October through December marks the time when students are searching for a new place to live off-campus for next year. With numerous apartment complex and townhouse names to pick from, the off-campus housing fairs can help students decide where to reside.
Kate Balfour, off-campus housing manager, helps students with housing questions and also plans the fair, which takes place every semester.
“Basically, it’s just a good place for any student that’s thinking about moving off-campus or already lives off-campus trying to live somewhere else,” Balfour said. “It’s just a good place for them to come and get all the information they need to know in one place.”
All the major housing vendors, property managers, Internet companies, rental furniture companies and off-campus gyms will be at the fair.
“Anything related to off-campus housing they can find there and get information,” Balfour said.
Sheila Green, Roanoke Street Apartments property manager, and Danielle Long, administrative assistant, will be there to answer questions and provide information. They have been advertising at the fairs for about 10 years because they receive a lot of referrals interested in leasing with them.
“We have great success,” Green said. “I think it’s very beneficial for both students and landlords. It gives students knowledge of what all properties are out there with all price rates. It gives them an opportunity to meet some of the personnel without visiting the offices. Then, they get to pick and choose who they would like to visit. All around, I think it’s great advertising for everyone.”
Senior English major Dianna Hankla attended the fair in fall 2008 and said the fair provides useful information and helps people decide where to live.
“It will open them up to everything they need to know about moving out on their own and living off campus because a lot of people don’t realize how difficult it is,” Hankla said.
The fair helped Hankla find out more information about Foxridge, the apartment complex she was considering living in.
“We had an idea that we wanted to live here, but we went there in order to compare it to all the other apartments. And in the end, it’s what we went with,” Hankla said. “It was very helpful to go and figure everything out right there in person.”
Senior communication major Megan Woo attended the fair in spring 2008 and said that although Blacksburg may be a small town, there are a lot of places here that people may not know about.
People have the option to fill out applications and leases at the fair or at the off-campus housing office.
“Some of them have provided us with leases here as well,” Balfour said, “but I always suggest that if they’re filling out a lease that they go straight to the complex because you should definitely talk to the complex before you sign a lease anywhere, get a tour, and things like that.”
Hankla could have filled out an application or a lease at the fair but chose not to.
“I didn’t want to fill out the application right away because I wasn’t sure exactly where I wanted to live,” Hankla said. “I picked up a lot of applications though, I just didn’t fill them out, but I had tons when I got home. So, it was really nice to already have them.”
The fair also tries to entertain as well as educate.
“When you walk in, we hand you just an empty bag because you come out, and the bag is full of (things) like T-shirts and stuff from all the complexes,” Balfour said. “So, it’s a fun event. Come get free pizza. It’s worth coming to.”
Balfour encourages students to come out and peruse.
“I would just highly suggest anyone that’s even considering moving off-campus to just come check it out,” Balfour said. “There’s no pressure. Just walk through at your own pace.”