Landlording vs. Property Management – How to Know the Difference
Landlording vs. Property Management – How to Know the Difference
By: David Lindahl – RE Mentor, Inc.
If you are buying and holding either single or multi-family properties, you may be wondering whether you are a landlord or an investor doing property management.
Having been an investor acting as a landlord (by managing my own properties) and currently being an investor practicing property management, I can tell you that the difference in the mentality of an investor who is a “landlord” is vastly different from an investor who is practicing “property management.”
When I bought my first three-family apartment building just over 13 years ago, I was the manager, maintenance man, plumber, carpenter, leasing agent, housekeeper, etc. If it had to be done, I did it. I was a “landlord.” This went on for a three and one-half year period, as I acquired more and more three- to six-family buildings.
I created more and more systems until finally I hired an office staff and gave up day-to-day control of the properties and began to oversee the systems that I now had in place. I had transitioned into “property management.”
As I write this article, I currently own over 6,000 apartment units in eight different states.
Landlord Pros
There are certain benefits to managing your own property and being a “landlord.” The primary benefit is control. As a landlord you have total control over your property. You know exactly what your tenants are doing, what your exposure is going to be at the end of the month, what marketing is the most effective, what your cash flows are and what your expenses will be on your properties.
You have total control over your cash flows; you collect the rents, you pay the bills, and you have your finger on the pulse of the action because everything goes through you. Another benefit is increased cash flow. With the average management company charging 10% of gross collected rents, that’s money that you are not paying out of the property as a monthly expense. As a result, you have more money in your pocket at the end of each month.
You have absolute control over expenses; you decide what repairs need to be made and when they will be made. You may even do the repairs yourself to save more money. For those repairs that require contractors, you meet with the contractor, get the bids but more importantly, you get a “gut” feeling as to the character of the contractor and whether or not you want to do business with him/her.
Most landlords that I know are landlords because they want this control and they don’t want to give it up. They feel that if they hand over their asset to a third party, they will not be able to run it as efficiently as they do.
You must realize that when you are a landlord, you are in the tenant business. Your sole purpose is to keep that tenant happy, handle the tenant needs, account for the tenant cash flows and pay the expenses that it costs to keep the tenant in the building. While it is true that you are technically an investor, your main business is serving other people’s needs.
As mentioned earlier, I did that for over three and one-half years. I liked having that control over my properties. In that time frame, I accumulated over 104 apartment units and my monthly cash flow was in the high five figures a month. I thought I was King of the Hill!
The benefits the investor gains by being the “landlord” of his properties are offset by the long-term gains that he loses by managing the property himself. While the landlord is collecting his rents, handling his tenant needs and complaints (Oh, every once and a while, tenants call to say how happy they are to be living in your property but that’s every ONCE in a while!), making repairs, and paying the bills — the investor could be out attracting more deals, creating more cash flows and cashing more checks.
Landlord Cons
While I was King of the Hill, I must admit, there were a few things I didn’t like. I didn’t like collecting the rents every month. Oh, it was great when they sent them in by mail to my P.O. Box but I didn’t like going out to collect them. You might be asking, “What’s not to like about collecting rents? People are giving you money!”
Yes, that part I liked; what I didn’t like was when the tenant would ask me to come back in a couple of days. Or when they weren’t home, I would have to go back again. By the time I collected all of the rents; it was time to start collecting them again for the next month.
I didn’t like fixing clogged toilets on Saturday mornings when my favorite real estate infomercial was on. I didn’t like fixing clogged toilets at any time of the day or night, for that matter. Though I must admit, I was always curious to see what was going to pop up after I pushed that plunger up and down a few times. Sometimes it was very funny; I remember one time a doll’s head popped up from the depths of the flush – I wondered what the “Tidy Bowl” man did with the rest of her.
