HaveUHeard that when a student moves into an off-campus apartment they generally sign a lease for twelve months? (it is actually a 10-month lease that apartments prorated so it gets paid over 12 months).  So how to sublease? A sublet is a legally binding contract between you and the subtenant which allows them to live in your apartment for a specific period of time. Of course, they are responsible for paying rent for that period of time.

In order to sublet you must first check local laws. The right to sublet could be written in the lease or perhaps in the state law depending on where you are located. So, for Florida, the lease must say somewhere that you are prohibited to sublease. If there is nothing that states that, you are able to sublet your apartment according to Florida state law.

Before doing a sublease, you should request landlord approval. Provide as much detail as possible.  You obviously want to make sure the subtenant is reliable. You remain liable for payments so you want to make sure this person will be able to pay the rent. You must have a legal agreement with your subtenant in order to make the sublet final. This way you are able to protect yourself in case of any future disagreements. Obtain and hold a security deposit just in case there are any damages made to the apartment. Lastly, you want to set up rent payments with your subtenant. Don’t forget to take photos beforehand in case any damage is done from the subtenant!

Now, how to find someone to sublet. There are some Facebook pages that FAU students can use to find potential sublessors:

FAU Class of 20XX (insert years) – official group

Florida Atlantic University (FAU) Housing, Sublets & Roommates

FAU Off-Campus Housing

If your student is a member of a sorority or fraternity or involved in a club, getting the word out early, as well as potentially subletting to someone they know, is generally better. The truth is, there are far more apartments available to sublet every summer than there are students looking to sublet, so if you can make an arrangement with someone you trust early; take it. If you are looking for someone to take over for the fall semester, try looking at the summer before. Many people sign a lease and find options that better suit them last minute.

Looking for a spring sublease may be a bit tough since most people have already signed year leases. Definitely start posting in the fall semester (around October/November). There are students who are tied to a year’s lease that may have decided to do a semester abroad or take a semester off; so, sublets are out there. As opposed to summer; it is more difficult to find a desirable apartment with roommates that you will be happy to live with than it is to find someone to rent your place. Most people tend to give up their summer leases, so finding someone to take over your lease in the summer can be tricky. However, it is possible. Chances are you will not get your full rent covered. Something is better than nothing though.

Some apartment complexes charge a sublet fee. Most all require signed forms with complete information on your sublessor. It is to your advantage to play by the rules and be sure all forms and fees are taken care of because, without them, you (the original renter) are responsible for any damage that may occur in your absence…and it happens. As a matter of fact, all the renters/roommates may be responsible, if they cannot be sure who caused the damage. My daughter was recently charged for a broken washing machine when she wasn’t even in the country. There was no way to identify who caused the damage and since her name is still on the lease.

It seems like a lot to sublet, however, it might be worth the trouble! I am usually away during the summers. If I had known more about this, it might have been a good option so I wasn’t wasting money. I definitely think it is a good option for students and parents to look into if they will be renting an apartment while attending college. I even found websites such as ULoop that had listings for bedrooms and apartments near FAU that were subletting. Each had a description where some listed the application fee, security deposit, first-month rent or prorated rent, and extra things such as pet fees.

Madeline Gilligan, FAU Intern

Pass on these great tips, tell your friends and like us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest. Find out more about how to use HaveUHeard as a great resource. Sign up for other great tips at haveuheard.com.

The post Planning to Sublease Your Apartment at FAU? appeared first on HaveUHeard.com.

Just a few months after getting your students settled into their dorm, they will start to bring up where they want to live next year. By December, they are ready to sign a lease. It is hard to imagine making a decision so early, however; the demand for living in certain areas is driving the need to sign early. You will hear them mention specific apartments yet all you want to know is the rent amount, is the area safe, how much it costs to rent an apartment. There will be questions you may not have thought to ask and how to keep it economical.

By far, the most popular and luxurious group of student apartments are found about a mile away from campus. If you or your student needs some help getting started, FAU does provide some assistance. Your student can log in and find information about complexes around campus and even start a roommate search.

