PROPERTIES (309) 275-8454 skyelineproperties.com/
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Rental Guide
Roommate Expectations
A
fter living on campus for two years, you may think you have it all figured out—but not so fast. There is one more adjustment you have to go through: living in an apartment. Think you’ve mastered the roommate situation? Chances are you’ll have to add two new people to the mix. And don’t forget, with apartments there is no dining hall. “One of the biggest adjustments I had to make when I got an apartment was learning how to cook for myself,” Christine Malone, a Covington resident, said. With the added changes, there are some benefits. One of the biggest perks is the added personal space.
Alyssa Groh / Staff Writer “One thing that I love about having an apartment is having my own room and bathroom, which gives me a lot more privacy than being confined in a small dorm room,” Marissa Goto, another Covington resident, said. One common conflict between roommates is how they share food. With everyone’s food in the kitchen, it can lead to arguments of whose food is whose. Willow Trails resident Bekah Ave Rio/Photographer Lucchini gave advice on how Roommates Grace Mozdren and Aja Rodgers discuss how they can make things work living in an apartment together. to reduce conflict. “We all have separate cabiIt is important to decide Making meals in the kitchen nets to keep our pantry foods can get pretty messy, which who will be responsible for in and then in the fridge and cleaning each part of the can also cause some probor freezer we just know what lems between roommates. No apartment and how often it we bought. And when we should be cleaned. one wants dishes sitting in make apartment dinners we the sink and stinking up the SEE Roommates PAGE 19 all just chip in,” Lucchini said. apartment.
Leases for Summer/ Fall/Spring 2015/2016 Now Available Don’t wait until it’s too late!
Flexible: -utilities included -payments options -apartments showings We offer a large selection of rental units; yet still maintain that personal touch. All of our student properties are walking distance to ISU. Visit our website for more information
Classactrealty.com 309-454-2960
Spring 2015 leases also available 9
The Vidette
Bir d on th e str eet: What advice do you have for students going through the rental process for the first time? compiled by john butkus / Staff Writer
“Explore options outside the ‘big three.’”
“I wished I knew to get started early. Get a feel of what apartments you like and your price range. Make sure you are fully aware of what all the lease and price includes.”
Tom Johnson Junior English major
Savanah Krafft Junior undeclared major
“Look into specific details of the lease before signing.” Lexie Millburg Speech pathology graduate student
Have a few options in mind before you go into the leasing company. I went into Young America with two options and they were both full so I was left without any other options.” Eddie Mannix Senior construction management major
10
“When looking for your first apartment location is key! You definitely want something close to campus because long walks to class in the winter are brutal.” Kelly Klein Junior elementary education major
s s e r d d a w e n a d n u o f s a h e l Sty
ofts also l bath t .5 a l 4 f / m o m o o r o d 4 be ome loft bedr 1, 2, and 4 townh
Rental Guide
available.
A few REASONS to live at 10 |10
1. Stylish & luxurious new community 2. Parking for ALL residents! No stack parking! 3. Fitness center & clubhouse on the property 4. All utilities included plus free High Speed Internet & Cable TV 5. Superior safety features with contracted officers, cameras, & controlled access 6. Countless amenities & features...Plus elevator, flat panel HDTVs, etc. 7. A lot of space for outdoor fun 8. Perfect location–close to campus. Near intersection of Hovey & Main
STARTS LEASING 4 10/1/1 T! ACT FAS
VIRTUAL TOURS · COLOR FLOOR PLANS ·TESTIMONIALS · AND MUCH MORE AWARD WINNING PROPERTIES · WALKING DISTANCE TO CAMPUS
11
The Vidette
Rental Guide
12
13
The Vidette
Franklin I
911 S. Franklin 2 or 3 bedroom/2 bath On-site parking Laundry room in unit
Lincoln Park Townhomes
609 S. Fell & 302 W. Vernon 4 bedroom/4 bath On-site parking Laundry room in unit
The Stilts
401 E. College 3 or 4 bedroom/2 bath On-site covered parking Laundry room in unit
The Stilts 401 E. College 3 or 4 bedroom/2 bath On-site covered parking Laundry room in unit
WALK2CLASS
OFFERS GREAT LOCATIONS JUST STEPS AWAY FROM CAMPUS.
