Whether you're looking for an apartment or a house, you should think about some very important things before moving into your new residence.

If you're a typical college student, you've probably experienced life in a dorm hall - the 2:00 am hallway soccer games, Eminem songs blasting from two floors up, and a damn washing machine that costs you 75 cents a load. You live in a space the size of a prison cell, you have to walk to a cafeteria whenever you want food, and you share a bathroom with 72 other people. If you don't mind any of these things, a dorm room is right up your alley. You don't have to cook and clean too much, you can use the library to study, and every year when you move in you'll find a ton of people looking to make new friends.

However, if you've had to deal with roommates who don't shower or wash their clothes, or if you don't have time to tell each person on your floor to stick a sock in it every time you need to study for that crucial, grade-saving test, perhaps it's time to begin the search for off-campus housing. Whether you're looking for an apartment or a house, you should think about some very important things before moving into your new residence. Let's just assume that you have already determined you can afford to move. Make sure your roommates can afford it, too.

Speaking of roommates, your best friends are not always the best roommates. Look for people who share some of the same interests as well as your taste in household cleanliness, and who, most importantly, have parents who like to stock the fridge! If you choose roommates poorly, your experience of living on your own will be miserable. Fighting, bickering, and backstabbing will be the menu for the day and it will lead to disaster.

Usually when you think of off-campus housing, you think of the guys you know who live in a house that looks like it came out of a horror movie. It has creaking stairs, holes in the walls, and an eerie locked-up attic that of course you just had to investigate, and where you found either a) dead bodies or b) asbestos that you aren't supposed to know is there. However, the reason many people have this kind of experience is that people with nice places don't invite others over for parties and such all the time. If you're renting a place that is in good shape, you should be very careful about denting walls, staining carpets, or doing anything else that might destroy the place. Make absolutely sure you document the exact appearance of the place before moving in and have the landlord sign it so you don't get charged for damaging things you never touched.

One of the most important choices to make about off-campus living is whether to look for an apartment or a house. You can usually find both for comparable prices but, in general, you're going to pay for fewer utilities in an apartment because they are frequently included in the rent. If you rent a house, chances are you will be responsible for paying the water, sewer, and garbage bills, plus pretty much any other utilities you need.

When the search gets serious, make sure you choose a place that fits your needs. If you have a car, your place doesn't need to be right next to campus, but don't rent something 37 miles away. Closeness is convenience. It will make your experience more fun. If you get pissed off at having to make a 15-minute commute to campus every day, you're not going to want to go back for that late afternoon class or the flag football game your friends put together. Don't forget about parking either. A house may have the advantage. Parking in an apartment complex is an absolute chore. You often end up parking a good 500 yards away from your apartment. Houses usually have a driveway and maybe even a garage - a convenience often overlooked.

A house generally offers you a little more space. Having a one-to-one room-to-people ratio is nice, but that may depend on your budget. More people means less rent per person. The most important consideration, however, is not having to share a bathroom. Living with all those soaps, lotions, toothbrushes and retainers all over the place can get downright disgusting.

Apartments have advantages, too. Established complexes often have a landlord or apartment manager who, if they aren't too busy screwing you over, will fix your broken stove or your leaky showers. In a house, when your shower starts leaking you better get a paddle because you're screwed. Apartments will also offer you a wider budget range. Rent for apartments is often based on the niceties provided and the space available, so you are generally paying for what you get. If you're looking for a house, you can get lucky or you can get the raw end of a deal. The time of year and demand for houses in your area will impact your success. It is typically easier to find a reasonable deal on an apartment than a house.

Basically, the best way to find out which is the right fit for you is to visit some apartment complexes and to check the classifieds. Talk to people in your area who have some experience renting. It is not smart to choose the first thing you see just because you have to get out of the dorms or are anxious to leave your parents' place.

Take time to do your research. A few weeks of planning and looking can save you thousands of dollars and millions of headaches. Moving in and out is itself an unpleasant task, but paying a money-grubbing landlord two extra months of rent because you didn't read the fine print about dishwasher use is going to piss you off just a little bit more