Spring Rental Prep for College Students

As a college student, you’ve been officially living on your own for at least half a year now. And, while you may feel all settled in, spring is just around the corner, which means new challenges in your rental. Below are some essentials to help you transition into the spring season.

Pest control

As the weather gets warmer, you’ll probably start spending more time outside, taking in some sun with your books open somewhere on campus. But you’re not the only one getting pulled outside by spring. As it warms up, insects come out of their winter hiding places and start to roam about your rental. It’s for this reason that having some pest control products around is a great idea in case you have an unexpected encounter with a creepy-crawly. Additionally, if bug spray is not enough or you have an infestation, contact your landlord to ask for a complete, professional pest remediation of the rental.

Energy savings

With outside temperatures rising and the sun shining longer throughout the day, you’re likely to find yourself in better spirits – not only because of the sorely missed vitamin D, but also because your electricity and gas bills are going down. That’s because when it’s warmer outside, leaving the windows open allows the warmer air to enter and warm up your rental.

Furthermore, leaving the blinds open throughout the day allows the sun to shine through. This creates a greenhouse effect that not only warms up your home, but also brings in natural light so you can avoid turning on lights for longer than you were able to in the winter.

Be aware of mold

Given the extra moisture that comes after the winter season, your rental is prone to mold. The age of your apartment, the number of dark areas it has, and the location of your rental- whether it’s on the top or first floor of the building- can all contribute to the risk of developing mold. To prevent this, it’s important to check the most concerning areas to ensure that no dark, blotchy spots have appeared. If you do find them, contact your landlord to take care of the problem before it becomes too serious.

Investing in plants

It’s not news that spring is the time for planting. As temperatures begin to climb, newly planted seeds are exposed to the perfect environment for growing and ensuring they produce enough yield by harvest time. While you may not want to start a garden in your rental, adding a couple of plants to your apartment is a great idea. Not only can they help with decorating, but they’ll also help increase the oxygen levels in your home.

Spring break

Chances are that you won’t be staying in your college rental for spring break. So, before you leave, make sure your windows are closed, the heat is turned off, and whatever needs attending to – such as a plant or a fish – is not going to die by the time you get back. Also, if you’re going home, consider taking some of your winter clothes with you to make room for the warm-weather clothes you’ll bring back. As an added bonus, this will also help you avoid having too much stuff to take home at the end of the school year.

There is no doubt that going to college is a learning experience, both in terms of your academic education as well as getting to know yourself and what it means to live on your own. Take advantage of every opportunity you have to learn and do something new, but don’t forget to take care of yourself and the place that you’re, at least for the moment, calling home.