The most-overlooked consideration in finding a place to live is the heating cost. If heating is not included, it can run about $200 per month, sometimes even more, for the approximately 6 very cold months (though this is changing with Global Warming!). Current tenants should be able to tell you what the rough cost is. Many apartments include the price of heat in their rent, mostly because the equipment to monitor heating fuel usage is expensive. If you like to be warm without thinking about what it costs you, find one of these!
Another thing to consider when looking for a place to live is the distance to campus. Prices of accommodation tend to decrease with increasing distance from the University, leading to a classic tradeoff between convenience and price. Complicating the picture is the University's parking fee structure, which can make it expensive to drive to school. A seemingly moderately-priced apartment located far from the campus may become more expensive when transportation costs are taken into account. Luckily, the local bus system (TCAT) provides coverage to nearly all residential areas, giving another option to those thrifty enough to take public transportation. (See section 4.5.1 for more details on TCAT.) If you have a car, make sure to check the availability and price of parking when making your housing decision. If parking is available it can range from free to $1000 a year. Be wary of a landlord's promise of ``plentiful on-street parking". Also, be aware of the number of spots allocated to each apartment in a complex. A promise of ``parking provided" might actually mean ``each apartment has one spot" - even if it's a four-bedroom apartment!
Another important consideration is who will be in charge of maintenance in your apartment. Ithaca has many old houses and apartment complexes, which may require regular upkeep. Many landlords will keep their own maintenance staff on hand, or sub-contract the maintenance work to independent agencies: usually, this arrangement works fairly well. However, be wary of landlords who claim that they will do all the repair work themselves, especially if they are responsible for multiple houses. In such situations, it may take a while for the landlord to handle any repairs, should the need arise - and you definitely do not want to wait an extra day if your thermostat starts malfunctioning in the middle of winter! So, before renting be sure to inquire who handles the maintenance, and what is their policy for responding to maintenance requests. If possible, speak with the prior tenants: ask them how often does the place need repairs, and how good are the response times. Also, find out who is responsible for grounds-keeping work, such as snow removal - it may be you!
Furthermore, be sure to find out who pays for utilities in the apartment. Utility costs in Ithaca can be quite high. This is especially true of heating costs, as it is usually necessary to run the thermostat for six months out of the year, from mid-October through mid-April. During the coldest winter months (December through February), heating costs could be especially high.
On a related note, it is important to find out who controls the temperature of the apartment/room. There are places where the temperature is set by the landlord. Also, in some apartment complexes the heat is not turned on before a set day of the year. This is mostly a problem for students from warmer climates whose idea of a ``comfortable" temperature may not be the same as their landlord's.
A good way to determine if a complex is right for you is to figure out who else lives there. If you're the quiet, studious type, you might not want to rent an apartment in a complex that caters primarily to undergraduates. Ask the landlord if the complex houses primarily undergraduates, graduates, or those who aren't in school.