For most of you, this is going to be the first or second time you rent an apartment of your very own. Whether you rent from us or someone else, there are things you must know. We will try to help you with this process so you can make a more informed choice.

Before you even call a Landlord there are things you must take into account.

• Who do I want to live with?---This is so important. The people you choose to live with will most likely become your life-long friends. Choose people you can get along with and have the same interests, goals and living habits. In other words, weed out the slobs.


• The least expensive way to rent is living with four people. Obviously, this lets you split living expenses four ways. If you choose to have a two bedroom apartment, plan to pay more for rent and expenses. The City of Platteville has a hard and fast law that only four people can live in a house or an apartment, unless it's a rooming house. Note: Make sure there are adequate bathroom facilities.


• Remember you must take into account the following:
• water and sewer bill
• heating/cooling bill*- electric, oil, gas or propane
• Internet (costs $100 and up, per month)
• TV entertainment
• trash removal/recycling
• who mows the grass, shovels the sidewalk, rakes the leaves, etc.

*You can contact Alliant Energy to get a 12 month average of costs.

What questions do I ask when calling a Landlord?

Obviously, the first question we get is "How much is rent?"

But, other questions are just as vital and may mean much more in the long run. Things that are vital that you must ask are:

• What, if any, utilities are included? --For example: In our buildings we have a built-in Internet service. So, Internet is Free. That can be a reduction of $25 to $35 per month per person. (That makes actual rent of $250/mo/person effectively reduced to $225). You can see the large difference already. Another example: Is there zoned heating? What this means is you can lower the heat in areas of the apartment that are not used as much, saving you many dollars a month on heating costs.


• Are the interior walls insulated? Are there insulated windows?


• Is there adequate parking? Parking is a big problem in and around campus and the City of Platteville. Does your landlord have enough offstreet parking for everyone living in your building or house?

Since students have designed our buildings you can bet we have all the above plus more.

• Can you renew your lease at the same rate for as long as you are in school? This is an important benefit we offer and it is good for long range financial planning.

One final point: It's so important to know your Landlord. We are graduates of UW Platteville and have lived in the area our entire lives. We are responsive to your needs and if you trust us by renting from us we will honor that trust.

Hope this helps and if you have more questions please call us, 608-723-6111.

Thanks,
Jim and Sheila Sherry