Kingsley Commons
907-909 W. Market 1 bedroom/1 bath On-site parking Laundry room on site
BRAND STATEMENT
WALK2CLASS LOCATIONS
Linoln Park Townhomes | Kingsley Commons Franklin I & II | The Stilts
Prices Starting at $520 Contact Us: 301 W. Beaufort St. Normal, IL 61761
Franklin II
809 S. Franklin 3 bedroom/2 bath On-site parking Laundry room in unit
Office Hours: Monday – Friday (9 a.m. – 5 p.m.) allison@walk2class.com | www.walk2class.com
14
Staying safe on your own
Rental Guide
Adam Iwans / Sports Editor
W
hether you’re an incoming freshman or taking a victory lap, it is important to know what kind of security issues come with living in a dorm or apartment. The most common crimes in student apartments are theft and burglary. “Burglary is more during the holiday type of break,” Normal Police officer Amanda Street said. The reason for this, as explained by Street, is that people are more apt to try and break into your apartment when they think no one is home. “People leave their doors unlocked and somebody can just walk in and grab whatever,” Street added. “[Or] somebody has a party and somebody steals something.” Both of these situations are very com-
“The most important thing to do is make sure you lock your door,” Street said. This seems like common knowledge, but an unlocked door is one of the biggest reasons people get their possessions stolen. Another important piece of advice Street gave was to not leave any expensive items out in the open and to close your blinds. Samantha Flory/Photographer Taking these measures will Locking doors is vital to protecting personal items. prevent any to break into your apartment passerby from getting the urge in the first place.
mon but can be prevented in a couple of different ways. While you may think that security would be greater in the dorms due to more supervision, this is not completely true according to Street. “Most of the bigger companies have cameras in the common areas,” Street said. “[The bigger realty companies] might even be a little safer [than the dorms] because at the school you can’t invade the privacy as much. The apartment complexes are looking out so their stuff doesn’t get damaged.” While it is true that both the dorms and most apartment complexes enact their own measures to ensure protection for themselves and the people living there, there is still plenty an individual can do to increase their security.
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The Vidette Cartoon by Athena Tapia
camping
Continued from page 8
out days in advance for their apartments, YA Realty offers pizza and tents to those in need of amenities. Who doesn’t love pizza? Walk2Class is a newer reality office in town and Chuck Kiven, manager, takes pride in their leasing system. Like many companies, Walk2Class allows students to take a tour of the potential apartments before signing the lease. The tour provides students a
chance to see the apartment in person and check out the available amenities. Its leasing process does not involve the need to camp out. Kiven says that all their apartments are close to campus and in nice neighborhoods and camping out is not part of the process. Its most popular apartments include Lincoln Park Townhomes, 401 College and 809 Franklin. Not sure if you should camp out or not? It never hurts to call the realty company and ask for some expert advice.
SECURITY
Continued from page 9
Street also suggested that anyone moving to a certain area in Normal can check that area’s crime rates to familiarize themselves with the risks. This information can be accessed on the Normal Police De-
partment’s website, www.npd.org under the information tab. All in all, security should be a top concern, whether you’re living in a dorm or an apartment. Following these simple safety precautions will only help prevent a theft or burglary where you live.