Of course, as much as we may not want to deprive our students of luxury living (excuse my sarcasm), there are far more affordable and economical apartment rentals in Boca Raton. Another popular area for students in the apartment search is around Mizner Park. These are close to many of the bars and restaurants as well as the campus.  While you may think affordable living and Boca Raton don’t typically go hand in hand, there are some areas with great options. While it is about a 15-20 minute ride from campus, many of my daughter’s friends have found nice apartments for economical prices in Deerfield Beach. There are also several areas in West Boca and complexes off of Palmetto Park Road and Military Trail where your student can find some more options. The further you are from campus, the less expensive the rental.

Below we break down what questions your student should be asking:

Reserved Parking

Most apartments and houses near campus require you to work with property management companies. Unfortunately, many of the multiple room apartment rentals will only include one or two parking spaces, if any at all. Often, many of these apartments offer the option to purchase more reserved spaces; however, paying for these reserved spaces can be pricey, and sometimes they are not in close proximity to your student’s unit. You’ll want to ask this question when you begin searching for apartments. Some apartment complexes, such as Upark, USquare or UView, give you a special decal that allows you to park in the apartment complex parking lot. You receive a sticker that says UliveBoca and the year. Once you register your car with the office, you can park anywhere in the lot. The lots are right below your building and are well-lit at night.

Utilities

Make sure you find out the overage for utilities for the apartment. We quickly learned that after getting a bill for her first month stating they went over the allotted amount of $120.00 per month. The management company will split the overage between the numbers of tenants. You’ll also want to confirm that utilities are included in the monthly rent. If utilities are not included in the rent, you’ll want to find out what company provides service. Typically, the utility companies will not split the bill among roommates, so the best option is to have the account in one name and have your student split the bill with their roommates themselves.

The Lease

Most apartment leases start after August 1st and go through July 31st of the following year. The leases are based on 12 months but many students are only in Boca Raton for two semesters. This means your student will either have to pay for the summer months or they can sublet. Some students charge for others to use their specific room to store. We recommend limiting that to those they know as you do not want to put yourself in a position of being responsible should something happen to another person’s belongings.

Inspecting the Apartment

Make certain your student (and yourself if you are there) inspect the premises thoroughly. Remember, for many of our kids, this is their first experience with renting an apartment. Take pictures of any damage, no matter how small, as they will be charged if they did not fill out the damage report when they first moved into their apartment. If they hang up pictures or use any nails on the walls, make certain they spackle and repaint. The charges add up fairly quickly. Worth repeating- Take 100 pictures, then take 20 more time-stamped. You could be charged for damages to the apartment. If you have not documented everything, prepare for those charges.

Responsible Party for Payment

When reading through the lease, make certain that your student is only responsible for their individual room and not the entire apartment. While you may believe your student is moving in with their BFFs, if one decides to vacate for any reason, whether to withdraw, study abroad, or the living arrangement did not work out, you do not want to be responsible for that person’s portion of the lease.

Subletting

Make sure you are familiar with the terms of subletting as many students leave for Summer A and B or a combination thereof and may want to sublet their room to a third party.

Room locks

Along those lines, each bedroom should have its own key different than the other bedrooms. This gives your students the ability to lock their bedroom should they decide they do not want anyone having access to their personal belongings.

Insurance

Your homeowner’s insurance policy may not cover them while they are living off-campus (many will cover if they are living in an on-campus residence at no extra cost). Check the terms of your home insurance policy. Most of the large insurance companies offer separate renters policies at a reasonable rate. You may also want to look at two of the more reputable college student insurance companies, College Student Insurance, and NSSI.

Information about students’ favorite apartments.

Pass on these great tips, tell your friends and like us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest. Find out more about how to use HaveUHeard as a great resource. Sign up for other great tips at haveuheard.com.

The post Economical to Extravagant Off-Campus Living appeared first on HaveUHeard.com.

For students heading to Grad School, finding an apartment if they are going to a different university entails completely different criteria. My niece and our interns all recently switched universities from where they went for undergrad. Grad School housing comes with its own unique challenges. With expensive tuition and long study sessions, the last thing they need to worry about is finding an apartment near FAU.

