Things you wish you knew when you got your first place

[anabolice30]

About to finish my first year of college and looking intk renting my first apartment. The first time I take a shot at something I usually end up paying for it (financially) so I'm calling upon the r3v sages to steer me in the right direction.

Tl;dr about to get my first place what should I know?

[ELVA164]

Give the landlord a ride in the E30. Only good things can happen from then on.

[ST1G]

About to finish my first year of college and looking intk renting my first apartment. The first time I take a shot at something I usually end up paying for it (financially) so I'm calling upon the r3v sages to steer me in the right direction.

Tl;dr about to get my first place what should I know?

If that was too long to read than the reader probably shouldn't be on a forum. Images would be more their speed.


Check all the rules of the apartment. Can you work on your car? How is parking? Is the management a bunch of fascists?

Honestly, if you can skip an apartment and found a house. Make a room mate contract if you have them.

[Dozyproductions]

Check to see if everything works and make it clear that it should. Being pushed around by the landlord sucks. If possible, live in an area that's accessible and will allow you to get anywhere quick.

Agreed, find a house. Room mates will always be a gamble but try to get as much of a picture of them as you can. They can have the nicest personality but be the biggest slop in the world. A filthy house gets depressing, seriously waffles that shit.

[dustyperez]

when you sit down and make a budget and have 42 dollars left every week and you think thats plenty cuz you have a budget.........stay home. So many on your own expenses that you just dont think about

[Exodus_2pt0]

You can't live off hamburger helper.

A wal-mart futon will only last for about 3 parties, less if you use it as your bed.

Dollar store is your best friend for random household items like dishes and silverware.

Cook large dinners, eat leftovers for lunch.

Goodwill for furniture.

Also, you want to have at least $500 left after bills if you are like me and like to stop at gas stations for random crap on your way to work. Or eat out for lunch. All those micro expenses add up.

And the most important one, read your lease. Read the damn thing, because you will get screwed if you don't.

[evandael]

ask family about any crap furniture they have

know a friend with a truck

craigslist is your friend

[Andy.B]

I also highly recommend renting a house or a duplex, as opposed to renting from a complex.

Aside from goodwill and friends/family for household items, I also love flea markets, garage sales, and antique stores instead of buying new. Also, just like it's a waste to spend money on cheap inferior car parts, it's a waste to buy cheaply made furniture and housewares. Buy one good frying pan and one good pot vs buying a 29.99 14 piece set from walmart. Buy a couple good knives and a sharpener. Buy solid wood cabinets/tables/etc, that can be sanded and painted or stained instead of particle board furniture.

I wasted so much money in my twenties re-buying small items throughout my home by buying shiny, new, but cheap items instead of used, well made products.

Also, if you can, find a place with laundry hookups, and buy a used washer and dryer for a few hundred dollars, instead of sinking quarter after quarter into laundromats.

[Exodus_2pt0]

Oh yes, I forgot to mention.

A few cast iron pans is worth 1,000 cheap ones. I literally have 1 pan that I cook everything in.

[Andy.B]

Oh yes, I forgot to mention.

A few cast iron pans is worth 1,000 cheap ones. I literally have 1 pan that I cook everything in.

So true. For more ideas of how to spend your dollars wisely by making sure you are buying quality products, check out the subreddit Buy it for life

[AndrewBird]

Take pictures and make notes about EVERY problem with the apartment when you move in. If there is a small dent/scratch in a wall, photo it and make sure it is noted on your move-in paperwork. Otherwise when you move out they will stick you with paint a whole wall at some outrageous price like $100 or something.

If you can avoid it, don't get an apartment. Roommates are WAY better than your asshole neighbor who makes a shit ton of noise at 2AM. Not to mention parking ALWAYS sucks, no garage, more expensive, etc..

[flyboyx]

try to avoid apartment complexes if you can. they suck. the neighbors often suck too.

[rzerob]

Talk to the potential neighbors about their neighbors. If you ask them what kind of neighbor they are they will likely tell you they can walk on water. But the guy two houses down he is an ass who has loud parties every Saturday. And when you talk to the guy who is supposedly an ass he will tell you the neighbor you just talked to is a tattle tale and calls the cops if you rev your car too loud. People are hesitant to talk to you about themselves but usually don't mind telling you about people they have a problem with.

[george graves]

check out the subreddit Buy it for life

Awesome - I'll have to remember that one.

[MoparJ]

craigslist is your friend

Yep. Troll the "Free" section religiously......you'd be surprised at all the useful things people just want to get rid of.

Oh, and if you want to get all or most of your deposit back when you move out, make people take their shoes off before trudging on the carpets and don't put too many holes in the walls. ;)