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16
Rental Guide
Now Renting Dont Wait. Call Today! 719 Hale - 2 Bedrooms for 2 Price $455 per month for 2 Heat, gas, water & internet paid. On site laundry. 604 S. Fell - 4 bedrooms for 4 Price $360 per month for 4- apt 1,2,3 $375 per month for 4- apt 4,5,6 Laundry, A/C, Offstreet parking for 2, Dishwasher. 404 E. College - 4 Bedrooms for 4 Price $360 per month for 4-apt 1,4,5 $350 per month for 4-apt 2,3,6 Laundry, A/C, Offstreet parking for 2, Dishwasher. 99 E. Cherry - 4 bedrooms for 3 or 4 Price $365 per month for 4 $485 per month for 3 Laundry, A/C, Offstreet parking for 2, Dishwasher. 204 E. Mulberry - 1 Bedroom Price $545 per month Heat, Water, and Gas paid. Laundry, A/C, Offstreet parking for 1. 106 W. Locust - 2 Bedrooms for 2 Price $360 per month for 2 Laundry, A/C, Offstreet parking for 2, Dishwasher, Water paid. 109 E. Cherry - 4 Bedrooms for 4 Price $365 per month for 4 $485 per month for 3 Laundry, A/C, Offstreet parking for 2, Dishwasher. 104 S. Oak - 1 Bedroom for 1 Price $600 per month for 2 Laundry, A/C, Offstreet parking for 1, Dishwasher.
Only a $50 security deposit! Offering around the clock maintenance! Co-Ed living apartments available!
208 E. Mulberry - 4 Bedrooms for 4 Price $395 per month- apt 1,2,3,6,7,9,10,13 $370 per month for all others Laundry, A/C, Offstreet parking for 2.
506 N. Linden - 1&2 Bedrooms 2 Bedrooms Price $375 per month Laundry, A/C, Offstreet parking for 2, water, heat, and gas paid 1 Bedroom Price $565 per month Laundry, A/C, Offstreet parking for1, Dishwasher, water, heat, and gas paid.
206 W. Willow - 1&2 Bedrooms 2 Bedrooms Price $440 per month for 2 1 Bedroom Price $590 per month for 1 Laundry, A/C, Offstreet parking, Heat, water & gas paid.
98 E Mulberry - 4 Bedrooms for 3 or 4 Price $365 per month for 4 $485 per month for 3 Laundry, A/C, Offstreet parking for 2, *Dishwasher. 407 N. Fell - 1 & 2 Bedrooms 2 Bedrooms Price $360 per month for 2- apt 3,4,5,7,8 $375 per month for 2- apt 1,2 Laundry, A/C, Offstreet parking for 2, Dishwasher, water/hot water paid. 1 Bedroom price $555 per month for 1 Laundry, A/C, Offstreet parking for 1, Dishwasher, water/hot water paid.
505 E. Mulberry - 1&2 Bedrooms lofts 2 Bedroom loft Price $365 per month for 3 $565 per month for 2 1 Bedroom loft Price $675 per month for 1 $345 per month for 2 Heat, water, gas Paid. On site Laundry, Off street parking for 2. 104 S. Oak - 4 Bedroom townhouses for 4 Price $490 per month for 4 Laundry, A/C, Offstreet parking for 4, Dishwasher, 2 baths.
603 Hester - 2 Bedrooms for 2 Price $455 per month for 2 Laundry, A/C, Offstreet parking for 2, Dishwasher 4 bedrooms for 3 or 4 Price $305 per month for 4 $410 per month for 3 Laundry, A/C, Offstreet parking for 2, Dishwasher.
906 W. Hovey - 4 Bedrooms for 3 or 4 Price $290 per month for 4 $390 per month for 3 Laundry, A/C, Offstreet parking for 2. 202-204 Lindell - 1&2 Bedrooms 2 Bedrooms Price $370 per month for 2 1 Bedroom Price $565 per month for 1 Laundry, A/C, Offstreet parking for 2, Water, Heat, & Gas paid.
301 N. Lindell - 4 Bedrooms for 4 Price $525 per month for 4 Central Air, 2 Bath, Dishwasher, Off street parking for 4. 602 W. Hovey - 2 & 3 Bedrooms 2 Bedrooms Price $375 per month for 2 3 Bedrooms Price $345 per month for 3 Laundry, A/C, Offstreet parking for 2, Dishwasher, water/hot water paid.