If you will be attending FAU for graduate school, you probably want to know your options as far as living arrangements go. Graduate school consumes a lot of time and money, so you want to make sure you’re living in the right place.FAU does offer Innovation Village Apartments as well as University Village for graduate students, both of which are on-campus housing. If you’re looking for a place that’s right on campus, one of these would be a great option. The one thing to consider is that many undergraduate students live in these housing options as well, so you might want to find a place that’s still close to FAU, but provides a little more of a quiet, apartment feel.

Another option for graduate students that are off-campus is University Park. This is more of an apartment feel, but still has the close proximity to FAU. There are application fee discounts, and the rent is not too bad ranging from around $1,010 – $1,145 a month. It even offers amenities such as a study room with Wi-Fi, computers, a printer, and six individual lab rooms.  This apartment complex was designed specifically with college students in mind. Many undergraduate students do tend to live here as well, however, and the pool can become a bit of a party scene. So if you’re still looking for something a little more subdued, you might want to keep searching.

Another great place for graduate students to live is Vie Villas at Boca Raton. This apartment complex is within walking distance to FAU and provides a shuttle to FAU. The monthly rent for this complex ranges from $1,010 – $1,250 per month. The buildings are townhouses that give it more of a luxury feel and each unit has a two-car garage as well. If you’re looking for a place that is close to FAU but gives off more of an adult feel, this could be the place for you. We would recommend this place the most out of all of the options when it comes to graduate students.

No matter where you choose, Boca is a beautiful place to live. There are many apartments to choose from and price ranges that can fit any budget. Whether you’re looking for a place that’s close to school, a place that’s quiet, a place that has a single room, or a place that has all four, there are many options for graduate students.

Pass on these great tips, tell your friends and like us on Facebook,  Instagram,  Twitter, and Pinterest. Sign up for other great tips at haveuheard.com. New to HUH, here is how to use the site.

The post Graduate School Housing is More Grown Up! appeared first on HaveUHeard.com.

Here are some great tips about our favorite apartment rentals. With my daughters, I have three, not one stayed in the dorms beyond their freshman year. My youngest daughter lived in Delray Beach for her last two years at FAU. She lived at Delray Verana and found the rent was reasonable, the rooms were nice sized with each having their own bathroom and she hated moving, which made it her favorite. The commute to campus was only about 10-15 minutes; however, there are several great options closer to campus that can suit every student’s needs.

In Boca Raton, the choices are plentiful. Below are some of the more popular apartment complexes students live in near FAU. Some provide buses to campus (which can be important since parking on campus can be a nightmare), some have facilities that rival a fancy hotel (pools, hot tubs, volleyball courts, lounges), some provide reserved parking spots for a fee, some are gated and provide constant security and all have various options from studios to 4 bedrooms. Prices vary and generally go up slightly each year. The rent for many complexes depends on how early in the year you sign a lease. Many will also help find a student to fill a vacant room if need be. Wi-Fi is generally included in rent, but utilities are not always included or are included up to a specific dollar amount with the overage split between the occupants. Be sure to check all these things before making a decision.  We tried to stick with the important things like security and furniture, rather than tanning beds and lit volleyball courts if you know what we mean, but some of the amenities are pretty impressive.

Boca Bell Town Center – Located conveniently near the Town Center Mall. Currently running $1720/month for a 2/2 apartment. Rent includes Pest Control. Features a resort-style swimming pool, fitness center, and tennis courts.

Boca Winds – Currently running $1575/month for a 2/1 and includes Pest Control and Trash Service. Features a resort-style swimming pool and tennis courts.

Cynthia Gardens – Close proximity to FAU. They offer 2-floor plans in six finished. These apartments range anywhere from $1,290 – $1,420. General maintenance, sewage, trash, water, and pest control is always included.

Delray Verana – Currently running $1580/ month for 2/2 and includes alarm service and trash removal. Features a resort-style swimming pool, 24-hour fitness center, and tennis courts.

