Congratulations! You're finally ready to get your own apartment and join the (sad, cruel) world of being GROWN. Whether you've graduated from college and taken a year to save or if you found that college isn't right for you but you've found a path that is right for you, I'm gonna help you navigate your way to getting your first apartment.
"Comparison Is the Thief of Joy"
You've probably heard this quote a thousand times, but that's because it's true. It's hard to not compare your progress and where you are in life with your friends, family, and colleagues. In reality, there's no "timeline" for when you need to get things done. Not everyone can graduate in 4 years, and not everyone can move out of their family's house within 1 or 2 years.
I'm trying to learn how to be less judgmental when it comes to these things because we all come from different backgrounds, graduated with different degrees, and have varying levels of stability when it comes to mental health. Some of us truly aren't ready to move on, and while some of us are, it's hard to continuously save while still trying to live your best life.
Regardless of where you are in life right now, be proud and stand behind your progress.
Saving Money Is Really, Really Hard
Like I said before, we all come from different backgrounds and living situations. If your family is making you pay rent and bills right after you got your first "big kid" job, you most likely are budgeting and seeing where the rest of your money can go. If you have a car note, student loans, or are in graduate school on top of all the other bills you have, of course saving is going to be a pain in the butt. Plus, what about money for going out to bars, buying clothes, and grabbing coffee that one morning when you're in a rush?
Let me tell you--it's NOT easy. But if you're living at home with your family and they're NOT taking your entire paycheck every two weeks, saving and budget is something you NEED to do if you plan on moving out. My cousin always said that 10% of each paycheck should go into your savings account. But, if you want to save more aggressively because you're on a timeline, feel free to! Just make sure you're only dipping into your savings if you NEED to. Remember, when you're ready to apply for a new place or sign that lease, there's a fee for everything.
If you don't know where to start when budgeting, here are a couple of categories I used to keep my spending in order while still living at home:
Rent (if your family makes you pay rent)
Groceries
Work-lunch (for when I don't feel like making lunch the morning of and want to buy something instead)
Coffee shops
Hobbies (I like to plan, so I buy stickers to decorate my planner.)
Going out (bars)
Delivery (for when I didn't feel like making dinner)
Savings
Student loans
Do This Before Looking for an Apartment
CHECK YOUR CREDIT REPORT AND YOUR CREDIT SCORE. Your landlord or the apartment leasing office will check your credit to make sure you are a reliable borrower.
You can check your credit score for free if you bank with Chase (look in the mobile app, and there's an option to check your credit score for free). Discover also allows you to check your credit score for free whenever you want through their mobile app.
If you'd like to check your credit report to make sure their are no errors, delinquencies, or bills that have gone to collections, check out Experian. You can check your credit report and FICO score for free, with the option to upgrade your membership.
If you find out that your credit score is subpar (below a 620), check your credit report to see if there are errors that are negatively affecting your score, apply for a student credit card/secured credit card which helps with building your credit, or have an adult co-sign your lease for you.
Dispelling Myths
Also, it is a myth that your credit score drops whenever you check it. Years ago, when people would look up their credit scores, credit companies would mistake people looking at their credit scores for applying for new credit cards. Luckily, there are no cons to regularly checking at your credit card today.
What to Look for in an Apartment and Common Questions to Ask
Everyone is different, but I'd like to think we all have some similarities for what we'd like in an apartment. Here are some things you should consider when looking for an apartment (other than making sure the rent is in your budget).
What utilities are included? Check and see if your apartment will have any utilities included in the rent such as heat, water, garbage, internet, electricity, or cooking gas.
What's the square footage? Some apartments may have a large square footage, but look small because of the layout or a poor use of space. Can all of your items fit in the bedroom, living room, and kitchen? Do you plan on having friends or your significant other staying the night? Will there be room for guests to sit? Will furniture be able to fit without being too cramped?
What are the neighborhood crime rates? Is there a large amount of break-ins? Car jackings?
What's the parking like? Will you be able to park in the building's garage, or will you have to find street parking? Where do you pay your parking fee?
If the building has more than 3 floors, is there an elevator you can use in case a guest cannot walk up multiple flights? What about carrying groceries?
Is there a laundry room in your building, and if so, how much does a washing machine and dryer cost? If there's no laundry room, is there a laundromat nearby that is walking distance? Or, will you need a car to get to the nearest laundromat?
Can you put holes in the wall (for paintings) or will you have to use command strips?
How many roommates are you allowed to have? It's common for younger Millennials to move into an apartment with a roommate (or three--whatever your situation calls for). So, make sure you ask the landlord or whoever is showing you the apartment how many people can live there. It might be hard to share a two bedroom with three people, so just keep that in mind.
Does maintenance cost extra? If you have a leaky pipe under your bathroom sink, a broken lock on your front door, or any other apartment mishaps, make sure you ask if it'll cost you extra to have your landlord or other maintenance person come out and make the repairs.
How are you supposed to pay rent? My apartment accepts checks dropped off at the main office, manual online payments, and automatic online payments that are deducted from your bank account. Some apartments may accept Venmo, CashApp, QuickPay, Zelle, or only cash. Make sure you know in advance.
When is rent due? It's common that landlords make rent due on the first of the month, but other times, they'll want you to get your payment in before the first of the month in case they need to process the payment.
Will there be any updates made to the apartment before/after you move in? Our apartment was pretty outdated before we moved in, so they let us know that updates would be made AND finished before we would move in. If any updates will be made, make sure you know so that you can be prepared move in later than expected if necessary.
Are pets allowed, and is there a fee if you have one? Some apartments only charge a one-time fee for cats, others charge monthly "rent" for all animals. Other apartments may only accept pets under a certain weight, and others may not accept pets at all. Be aware of this in case you want to bring your furry friend along on your new journey.
When's the earliest and latest move-in date?
How much is the security deposit?
Solid Pieces of Advice for Your First Apartment (From People with Experience in Renting)
"Don't rely on the landlord's promise of how they'll prep the apartment. Find or create a checklist, and do a thorough walkthrough before taking possession."
"Something that helped me was making a list of things that I NEED and another of things I WANT in my apartment."
"Make sure it's clear about how the outdoor spaces should/can be used. We got in trouble for having a campfire in the driveway (perfectly legal) but our landlords got pissed about it."
"Find out if you will be charged for having the landlord do maintenance work on the apartment. And read the lease throughly and highlight anything you have a question about."
"If you have a roommate, make sure you set up clearly understood expectations of each other before signing anything."
"CLEAN before you move in. Scrub floors, walls, bathroom. And vaccuum. Even if landlord says it comes "clean". And make sure you get a cooy of your lease or rental agreement. Also, keep proof of every payment you make."
"Read. The. Lease. Maybe it's a personal pet peeve/law thing, maybe it's actually helpful to being realistic... but I think everyone should read their lease and understand what to expect and what is expected. I feel like many of my peers don't take advantage of the things landlords will (should) be doing and also don't realize what move in/out fees there are and then feel surprised when they have to pay. And I think like sometimes people expect too much of their landlord and that causes stress because you just complain and worry about how they're not fixing it when really it's up to you to fix. (Probably just my own opinion after living in student apartments for 4 years where everything is broken)Basically it's just generally good to know what you're contracting into so you can plan accordingly!"
"Look up landlord reviews, and don't rely on the opinions of aquaintences. My landlord was legit not living in this reality, was super paranoid, and made our living situation pretty miserable."
Check out my previous blog post on helpful links, apps, and resources that can help you with budgeting, apartment hunting, investing, and more!
With Love,
The Wrighter
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