Things to Consider When Getting a First Apartment

[healthy11]

IN THE INTEREST OF "BEING PREPARED" FOR WHEN OUR KIDS LEAVE THE COMFORTS OF HOME AND/OR DORM ROOMS BEHIND, I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA TO SHARE LISTS OF THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN THE TOPIC OF "GETTING A FIRST APARTMENT" COMES UP.
(My son is upset that on-campus apartments are only available to college upperclassmen, and so for all practical purposes, sophomores have no better choices than to live in a shoebox-sized dorm, like freshmen do. That's prompting him to want to look for an off-campus apartment to share with some other students. In his case, that would mean living in a regular city neighborhood, not a "campus community.")

In terms of cost considerations:
- Monthly rent and security deposit (Is it a year-long lease? Do all leases in the area generally renew at the same time, like July 1st? Do kids sign individual leases, or what are criteria for subletting if one student drops out? Do the leases allow the landlord to inspect apt. at any time?)
- Parking fees and gasoline (Is there an assigned parking spot(s) for the apt.? What if multiple kids have cars? If students drive to college/work, must they pay a fee to park there?)
- Utilities (Is heat/cooling included in the rent? Does the apt. even have air conditioning? What about electricity, water usage? What about internet access, phone service, cable TV, etc? Are laundry facilities available in the building?)
- Good idea to purchase renter's insurance
- Need to provide furnishings (In dorm, just needed linens and electronics; probably will now need bed, desk, dresser, kitchen table and chairs, sofa or futon or something to sit on, lamps, not to mention supplies like pots & pans, plates & cups, silverware, measuring cups, vacuum, broom, coffee pot, etc.)
- Need to buy food regularly (Are there "common items," or is each kid assigned a shelf in the refrigerator/pantry to store their own goods?)
- Need to replentish "household goods" (While each person may have their own shampoo/deodorant, what about paying for "common items" like scouring cleanser, dish soap, TP, etc.?)

In terms of time:
- How long will it take to commute to work/school? (If you have a.m. classes, a break, and p.m. classes, will you return to your apt. in between, or study in the library/student union?)
- Need to consider daily time for meal planning, cooking, clean up. (Can't just live on bowls of cold cereal and frozen pizza or carry-out food, and it's not like running into a cafeteria and grabbing stuff that's already prepared. Will kids make their own breakfasts & lunches, but alternate days each cooks dinner for the group? Does each person do their own dishes?)
- Need to consider time for shopping (Besides food, things like the toilet paper won't get replaced automatically as they do in a dorm.)

In terms of security/logistics:
- What is the neighborhood like? Is it close to rapid transit or public transportation? (It's a pain if you don't have a car and you have to carry groceries on the bus from a distant store.)
- Are there mostly students in the building? (There may be more tolerance for loud music playing, but thieves may target those apts. knowing students usually have good electronics and aren't around during certain hours.)
- Is there evidence of rodent or roach problems?

In terms of "getting along:"
Besides working out items mentioned above, need to decide how "entertaining" will be handled. (What if one person wants guests over late, but others have tests or need more sleep? What if they don't like each other's choice of music, or friends visiting?)

I'm sure this is just the "tip of the iceberg" but I encourage people to add their thoughts/suggestions, so that when our kids think they're ready to go out on their own, we'll be a bit more prepared.

[majorv]

That's a good start, healthy! Getting recommendations from other students would be good. This can save some headaches later because you don't want to end up some place where the apt. manager ignores maintenance requests. Since my daughter's college only requires freshmen to live on campus, and her roommate is talking about looking for an apartment next school year, dd isn't sure what to do. I tried to tell her that the good on campus housing may already be taken for next year because they fill up fast. Their college website has a list of all the area apartments with their cost range and other neat information.

[sisdparent]

Just a couple of things off the top of my head:

Check with the police department regarding crime reports, gang activity, drug activity in the area or with previous residents. (My cousin bought a repo'd home and the 2nd week they were living there got a 2am visit from the well armed Warrant Round Up Team looking for the previous owner.)

Pet Issues.... it never fails that someone just has to bring home a Snake, Puppy, Kitten, Ferret or Sugar Glider (Flying Squirrels.... very good choices actually and allowed in some dorms).

A detailed list from the landlord regarding terms for return of Security Deposit. (Carpets and drapes cleaned, yard mowed, all keys returned, painting?)

A reasonable list of repairs that the tenant is responsible for performing, those the landlord wishes to be called for and who is responsible for paying which ones and how the landlord wants needed repairs reported (by phone, email, maintenance form, etc).

