It’s that time of the year again. That’s right freshmen (and some sophomores), it’s time to prepare to leave the dorms. As most of you know, January is the month that most of the housing in the area is leased for next year. While this is exciting for first-time renters, it is also a very serious endeavor that requires some careful thought and consideration.
I remember the first time I walked around the off-campus area to find a place to live. The overwhelming emotion that I felt was that of excitement. After our initial search began with four members in our group, we decided that a larger house would be to our benefit. In retrospect, maybe that wasn’t the wisest decision we’ve ever made. Though I certainly enjoyed the year with a larger group of roommates, we downsized to a five-person apartment this past fall, in part, because of friction between roommates.
What’s my point? What most people don’t realize is that moving off campus in large groups is often a crapshoot when it comes to in-house dynamics. In our house last year, I knew four of the other roommates very well before moving in. The other three, however, were friends that I didn’t hang out with as much freshman year. Now, I’m pretty easygoing and I got along well with mostly everyone, but when you have eight guys living in a house together, there’s going to be some conflict.
So, when you’re preparing to move off campus, take these ideas into account.
First, know your roommates. I was very lucky to have the three acquaintances turn into good friends. However, one of the kids that I considered to be a very good friend turned out to be quite a different person after we moved in. So, be sure that you know your roommates, and know them well.
Secondly, always sign a roommate agreement. State very clearly in a written contract that everyone is responsible for their end-of-year cleaning or finding someone who is there to clean in their stead. Otherwise, they forfeit their deposit. This is a very big deal because when it comes time to distribute a bunch of money people are going to have varying opinions on how it is distributed. So make sure that there are no questions about the deposit, or else a disgruntled former roommate might take you to small-claims court.
Third, check the house’s utilities. Ask the current residents about their monthly bills. Don’t rent a huge house that spews heat in the winter. I shudder to think of some people’s gas bills during this freezing weather. I still shudder when I think of our bills from last year. Also, be careful of renting a house with a 50-year-old furnace like we did last year. Our pilot light went out during a party last February and it was below 40 degrees in the house when we woke up.
Finally, once you move in, be very careful of theft. Always lock your room door. Many times, a theft can be prevented just by locking your door. If you live in a larger house, never leave your door unlocked when you aren’t there. Oftentimes, it’s a roommate who is the culprit in thefts of DVDs or video games. Also, be sure to keep an eye on CDs and stereo equipment during parties.
Now, I know you’re saying, “This will never happen to me” or “I know my friends really well.” Well, I was saying the exact same things two years ago, yet all of the above happened to me. Moving off campus is not just the fun that we all expect it to be. It’s also a risk, especially when you’re living in large numbers. So be careful young freshmen. It only takes one bad roommate to ruin an otherwise excellent year.
