Relocating. Warning: Hazards Ahead

One of the most stressful aspects of relocating for graduate school is finding an apartment you are willing to call home for at least a year. The easiest way to find an apartment that meets both your criteria and budget is to use a realtor.

Unfortunately, realtors make money when you rent an apartment through them, so they may stretch some truths about the apartment, the neighborhood, or even your landlord, in order to get you to go through with the transaction.

For example, I asked my realtor the ages of the people who lived in the building I was looking at. Her response: graduate students and young professionals. That statement was false. I ended up sharing a building with loud, rowdy undergraduates. And loud, squeaky mice. You’re a graduate student, you’ve dealt with undergrad housing for at least four years – you now deserve to live in a decent place. This also means a place with relative quiet since you’ll be doing epic amounts of school work.

One way to avoid the particular predicament of mice is to ask the current residents about the insect/rodent situation when you visit the apartment. They aren’t getting paid to rent out the apartment, so they’ll tell you the truth. Unless they’re undergraduates – then I make no promises.

Another issue to keep in mind when looking for an apartment: floor level. As in, you do not want a ground-level apartment. Ground level means more bugs, more rodents, and more noise. It also increases your chance for a break-in. I don’t mean to scare you with all the negative aspects of relocating, I just want you to be prepared for what you are about to encounter. If only I had read a blog like this a year ago. Sigh.

At some point you’ll have to trust your realtor, but go with your gut. If the realtor is rushing you through the various apartments you are visiting, ask to slow down. You want to get a feel for each place and taking some time in each one is the only way to do it. This should be about finding your perfect apartment, not about your realtor making a commission.