Purchase of a non-portable safe (the ones that are about 30 inches require 2 -3 people to move them, but still fit inside a closet. It's just too easy for guests to pick up and pocket items.

And as crazy as this sounds.... room mates need to discuss any potential religious conflicts that may arise. Hubby and I were Catholics living in a heavily Evangelical Protestant area.

Borrowing of vehicles was a big problem back in the day (we were in a rural area with no public transportation)

[healthy11]

Thanks for the additional input...... I actually called a few apartment places near my son's university since I first posted this discussion, and two other things one landlord mentioned:

He does not allow people to hang their own window treatments, but if they want to change to a particular style of drapery or blinds, then he will hang them for a fee. (He said his units usually have old wood trim, and people crack the frames by not doing the job properly.) Similarly, if people want to add phone jacks or cable hook-ups, he needs to be notified.

Most of his apartments have hardwood floors, and he doesn't allow "free weights" in the units.

My husband mentioned that when he was in college, he hooked up a burglar alarm, and whenever they left the apartment, he would set it.... Once he got back from classes and it was "tripped," so he went to the building manager's office to report it, only to be told by the secretary that the manager triggered it when he did a surprise inspection....I don't think all states allow surprise inspections, but it's something that apartment dwellers may want to ask, as well as asking if you're able to install your own alarm system.

[lillian12]

When someone is a teenager and taking on roommates, being very clear about who is responsible for paying, when one person decides to move out, is probably the most important thing on the list! You want to make sure that EVERYONE living in the apartment has his/her name on the lease. If one person leaves, is everyone penalized for breaking the lease? Is this person alone responsible for paying his/her portion of the rent or must the other renters cover it? Kids need to be very clear about these rules, for this is, by far, what is most likely to get them into trouble in their first apartment with roommates. Make sure, you sit down with ALL the kids, who will be living in the apartment, making sure they are very clear about these rules and their financial obligations.

You also need to be very clear about apartment regulations concerning how many people can live in the apartment, just in case girlfriends/boyfriends start moving in, or a roommate starts letting a friend crash on the couch night after night. Knowing this can save you because you may like the roommate and can't stand the boyfriend/girlfriend or mooching friend. Enforcing the apartment's regulations on occupancy is a legitimate way to get rid of the problem person, if need be. You also can bring the landlord in to do the dirty work, just in case you feel threatened doing so yourself. Landlords often will gladly help the kids get rid of a creep that has suddenly taken up residency in the apartment.

A little one that ended up being a big one for me...Are there washers and dryers in the apartment or on the apartment grounds? If they aren't in the apartment, where are they on the grounds? Check them out. Are they working? Do they have "Out of Order" signs on them? Are they all being used? How many are there, in comparison to how many apartments there are? If there is any question about how easily or readily assessible they are, where is the closest laundromat? How far do you have to lug your clothes to and from the laundromat?

[sisdparent]

Something my daughter mentioned the other day is to be careful about posting "being out of town" on your MySpace/FaceBook.... as she put it, might as well leave the door open and hang up a welcome sign.

[healthy11]

I have a friend whose son is a Junior at another college, and she said that her son's apt. landlord refused to rent without every parent co-signing the lease. There are 4 kids, and she said they all had to mail the lease from person to person, to get it signed by parents, before they could move in.

I'm still very reluctant to have my son in an apartment this coming year, and I know I'm not the only parent to feel this way. I got my son to let me talk to one of the "potential roommates" and that kid gave me his parent's #, so I called them. Turns out my husband and I are the only family of all the prospective kids who lives in the same town as the college (we're about an hour away) and the other mother said her husband is going to be in Kuwait with the National Guard, so she doesn't even see how anyone could help move his bed, dresser, etc. from their house 8 hours away, to the school. While we have a Caravan, I don't want to be the "resident moving company" for them.....there is A LOT that needs to be considered in this decision/mess.

[zippity]

Good one!. Me little old 16 year old self jumped out into an apartment with one of my older sister's and two of her emanciapated HS girlfriends in a University town. Trial by fire. I wouldn't trade it for all the experiences in the world but I had a real strong sense of what was morally right and so I did not give into the partying lifestyle.

I will copy your post and keep it. I dread the day my kids ask point blank what I did in my early days. hahahaa I have yet to say "do as I say, not as I did" thanks for such a good outline. I had nothing to model my early days on. I may still not think of all that you have put here until after the fact - typical ADHD mindset.

