Off-Campus Student Services

Ralphie's List (Rental Housing Database)

Once you've gone through the premlinary steps of how to begin your housing search you’re ready to begin actually looking for a place to live. Don't be in a hurry! While you may very well come back to the first place you look at, there will likely be many properties that work, so take your time and find the one that's best for you.

Ralphie's List is a great resource to assist you in your housing search. It works a lot like Craig's List; Off-Campus Student Services (OCSS) keeps an extensive listing of available rental housing that you can search for free if you are a fee-paying CU-Boulder student (and for a nominal fee if you're affiliated with the university but don't pay student fees).

OCSS also hosts housing fairs several times a year where landlords and property management companies come to show off their rental properties. You can also check newspaper ads and online resources for rental properties -- and speaking with friends and acquaintances can also be a good way to find available rental housing.

Making Your Selection
Once you've narrowed your search to several potential properties, you should look at each unit and review your preliminary questions:

• Can you afford the rent? 
• How much are utilities and are they included in the rent or in addition to rent? 
• How much is the security deposit? 
• Is the location near a bus line? 
• Is the yard (if any) adequate or too big or too small for your needs?
• Is the property in good condition or disrepair? 
• Is the landlord willing to make any necessary repairs before you move in?

You will also want to inspect the premises. While an online tour can be helpful, you need to make sure the property is in the condition the landlord says it is. Make sure the bedrooms offer sufficient privacy and that there are adequate electrical outlets, lighting fixtures, and fire exits in each room. Check the closet space and see if the walls, ceilings, and floors provide good sound barriers. Test all of the appliances and lighting fixtures and make sure the plumbing and hot and cold running water work well and don't leak; water stains underneath the kitchen or bathroom sink are a sign of leaky plumbing.

You should make sure the property complies with Boulder housing codes, that there are adequate fire exits and ventilation, and that there are no obvious defects that the landlord failed to mention. Also, if you are looking at apartments or condominiums, make sure you look at the specific unit you are interested in renting. Many apartment complexes may show you one apartment that they use for showings and tell you the apartment you will be renting looks just the same or close to it. If you’re going to be living in the place for a year, make sure you see exactly the place you’ll be living in before you sign on the dotted line.

Don't be afraid to ask the landlord questions, and don't sign anything until you get answers.