I liked collecting the checks and making the deposits but I didn’t like paying the bills every month. It wasn’t the bill paying that bothered me, we all have to pay for our services but it was the process; collect all the bills, open the mail, rip off the stub, put remainder in that bill’s receipt folder, write the check, make the journal entry, stick both stub and check in envelope, adhere stamp, lick envelope, write in return address, etc. Doing that for one or two properties is easy; doing it for 22 properties is two to three nights’ work. I was very happy when I delegated that chore out (Of course I continue to sign the checks).
Of the many things I grew tired of while being a landlord, the one thing that always made me crazy was showing the apartments. The first thing I learned is that half the people don’t show up. You take time away from your family to go to the property to meet a person and they don’t have the courtesy to call you and tell you that they are not going to be there. You take time to drive there, wait for at least a half an hour (Hoping that they will show because you also know that most of the people have no respect for your time and come late), and then drive home.
Even when they would call that day and confirm that they would make the appointment, a lot of them wouldn’t show up! I finally adopted the policy of having them meet me at my corner donut shop (Later, in my office) and then we would drive to the property, regardless of how far away it was from the donut shop. I learned that if they didn’t show within ten minutes, I could be back in my home office back at work in two minutes. And when they showed up late, they usually called and I would simply walk out my door and meet them.
If you are experiencing those pains right now, you are a “landlord,” although those pains are offset by cash flow, financial freedom and pride of ownership.
But then I discovered something at the three and one-half year mark. I discovered that if I gave up a little of the control, I could give up a lot of the madness and I could make more money faster. I had graduated to “property management.”
Property Manager
Let’s not confuse “property manager” with “property management.” A “property manager” acts like a landlord but doesn’t own the property; he/she is being paid a fee for his/her services. The one major responsibility of the “property manager” is tenant retention. Keep those tenants happy because your tenants are your cash flow. When practicing “property management,” you hire a manager to oversee all of the day-to-day activities.
Property Management
“Property management” is the overseeing of the systems that it takes to keep a property running at maximum profits. “Property management” oversees a system of reports; traffic reports, maintenance logs, exposure reports, profit and loss statements, executive summaries, budgets, and forecasts.
Instead of showing units to prospective applicants, an investor looks at a traffic report every Monday. The traffic report tells you how many people came to see the property during the last week, what marketing got them there and how many were converted into tenants.
Instead of going out to fix clogged toilets, the maintenance log tells the investor how many tenants called in for repairs, and when they were scheduled for completion by the maintenance man or handy man, and what the approximate cost was.
Exposure reports tell the investors how many vacant units there are, how many are pre-leased, what the physical occupancy is and what the economic occupancy is (the people who are in the unit and paying rent). It reports to the investor how many leases are coming due and in which months. The investor can then instruct the “property manager” to either ramp up or ramp down his marketing efforts.
The profit and loss statement is prepared each month along with an executive summary. The “property manager” reports to the investor exactly what the profits and losses were, as derived from the income and expenses.
The executive summary explains the profit and loss statement and variances from the proposed budget that the “property manager” created at the beginning of the year and is now tracking on a monthly basis.
Viva La Difference
Reading reports and tracking progress instead of dealing with tenants and maintenance issues allows an investor to go after more deals and create more cash flow: the end result is that he/she becomes wealthier — faster.
While initially landlording for three and one-half years, I created a portfolio of 104 units. In the next three and one-half years, my involvement in property management allowed me to increase that portfolio by another 706 units. Same amount of time, different investing mentality.
Today my portfolio is over 6,000 units and growing. The difference between being a “landlord” and being involved in “property management” is the difference between working in your business versus working on your business.
You can play more golf if you have affordable housing
As a golf professional for over 10 years I have found a trend in players that play more golf. All of these players have affordable housing. They usually spend more time on the course then they do at home. With this knowledge they seek out apartments that dont offer the all the frilly amenities. They look for a small place for them to eat and sleep. When I ask players how many more rounds they would like to play? The response is between 2 and 4 times more a month. If you can find an apartment that is on the lower end of prices you should be able to afford an extra round or two each month depending on the green fees at your favorite “affordable course”.