[sisdparent]

Zip.... I hear you. We still get together with our college friends every couple of year. We laugh about how the older our kids get, the cleaner the stories get (and we were all reasonably good kids). Of course, it always a matter of time, the chair of the English depart where Liz is at College was my HS English teacher, the head of the Biology dept was my drum major and she's met a pretty large number of my friends from High School... or worse yet, their parents!

[sharie001]

Healthy,

I think you'll find that the length/expiration of leases will vary despite it being a college town. Some landlords prefer not to sign a lease, that way it is month to month, thus easier to evict undesirable tennents. After the lease expires it automatically goes month to month until a new lease is signed (in most states).

I would document (video) the rental unit prior to moving in for any wear and tear from previous tennents to avoid losing deposits.

I would suggest, if they have to have room-mates to pay lease, don't pick friends, it could lead to problems. Find a neat, responsible, nerd with no social life (I mean that in a positive way), b/c otherwise get ready for problems studying, sleeping, arguments over bills and cleanup, and so much more.

If sharing apt with friends and get cable/sat tv then I would block all pay-per-view, this can get costly.

Another option (depending or where they are attending school) would be to purchase a used (or new if preferred) RV Travel Trailer (the monthly payment wouldn't be much) and rent a space at an RV park/campground. A lot of campgrounds offer monthly+ rates, have cable tv, laundry facilities, stores, and some even have swimming pools, and more.

As far as internet access goes, add unlimited data connect/internet service to their cellular phone (cost b/w $15-$30 month) plan and order a data cable for their phone off of ebay and tether their phone to computer for high speed internet access, then they have access wherever they go.

[healthy11]

Sharie, thanks for the suggestion to videotape the apartment condition "before," so we can compare what it's like "after." Also, for reminding people of the datalink idea for internet access...(my husband uses one for work, but we haven't checked into pricing the service for personal use.)

[sharie001]

Healthy,

Don't tell phone company you want to use it to tether to computer (they'll charge you more), instead add internet access to the phone to use internet on phone then you can tether without extra charges.

[sisdparent]

I had a 1 bedroom trailer and it was great. Right now you can pick up used trailers for a fraction of the price. It was also inexpensive enough that I didn't have to have a room mate.

[healthy11]

My son attends college near downtown Chicago, and there are no trailers allowed.

[majorv]

healthy, has your son definitely decided to get an apartment? Our daughter is procrastinating what to do, probably because her roommate is putting things off too. If there's a possibility your son may end up staying on campus you may want to look at when housing reservations for next year will start being accepted for sophomores and up. Whatever good dorms they have will go fast. Reservations will start being accepted at dd's college on March 17 and I know nothing will be decided by then. They do have on campus apartments available for sophs but I am positive they will fill fast.

[sisdparent]

Here's a thought..................

Sit down together and write out the budget for the semester on a monthly basis. Use real numbers. You can request utility bill averages by address. Divide deposits for utility/housing over 6 months and don't plan for them be returned. Also, insist on "contingency" money that is saved and accumulated for emergencies.

If the dorm (or commuting) is significantly less expensive offer a compromise. A small increase in their monthly (or weekly) spending money. Then, offer to put the rest of the difference into a savings account with their name on it. That money would then be ready for them with interest when they graduate (or at some other designated time) as a "no strings attached" gift.

Another option is that usually sophomores and up can apply to be Resident Assistants. It varies from campus to campus, but most RA's get to have their room upgraded to a Private or get a reduced rate and earn a paycheck. Include the cost savings to not have to drive off campus to a job and that it automatically works around their class schedule as part of the benefits. Also, most RA's have lots of time to study on the job (which is mostly desk duty).

[suej]

Lots of people learn the HARD way about roommates... who can ruin your credit rating, get you arrested (it's your apartment; if s/he's brought in that little stash of something and you get raided...) so make sure you've got as few unknowns as possible and cover your backsides!

[sisdparent]

And while I'm all for learning from experience, alot of those life experiences that were not considered a big deal when we were in college can have bigger and long term effect today. The "stash" is a good example.... in our day the person who had it was the one who got busted, today it's everyone who's name is on the lease or happens to be visiting is arrested and convicted.

[healthy11]

majorv, the $600 housing deposit was due last week, and this week is when the current students can select their dorms for next year. The kid my son currently rooms with (it was a random assignment) is graduating and so he would have to room with new people in any event, apartment or dorm. The problem is that the school has no on-campus apartments for underclassmen, only juniors & seniors. Virtually all the dorm rooms are the same (tiny shoeboxes) so we're willing to take chances on not being in a specific dorm or on a specific floor, but still having some room available someplace if they end up back on campus and not in an apartment.

