Adulting Series Looking for an Apartment

Date:
School Counselor: Ms. Beth White
Activity: Learn how to search online for an apartment and evaluate listings.
Grade(s): 11th and 12th students who have limited parental/adult support and/or guidance (Adult life
skills group)
ASCA Student Standards (Domain/Standard/Competencies):
Demonstrate critical-thinking skills to make informed decisions
(Behavior Standards, Learning Strategies, 1)
Demonstrate personal safety skills
(Behavior Standards, Self-Management Skills, 9)
Apply media and technology skills
(Behavior Standards, Learning Strategies, 5)
Use effective collaboration and cooperation skills
(Behavior Standards, Social Skills, 6)
Learning Objective(s):
1. The student will be able to utilize a website to search for an apartment with specific requirements.
2. The student will be able to make a list of the pros and cons of a listing and choose the best option.
3. The student will be able to recognize red flags in a listing.
Materials: Internet-connected computers, index cards with apartment search requirements and
limitations (i.e. location, budget, number of rooms, amenities), paper, pens/pencils,
chalkboard/whiteboard and writing implement
Plan for Evaluation: How will each of the following be collected?
Process Data:
Grade:
Number of Students:
Perception Data: Exit slip: What are three things to consider when looking for an apartment? Do you
feel confident in your ability to search for an apartment using a website?
Outcome Data: none assessable
Follow Up:
Talk to any students who indicated a lack of confidence on their exit slip to determine why.
When students are working on post-graduation plans, discuss where they will be living. Provide
resources as needed.

Adulting Series Looking for an Apartment

Procedure:
1. Write apartment search websites on chalkboard/whiteboard.
www.apartmentfinder.com
www.apartments.com
www.apartmentguide.com
Local sites (i.e. www.brac.com, craigslist)
2. Discuss reasons you may need to use a website to look for an apartment:
Off-campus housing in college
Job in new city
3. Discuss (and model if possible) how to use apartment search websites.
Location
Select number of rooms, amenities, rent min/max
4. Have students divide into groups of 2 3.
5. Distribute index card with apartment search requirements and limitations.
Location, budget, number of rooms, amenities, etc.
6. Discuss potential red flags they may come across.
Ask: Who knows what the term red flag means?
What are some red flags you might see in a listing?
7. Instruct students to use the listed websites to conduct a search.
What challenges arise?
Income-restricted apartments
Any red flags?
8. Students list pros and cons for three potential apartments and collaborate to choose best option.
What do you like about this apartment? Why?
What do you dislike about this apartment? Why?
Why did you choose this apartment?
Find reviews? Are reviews reliable?
9. Discuss what the next steps would be.
Use contact information to set up appointment(s)
Safety concerns visit with a friend or family member; meet in public places
Take notes when you visit to help you remember details
10. If time remains, discuss reading and signing leases.
Do you need to read it? Why?
Ask questions if you dont understand something