Gables Town Colony – Currently running $1875/month for a 2/2 and includes trash removal, water, and sewer. It features a business center, resort-style swimming pool, and car care center.

Mizner Court: 1/1 for $1,450 – 1,963. Has the potential to be a little more expensive, It is very close to FAU (only about a 12-minute drive) and has amenities such as 2 swimming pools, a tennis court, a fitness center, and a coffee bar.

Somerset Place – Currently running 1,585/month for a 2/2. Features a resort-style swimming pool and tennis courts.

The Bicycle Club – Within walking distance from FAU. I have known people who have rented here from FAU and they seemed to like it because of the closeness to FAU, Mizner Park, and the Town Center Mall. For a 2 bed 1 bath, this apartment is around $1,400. It also has amenities including some paid utilities, a washer and dryer, a microwave, and a refrigerator. It also has a swimming pool.

Tuscany Pointe – Currently running 1,220/month for a 1/1. Features a resort-style swimming pool and tennis courts.

University Park  – By far, the most popular and luxurious student apartment about a mile away from campus. This was sold along with University View and Square.  This apartment is tailored specifically to students. Amenities include fully furnished apartments, private bathrooms, granite countertops, a two-story fitness center, resort-style pool, and a 24/7 market to name a few. They also have a shuttle that will take students to and from campus.  University Park, students pay per room.  University Park lists their rent from $970/month per room (based on a 4 x 4) but it is actually based on supply and demand. All are fully furnished and rates include water, cable, and the Internet.

Vie Villas – Formerly UView apartments, this was purchased and now managed by Vie Management, who specializes in managing college apartments. These are 3 bedrooms, 3 bath apartments and amenities include washer/dryer, electronic front door locks, a 24 Hour State-of-the-art Fitness Center, Resort Style Swimming Pool, Social Courtyard with Bocce, Walking Distance to FAU, Exclusive Shuttle to FAU and Lynn University, Pet-Friendly, 24 Hour Emergency Maintenance.

Villas at Boca Raton –  These are apartments catered towards FAU college students. Florida Atlantic University is within walking distance of this apartment complex. They also have an exclusive shuttle that goes to and from FAU. They offer many amenities such as a Sand volleyball court and a swimming pool. They provide two unique styles of apartments. Both are three bedrooms and three bathrooms, however, one is considered to be premium because the layout and furniture are a little nicer. The 3×3 runs from $1,189 – $1,239 a month depending on room type. The 3×3 premium runs from $1,369 – $1,419 a month. One of my close friends lived here this past year, and she loved it. It was very convenient for her and many other FAU students live there as well. She was able to find two roommates from FAU to live with her and they all became close. I think this is a very good option for students going to FAU.

Windwood Apartments in Boca Raton is a popular living area near campus. It has many different buildings and is in a gated community. Prices vary based on those who are selling but a three-bedroom is typically about $2000 a month with varying utilities.

These are, however, just some of the more popular off-campus complexes FAU students seem to flock to. There are many more. Check out FAU’s Off-Campus Housing website for more assistance.

Pass on these great tips, tell your friends and like us on Facebook, Instagram,  Twitter, and Pinterest. Find out more about how to use HaveUHeard as a great resource here. Sign up for other great tips at haveuheard.com.

The post Favorite Apartment Rentals appeared first on HaveUHeard.com.

Get Your Hand Trucks Ready to Move!

Because it’s move-in day. From the day your student gets their room assignment, the whole process of move-in can seem stressful, overwhelming, and expensive (start collecting those Bed Bath & Beyond Coupons now) Traditionally, female students tend to take a full-on decorating approach complete with wall décor, signs, picture frames, string lights, desk accessories, and many other decorative items. Male students do not quite go that full in and often just want a comfortable bed, maybe a poster or two and perhaps a rug. Either way, the prospect of making a cold dorm room into a home seems like an arduous task.  According to the National Retail Federation, back to college spending averaged $1330 in 2018. This is big business with college checklists resembling the lists usually reserved for wedding/bridal registries and baby shower registries. And while I won’t sugarcoat the day, a little pre-planning can help alleviate some of the stress of the day.

