Moving Out Need Advice

GregFlik

GregFlik

Member
So I've been looking at places with a friend of mine today in my area with 2 bedrooms ranging in cheap prices to higher end of our budget (~500/month per person). Some come with utilities, some come with a gym/pool, and some come with a washer/dryer.

I may not be looking at all of the specs that I should be, so I wanted to see what types of things I should look for/inquire about when looking for a place.
 
Having utilities included is really really nice. Especially if you have some mother fucker in your basement like I do - you never know if that son of a bitch has like 8 4K TV's going 24 hours a day playing Brazzers and a couple of indoor weed plants. You don't want to split utilities with someone like that.
 
I don't think I would ever live in a place that doesn't have its own laundry again. You don't realize how convenient it is until you don't have it.
 
Sound dampening in the walls

efficiency of heater in the house and how well the house does holding the heat in
 
Washing machine and Dry combo are a huge priority, but what about like a gym in the facility, or garage/allocated spots? Also How many people would be too many to live with? I've seen 3 and 4 bedrooms in a decent location at 220 a month per person.
 
If your looking at an apartment complex which it sounds like you are they usually show you a staged show room thing. I'd ask if you can see an actual room because sometimes the showroom can be a lot nicer than the actual rooms.
 
13555132:GregFlik said:
Washing machine and Dry combo are a huge priority, but what about like a gym in the facility, or garage/allocated spots? Also How many people would be too many to live with? I've seen 3 and 4 bedrooms in a decent location at 220 a month per person.
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If you can find 3 people you think you will be comfortable living with, I have not felt crowded in a 4 bedroom 2 bath with 4 of us. S

Wouldn't want more than that though.
 
Laundry, parking, amenities, and heat source/construction play a bigger role than almost anything else. You always think you can get away with some of these until you're three months into winter, walking 4 blocks to get your car, losing money in order to heat a house with a draft, and having to carry laundry to the mat once a week.

More money up front will save you more in the end.
 
One of my biggest problems always seems to be guest parking. Is there a place they can park near by? Can they park on the street overnight (a lot of cities have ordinances where you can't park on the street from 2 to 5 am.

My other issue is sunlight. Does the place get sunlight or is it a dark hole.

Neighbor noise doesn't really ever bother me, but I know you can typically request to spend a night in the unit to hear the neighbors and get a feel for the amenities offered.

Also, just because you both can afford $500 ish a month, doesn't mean a landlord will see it that way. In most places they run a credit check and you need to be able to prove that your rent is less than 30% of your take home income. It's super easy to get parents to cosign leases though and typically only 1 parent is needed, so if yours cant and your friends can, that's enough.
 
Where are you looking at moving? Laundry and dishwasher are key. Not some much the dishwasher, but it is so nice to just leave your shit in the washer or dryer and not have to sit there and wait for it to finish.

Heat is a big one. What kind of heat? How well insulated in the apartment? Can you control the temp. Stay away from electric. That shit will run up your heating bill in the winter?

Storage space is also really nice. My current apartment comes with it's own storage and it's so nice. I put all my car shit/tools in one part, kayak/ fishing gear in another and have a workbench with my skiing stuff.
 
Personally I like alone time and privacy so I would choose a place that was less fancy but cheaper so I wouldn't need so many people splitting costs. Washer/dryer and dishwasher were a huge huge priority for me, I refused to look at places that didn't have at least a dishwasher and w/d hookups - w/d can be found on Craigslist cheap.

I also really prefer places that aren't apartment complexes if possible, because they tend to be more laid back with rules and management isn't up your butt all the time. Right now I live in a house that was turned into 4 apartments and it's perfect, everyone just does their thing and no one cares if there's some music or weed smells or whatever coming from one apartment or another. Amenities like a gym/pool or garage spot are nice but not things I personally would pay extra for (I pay for a separate gym membership anyway) unless parking is an issue where you live, in which case, find somewhere with a designated parking spot. Driving up after a long day at work and finding there's no where even sort-of close to park is the worst.
 
Laundry and dishwasher and plumbing that works. If you have lots of people maybe an extra hot water tank too. Utilities are usually $50-$100 each per month so factor that into your cost.
 
If it's possible to sign separate leases/a lease per room then do it. Then if for whatever reason your roommate moves out or doesn't pay, you aren't responsible for his share of the rent.
 
13555538:Mingg said:
If it's possible to sign separate leases/a lease per room then do it. Then if for whatever reason your roommate moves out or doesn't pay, you aren't responsible for his share of the rent.
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This, first time room mates will always try to dip out and leave you with all the rent/bills.

also, figure out a plan to pay on those ASAP so you don't get stuck paying them and have to deal with collecting money from them.
 
Something not mentioned yet...landlord/maintenance. A lot of landlords will say anything to get you to sign that lease, but soon after they turn into douchecanoes. If something breaks are they right on it or do they delay forever until you move out and they have to fix it? Do they answer their phone and email or do you constantly have to track them down and hound them to do something? A big one, will they try and screw you out of your deposit?

You can look up a lot of reviews online now which is nice and find out this stuff before you sign.
 
13555121:iFlip said:
Get a place wish a dishwasher. Trust me on this.
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Idk. I've only used one maybe twice. I prefer to just wash my dishes after I use them. Im weird though.

Def get on site washer and dryer. In unit washer and dryer even better. It's so nice when it's so convenient you almost wash stuff you don't even need instead of people handing you changes on your walk to the laundromat because you look like a homeless guy living in a dumpster.
 
13555715:AlsoKnownAs said:
Idk. I've only used one maybe twice. I prefer to just wash my dishes after I use them. Im weird though.

Def get on site washer and dryer. In unit washer and dryer even better. It's so nice when it's so convenient you almost wash stuff you don't even need instead of people handing you changes on your walk to the laundromat because you look like a homeless guy living in a dumpster.
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I lived in a house without a dishwasher and 3 or 4 other roomates and the dish piles got ridiculous. It's more of a way to keep the mess down if you have messy roomates.
 
13555717:PoLaRpEaK said:
I lived in a house without a dishwasher and 3 or 4 other roomates and the dish piles got ridiculous. It's more of a way to keep the mess down if you have messy roomates.
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I just avoid messy roommates now. Although last summer I lived with some Austrians that were horrible. I just kept a plate and silverware in my cupboard and didn't fuck with the sink. Shit was gnarly.
 
13555737:AlsoKnownAs said:
I just avoid messy roommates now. Although last summer I lived with some Austrians that were horrible. I just kept a plate and silverware in my cupboard and didn't fuck with the sink. Shit was gnarly.
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Haha I had a roomate once who used paper plates so he didn't have to do dishes.
 
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