At some point in every almost-adult’s life, they find themselves facing a sudden need for housing that isn’t a matchbox-sized prison cell masquerading as a dorm room. Renting your first house or apartment- a process I’m currently in the middle of- is a scary, very real adult thing. Nobody knows more about scary real adult things than the cast of Grey’s Anatomy, so here they are to tell you about 10 feelings you’ll have when you’re moving into your first house.
1. When you start the process of finding a place to live:
Living with your parents growing up requires little to no logisitical effort on your part, and when you live in a dorm you’re told where you live, who to give money to, and who you’re living with by your school. Living on your own for the first time means that
2. When you realize you have to find somewhere to rent:
Nothing like the soul-crushing terror that comes with realizing you’re actually responsible for putting a roof over your head now.
3. When you’re filling out rental applications and realize you have atrocious credit:
Nobody tells you that in order for the world to trust you with any variety of responsibility they want you to have a credit history, and for a sheltered 19-year-old who doesn’t pay any bills except to Netflix and Spotify that’s terrifying.
4. Begging landlords to choose you to live in their house:
Hardwood floors! Granite counter tops! A neighborhood you can walk around in safely at night without getting caught in the middle of a drug deal! You’ve found a beautiful place to live, it’s within budget, you love it- now to convince the person renting that you’re the tenant for them.
5. When you fall in love with a house and realize it’s waaaaaay out of budget:
Sure, it has everything you want and more… but you’d also have to sell a kidney a month to pay for it. Either get a second source of income or kiss the lovely shade trees and oversized backyard goodbye.
6. When you’re on what feels like your hundredth application and you’re about to quit and live in a box:
It’s pretty easy to fall into a pit of negativity and despair after you haven’t heard back from a bajillion different landlords. Don’t kick yourself too much- you probably won’t be homeless. Maybe.
7. When you finally get approved to rent somewhere:
You did it! Congratulations! You’ll have a roof over your head when you need one! Dance it out.
8. When you’re signing the lease:
This is the first major legal document a lot of people will ever deal with. Odds are, you won’t understand half of it. Seek help when necessary and don’t cry too much!
9. When it comes time to pay your security deposit:
You want HOW MUCH? Are you SURE that decimal is in the right place?
10. Moving all your stuff:
God forbid you be able to find your toothbrush or medications or shoes or anything that you might actually need to function but at least you know exactly where your paper plate award from that one musical you did in high school is.
