Wellness Resource Center to host off-campus housing fair

The event will connect landlords with tenants and offer giveaways.

By Wes Duplantier

Published Feb. 2, 2009

Even with snow still on the ground, the time is fast-approaching for many students to decide where they will live during the summer and next school year. This week MU will hold a fair to help with that choice.

Some students will return to their hometowns for the break, but for those staying in Columbia, the Wellness Resource Center will host its Off-Campus Housing Fair from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday at Stotler Lounge in Memorial Union. Several landlords and property owners are expected to have tables where attendees can learn about the different summer options around the city.

On its Web site, the center said it encourages participants to ask questions about the properties and set up appointments to visit houses and complexes. Brad Bootz, Brookside Townhomes sales and marketing manager, said the fair helps his complex attract many of his clients.

"We do get significant traffic from the fair," Bootz said. "It's extremely beneficial for us."

The Links at Columbia Manager Melinda Brown agreed the fair plays a big role in the complex's recruiting of new tenants.

"I'd say we consider it one of the critical elements of our marketing," Brown said

At the fair, the center will also distribute its magazine, Off-Campus Living. In addition to listings for many apartments, duplexes and condominiums, the guide also has tips and checklists to help first-time renters navigate the process.

The guide, aimed at reducing student stress during the search for housing, teaches how to budget for a 12-month lease, which is most common for the area, according to the American Chamber of Commerce Research Association.

It also offers students several online resources to begin their search for summer housing. These include services through the Off-Campus Living Web site, such as a roommate finder and links to the classifieds sections of local newspapers and apartment search engines.

For some students, an apartment lease might be the first contract they sign, so the guide explains strategies for getting a fair lease, the rights and responsibilities of paying tenants and what students should do if those rights are violated.

Once students become tenants, the guide stresses safety and explains in detail how student renters can secure their cars and homes from burglary and prevent hazards, such as fire or carbon monoxide poisoning.

The guide also includes tips in a two-page guide about alcohol laws and ways to throw a safe party that prevents injuries, arrests and complaints by neighbors.

Gatehouse Apartments Manager Melissa Heibel said the exposure and education the fair offers benefit both students and landlords, and she expects it to have a positive impact on her business.

"I think it'll be a good opportunity for us to get some fresh faces here and a chance to show that we're a good alternative to on-campus living," Heibel said.