Searching for housing off campus may be easier for University of Toledo students through a free Web site called Living Off Campus 101.
UT's Office of Commuter Students and Off-Campus Services partnered with the Web site to help ease the difficulty of searching for apartments and other off-campus housing for commuter students and others who are considering living off campus.
Through the Web site, students can search for housing by the criteria of property type, price range, distance from campus and the number of bedrooms or bathrooms. The Web site also has an advanced search link, which can refine student's search options and include other aspects of the property including community features, utilities and pet policy.
"We were trying to make this an all-in-one Web site, which provides anything and everything you need to make your housing decision," said Michael Bumgarner, president and CEO of Living Off Campus 101.
"When you do find a property you are interested in, you can click on it. There will be up to five pictures, lease agreement, floor plans and custom directions," Bumgarner said.
Multiple forms of contact information regarding the property owner, and availability of the property, can also be found on each listing.
"It's a very easy, two click, three click navigational Web site," said Brandon Gaddy, coordinator of UT Commuter Students and Off-Campus Services. "It's certainly easy for anyone who wants to post something, anybody who is looking to get a new roommate or looking at changing housing, things of that nature."
Gaddy said the Web site makes it easier for students to make a housing decision because it provides pictures of housing units students would be interested in.
"Students won't have to hunt for [off-campus housing] information anymore; rather, it's right at their fingertips," said Interim Dean of Students Michele Martinez.
According to Martinez the company was chosen among other options because it was free for both students and UT.
"We thought it was more up-to-date than what we had previously provided through the off-campus living directory," she said.
Other features of the Web site include a message board for finding roommates and a buying-and-selling board, which works as a free classified space for anyone trying to barter for books, furniture and electronics.
Bumgarner said the site also posts contact information for the Toledo Police Department and Toledo Fire Department if a student gets in trouble with things such as alcohol and needs police assistance. Bumgarner explained to post a property on the site, prospective property managers and owners can log on to the Web site, sign up, upload all property information and it is instantly listed on the Web site. Property managers or owners who sign up can list a property for 12 months, have the option to pay extra to become a featured member and have their properties listed first.
Living Off Campus 101 is linked to UT's Commuter Students and Off-Campus Web site through the Office of Student Involvement. Students can visit Living Off Campus 101 at www.loc101.com