Dos and Don’ts of Apartment Living

Apartment living definitely has its perks—and it’s downfalls. You don’t have to be the one to deal with (or pay for) maintenance when the hot water goes out or the refrigerator is on the fritz, and it’s a lot easier to break a lease than sell a house if you decide you want to make a spontaneous move. On the flip side, toxic roommates, bad landlords, unexpected rent increases, and aforementioned problems with things like hot water and appliances are things that apartment renters often find themselves facing.

Finding a balance between the good and the bad of apartment living is partly about attitude and partly about doing your own part to keep the situation as positive as possible. Because as it turns out, you actually do have quite a bit of control over how your rental situation goes. Here are the dos and don’ts all renters should be following.

Do inspect the unit carefully upon move-in

On your first day in a new apartment, you’ll have the opportunity to note any flaws, including structural problems like chipping paint or water damage as well as things like making sure all of the outlets work correctly and there’s no mold in the shower. While you probably just want to hurry up and start unpacking, do your due diligence here and inspect carefully, being sure to snap pictures of anything that you find. Your landlord is responsible for fixing these flaws, and you’ll be able to get them taken care of before you’re fully settled. Plus, if you don’t note them now, you may find yourself on the hook for them when it’s time to move out.

Don’t be a bad neighbor

Be the person that you’d like to live next door to, whether your neighbors are other tenants in the same building or people who live in adjacent homes. What does that entail? It’s more than just giving a smile when you run into someone in the hallway. Being a good neighbor, at least when it comes to apartment living, is about residing in your home in such a way that it doesn’t interfere with anyone else. Keep your music at a reasonable level, don’t throw a ton of raucous parties, and be mindful of doing your part to keep common areas clean.

Do consider getting a roommate

Apartment living isn’t cheap. The national average for a one-bedroom apartment is $950 a month, with that number skyrocketing for certain cities (want to rent a one-bedroom apartment in San Francisco? It’ll set you back more than $2,400 a month). With costs so high, it makes total sense to give your budget a break and divvy up the rent with a roommate. The national average for a two-bedroom apartment isn’t too much higher than it is for a one-bedroom at $1,178, and split between two people you’d be saving a lot of dough. Just be sure to take your roommate search seriously, watching out for roommate red flags and asking question to make sure you’ll be compatible housemates

Do make it your own

Just because it’s a rental doesn’t mean it can’t feel like home. Make the most of apartment living by putting your own personality into your unit. If your lease allows for things like painting the walls or nailing hooks in the walls for art, then go for it. But even if it doesn’t you can still put a personal touch on the place that you live. Display things that make you happy, like décor finds and pictures of friends and family, and use temporary decals and wall art to modify the space in a way you can easily undo when your lease is up.

Don’t wait to report maintenance issues

Issues with your water, electricity, heating/cooling, and pests will only get worse the longer you let them linger. It’s always better to report problems as soon as they arise so that your landlord can call in an expert to take care of them. It could mean the difference, for example, between a small leak that can be plugged up with no damage and a huge leak that causes extensive damage to your floor and the ceiling below you.

Do engage in regular cleaning

The chore list doesn’t stop once you move out of your parents’ house—it actually gets a little bit longer. You’re the one responsible for keeping your apartment clean, and you’re the one who will have to pay the price if you don’t (roaches in the kitchen, anyone?). It’s fine to skip making your bed or to leave dirty dishes in the sink overnight, but get in the habit early on of doing regular cleaning tasks that prevent your space from getting truly grody. Once a week, vacuum and/or mop the floors, clean the bathroom (disinfectant wipes are a godsend here), and wipe down countertops, and always take the garbage out as soon as it fills up. If you really can’t bring yourself to do these things and it’s in your budget, look into getting a cleaning service.

Don’t forget about your savings account

It can be hard to save money when you’ve got rent eating up a big portion of your paycheck every month, but it’s important to always be saving. Stay within your budget in how much you take on in rent, what you buy for your apartment, and your lifestyle while you’re renting. You want to make sure you have enough money to cover your rent for at least a few months if you lose your job, and it’s always advisable to have a financial cushion. Use an emergency fund calculator to get a good idea of how much you should be setting aside every month.

Finding that perfect space is just one small part of apartment living. Putting in just a little bit of effort can make the difference between a rental that you can’t wait to get out of and a rental that you love coming home to. So follow the advice above and do your best to make the most of your time as a tenant. One day you’ll own your own home and long for the days when things like home maintenance and property taxes were somebody else’s problem.