13 Tips for an Easier Move-in Day

• Bring a Hand truck. Fau does have a few available, however, there is not enough for every family to have one. The entire process of moving your student into the dorm during the heat of August will be quicker and easier with the use of a hand truck. Personally, I bought this folding hand truck and left it with my daughter so she could use it during the year and move out (yes, both of my daughters moved out on their own)
• In the Freshman Dorms, students have Twin XL beds. These beds probably aren’t what they are used to at home. To bring in some of the comforts of home, purchase a mattress cover and mattress topper. These are available at Target, Walmart, Bed Bath & Beyond; just to name a few. This is a great item to order ahead and have ready for pick up when your student arrives in Boca Raton.
• Your student is going to need sheets. I bought my daughter two sets to start with when she went off to FAU. This made it easier for her when it came time for laundry, there was always a clean set ready to go.
• Comforters or some type of a heavy blanket (or two) are a must. The dorms are kept rather chilly. Some of the newer residence halls do have in-suite thermostats, but this is not always the case. The easiest option is to go with a bed-in-a-bag set. These sets typically give students the comforter, a sheet set, and decorative pillows.
• Many students like the convenience of having a mini-fridge in their room. It is also a great resource for students who try to stay on a budget or eat healthier. FAU offers Mini-Fridge rentals from the on-campus store Tech-U.
• A small microwave is also a useful item for students to have in their rooms. Microwaves can also be rented from Tech-U or purchased and picked up from many stores around FAU.
• Keurig coffee makers can be very convenient, but definitely a more expensive, way to have coffee. There are countless Starbucks and Dunkin’ Donuts on campus and close by but having your students make their own is often more economical. Stores also often sell small 4 cup coffee pots, another great option for the dorms.
• If your student is like mine, there just is not enough closet and drawer space to accommodate all of her clothes/shoes/dry goods/toiletries/medicines, etc. That is where the under-the-bed plastic drawer system comes in handy. The problem you may face is availability. Either bring them with you if your vehicle space allows or order ahead of time.
• Bed risers will help to give your students dorm room some much needed extra space. Bed Risers lift up the bed; storage units or drawer sets can then be placed underneath the bed. Keep in mind if your student lives in Parliament Hall, their beds will already be lofted.
• Most of the dorms have closets inside each of the rooms. Not all of these closets have doors; you’ll need to purchase a tension rod and curtain.
• If your college student is planning on having a television in their room, you will need a coaxial cable. Extension cords are also a much-needed item. We would recommend using one that is both double and triple-pronged.
• Irons are not permitted inside FAU dorms. To save on space and avoid breaking a rule, consider buying a mini hand steamer. They work just as well as a traditional iron.
• For the day you are moving in, many parents have found that the Ikea bags (or something comparable) work really well. You can find many of them on Amazon.

Pass on these great tips, tell your friends and like us on Facebook,  Instagram,  Twitter, and Pinterest. Sign up for other great tips at haveuheard.com. New to HUH, here is how to use the site.

The post Moving In – Move it Move it Move it appeared first on HaveUHeard.com.

FAU’s move-in day is …well…a lot of work. Be prepared for many trips to the car and possibly one or two to the store for the inevitable forgotten or overlooked item (ours was not having enough Command hooks last year).  The heat does not help, but a hand truck and Ikea bags do. I will not get into the emotional goodbyes at the end of the day, but I will say that large sunglasses to cover my watery, red eyes (and having to wait another 8 years for my youngest to move out) was my savior.

M.I.D. is August 15th

The day this year begins on Thursday, August 15th for incoming freshmen. Your student will get an appointment as to their move-in time-based on their dorm number. This is based on the students’ first letter of their last name.

• A – F moves in from 8 am – 10 am
• G – L moves in from 10 am – 12 noon
• M – R moves in from 12 noon – 2 pm
• S – Z moves in from 2 pm – 4 pm

Friday, August 16 is move-in day for returning students, transfer students, and graduate students.

