A month ago, my roommate and I began searching for a house to rent. We had 7 weeks to find a place to live, and I had to find a job. Panic ensued, and I knew we had to work around the clock to make this a success. Now, we are both employed and have an amazing little duplex nestled in the Swannanoa Valley.
That being said, here are 3 things I learned from renting my first house.
- I had no idea what I was doing.
Co-signers? Security deposits? Craigslist scammers? My roommate and I dove into this head-first, and we didn’t really have any idea what was going on. However, we are fortunate enough to live in a world where all the answers were at our fingertips (thanks Google!). - Housing is expensive.
We definitely knew this going into the process, but it was overwhelming how many homes were crossed off our list because they exceeded our $1000/month budget (just for 2 bedrooms!). Thankfully, after lots of trial and error, we found a gem only 10 minutes away from campus and now it is ours. - Keep in contact.
Make sure you answer phone calls, and return missed calls as quickly as you can. If you call someone and do not get an answer, leave a message, making sure you clearly state your name, phone number (preferably state this twice), and your reason for calling.
Being a first-time renter is extremely stressful, and not something to take lightly. Be prepared to put in as much effort as you possibly can, and don’t give up! Persistence is key.