107 W. Locust - 2 Bedroom for 2 Price $435 per month for 2 Laundry, Offstreet parking for 2, Dishwasher, water, heat, gas paid.
204 E. Taylor - 1 Bedroom for 1 Price $490 per month for 1 Laundry, A/C, Offstreet parking for 1, Water & Heat paid. 306 E. Taylor - 3 Bedroom for 3 Price $340 per month for 3 Laundry, A/C, Offstreet parking for 2. 202 N. Walnut - 3 B/r Townhouses for 3 Price $425 per month for 3 Laundry, A/C, Offstreet parking for 3, Dishwasher, 2 baths. 98 W. Willow - 4 Bedrooms for 3 or 4 Price $365 per month for 4 $485 per month for 3 Laundry, A/C, Offstreet parking for 2, dishwasher. 113 W. Willow - 2&4 Bedroom 2 Bedroom Price $435 per month for 2 4 Bedroom Price $290 per month for 4 $390 per month for 3 Water paid, A/C, Off street parking for 2. 118 W. Willow - 2 Bedroom Townhouse Price $450 per month Central Air, Off street parking, Internet paid. 104 S. Oak - 1 Bedroom for 1 Price $600 per month for 2 Laundry, A/C, Offstreet parking for 1, Dishwasher. 203 Parkinson - 1&2 Bedrooms 2 Bedrooms Price $385 per month for 2 Laundry, A/C, Offstreet parking for 1, Water and Heat paid. 1 Bedroom Price $600 per month for 1 Laundry, A/C, Offstreet parking for , water, gas, heat, & electric paid.
All prices are per person, per month, and based on twelve equal installments. Payments are due starting April 1st, 2015 and ending March 1st, 2016 All leases are for three semsters; leases begin June 15th, 2015 and end May 6th, 2016 Early move in begins May 13th, 2015; all roommates must give written consent per the early move-in form. *Note:With the early move-in, all cleaning rights are waived and the apartment is taken AS-IS condition. No subleasing for summer only. *Availability and price are subject to change without notice.
Visit Our Location 200 N Linden, Normal or call today 309-454-4888 Check our website for available houses www.redbirdapts.com
17
The Vidette
A partm ent essenti a ls compiled by Kelly Bowles / Reporter photos by jake johnson / photo editor
Picking an apartment can be stressful enough, but once you’ve found the apartment that is right for you, the next step is filling it with everything you need. Here are a few places to that will help you make your apartment your home.
W
A
almart doesn’t stop being the ultimate superstore after living in the dorms. Walmart is great for covering all of your shopping trips in one stop, offering cheap groceries, furniture, appliances, electronics and basic necessities. Some locations even have a pet section where you can add a small fish to your home.
I
t is easy to get lost in Target and walk out with all sorts of things you didn’t need. However, Target is also great for the things you do need. Target is a good place to go for apartment decorations. Their Room Essentials brand is cheap and has everything from fans to room décor. Although Target is usually a little more expensive than Walmart, they have a lot of cute decorations at a generally reasonable price. Their dollar section is a good place to find holiday decorations and they tend to have cheap DVD sections as well.
H
ldi is great for your grocery shopping needs. The company, run by the same corporation that runs Trader Joe’s supermarket, offers even more savings than Walmart’s already low prices. Their store is small and neat so it is easy to get in and out if you’re crunched for time. Their Fit and Active line has a variety of healthy snacks that are perfect for walking to class. Aldi also has a section of miscellaneous needs for your apartment such as outdoor mini grills and utensils.
I
obby Lobby is the place to go if you love crafting. It has everything you need to get creative when decorating your apartment. If you’re not crafty don’t worry, they have plenty of wall decorations to choose from as well. Their wide variety of picture frames is great to mix and match to cover up empty wall space, and a few fake flowers can brighten up a bathroom. There is also a Hobby Lobby app, which has great deals every day. Just show your phone and you can get all of your decorations for a reasonable price.
f you’re willing to spend a little more, Urban Outfitters online has an entire section to give your apartment that at-home feel. They have a cute tapestries, which are great for covering up those marked up walls, as well as kitchen accessories and bedding. Although they can be expensive, they often have deals going on and their clearance section has plenty of options to choose from.