You can stretch those extra dollars for golf if you consider buying a discount/patron card at your local course. Most courses offer a discount or patron card. It may require a small fee that can be applied to your next green fee. Another way to play more is to play during the evening. All public courses offer “twilight” green fees. Twilight green fees are almost half the price of playing in the morning or peak times.
Adam Vaupell
More Reasons Why You Should Get Curtains
Curtains are something most people don’t think about when moving into a new place but they are very important not only for privacy but also keeping you utility bills low. Here’s an interesting post from My First Apartment.
Our guest blogger Elyse is an NYU student who just recently managed to free herself from the college dormitory system.
The Importance of Curtains
When my roommates and I first found our apartment one of my personal favorite features was the gigantic, and I mean gigantic, windows in every room. As a film major/“photographer” and as someone who just really likes to nap in sunbeams, natural light in an apartment is a necessity. But I never realized it would also be the catalyst of a month-long debate with my one roommate, Rachel*. (*Not her real name.) Rachel kept insisting that we needed curtains. And I kept insisting she was just going to waste our money on something purely decorative and far less essential than, say, a couch or dining room table.
Eventually I went home and caved when I found the ridiculously inexpensive curtains I mentioned the last time I wrote. (At the Amvets, for 3 dollars!) They’re absolutely gorgeous floor-length curtains and they look great. Then I quickly discovered, much to my chagrin, that everything Rachel had been telling me for the last month was completely true. Curtains are just as essential to your home as a couch and a dining room table—and not just for the obvious privacy reasons. So I’m writing to tell you all what Rachel told me, and hopefully you won’t ignore it like I did.
It all comes down to two words. Temperature regulation. Curtains have a massive impact on the heating and cooling of a room. This summer was one of the hottest I’ve ever seen, and after we put up the curtains, we really felt the difference in our apartment. You know how cars get really, really hot when they’re left outside all day, so people put those little cardboard sunshades in the windshield? Curtains serve the exact same purpose. All those glorious sunbeams I like to lie in all day were actually baking our apartment just like the inside of a car. Once we blocked them with curtains, the apartment cooled down by, not even joking, about 10 degrees. So I resigned myself to the fact that I would have to wait for winter to resume my catnaps and enjoyed a much more tolerable interior temperature.
Speaking of winter, it turns out curtains can do a lot to warm your apartment as well. If you get thicker, dark-colored curtains you can actually contain the heat in your apartment. It’s the same principle behind hanging tapestries in medieval castles to prevent drafts from making it too cold. (And yes, even your curtain’s color can have an effect on the temperature of the room. It’s all about manipulating my sunbeam friends. Lighter colors reflect them, hence cooler temperatures, and darker colors absorb them, making it warmer.) At the moment, I don’t see us going so far as to go out and buy summer curtains and winter curtains. I’m hoping my big windows and sunbeams will do the trick…but we’ll have to see what it feels like inside once the snow starts falling.
Related posts:
Curtains are something most people don’t think about when moving into a new place but they are very important not only for privacy but also keeping you utility bills low. Here’s an interesting post from My First Apartment.
Our guest blogger Elyse is an NYU student who just recently managed to free herself from the college dormitory system.
The Importance of Curtains
When my roommates and I first found our apartment one of my personal favorite features was the gigantic, and I mean gigantic, windows in every room. As a film major/“photographer” and as someone who just really likes to nap in sunbeams, natural light in an apartment is a necessity. But I never realized it would also be the catalyst of a month-long debate with my one roommate, Rachel*. (*Not her real name.) Rachel kept insisting that we needed curtains. And I kept insisting she was just going to waste our money on something purely decorative and far less essential than, say, a couch or dining room table.
Eventually I went home and caved when I found the ridiculously inexpensive curtains I mentioned the last time I wrote. (At the Amvets, for 3 dollars!) They’re absolutely gorgeous floor-length curtains and they look great. Then I quickly discovered, much to my chagrin, that everything Rachel had been telling me for the last month was completely true. Curtains are just as essential to your home as a couch and a dining room table—and not just for the obvious privacy reasons. So I’m writing to tell you all what Rachel told me, and hopefully you won’t ignore it like I did.
