1. Virtually all housing is advertised for immediate occupancy. However this is somewhat balanced by the unfortunate fact that it often takes many days and sometimes weeks of hard searching to land a place. In any event, your search should begin no earlier than 2 months' prior to your targeted move-in date.
   
   
2. The most affordable housing, and the easiest to secure, is Shared housing, where you get your own room in a shared apartment or house (usually with other students). A similar category is Room Rentals. This is the best prospect for young undergraduate students. If you're on an especially tight budget, consider a Work Exchange, which is usually a room rental in exchange for approximately 15 hours a week of work such as child care, gardening, manuscript typing, etc.
   
   
3. If you have your heart set on finding your own apartment or a house, be prepared for a longer search and set your rent limit as high as you possibly can. Enlist the help of parents or guardians when looking at places if you can, especially if they will pay all or part of your rent. You should also consider communities in addition to Berkeley -- in other words, think about the broadest commute you can tolerate.
   
   
4. Get a good map. Cal Rentals sells one for $2 at the Housing Cashiers. A virtual map may be found at www.housing.berkeley.edu.   Click on "Cool Links," then "Yahoo! Maps."
   
   
5. Get a phone card so you don't have to fumble for change at public phones. Phone cards are available from many stores along Telegraph Avenue, and even at the post office. In addition, be sure to be accessible by phone. You will be leaving lots of messages with landlords and, if you are lucky, some will call you back. If you aren't available, landlords simply will go to the next prospective tenant on their list. A cellular phone that you can carry with you at all times is best, and it may be well worth the cost of renting one on a temporary basis for your housing search. (Cal Rentals has information on how to rent a cell phone locally.)
   
   
6. Script a short, positive statement about yourself that you can leave as a telephone message to landlords to encourage a landlord to call you back. Repeat your name and telephone number slowly and clearly. Express an eagerness to see the rental. Offer to accept a collect call if the landlord must call you back long-distance.
   
   
7. Show up on time for your housing appointments and dress neatly. You don't need to wear a suit, but dress well. When you rent, you are entering into a business contract with your landlord, so you want to look responsible. If you can't show up for your appointment, please call the landlord and explain what happened. This is simply common courtesy, and we want landlords to be impressed with CAL students.
   
   
8. Look for safety features, such as working smoke detectors and deadbolt locks on exterior doors, and do not rent a place if you feel it is unsafe. However, cosmetic defects or minor problems (for example, a stain on the carpet or a drippy faucet) are best left for discussion with the landlord after you have signed a rental agreement. Requests for repairs should always be dated and in writing, and be sure to keep copies of any correspondence with your landlord.
   
   
9. Prepare a tenant resume, such as the form we offer in Cal Rentals. This will demonstrate to a landlord where your income is coming from and how you will be responsible for the rent. Make several copies and bring them with you when you look at housing.
   
   
10. Consult with a Cal Rentals counselor if you are having difficulty. Sometimes a minor adjustment to your search is all that is needed to create a winning situation for you. Good luck!

See How to Make a Phone Call on a Rental

You may print out any of the following forms:

Tenant Resume Form

Move-In Checklist

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