We, here at Apartable, are young. And, like most young people around the world, we’re also renters… renters, with roommates. One of us (ok, it’s me…) is currently looking for a new place to live, and let me tell you - it sucks. Looking for an apartment is one of my least favorite things in the world, and here’s why: Generally, to find the right apartment, for me, I wind up seeing 25-30+ totally and utterly wrong apartments. Add insane and quirky potential roommies to the mix, and I might as well call it quits before I start.
You see, when it comes to living in a big city, people suddenly think it’s cool to not have any standards at all. Please don’t get me wrong: the process is a pain in the ass for us all - brokers, renters, established roommates looking to fill an empty room in their place - we all just want to get it over with. But the truth is that where we live and who we live with actually matters, and that there is a right and a wrong way to behave throughout the process. Somewhere along the lines, we’ve concluded that it’s perfectly acceptable to treat people like shit because we’re mildly inconvenienced by a process everyone hates. Frankly, that’s not okay.
I’m only about 15 apartments into my hunt this time around, and there are already quite a few things I’d like to put out there, so please bear with me:
To the girl who called me right before I was supposed to sign the lease to give me a sob story about her cousin needing a place to live: You’re an idiot. If it wasn’t the right fit, you should have just told me - it really would have been just fine. Did you really think that I wouldn’t see the ad you posted the following day looking to urgently fill a room in your apartment? Thank you so much for jerking me around, and for wasting my time. But, just so we’re clear: that’s not okay!
To the guy who posted an ad for an open house to see his place on Craigslist: That’s a really great idea! Except for when you close the deal with someone 3 hours before the open house, and don’t bother to call the whole thing off. Seriously, people. This jerk let me (and about 30 other people) take a FULL tour of the apartment, and instructed me to take it all in. Once I took a good look, I noticed he was talking to two other apartment hunters, and consoling one, who was upset that there was already a waiting list of **8 **other people who wanted to sign for the place. Really, asshole? That’s not okay.
To the law student with the crazy duplex: the broiler door of your oven should not be made of wood. That’s what we call a fire hazard. And in other news, I get that you just finished law school, and that you think you’re really cool, but that does not excuse a ridiculous clause giving you permission to kick me out for any reason at all, with 30 days notice. Ummm…I don’t want to worry about having to do this all again in 30 days because I accidentally played my music too loudly, or knocked something over in the living room while you were asleep. Legally sound - Maybe? Socially acceptable - no. Sweetheart - that’s not okay.
And, finally, to the fine gentleman with the rooftop apartment and the adorable puppy: a hinged piece of plywood with a latch that swings open to reveal the outdoors is NOT A WINDOW! I can’t decide what’s worse, though - Is it that that’s the only window in the room, or that you’re asking for over 40% of good salary to be a third roommate in this place. Either way, NOT OKAY.
People, we all hate this process, but maybe (just maybe) if we’re all a little more honest (and, tolerant), it could be a tad more bearable.
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