It all comes down to two words. Temperature regulation. Curtains have a massive impact on the heating and cooling of a room. This summer was one of the hottest I’ve ever seen, and after we put up the curtains, we really felt the difference in our apartment. You know how cars get really, really hot when they’re left outside all day, so people put those little cardboard sunshades in the windshield? Curtains serve the exact same purpose. All those glorious sunbeams I like to lie in all day were actually baking our apartment just like the inside of a car. Once we blocked them with curtains, the apartment cooled down by, not even joking, about 10 degrees. So I resigned myself to the fact that I would have to wait for winter to resume my catnaps and enjoyed a much more tolerable interior temperature.
Speaking of winter, it turns out curtains can do a lot to warm your apartment as well. If you get thicker, dark-colored curtains you can actually contain the heat in your apartment. It’s the same principle behind hanging tapestries in medieval castles to prevent drafts from making it too cold. (And yes, even your curtain’s color can have an effect on the temperature of the room. It’s all about manipulating my sunbeam friends. Lighter colors reflect them, hence cooler temperatures, and darker colors absorb them, making it warmer.) At the moment, I don’t see us going so far as to go out and buy summer curtains and winter curtains. I’m hoping my big windows and sunbeams will do the trick…but we’ll have to see what it feels like inside once the snow starts falling.
Related posts:
Furnishing With Cheap and Free Finds
I just can’t get enough of these posts from My First Apartment and I’m sure you can’t either so here’s another one. I know from personal experience that Craigslist can be the best resource for cheap (sometimes free) quality stuff.
Our guest blogger Elyse is an NYU student who just recently managed to free herself from the college dormitory system.
Free Craigslist: Or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Free Furniture
Once I signed my lease, I revelled in the idea of finally having my very own space to live in, free of parents or nosy RA’s who just “wanted to be my friend.” But the novelty quickly wore off, and I suddenly realized how empty my apartment was.
The idea of furnishing an apartment is a very daunting one when all you’ve managed to save in the past couple of months is 200 dollars and a handful of savings bonds you would much rather reserve for the inevitable dirt-broke post-college year (or two). Luckily, it’s possible to get everything you need on the cheap when you know where to look.
Flea Markets and Thrift Stores: A classic, yes, but you need to make sure you go to the right flea markets and thrift stores. In New York City, the Greenflea or the WilliamsburgFlea Market are not the best choices if you’re trying to savemoney. At the Brooklyn Flea in Fort Greene, on the other hand, my roommate found a very nice mirror to hang in her room for a mere 10 dollars. When if comes to thrift stores, steer clear of places that call themselves “vintage.” You’d be better off going to Kmart if you want to save money. Stick to Salvation Army or try thrift stores in the outer boroughs. Suburban areas will easily provide you with the best options. Consider a day-trip, or if you’re moving to a city for the first time, get as much as you can before you leave. I went to the local flea market at home and got an end table and two lamps (all very high quality) for 45 dollars total. And the Amvets at home had gorgeous, floor-length curtains for 3 dollars. 3 dollars!
Friends and Family: Keep an ear out for any news of friends, friends-of-friends, distant relatives or even passing acquaintances that are moving. I got my brother’s old bookshelf and dresser because he went to grad school in England. When my mom moved, my cousin got her entire living room set. A friend of mine a got a free couch from another friend who, for one reason or another, didn’t need it anymore. One note on getting furniture from friends and family, I consider this the ONLY acceptable way to get free mattresses or upholstered furniture. At least in this situation you know where the furniture has been, so that weird stain is just from the time your friend spilled red nail polish on the couch cushion. Plus, bed bugs. Don’t mess around when it comes to them.
The Street: Lots of great things can come off the street. Just be careful. I stick to items I can thoroughly clean, preferably with bleach. It’s also best to look around the 1st of the month. You’ll be surprised to see how many people just don’t feel like dealing with furniture they don’t want anymore and toss it on the curb. We nabbed ourselves a nifty leather ottoman the day we moved in.