Sisdparent, I've run an "expense estimate" and dorm vs. apartment is similar cost-wise, depending on how much they spend on food. The more critical issues to me are safety and time. We're talking about crime in the city (there's an online map the police dept. puts up, identifying incidents in a given community, and when they have an FAQ that says "We only show two week timeframes" so as not to overload the server, and "we only show 8 square block segments" so as not to overload the server, and "the maximum number of events shown is 100" so as not to overload the server, you can pretty well tell that they've got a lot happening in a small area, once you leave the campus boundaries.)

The issue of time includes getting to/from an apartment, and realizing they can't just "dash home for a quick snack or meal"....it takes planning to cook ahead of time, etc...you don't just say, "I'm starving" and magically food appears, like in a dorm cafeteria. (Even if the food is repetitive, do they really think what they prepare will be less-so?)

Your suggestion about being an RA is also good for some kids, but interviews were held already, and with my son's grades, he wouldn't qualify anyway. Unfortunately, one of the kids he wants to get an apartment with HAS been notified of being an RA finalist, and that further complicates the matter, because they don't know if they should be looking for a 2-or-3 bedroom apartment. There simply aren't as many 3-bedrooms available in the residential area near the university, but the other guy (whose mom I spoke to last week) said he doesn't want to live just with my son, they really want someone else, to help share the costs.

Suej, your reminder is appreciated....Unfortunately, I know sometimes even "good" kids can change their behavior when no longer under the watchful eye of RA's and such, and that's what makes the entire apartment situation so much more challenging...Parents are expected to cosign leases around here, without really knowing all the details... Never a dull moment, even after the kids turn 18!

[sisdparent]

Dang that's early....

Housing requests just opened for the girls.

[healthy11]

Yes, Sisdparent, it's early, and their spring break is later (mid-March) so they haven't even gotten mid-term grades yet, and if things don't improve significantly, my son might not return to that school, so there are just a whole bunch of "unknowns."

I had to laugh a little last night, though, because my son and one of the kids he wants to get the apartment with were at a larger grocery store (he took a car to school this week, so they can go shopping off campus) and my son was trying to verify "What's a good price for x,y,z items?" I commented to my husband that it's odd how our son is thinking about saving a few cents here and there on yogurt or cereal, but is less concerned with the apartment costs! (But hey, even a little bit of awareness is better than none!)

[sisdparent]

It's all a learning process.

But do me a favor.... spot him the 20 cents extra to buy real Mac and Cheese..... That storebrand stuff still gives me the willies!

[allreading]

In your son's neighborhood, is there such a thing as a "garage apartment?" In my city, many such apartments are lovely (hard-wood floors, beamed ceilings) and, while smaller than the average apartment, are larger than dorm rooms and relatively inexpensive. And no need for roommates! Some garage apartments are not literally over a garage but are stand-alone mother-in-law suites in the back yard of a substantial home in a desirable area. In my area, they are so popular that the only way to rent one is to drive around and hope you can spot one as the sign is being put into the ground ....

[healthy11]

allreading, it's good to see you again! I'm afraid to say that the neighborhood my son's school is in is an old, working class area....even the "real" apartments are small. This won't mean anything if you're not familiar with the area, but the "safer" residential community is to the west of my son's school, and it's officially known as "Bridgeport," but UNOFFICIALLY it's called "Bridgepit - the armpit of Chicago."

[majorv]

Well, I guess we're taking the plunge! We went apartment shopping over the weekend and lined up a 2 bedroom/1 bath apt right next to the campus. I felt that was required since dd's car was in the body shop for almost 3 weeks earlier this semester...thank goodness she was in a dorm and could walk to class. We found that the complexes around town are running specials right now for the fall - we're getting $60/mo off the rent and a reduced security deposit as well. Most of the apts are offering a 9 month lease. It's unfurnished so we have to scrounge around for bedroom furniture and kitchen stuff. Rather than haul her furniture back home in the summer we're going to rent a climate controlled storage unit up there for the 3 months she's home. We still have her signed up for an on campus dorm just in case this falls through in the next couple of months (never know).

[healthy11]

majorv, I think it's different in a "college town" versus a regular residential area of a big city, but it works in your favor! If you don't mind my asking, how much are they charging, and is the rent agreement written such that your daughter and the friend have separate leases (each paying half the amount) or is there just one lease and it's up to them to split the cost? Did you, as parents, have to cosign the lease?

