Tips for First-Time Renters

Student Lounge College Life
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<p>Just some general questions for first-time studio apartment renters. Any tips are very welcome. I know I belabor this topic extensively, but I'm just stressed out about surviving my potential living arrangements next year.</p>

<p>*How do you pay bills?! Yes, seriously. Is it automatically set up through your bank account, or is it safer, cheaper, and/or better to simply mail in checks?
*How do you set up utilities and internet service prior to moving in? For example, say I wanted to get AT&T internet for my studio apartment, and I wanted to make sure it was up and running efficiently by the time I moved in...what steps should I take to get everything to that ideal stage?
*How do I deal with something that breaks? Do I have to pay to have maintenance fix it, or is that included in the rent somehow?</p>

<p>Lastly, I've never lived alone, and I have no earthly clue--yet--how to cook or clean effectively and efficiently. Are there any general tips you may have for me? Maybe something along the lines of...don't leave the stove on!</p>

<p>Anyone with experience transitioning from a double dorm into a studio apartment PLEASE pitch in about the lifestyle change shock. Do you prefer the studio apartments and living alone, or do you feel lonely and miss having roommates?</p>

<p>EDIT: Also, how long is it safe to have items such as frozen meals, milk, and cheese go without refrigeration? The supermarket I go to with my friends is an hour and a half bus ride away (with waiting times and transfers included), and I'm not sure if that's safe for refrigerated or frozen products.</p>

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<li> Regarding utility bills, I just pay online on the due date (most companies have an online bill-pay set up). </li>
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<p>I don’t use automatic withdraws as it could result in some complications if there’s a problem or error with the bill (which has happened with my electric bill when they claimed I owed $700/month for electricity when it was actually $80/month)then I would have to fight to get my money back which is usually a bigger hassle and they’ll just credit your account instead of return the money, so if you were saving funds for something else, you could get into trouble. In short, I just don’t trust them enough for automatic withdraw.</p>

<ul>
<li><p>You usually can’t get utilities like cable or internet set up prior to moving in. Things like gas and electricity, you can. For internet and cable, they usually come in to hook everything up and even if it’s as simple as plugging in your computer - they will still want to come in and double-check. </p></li>
<li><p>You shouldn’t have to pay for anything that breaks. The management is supposed to either fix it themselves, pay for someone to fix for you orreimburse you if you choose to pay for another company to fix it.</p></li>
</ul>

<p>Tips:
Before or on the day of move-in, note any damages and alert the management about them, also get some sort of receipt to prove you told them about the damages. So when you move out, you aren’t getting charged for something you didn’t ruin.</p>

<p>Also, make sure everything works on move-in day. </p>

<p>I prefer to clean a little everyday, even if it’s just a 10-minute cleaning session, so that it doesn’t pile up to some huge mess at the end of the week.</p>

<p>Find out how you’re supposed to dispose of boxes and trash. My super threw a fit about everyone on the floor was disposing their boxes.</p>

<p>A huge electricity saver is investing in a personal heater and fan as opposed to using the system in the apartment. </p>

<p>-
Regarding transitioning, it wasn’t hard for me at all. I don’t think I could tolerate moving back into a dorm. However, even in a dorm, I never had a roommate so living alone in an apartment versus living alone in the dorm wasn’t a big switch.</p>

<p>For food: as long as the food is still cool when you touch it, you should be okay. Once it starts warming up is when you should begin to worry.</p>

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<p>Plattsburg loser convered pretty much everything: Although regarding internet/cable, you can call the company you want to instal these things in advance, so that they’re setting it up while you’re moving in.</p>

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<p>Good post, thanks for tips.</p>

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Buy a cooler such as an Igloo; often you can pick these up cheap at garage sales. That said, I can’t imagine why you use this store. Other college kids in your town buy groceries somewhere, and I can’t imagine a college full of kids making a 1.5 hr trip to buy groceries every week. There must be a closer option.</p>

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<p>The closer option is unfortunately twice as expensive as the grocery store 1.5 hr away, and I honestly do not mind the weekly grocery trip. Not to mention that I am very picky about the products I buy, and this particular store appeals to me in this manner as well, but I do realize I can purchase groceries at a nearby location should I run out of my stocks! Thank you for the cooler tip, great idea…hopefully I can find one in a size I can decently carry around.</p>

<p>GREAT tips, PlattsburghLoser. Why is it that you prefer living alone? It seems as though most students choose to have roommates instead, and I am just very worried about losing touch with the social aspects of college if I choose to live alone in a studio apartment!</p>

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<p>I think it’s more of a matter of practicality than preference. A fully furnished, all inclusive single/studio around here runs in the $800+/month range, while a 4/4 or something of the sort is about $530/month on average. I’d live alone if I could afford it.</p>

<p>Instead of a bulky cooler, perhaps you could invest in one of those cheap insulated bags they sell for cold items at the grocery stores. They’re typically foldable.</p>

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<p>Regarding cleaning: unplug anything you’re going to clean before you clean it, unless you want to get electrocuted. Also, electric and water do not mix, ever. If you have a food-grinder in the sink, make sure there’s nothing in it (your fingers especially, and anything else you value) before you turn it on.</p>

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<p>^^ the OP is a first time renter, not ■■■■■■■■.</p>

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<p>^ The OP specifically said:</p>

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<p>Well, I’m an only child so I’m kind of used to having my own space all of the time. I don’t think I’ve ever really had to live with others (excluding parents), so I’d probably go a little crazy with roommates.
You can always invite people over when you’re feeling lonely. One of my friends spends the night in my spare bedroom almost every weekend because she can’t stand her roommate in the dorm – which is tolerable for me, because I know she’ll eventually leave.</p>