Free Craigslist:Ah yes, Craigslist, the Mecca of thrifty shopping. It’s wonderful, but it’s also a lot of hard work. You need to act quickly, usually impulsively, in order to beat the millions of other people also trying to score the free 27-inch TV—which usually gets nabbed within minutes. You have to travel all over the city, because most items come with the “you pick it up” requirement. And you have to endure quite a few stares on the subway when you wheel a full-sized desk onto the train. But it’s free, all 100% no-strings-attached free! And I developed some fabulous arm muscles carrying all the free furniture up five flights of stairs.
Related posts:
- Kelly M’s tips for furnishing from Craigslist “free”
- Furnishing your apartment… How much will it cost you?
- Apartment Beautiful: Wall Decoration
Hosting Apartment Guests
When friends or family visit from out of town, hosting them as overnight apartment guests can be a fun experience for all parties. Even with the space restrictions of a small apartment, it is easy to accommodate guests for an enjoyable, stress-free visit when you follow a few considerations.
Your guests may be eager to explore your city, but don’t worry too much about planning an exact itinerary to follow. Do have some potential activities jotted down, so you can turn to the list for quick ideas on the go. Think about unexpected treasures in your city that guests would appreciate a chance to experience. As tempting as it might be to take your guests out on the town for fancy meals at top local restaurants, this can get expensive. Save money by dining in at the apartment as often as possible during the visit, and cook together with your guests. Preparing the meal can be half the fun!
If you’ll be at work during the day, recommend local hangouts like a great coffee shop or lunch spot for them to enjoy. Also, there will be less tension and stress overall if you put some faith in your guests and invite them to make themselves at home in your apartment when you aren’t there. Relax and enjoy the company, and they will feel relaxed and happy as well. Of course, having more people (and their luggage) in the apartment means more clutter and noise. While of course keeping tidy is important throughout, don’t put to much time into thorough cleaning during the visit. Rest assured that you will get everything reorganized and back to normal after they leave.
As soon as you know of a potential visit, talk to your roommates and make sure they’re okay with having guests— your best bet is the “go in asking” strategy. Assure them that your friends or family members will know to be respectful to the apartment. To most guests, it is second nature to respect the home, and do immediately address the issue if they become more obtrusive than expected. You have every right to politely confront them about being particularly messy or loud, as you are doing the guests a favor and service by allowing them to crash at your apartment. They should understand that their alternative would be paying for a hotel— and the housekeeping service that comes along with it.
To avoid having guests overstay their welcome, be upfront and clear about the parameters of the visit right off the bat. Have the conversation before they even arrive, ensuring there is a clear departure date on their agenda. If they decide they love your city too much to leave, recommend that they find an apartment using our great tools at ApartmentSearch. Whether they’ll need Dallas apartments, Phoenix apartments, Austin apartments, or Seattle apartments, we have tons to look through in our searchable nationwide database.
Blinded by Light or Don’t Fall for Building’s Amenities
Here’s some excellent advice from My First Apartment about looking deeper than what first meets the eye. Amenities are great but don’t let them get in the way of the bigger picture.
Our blogger Kate starts her hunt in Boston.
Blinded by the light (and the gym, doorman and parking…)
24/7 air-conditioned gym. Charming doorman. Spacious laundry facility. Elevators, a parking garage, smiling tenants, and a bowl full of colorful candies on a polished table in the lobby. I was sold, following around the real estate agent smugly. “Look at me,” I thought to myself. “Getting the dream apartment on my first try.”
The real estate agent opened the door to the apartment and motioned for Kelly and I to enter. The living room was a small, windowless box, flanked by an impossibly narrow galley kitchen. Two large bedrooms faced outdoors. Moving briskly, I blew through the living room and spent my time marveling at bedroom features. Big, clear windows, a hardwood floor, and freshly painted walls.
