Scary? Exciting? Both? Moving to a new place can certainly feel like Russian roulette, especially in college. How is management? Is your new ward chill and social, or are they cold and exclusive? Will your new roommate become your new best friend, or do they listen to podcasts at max volume as “white noise” every night?
Our goal is to make sure you find the place best for you, which is why we provide social, management, and quality ratings for every complex in Provo. However, even if you find yourself in a less-than-ideal situation this semester, here are 5 things everyone can do to maximize their chances of this year being their best one yet.
Whether you moved this semester or not, it’s always a good idea to document the state of the apartment at the beginning of a new lease. While inspecting the nooks and crannies of your new apartment is nobodies favorite activity, 15 minutes truly could save you 15% (or more!) on your deposit at the end of the season. Taking pictures of existing damage, making a list of items received from the complex, and keeping the original move-in paperwork are the #1 ways to protect yourself when move-outs come around.
Set up rules/boundaries as an apartment to establish expectations for things like dishes, quiet hours, living room usage, and shower time. A lot of conflict in an apartment can be avoided by addressing these issues upfront rather than waiting for them to occur, and it helps you to make sure everyone has a voice in establishing apartment protocol. Ask questions like:
What do we want our dishes policy to be?
When are our “quiet hours”? How loud is too loud?
How are we going to divvy living room usage?
What items need purchased for the apartment?
What items do people expect to share/not share?
When do people typically expect to shower?
There’s nothing better than having a friend whose already lived there to give you the inside scoop. If you don’t have that, click here for apartment reviews from nearly 2,000 BYU/UVU students ranking their place on it’s social scene, management, and quality.
Previous tenants have not only left behind all of their tips and advice, but insights into hidden charges & fees, what to expect from maintenance, and how to make the most out of your stay at this complex.
Smash, Spikeball, board games, anything that gets you and your roommates a good icebreaker with some people in your new complex. At the beginning of the year everyone is looking to meet new people, and making friends early is the best way to set yourself up for a fulfilling social life with your neighbors.
Seriously, label it. Even the most honest of roommates can’t help that you both bought the exact same pink dishware set from Target or the same frozen orange chicken from Trader Joe’s. A small, inconspicuous label now can solve a lot of headache down the road, and also helps you keep track of items you may not remember purchasing.
Hopefully these tips help set you up for success this upcoming school year, and as always if you have anything you’d like to see on the site please feel free to contact us here
p.s., If you haven’t found a place for the Fall yet, we have every current availability in Provo on our marketplace. Check it out and find your next place so your “homeless week” only lasts one week.
