Getting first apartment; advice anyone?

In My Humble Opinion
21

To add further to this… not only do the above, but take pictures of any and all damage, but write it on your lease as well. You’ll find that it’ll all come back to haunt you upon leaving, as noted, if not documented out the gazoo.

Also, when drawing up your budget, don’t just include big ticket items like rent, utilities, car payment, insurance and the like. When I first moved out on my own, what nearly ate my lunch on a week-by-week basis was incidentals, ie: toilet paper, that month’s special occasion (birthday, etc.), or money put back for an emergency (car repairs anyone?). So it’s VERY important to plan for the things that are miniscule, seemingly irrelevant, impromptu and/or a one-time necessity.

Alll that said though, it is a most incredible time in one’s life. Good luck and have tons of fun!

22

Definitely check the lease, and make sure tht any damage already in the apartment will not be blamed on you when you leave.

Make sure you get insurance, and meet the people who already live there.

If you can, see if you can get your apartment close to the necessary amenities… food, campus buildings, and whatnot. (I’d include bus stops so it’s accessible to transportation, but not sure it’s applicable in this case)

Good luck, and have lots of fun!

F_X

23

Wish I’d had this thread to read when I first started renting-- I learned a lot of things the hard way.

I can only think of one thing to add; listen not just for noise from other apartments, but for stuff coming from outside. Barking dogs, traffic, the parking lot, stairs, swimming pools, laundry room, and being near the dumpster means listening to it being filled and then emptied at all hours of the day and night.

24

I always had better luck renting from an individual than a big apartment complex/company. Some people own homes that they convert into apartments. I would recommend looking for something like that, in the student ghetto if possible.

If you’re going to have roomates, be sure that the phone doesn’t make long-distance calls and have everybody just use pre-paid phone cards. Get as few bills in your name as possible.

Remember: You are going to get financially screwed at some point by at least one roomate! Be sure to set it up so that whatever damage you incur is minimal. If you end up not getting screwed, be happy.

There’s no telling what kind of roommate a person will make in advance. Some people you think are awful will make the perfect roommate, some people you think are wonderful will be absolute hell to live with.

Look into joining a sorority during your freshman year. It will be one of the best moves you can make.

25

And when you do move in…

Pack one or two boxes labelled “Open Now.” They should contain things that you will need right away: Something to drink out of, a radio, sheets, toilet paper, soap and towel, toothbrush, deoderant, etc.

I can still remember drinking water from the removeable top of a hairspray can. ICK!

26

Lillalette, as far as furniture goes, I have priceless words of wisdom for you:

If you have or want nice furniture, put it in your room only. For common areas, set aside a certain budget that both you and your roommate contribute equally to, and buy the secondhand furniture you mentioned with her, together. That way it’s everybody’s and nobody’s. Trust me on this; if she makes friends with slobs, or throws a party, or whatever…trust me, it happens all the time…and something happens to furniture you paid for, you’re going to be all pissed off. Ditto in reverse if it’s hers. (Plus the owner of the furniture tends to get a bit possessive and bossy concerning it. “You left a Coke on my coffee table!” type of thing.)

My friend/roommate’s mother bought all of “our” livingroom furniture for our first apartment, and then my roommate decided she wanted to move out, and she took all of it. Of course she did; it belonged to her. But it left me with nothing, and it wasn’t an eventuality I had planned on so I had no money to replace it. If we had both purchased it, she would have either paid for my half of it if she wanted it, I could have paid her half for it, or we could have sold it and split the money. You have no way of knowing if you and she will end up rooming together until you graduate, so plan as if you aren’t.

And I will join the chorus of people who have to warn you, whether you believe us or not, that one of the best ways to ruin a friendship is to move in with him or her. The more ground rules/policies you figure out beforehand, the less likely it becomes that you end up hating your best friend. :smiley: But trust me, it happens. If you go grocery shopping more than she does, and end up always buying the toothpaste/toilet paper/shampoo, etc., you’re going to resent it. If she eats a lot of your food, or finishes off your food, you’re going to resent it. If she’s a slob or a neat freak, and you’re not whichever one she is, you’re both going to resent each other.

And you may think that a solid friendship doesn’t “need” all those silly ground rules, and that you’ll just “figure it out as you go along,” but trust me, please; for the sake of your friendship and your sanity, all of this stuff needs to be ironed out before you girls even get the keys.

Oh, and as far as moving away from home for the first time goes…I don’t know what your financial situation is, or whether or not you have a job, but you’ll never have this much money again, either way, so save as much as you can for those rainy days.

Because they’re coming!

27

I just rented out my first apartment two years ago. Let me see what I looked at (in descending order of importance):

  1. First and the foremost, it has to be in a good neighborhood;
  2. Laundry in the building (there’s nothing worse than having to lug that shit around);
  3. Has to be close to work! (school in your case)
  4. Has to have grocery stores and supermarkets around!!! (you don’t want to carry your food too far away).
  5. Look at the water pressure. Your shower has to have big enough water pressure. And water has to leave your bathtub fast!
  6. Make sure your bathtub is painted with enamel, not regular paint – that chips off like a mutha!
  7. Roaches: I left every time I saw roaches, so I ended up with a building that has regular sprays for them, and I couldn’t be happier;
  8. Rats (I’m not even talking about it, you should run);

Nice bonuses:

  1. Big kitchen;
  2. Pool;
  3. Doorman (I feel much more secure with a doorman);
  4. Close to subway/other mass transportation, but not close enough to be awakened by the noise;
  5. I prefer it when shopping/entertainment is around.
28

See if there is a maintenance person on the premises, or with a cell phone. Most emergencies happen in the middle of the night.

Do not play loud music ever. Other tenants do not want to hear your music. If you like loud music, there’s something called headphones. Use them.

Check with the Police Dept. about the neighborhood.

Go to see the apartment after dark. Some neighborhoods turn into feistas on hot summer nights. And churches will often have revival meetings, and you can’t call the cops about a noisy church (I learned that the hard way).

29

I don’t think your parents insurance will cover you in your own apartment, even as a full-time student; you’re signing a separate lease with a rental company or landlord, not with a learning institution. Check your parents insurance to be sure.

Check garage sales at the end of summer or right before school; where I went to school a lot of people had garage sales when college started. Check with your family and friends about old furniture; someone might have things they’re getting rid of.

Be safety-conscious, but not paranoid.

30

Well, you might be able to get renters insurance…

I would rather my roommate wasn’t a friend, those things get so ugly sometimes. But anyway, get a book at the bookstore that has contracts for this sort of thing (having a roommate) so everything is real clear.