It seems like every year the time to reserve and line up next year’s living situation gets earlier and earlier. For many of us, that time has come. Some of us have the luxury of renewing a lease and staying in the exact same situation we’re already in. But for those of us who don’t have a clue of what we’re going to do, it may be helpful to get some insight and advice before going on the apartment or housing hunt.
Let’s just take a quick second to review my horrific experience with house hunting where I came to the realization that the house picked was not a winner. While it may have been a charmer, and a classic Eugene four-bedroom house, my roommates and I did not know the half of what we were in for when we signed the lease with smiles on our faces. It wasn’t long before those smiles turned into pissed off and frustrated faces. The insulation was nonexistent, meaning from about mid-September to mid-March we were practically living in Alaska with a huge electricity bill to top it all off. Along with the cold, rainy weather and lack of insulation came mold, mold and more mold. The floorboards were crooked and warped, which left a hill-like floor in our living room. Frozen pipes burst. Every drain in the house got clogged. And lastly, with only one more week left to live in this house, we found out the water heater had leaked and flooded the entire foundation underneath the house. If anything could go wrong, it did.
I did not take that experience lightly. I learned from it, and knew the next time around I would have to ask the right questions and make sure the apartment or house I was about lease would fit my needs. I decided to learn from my mistakes and get a checklist of questions in order for a successful search:
- Who am I living with? Will this be a 2-bedroom, 3-bedroom, etc.?
- What is my budget for rent?
- How much is the security deposit?
- How far away from campus do I want to live? (Think about transportation, car, bike or walk?)
- Will it be furnished or not?
- If I have a car, is parking provided/included?
- What is included? Water/sewer/garbage/cable/internet?
- Is there a washer/dryer for the unit or complex?
- What other amenities are provided? Pool, gym, yard care?
- How much was the highest electricity bill the previous owner paid?
- Who to contact if problems arise?
- Can I ask the current tenants about the living environment?
- What damages are tenants responsible for?
Having a basic understanding of the place before you go in blindly will almost always benefit you in the end. All of these questions will be factors in choosing the most suitable and ideal living location for you next year. Don’t be fooled by real estate agent comments like “The place is great! We have no problems at this location!” They are out to lock down a lease, so if it means asking them twice, try to get a straight answer out of them. If possible, it’s best to get into an apartment or house where you know the tenants already living there. That way, you get the most honest answer of what to expect if you were to live there. Here are a few websites that will be helpful in the search:
http://eugene.craigslist.org/apa/
Remember, to be safe and careful and go with someone when meeting in person with real estate agents or landlords!