Meanwhile Kelly scrutinized the space, testing lights and faucets and asking the real estate agent tough questions. She inquired about the living room and the sub-par cabinets in the kitchen. We finished our viewing and Kelly and I debriefed. “I’m SOLD,” I declared. Kelly didn’t feel quite the same way. She brought up details I didn’t even see– the inconvenient floor plan, cabinets that were unreachable because of the fridge, mold in the room corners and more.
I thought about it for a minute– and she was completely right. I could not have gotten a more positive first impression of the building, but it was only that– a first impression. After a month, 6 months, a year at this building, would I still notice the polished tables and candy bowls? I doubt it. I’d probably be frustrated that I couldn’t have dinner parties or lie in morning sun in my living room. Or even reach my dishes in the kitchen, for that matter.
A lesson to you hunters, one I’m sure you’ve heard once or twice: all that glitters is not gold. And this glittery deal was certainly not sold.
Related posts:
How To Personalize Your Pad When You Can’t Paint
We generally allow our tenants to paint as long as they paint it back or are willing to pay for us to paint it back. However, isn’t it easier just not to paint at all? Here’s a good article from My First Apartment showing you how to personalize your place without painting.
One of the easiest ways to personalize your apt is to paint. You roll up your sleeves and, ideally, beg some friends to help. It can really light up a room, but sometimes there are reasons why painting isn’t an option. Either your landlord won’t let you, you already have too much furniture that moving it would be difficult, or, perhaps you just can’t stand the bitter smell of new paint.
Never fear, there are definitely plenty of other cool, inventive ways to make your new place feel like home.
Personally, I still think color is still key – and there are tons of other easy ways to add color sans paint.
Greetings From My Living Room Wall
What you’re looking at to the left is actually my living room — I couldn’t paint so I hung a nice, exotic tapestry on the wall ( it’s not actually faded — need a new lightbulb!). I also hung picture frames ($10 each at Brooklyn Flea Market) with colored paper. Most cities have garment districts so that’s definitely a good bet in terms of where to find interesting fabrics. Chinatowns can also have some great fabric stores — especially the one in Boston! And if there’s an Indian store selling sari fabric you’ll have amazing choices.
Apartment Therapy also suggests framing wall paper samples and or/paper from the Paper Source, another easy, cheap way to make art. The site has plenty more DIY ideas, including creating an art hanging structure, which, to be honest, kiiinda intimidates me but I’m sure you, lovely readers, are far more crafty than me!
Apartment Therapy also suggests adding a rug and it’s definitely a good one idea – although rugs can be more $$ than one might originally think. Normally, I’d suggest Craigslist, but with bedbugs being rampant (they even attacked the Empire State Building!), it may be wise to wait until a friend/family member wants to get rid of a rug to ensure it’s safe. You can also find some good rugs at Target where they run even cheaper than at IKEA.
Finally, something I’ve always wanted to play with – wall decals. Blik has some really cool options, no matter your needs. One living room idea is their Sweet 16 — aka 16 fun color circles. But, wait, there’s more! A neato bedroom option, should you not have the $ for a headboard, takes the form of a variety of decal headboards.
What do you guys think? Any other cool, easy ways to add non-permanent color?
Related posts:
- Swankify your New Apartment — Starting with a Fresh Coat of Paint
- U-Haul, eek, part 2
- More ways to use your walls!
Be A Good Apartment Neighbor
Living in an apartment means close quarters, and one of the best ways to alleviate any tension that comes with that is to be a friendly and respectful neighbor. Whether you live in a house or apartment, it’s always a good idea to be familiar with your neighbors, even if only on a first-name basis. Especially if you live alone in an apartment, knowing your neighbors can help you feel more at home in your complex, and it is useful in the event of an emergency. An open line of communication between neighbors is ideal to harmonious apartment living.
The most common complaint of apartment dwellers is noisy neighbors. Of course, it is nearly impossible to avoid making any noise at home in your apartment, nor can you expect your neighbors to stay quiet as mice. Being respectful when playing music or entertaining guests is crucial, as well as making sure your dog doesn’t bark too much. But it’s advisable to go a step further and make your neighbor aware in advance of a particularly noisy situation, such as your getting a new puppy, hosting an apartment party or installing a treadmill directly over his or her ceiling.