My son called last Wednesday, and said he and the guy he wants to room with had walked around the neighborhood, and found a tiny 2 bedroom/1 bath apt. on the 3rd floor of a 6-flat unit, about 4 blocks off campus, for $800 month. They'd have to pay their own utilities. It would be a year lease. He wanted to know if we would give him the security deposit.
I asked if his buddy was also getting his parent's approval, and suggested that we could perhaps drive down and see the place over the weekend.

My husband called our son back the next day, when my son was now alone (the prospective roommate was out of earshot) and he now admitted he thought the place was dumpy.....he said the water heater was on a slanting, rickity back porch, and it smelled like gas near it, and there was no air conditioning, and yadda yadda.... I tried to tell him, that's what living in an old building in the city means. Apparently, they had also seen a more modern apartment complex, but it's about a mile away, and rents $1050/month for a 2-bedroom. Again, because Chicago is not a college town, it would be a year-long lease. When you start talking that kind of money, it really is cheaper to go back to the dormitory, except they keep saying how they hate the food, and really want access to a kitchen.....

To further complicate matters, the boy my son wants to room with is now thinking he might enlist in the ROTC program, and most of those kids stay together in a particular dorm, with subsidized fees, so now my son might be out looking for a new roommate as well as a place to live. The only way we can sign him up for an on-campus dorm is by putting down a $600 non-refundable deposit, and we haven't done that yet. Majorv, I gather your daughter's school doesn't have that kind of stipulation, so you aren't risking losing money by holding a dorm room, too?

[majorv]

healthy, we haven't signed the lease yet. DD and her roommate will be filling out the applications this week. They must fill out separate leases, but not sure if the rent will show 1/2 on the agreement. For a 2 bdrm/1 bath - 832 sq ft - the rent will be $569/mo total. We must figure in electricity, cable and internet. The apts fairly new, too. Being in a college town definitely has some advantages, I agree. Yes, we will have to co-sign the lease. It's required if the tenants are students with little income and no credit history.

We currently have a $200 deposit with the school. As long as we request the money by July 1 we will get all but $10 back. Sounds like it's a lot more difficult for your son, being in a city college. Yours is nonrefundable? That just doesn't seem right to me, especially if it's that high.

So far she doesn't have a roommate problem. They were in HS together - both heavy into FFA and both want to be vets. They roomed together in the dorm this year and are still on good terms. I know her mother from being in the FFA booster club, too.

[healthy11]

Unfortunately, the housing deposit at my son's college is non-refundable. I gather they must have raised the amount so high within the past year, because I was reading the student newspaper, and people were complaining about it.
The most frustrating part is that the college does have on-campus apartments, but they're only for upperclassmen. If you're in the dorm as a freshman or sophomore, you're stuck with the school's meal plan (and it's exhorbitantly priced with very few food choices) and that's what really is bothersome to my son. Joining a fraternity would be another option, but that presents a different set of issues.....

[majorv]

Now that you mention that, the college apartments at her school are also for upperclassmen, the exception being that if you're female you can get in them as a sophomore.

I wasn't into the Greek thing in school. I would think it takes a pretty self-disciplined person to be able to balance school work and being active in a fraternity/sorority. I also understand it can get expensive, too.

[healthy11]

Ugh....I think I'm talking to myself sometimes. After all the discussions with my son about getting an apartment, last Wednesday he found out that the friend he hoped to share it with had decided to stay in the dorm after all, and room with another guy. My son finally came to the realization that most of his friends were unwilling to move off campus, so he mentioned that he might just have to give up on his apartment idea for next year, and "take the roll of the dice" as far as random chance of who he would even be with in a dorm assignment. Apparently, he saw the campus housing department and made the $600 deposit on his credit card. I didn't realize that, until I got a frantic call late on Friday, asking "How can you stop a credit card payment?"
It seems he found out that some "friends of a friend" were looking for a 3rd guy to share an apartment, and even though he doesn't know either of the two fellows really well (one, he only knew a first name) he's convinced that's what he wants to do. He hates dorm food so much, he's willing to move in with veritable strangers, and he hasn't even seen the prospective apartment. I believe there's a law that says people have 3 days to cancel a contract that's been made, so hopefully it applies to getting his deposit back from campus housing for the dorm, but I just want to scream!!!!! Obviously, this saga is "to be continued..."