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Rental Guide
take your time, there’s no need to rush MY VIEW Roshaunda Coleman Columnist
It’s almost that time of year. Within the next month many underclassmen will be joining the rest of the Illinois State University community in search for their very first apartment. But before signing your name on the dotted line there are a few things you should consider. Take your time. After speaking with Harriett Steinbach, coordinator of student and community
Roommates
Continued from page 9
“We are supposed to clean up after ourselves but sometimes it doesn’t work out that way, so you just have to suck it up and clean up after one another so that the apartment stays clean and doesn’t smell,” Malone said. Most apartments on cam-
outreach who also works with off-campus services, it has been recognized that the most common issues students run into is this myth that they must sign a lease by Oct. 1. According to Steinbach, Oct.1 is an “arbitrary date set by realties.” There is no need to rush into signing a lease that early in the year in fear that you won’t find an apartment. There are plenty of apartments on campus that will be available when you are ready. Know what you are going to do before you decide to sign the lease and completely read it. After a lease is signed you are legally bound to pay the agreed price. If you need someone to take a second look at the lease, the student attorney offers free readings. Remember that the hous-
ing policy states that students are expected to live on campus their first two years out of high school. Set a price point. The price of rent can range from $350 to $950 and it is imperative to make sure that you are able to afford your potential apartment. Living off-campus does not mean spending more money. But take into consideration that location and amenities matter. The closer to campus and the more amenities the more expensive. Budget for the security deposit and at least two months’ rent. Many students don’t know that most realties require both by May. So make sure to save ahead of time. When looking for a roommate think about your lifestyle and expectations. Find somebody that has the same
ideals of living as yourself. Be careful with choosing friends. Although they may be great people to hang out with, they may not be the ideal person to live with. Inform yourself with city ordinances. Living off campus does not mean living without rules. Acquainting yourself with the ordinances will help you avoid potentially expensive consequences. If you have any questions or concerns be sure to attend the off campus 101 sessions all over ISU’s campus. Additionally, if you need any help regarding your rental process or current apartment make feel free to contact Harriett Steinbach, who is in charge of offcampus services. She can be reached at hmstein@ilstu. edu.
pus are four bedrooms, but not all have four parking spots. Living in an apartment as an upperclassman, more students have cars. Therefore, parking becomes another issue. Malone and her roommates found a solution. “Since all of us needed a car to get to clinical and student teaching, we decided to buy a
parking ticket at the parking lot across the street and we all split the cost and switch who parks over there each week.” One problem that residents may not think of is choosing who gets what room in the apartment. In many apartments, each room is different, so it’s common to fight over rooms.
“When my roommates and I were getting ready to move in, we were fighting over rooms and parking spots so we just picked out of a hat,” Lucchini said. As great as it is to have an apartment, be sure to set some ground rules right away. If conflicts do occur, confront your roommates in person keep a cool head. Cartoon by Athena Tapia
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The Vidette
Places to sav e on food compiled by Lindsey Clark / News Reporter photos by zack applehans / Photo Editor
When moving off-campus, students become responsible for something they did not have to deal with in the dorms: buying groceries. Here are some low-price options to get what you need without breaking the bank.
Aldi
Kroger
Broke college students can still buy the same food brands they have always enjoyed at Aldi – just at a lower price. A great draw of Aldi is that students can get great prices without losing quality. The store also features “Special Buys,” which offer various item and produce specials each week.
The store sends out free bonus coupons for different items in the mail to loyal customers, and even customizes them based on the items you buy. Also, for every 100 points earned, this means $.10 off per gallon of gas per 100 fuel points at Kroger gas stations – up to $1.00 off for each gallon.
