I used to be blissfully unaware that some houses and apartments don’t have dishwashers, washing machines or dryers. Yet in my three years living off campus in Eugene, I’ve only had all three one time, and I paid a hefty rent to have them.

Not having a washing machine or dryer isn’t that big of a deal as long as there’s a laundry room in your complex somewhere, but you’ll usually have to pay about $2-$3 per load. Not having a dishwasher is worse than not having a washer or dryer, especially if you’re bad at washing dishes immediately after eating. However, if you love everything about a place except its lack of a dishwasher, get it anyway. It’s not the end of the world.

Most landlords or rental companies will not pay electric for you; it’s far more common for them to pay for water instead. Usually the only thing you’re guaranteed not to have to pay for is garbage, but even then you need to make sure. If it’s your first time living off campus, keep in mind that electricity is expensive. I’ve had some scary electric bills and they’re not fun for anyone, except EWEB.

With most apartment complexes, each unit will be given at least one parking spot, but it’s highly unlikely that there will be a spot for every tenant. Many houses have spots for a couple of cars, so that only becomes a problem if everyone in your household has a vehicle. If you end up without a spot, street parking passes are available and reasonably priced, so it’s worth looking into to avoid countless parking tickets.

The biggest thing to look out for with a security deposit is if anything will automatically be deducted regardless of the state of the unit when you vacate. Some companies deduct from the deposit to have carpets or blinds cleaned or require you to provide a receipt if you get them done yourself. Not all companies put this burden on you, so watch out for the ones that do.