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One of the biggest issues for many college students is finding good off-campus housing. Many Colleges and Universities have a large number of students seeking off-campus housing each year and the competition can be fierce for many of the best locations. The competition involved in finding an apartment however, is nothing compared to the competition many students face in finding someone to sublet his or her room for the summer. If you, or someone you know, are looking to find a sublettor for this coming summer then I have some helpful tips for you to follow in order to get that space rented.

1.    Draw up a list of the facts about the sublet
This should include the rent, the approximate cost of utilities, the size of the room available, the duration you are looking for a sublettor, if the room will be furnished or not and the general location of the apartment. Putting all these facts together will help you write a good advertisement for your space.

2.    Write and post an advertisement
Use the list of facts you just created as well as any other selling points, like a great view or easy access to public transportation, to portray your apartment in the best light possible. The Internet is a great place to advertise for free, using sites like Craiglist.org and Sublet.com and you can also post the ads in stores and around campus on billboards to attract as many potential sublettors as possible.

3.    Always include pictures
Especially when posting on the Internet some pictures of your room and the common areas of the apartment are a great thing to include because as they say, a picture is worth a thousand words. Including pictures also makes it easier for those interested who may be coming from a distance to get a sense of which places to visit in person. Additionally, take pictures of the condition of your room before you sublet and after, in case there is a dispute about any damage.

4.    Prepare the necessary paperwork
You want to make sure you have a copy of your lease handy in case one of your potential sublettors wants to look at it. Also, it makes a lot of sense to have a sublet agreement written up stating the rent, utilities, the dates and acceptable forms of payment as well as the length of the agreement on it for both of you to sign when the time comes. Having these details in writing protects you in case the sublettor damages your space or fails to pay their share of the bills.

5.    The market is not in your favor
In most places, the number of available rooms for the summer or a semester is going to be much greater than the number of people looking to sublet those rooms. This works against those people trying to sublet their space. Oftentimes potential sublettors will try and negotiate a lower price, or get utilities included to get the best deal for themselves. You need to decide if you are willing to do this, and if not, state up front that these things are non-negotiable. You may get fewer replies, but those who do won’t try to haggle you.

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