Particularly in small apartments, you should feel comfortable knocking on a neighbor’s door to introduce yourself, let them know about pending noise or even invite them to your party. There is a fine line between being overly gregarious and being polite, however. Most apartment dwellers are keen on maintaining as much privacy as possible in the tight wall-to-wall conditions, so don’t overstep with your extroverted efforts unless a neighbor seems open to developing a friendship.
If you maintain a polite relationship with neighbors, they will be more likely to come to you directly with any concerns, rather than going straight to apartment management or law enforcement (in the event that party starts sounding a little too fun). Looking to find an apartment and start meeting neighbors? Our great search tools at ApartmentSearch.com make it easy to find Dallas apartments, Phoenix apartments, Austin apartments, or Seattle apartments in these cool cities and many more nationwide.
Shakiera Moves Off-Campus in Memphis
Here’s another great post from My First Apartment. This gives you a great insight into what moving into your first apartment after the dorms may look like.
A sophomore at the University of Memphis, Shakiera is moving out of her hometown of Atlanta, Georgia to be closer to her school life in Memphis, TN. With money in her pocket and restlessness in her shoes, she’s ready to move into her first apartment and fully experience every part of being an independent, living, working adult…officially.
T-minus 10 days and counting ’till moving day.
The lease has been signed, deposit paid, roommate secured, furniture bought (but not yet assembled), a moving date selected and I have a new address to call home. It’s official, I am moving into my first apartment. I am living out the dream we’ve all had since we were kids: growing up, moving out and living by my rules, my way. I couldn’t be more excited, or more surprised at how quickly the big day is arriving. I didn’t think I’d be here a year ago today, but the entire process has been easier than I thought so far. (Minus the heavy lifting and late nights packing).
I suffered a year of dorm living (along with Hernando, Normand, Sandy and Fez, the cockroaches that frequented the room) and the horrors of living in one tiny room with a complete stranger. We had different study habits, different schedules, different standards of cleanliness and different levels of sanity. Just kidding! (Kind of.) Even in a shared space I can honestly say I had less than 30% of the room. While I found it necessary to bring only the necessities (fridge, microwave, clothing, books, bedding, etc.), my roommate at the time thought packing her entire childhood into our living space would make the tiny dorm feel more like “home”. I went to bed each night being stared down by a creepy, toothless grinning picture of my roommate at 5 years old and plush “Twilight” vampires threatening to snuggle. That is, if I could shut my eyes with the blinding neon pink theme that was eating away at our walls.
Needless to say, this wasn’t the ideal living situation. Communal bathrooms and all.
Meanwhile, outside of my dorm life, living in my friend’s basement in Atlanta wasn’t really working either. Going back and forth every two months from Atlanta to Memphis and back again was getting expensive. I didn’t belong anywhere. I needed a permanent residence, a place to settle. I was ready to put everything I owned in one place and call it my “home”. I was tired of just visiting, going from place to place just long enough to pack my bags again. It was time, I could feel it in my bones. With the price of on campus living rising significantly in Fall 2010, it made sense to get a place off-campus. This was my chance! It was the bright neon sign flashing before my eyes saying, “Go for it!”, and I had the perfect roommate in mind!
I met my roommate, who we’ll call “Will” for his privacy (yes, as in “Will and Grace”) at the University of Memphis. We lived on opposite sides of the same dorm building and would often meet up late nights and trade dorm-living horror stories over Mountain Dew and doughnuts down the street from campus. We didn’t really get close until we experienced two-hours of “moving your body like a river” together in our Theater Performance class, looking to each other for support with goofy grins on our faces, trying to suppress the masses of giggles and snorts trying to escape. I couldn’t see myself taking this leap independence with anyone else, I needed someone who’d keep me laughing. We may be the less lavish (and less co-dependent) version of “Will and Grace”, but our little apartment might as well be Barbie and Ken’s dream house…. which surprisingly, wasn’t that hard to find.