Schnucks Schnucks might be a little more expensive than Walmart or Meijer, but the store has an abundant selection of groceries. It also has a great deli and customer service. Schnucks also is open at extended hours, from 6 a.m. to midnight.
Walmart
Meijer
Walmart is a popular place for grocery shopping, and one perk is that whatever you are looking for, you are likely to find it at Walmart for a cheap price.The nice thing about this store is that it has everything – and you do not have to search long to find it.
Known for offering top brands at cheap prices, Meijer also offers “mPerks” which are personalized digital coupons and rewards for shoppers. Customers can also shop online and pick their orders up at the store.
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Rental Guide
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M e r e d i t h ' s P r o p e r t i e s t a k e s P R I D E i n o u r a p a r t m e n t s & o f f e r s U N P A R A L L E L E D s e r v i c e t o e a c h o f o u r t e n a n t s . W e h a v e a l l t h e a m e n i t i e s y o u w a n t a n d t h e l o c a t i o n s t h a t y o u n e e d . 21
The Vidette
Stuffed Bellpeppers compiled by: Kelsey Farell
(collegerecipes.com) *Makes 6 Servings
Ingredients
• • • • • •
3 Bell Peppers (Any color) 8 oz. of Pasta Sauce 1 8.8 oz. Bag of Uncle Ben’s 90 Second Ready Rice 1 Can Black Beans 4 oz. Shredded Cheese Bread Crumbs
Directions
1. Preheat your oven to 400. 2. Cook your rice as instructed on its package. 3. Meanwhile, cut your peppers in half and remove the seeds. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil, and evenly place each bell pepper half on the baking sheet.
4. Once your rice is finished cooking, pour the rice and can of beans into a large bowl for mixing. 5. Add your pasta sauce slowly, while stirring the mixture together. The mixture should be firm but wet, and have an equal distribution of ingredients.. 6. Now, use a spoon to distribute the rice-bean-sauce mixture into each pepper half.
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Image courtesy of: Kalynskitchen.com
Do not overload the peppers, this will make a mess in your oven. 7. Before baking, cover each pepper with bread crumbs or broken-up crackers and ample shredded cheese. 8. Bake for 10 minutes, remove and let stand for 3 minutes. 9. Place them decoratively on a plate before serving.
Rental Guide
Thai Flatbread Pizza coli slaw atop your other ingredients. 6. Sprinkle the pre-cooked (collegerecipes.com) chicken breast over your *Makes 1 Pizza other ingredients; this acts Ingredients as the cherry on top. Or, • 1 Flatbread more literally, the chicken on • 1 cup Broccoli Coleslaw top… • 1 Bottle Peanut Sauce 7. Throw your pizza in the oven • 1 5 oz. Can of Unsalted and allow it to bake for 20 White Breast Chicken; minutes. If you’d like your drained Image courtesy of: cheese to be a little crispy on steamykitchen.com • 1 cup Mozzarella Cheese across your dough, making the top, for the last five minDirections sure to leave some of the utes, turn on the broiler. 1. Preheat your oven to 375 edges exposed. 8. Remove your creation from degrees. 4. Sprinkle the mozzarella the oven carefully, slice 2. Spray a flat baking sheet cheese over your sauce. If into 4 or 6 pieces, with non-stick cooking spray you like an ultra-cheesy and and place your flat bread on pizza, you can always add enjoy. top; this will be your pizza more. crust. 5. Spread your uncooked broc3. Spread the peanut sauce
compiled by: Kelsey Farell /
L asa nga roll-u ps ing, for around 8 to 10
compiled by minutes. No-bake noodles Kelsey Farell / staff writer (collegerecipes.com) *Makes 8 Roll-ups
Ingredients • • • • • • • •
1 box of Lasagna Noodles 12 oz. Mozzarella Cheese ¾ cup Low Fat Ricotta Cheese 1 medium Egg ½ cup Romano Cheese (or Parmesan) 2 medium Roma Tomatoes 2 cups Marinara Sauce (or any Tomato Sauce) Basil & Pepper
5.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray a large glass baking pan with cooking spray, set aside. Fill a 4 qt. pot with water, place on the stove top and bring to a boil. Cook the lasagna noodles as directed by the packag-
7.