• Students assigned to EVEN number floors may move in from 8 am-noon
• Students assigned to ODD number floors may move in from 1 pm – 4 pm

Many of the dorms will have floor meetings with their R.A. as well as a few events so the residents can have the opportunity to meet one another. More information about Move-in Day times and guidelines. Early Move-in is an option for students participating in Residential Learning Communities. That day is August 16th. After they arrive, they will spend the day in a retreat, which will allow them to meet others in their learning community and orient themselves with the campus.

One of the best parts of the day is the volunteers. There are volunteers walking around to offer assistance. Student volunteers belong to many of the organizations across campus and are there to not only help students move-in but also answer questions about campus life. These volunteers typically have carts and will assist with unloading cars, moving items, giving directions, providing refreshments and other move-in related tasks, and providing information about getting involved on campus.

From August 14th-18th, FAU holds a program called HOW2FAU. HOW2FAU gives students their first introduction to campus life and different organizations are there to answer questions. Students can also learn about the many resources across campus that aid in their success. On August 18th, FAU holds the annual Freshman Convocation. Freshman Convocation is a freshman’s official welcome to Florida Atlantic University. Freshmen who attend receive a blue and silver graduation cord, one that can be worn if a student remains at FAU for all 4 years of college. More information about Freshman Convocation.

Pass on these great tips, tell your friends and like us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest. Find out more about how to use HaveUHeard as a great resource. Sign up for other great tips at haveuheard.com.

The post Move In Day appeared first on HaveUHeard.com.

As if move out day isn’t stressful enough, now imagine trying to find storage place in your house for all of your student’s belongings. When it was time for my daughter to return home for the summer, my husband and I couldn’t believe how much more stuff she had to take home than we had moved in 10 months prior. Suddenly, my garage and guest bedroom were loaded up with a mini-fridge, microwave, and what seemed like endless amounts of dorm décor. All of this was brought back to my house just to move it back down to Boca Raton two months later. I knew that there had to be a better option for the following summer.

We decided to look at storage facilities in Boca to avoid some of the stress. As we began to shop around, we realized that facilities farther away from campus were cheaper in price. Another aspect that affected the cost was climate-controlled versus non-air-conditioned units.  It is very hot and humid during the summer in South Florida, so if you decide to go with a non-air conditioned unit, decide carefully what gets stored in there. Bedding, clothing, or books should not be placed in a non-air-conditioned unit because there is a risk of mold or mildew developing. We decided to go with an air-conditioned unit because it was easier for us to package up most of her belongings and not have to worry about them for the duration of the summer.

When shopping for storage facilities, start early. The storage units closer to FAU fill up quickly.  Get the confirmation in writing. We have heard of students believing they have secured a unit well in advance and then showing up on moving day and told they were sold out for months.

Here are some of the facilities that parents and students have recommended:

Smart Box Moving & Storage: FAU recommended, the storage container is dropped off to the student where they can be filled and later picked up. They have student discounts and both long & short term storage options

Dormroom Movers: Dormroom Movers provide boxes with prepaid shipping labels, which the student then packs and ships. Dormroom Movers stores the boxes and the monthly fee is determined by the number of boxes a student has to store. When you are ready to have your student’s items back, Dormroom Movers will ship them back to your student.

Public Storage: Located on 20th street – Check their site for online specials.

Extra Space Storage: Located on 2nd ave

Boca Storage: Located in Boca Raton Blvd – Often run specials, call for more information.

Addison Storage: Located on NW 1st Ave

Pass on these great tips, tell your friends and like us on Facebook, Instagram,  Twitter, and Pinterest. Find out more about how to use HaveUHeard as a great resource here. Sign up for other great tips at haveuheard.com.

The post Storage How To at FAU appeared first on HaveUHeard.com.

Although it feels like you just moved your students into their dorms, you now have to move them out. The worst part, aside from the grueling heat, is that some may be returning in just a few weeks to move back in somewhere. And, if they have to be back early in August, whether it be another dorm, house, or an apartment, having to schlep their stuff back home to return in just a few weeks seems a little silly. I know how many carloads it took to get our daughter moved in and, frankly, I am not prepared to rent a U-Haul to get her home and back again. So, my first piece of advice is to recommend that they start bringing things home if they are making any trips home between now and the end of the semester or if you are visiting them, bring some of their belongings home. Here is how we managed that weird time between semesters, the gap!