Our apartment is just a few blocks from campus. It has all hardwood floors and big windows that let in lots of natural light. Our kitchen and dining/living room are on the first level, and the bathroom and 2 bedrooms are upstairs. It was just big enough for the two of us. $625 a month including water between the two of us. Not bad. We took a tour of one of the apartments together, initially as a joke back in May. As we walked through the apartment and began discussing what life off campus would be like, the idea didn’t seem so far-fetched anymore. We immediately expressed interest, which I believe was the secret to our successful apartment hunt. By June we were signing papers and come July I was sending out my new address to everyone I knew. And just like that I had an apartment!
So, I’m sitting in my room and taking it all in, but looking around, I can’t envision the mountains of boxes flooding my bedroom unpacking into the layout of my new place. It’s a little overwhelming. I can’t say that it’s easy leaving the city where you were born and raised to move forward with your young-adult life, but I have no regrets. I know that this is exactly what I need to do. It feels right.
Related posts:
- Mercedes Finds Her Dream Off-Campus Apartment
- Moving to an off-campus apartment
- For the Love of God Pick a Roommate You Will Get Along With
Sarah Says Neighbors Are Friends Not Foes
I know they don’t always seem like friends but more often than not that’s exactly what neighbors are. Here is a good post I found on My First Apartment explaining just that.
Today’s guest blogger is Sarah whose first apartment is in the outskirts of St. Louis. She’s a recent college graduate and just started her first job as the Assistant Resident Director of off-campus housing!
Neighbors are friends not foes
Whether you have that loud jazzercising neighbor above or chain smoker neighbor to the side, it is time to make a new friend. Your neighbors can be your greatest assets or dividing factor. So here are a few helpful hints to create a connection (who knows they may be less likely to report you when your stereo gets too loud!):
1. Learn their name, and greet them once in a while! People feel more cared about when you use their name.
2. When you first move introduce yourself and maybe give them a cute gift. Think a pound of sugar, in case you ever need a cup of it!
3. Don’t gossip about your neighbors, as they will most likely find out. Like your momma always said, “If you have nothing nice to say, don’t say anything at all.”
4. Lend a hand. It speaks volumes if you can help out your neighbor move their new TV or watch their dog for the evening.
5. Be considerate of your noise as this is usually the #1 complaint, and if you are courteous to them they are more likely to do the same.
6. Invite them over! Hospitality is a great way to show you care. And you might find out that they are just as addicted to coffee as you are.
Related posts:
- The Wait Begins
- Add These to Your Apartment Hunting Check List
- How to throw a bangin’ housewarming bash
Today’s guest blogger is Sarah whose first apartment is in the outskirts of St. Louis. She’s a recent college graduate and just started her first job as the Assistant Resident Director of off-campus housing!
Neighbors are friends not foes
Whether you have that loud jazzercising neighbor above or chain smoker neighbor to the side, it is time to make a new friend. Your neighbors can be your greatest assets or dividing factor. So here are a few helpful hints to create a connection (who knows they may be less likely to report you when your stereo gets too loud!):
1. Learn their name, and greet them once in a while! People feel more cared about when you use their name.
2. When you first move introduce yourself and maybe give them a cute gift. Think a pound of sugar, in case you ever need a cup of it!
3. Don’t gossip about your neighbors, as they will most likely find out. Like your momma always said, “If you have nothing nice to say, don’t say anything at all.”
4. Lend a hand. It speaks volumes if you can help out your neighbor move their new TV or watch their dog for the evening.
5. Be considerate of your noise as this is usually the #1 complaint, and if you are courteous to them they are more likely to do the same.
6. Invite them over! Hospitality is a great way to show you care. And you might find out that they are just as addicted to coffee as you are.
Related posts:
- The Wait Begins
- Add These to Your Apartment Hunting Check List
- How to throw a bangin’ housewarming bash
Property Investors' Management Company 