Square Galaxy

I’ve heard a lot of people complain about various things in the complexes where they live. Many of which are small little things that they wish they had known before moving in. Below are some questions you might consider asking when searching for housing. Feel free to print this list out and take it to housing fairs or when talking to complex managers. If you don’t like an answer they give you, let them know you aren’t satisfied. Maybe if they hear a lot of people voice a particular concern, they will work to solve it.

In addition to your own concerns and questions, you may consider asking:

• Are laundry facilities provided? How far away are they? How much does it cost? When are the facilities open?
• Do windows and sliding doors open? Are screens provided? Do they lock?
• Is parking available? Is parking typically a problem? How much do parking permits cost? Is parking enforced through booting or towing? What hours of the day is parking enforced? Is visitor parking available? Are there parking stalls for visitor parking?
• Is covered or garaged parking available?
• Are pets allowed?
• How often are cleaning checks? Are re-checks available, and is there a re-check fee? What is the fee for failing a cleaning check?
• Where is bicycle parking available? Is a permit required? Is there a cost for the bike permit?
• How many desks are available in the apartment? Where are they typically located?
• Is cable TV provided for free or for cost? How many channels are available?
• Is Internet provided for free or for cost? How fast are the Internet speeds? Can speed upgrades be purchased? Is wireless Internet provided? Where are wired Internet jacks located in the apartment?
• What are the fees for failing to pay rent by the deadline?
• How much is the deposit? When is the deposit returned?
• Are their any plans for remodeling of either apartment or other complex facilities? What inconveniences might be associated with any remodeling plans?
• Is there a swimming pool? What hours is the swimming pool open? Can the pool be reserved for parties? What months of the year is the pool typically open?
• Is there a club house? What is available in the club house? When is it open? Can it be reserved for parties?
• Is there a place to play basketball, volleyball, or soccer?
• Is a dishwasher provided?
• In shared rooms, are the beds separate or bunked? How new/old are the matrices?
• What dressers and closet spaces are provided in the rooms?
• Is there a garbage disposal?
• Which utilities are included with rent and which utilities are paid for separately? How much does a typical month of utilities cost?
• Are telephones lines provided? Is there one or multiple lines available? Is there a monthly telephone fee? Is long distance service available? Is a voice mail service available for free or for fee? Is a caller identification service available for free or for fee?
• Are streets and walkways cleared of ice and snow during the winter?
• What is the closest grocery store? How far away is it?
• How do residents typically travel to campus? How long does it take?
• Are hoses or other means available for washing cars?
• How many couches are provided in the living room? How new are they? Is there likely to be any rips or tears in the fabric?
• Other than cleaning inspections, are the units inspected for mold or damages?
• How is hot water provided? Is it shared with other units?
• What is the current contract price for rent? Is it expected that this price will go up?
• Are their any incentives or signing bonuses? (It doesn’t hurt to ask)
• Does the complex usually fill up? When do contracts usually sell out?
• What is the ward situation? Are wards comprised mostly of units from the complex, or do they include units from other complexes? Where do wards meet for sacrament meeting? Where do wards meet for additional prayer services? Are any facilities provided (such as a meeting room or bishop’s office) for ward use during the week or on Sundays?
• What is the girl to guy ratio in the complex? What is the average age?

Please comment if you have any additional questions that you would recommend people asking? I also welcome comments or suggestions to this list. Please comment if you find this list useful. If many people find it useful, we may decide to publish and distribute the list in order to help people find the right housing for them.

Seven years ago during my freshman year at BYU, I lived in the dorms in V-Hall. Recently, V and W halls have been torn down. I stopped by the site yesterday to see what was left. I’m not sure if I’m happy or sad to see it go. Maybe a little of both.

I’m tired of BYU advertising Wyview Park as on-campus housing. Just because it is owned and operated by BYU doesn’t mean that it is on-campus. I used Google Earth to find some distances from Wyview and a few off-campus housing complexes to various campus locations. All distances are linear, and not the actual distance a student may travel while walking to the location.

To the library entrance:

• Wyview: 0.88 miles
• Glenwood: 0.62 miles
• University Villa: 0.67 miles
• Centennial: 0.89 miles

To the Marriott Center:

• Wyview: 0.65 miles
• Glenwood: 0.52 miles
• University Villa: 0.87 miles
• Centennial: 1.19 miles

To the Joseph Smith Building:

• Wyview: 1.02 miles
• Glenwood: 0.69 miles
• University Villa: 0.49 miles
• Centennial: 0.78 miles

When looking at these number, it is hard to imagine that Wyview is considered “on-campus” while the other complexes are considered “off-campus.”

These numbers were easy to find with Google Earth’s distance measuring tool. Google Earth is part of Google Pack, a free collection of essential software. You can download Google Pack by clicking here.

Update March 1, 2008: For those who are not familiar with BYU campus, you can take a look at the campus map to see where some of the buildings are. Wyview is northwest of campus, on the far side of the stadium. Glenwood is west of the northern part campus, about 3/10th of a mile northwest of Heleman halls, a housing complex that more properly can call itself, “On-campus.” University Villa just a few blocks west from the tennis courts on the southwest side of campus. Centennial is located near a few other large complexes southeast of campus.

I’m still awake and kicking. I finally have everything out of my room and the room is all cleaned up. I just need to vacuum it, and I’ll wait for my roommate to wake up before I do that.

I just have to clean the oven, and get all my stuff from the living room to other places outside the apartment and I’m done.

My roommate Jason left without checking out, and he was suppose to clean the rest of the kitchen, so I really don’t need to worry any of that, because he will just get cleaning charges taken out of his deposit and that is that.

In about thirteen hours, I check out of University Villa. I’ll probably be packing and cleaning for the next 12 hours straight. After I leave, I’ll be homeless in Provo. I’m transferring to Portland State University, but I don’t leave for Oregon until about August 30th. I have a tent and a sleeping bag all ready. Check back on my blog to see how living with out a home goes for me.