Directions 1. 2.
3.
4.
6.
8.
9.
would be a great substitute normally, but prevents the whole roll-up concept from happening. Carefully remove the noodles from the water, and set aside on wax paper For the filling, in a mediumlarge bowl, whisk the ricotta cheese and egg thoroughly. Gradually add the grated cheese, and shredded mozzarella cheese into to mix. Add a dash of ground pepper for taste. It should create a thick paste that is easy to spread! Next, cut the tomato into 16 thin horizontal slices To create the roll up, each lasagna noodle will get ¼ cup of cheese filling, spread across just one half of the noodle. Next, add two slices of tomato on top the cheese of each noodle. 23
10. Cover the tomatoes with any extra filling – if you have extra 11. Sprinkle basil on each noodle before rolling up. Roll up so that the open seam is sealed on the bottom and prevents leaking. 12. Dump and ting dry in the oven. spread ⅓ cup 15. Top each roll with extra sauce evenly across the botmozzarella cheese, and add tom of a 8 inch, or larger, additional basil for garnish. cooking pan. 16. Bake for 30 minutes at 350 13. Place however many rolls Fahrenheit. you would like to make in the pan, snugly against each 17. Let cool for 3-5 minutes and enjoy! other. There’s no need to bake all 8 at once, just be Image courtesy of: sure to safely wrap and store budgetbytes.com the unbaked lasagna roll ups for later. 14. Cover the lasagna rolls with remaining sauce. This will keep the noodles from get-
The Vidette
PUS S FROM CAM spots. 3 SECOND nds and next to a lot of hot street across school grou
Located on Main very to all Flats/Suites! be on 1st floor - FREE deli Buffalo Wild Wings will
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• Modern amenities will make your college experience smoother and open new dimensions of extraordinary living.
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• True luxury should always have guest bathrooms. West Wing has more bathrooms than bedrooms. You’ll always be surrounded by exceptional comforts.
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• 3 Bedroom 3 ½ Bath Flat • 2 Bedroom 2 ½ Bath Flat & Corner Suite • 1 Bedroom 1 ½ Bath Flat
Fall/Spring Lease (10 Payments) New Construction (Move-in August 2015) Unique Floor Plans Granite Countertops Access Controlled
55" Flat Panel HDTV in Living Room 39" Flat Panel HDTV in Each Bedroom Stainless Steal or Black Ice Appliances Hardwood Flooring Exceptional Kitchens
Great Views of Campus Full-Size Washer/Dryer Sectional Leather Couch in Living Room Accent Walls Rain Drop Shower Heads
Parking 1 space per resident
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Elegant Lighting
309.888.4444 FirstSiteApartments.com
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RESORT ST YLE LIVING The Oaks is the only resort style community on campus. Whether you want to relax at the pool, grill on your patio or stay fit in our workout center, you’ll find the lifestyle you deserve at The Oaks.
SUMMER 2015 LEASES
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(limited number) During the summer of 2015, we will continue our $850,000 upgrade project on our award-winning community. Apartments will receive new hardwood flooring, countertops, tile backsplash in kitchen, stainless steel appliances, modernized lighting and more. We are always improving our award-winning community to meet your needs!
STATE OF THE ART SECURITY
• • • • • • • • •
Over 10 acres of luxury 1550-1850 Sq. Ft. townhomes 2 and 3 level floor plans Grill and Picnic areas Oversized sundeck Individual parking spaces - no stack Private patio for each townhome Immense yard space Free broadband internet and Cable TV
• Nightly on-site contracted security guards • Fully fenced property with single entrance • Emergency blue phones • HD color camera monitored complex • Access controlled fitness center & pool • Photocell light on exterior
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