We’ve all been there. You finally get to choose a place of your own. The dorms didn’t count; no one wanted to live there. The Fort is an open canvas ready for you and your future roommates to claim your plot and leave your mark.
However, before you sign a lease on the first place you tour based on the fact that it is a five-minute walk from both campus and the Strip, take the time to think through your decision. Don’t take signing a lease lightly, and don’t let your landlord gloss over the fine print.
Here are some questions that you might want to keep in mind. After all, it never hurts to ask.
- Is laundry free and on site? If not, how much is it? This. Is. Crucial. Hygiene in college is sporadic enough. Don’t make keeping your clothes fresh any harder on yourself.
- How do we handle neighbor disputes within the complex? Whether it’s over noise, parking or walking around naked with the shades open, you may run into some complaints either about your neighbors or about you. Be prepared for how to handle it.
- Have you ever had a bug or pest problem in the building? I can attest to the fact that fleas are a thing in Fort Sanders. So are cockroaches.
- Is this house going to be condemned or not (believe it or not this may be a necessary question)? If drastic repairs will need to be made halfway through the year that involve a construction crew camping out on your porch for six months, you’ll want to know about it.
- Has anyone died in this apartment? Granted, the Fort is a giant battleground, so the whole plot of land is probably a graveyard. But taking even more of a gamble with haunted houses may be something you want to avoid. Séance at your own risk.
- How safe is this location and/or have you had any police reports filed regarding the property over the past few years? The Fort has at least one reported shooting each year, but that doesn’t mean that every street is high risk. Verify the safety of your particular location, if only to ease your parents’ minds.
- What is their subleasing policy? Again … This. Is. Crucial. Especially if you live in a large complex. Find out ahead of time if your apartment has the right to move an entire family into your roommate’s vacated room over the summer, or else you may come home to a surprise one night.
- How much alteration are you allowed to do to the space? Believe it or not, having your own apartment doesn’t mean having a fuchsia porch and a gnome garden in the front yard. Save that dream plan for retirement and check with your landlord before making any major property alterations, including something as simple as putting a grill on the porch.
Keep these in mind as you plan your next year living plans and happy house hunting.