FAU has partnered with Smart Box, which schedules pick up, and storage for students and return of the belongings. There are also several other storage options within the vicinity of campus. There are other companies that service FAU including DormRoommovers. They too will drop off boxes, pick them up and store them and then redeliver in the fall.

Another inexplicable frustration for students who live off-campus in apartments over the summer but are not planning on renewing their lease. Most leases end on July 30th but classes do not end until August 10th. That leaves those students in a bind as to where they should live for that 10-day period and store their stuff all while heading into finals. Check with the apartment rental to see if they will extend the lease; the issue here is that those apartments that are in high demand have no incentive to do this and many will not. If they are moving into another apartment or house, most new leases start after August 1st to allow the management company to clean the premise). It’s not ideal to have to move while studying. If they are graduating, perhaps find a good friend to put you up or look at an inexpensive hotel or Airbnb. As for their belongings, there is no easy solution. It is one of the many reasons I am not a big fan of students changing living arrangements every year.

For my daughter, we had no other option but to put her stuff put in storage by a company that FAU works with. Her items were in storage for a total of 7 days but we still had to pay for the full month. It is a pet peeve of mine that takes place not just at FAU but many of the Florida universities where students have to pay for sometimes only a few days of storage; you actually cannot rent a storage facility for less than a month so the price is still the same.

Hope these ideas help you manage the gap with your college student!

Pass on these great tips, tell your friends and like us on Facebook, Instagram,  Twitter, and Pinterest. Find out more about how to use HaveUHeard as a great resource here. Sign up for other great tips at haveuheard.com.

The post Where Will They Live- Managing the Gap appeared first on HaveUHeard.com.

Moving out can be almost as hectic as moving into the dorms and apartments. You are typically assigned a move out time to keep the flow smooth. It did not make sense for us to drag the entire dorm supplies home for the summer, only to send them back down in the fall. We opted to have my daughter rent an air-conditioned storage facility with friends. You may be lucky in that your student may have a friend that will let them store their belongings in their apartment but that is unusual.

She was able to move her belongings into storage herself by getting boxes and packing up her dorm. Some students can recruit friends to help them move. You may want to go down yourself if they are moving out of a dorm and you feel they will need the additional help. Any items left in the rooms after the move out date are subject to disposal and subsequent removal fees.

Take 100 pictures, then take 20 more time-stamped. You could be charged for damages to the dorm room and if you have not documented everything, prepare for those charges. My daughter burned her desk chair with a hair appliance and you better believe we were charged for that.

Move out dates and further information. FAU has partnered with Smart Box, which offers student discounts, schedules pick up and storage for students, and return of your belongings.

Apartments?

If your student is moving out of an apartment or subletting their apartment, you may need to pay a moving company if there is furniture is involved. This is, by far, the more expensive way to go. When my youngest daughter came home for the summer of her sophomore year, we had to go this route. She had an apartment full of furniture that needed to be moved and stored.  We went with the company FAU recommended Smart Box. The move was smooth and it was appealing to us that not only could they do the move, but they could also store her items over the summer. There are several moving companies in the Boca Raton vicinity with varying price ranges and offered services.

There are other companies that service FAU including DormRoommovers. They too will drop off boxes, pick them up and store them and then redeliver in the fall.

Even if your student plans on remaining in the exact same room for the following Fall semester, they will still be required to move out. If your student is planning to remain on campus for the summer semester, they will need to submit a Break Stay Request with Housing and Residential Life.

HaveUHeard offers real information like this to help you have the best college experience possible. We glean great tips from our own experience and the experience of real parents and students from the schools we present. Pass on these great tips, tell your friends and like us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest. Find out more about how to use HaveUHeard as a great resource. Sign up for other great tips at haveuheard.com.

The post Time to Move On…and Out appeared first on HaveUHeard.com.