Login   |   Register
NETWORK WITH US
Ready to settle into the apartment of your dreams? Well, slow your roll, homes, you just graduated – and probably only have three digits in your bank account. But fear not. There are plenty of apartments out there to fit your needs and budget. Finding one will be a cinch … just follow our handy guide below.

Apartment Hunting 101

By Chris Zoia
8/12/09
SHARE THIS: Share
COMMENTS (0)
FILED UNDER:

Welcome to the real world, recent grad. If you just graduated last June, chances are now’s the time you’re frantically searching for an apartment—one of the most stressful and overwhelming challenges

Moving Home After Graduation

By Matthew Demmer
•
COMMENTS (4)
FILED UNDER:
SHARE THIS: Share
Quick Tips
  1. Affordable – Moving back in with your folks is definitely the cheapest option available to you after college. Seriously consider it if finding your own place is not immediately financially possible.
  2. Convenient – The transition from the 1:30PM wake-up days of college to an 60 hour workweek can be a huge shock to the system. Postponing the stresses of finding an apartment, paying bills, and dealing with landlords will make the transition that much smoother.
  3. Freedom vs. finance – While moving back home is considerably easier on the wallet, be realistic about what you’re giving up. Your parents will still expect you to do chores around the house, and you won’t be as free to entertain guests like you would if you had your own place.
  4. Help out – Don’t make a difficult situation even worse by being a burden. Offer to do the shopping, cook dinner, or clean the dishes. Show your parents that you appreciate their kindness and that the current setup is only temporary. Your gratitude may even be rewarded.
  5. Enjoy – Once you move out, it won’t be so easy to catch a game with your dad or go shopping with mom. Make sure to maximize your free time together (emphasis on the word FREE).

One minute she’s the laundry fairy. Like Mrs. Brady, all sweet and kind and sympathetic, she picks up my dirty socks and magically returns them to the closet matched and folded and smelling like clean mountain air. Then a second later she morphs into

Deciding Where to Live

By Matthew Demmer
•
COMMENTS (0)
FILED UNDER:
SHARE THIS: Share
Quick Tips

  1. Determine what you want - Having a clear sense of what you can pay, what neighborhoods you want to see, and how much space you need will save you both time and money. Let these criteria guide your search, and make sure that any broker you get is on board.
  2. Neighborhood criteria – The Donald always says, “Location! Location! Location!” And he’s right. Figure out what you’re looking for: restaurants, parks, nightlife, other recent grads, etc. Then find the neighborhood that fits.
  3. Space – You can usually get two out of the big three: location, space, and cost. But as a recent grad, how much space do you really need? A smaller apartment might be the difference between Hipland and the boondocks.
  4. Cost – Some people say you shouldn’t spend more than a third of your monthly salary on an apartment, but that doesn’t fly everywhere (e.g., New York City). In the most expensive cities, half is a more realistic rule of thumb, but clearly it’s not ideal. Keep in mind that trendy neighborhoods are the most expensive, so if you’re willing to branch out, you can find some good deals.
  5. Resources – Browsing the archives of city-specific magazines and reading travel guides are a great way to figure out what city to move to and which neighborhood to live in. Some examples of popular local mags are Time Out and San Francisco Magazine. Travel guides include Rough Guides, Fodors, and Frommers.

Once you’ve made the momentous decision to move out of your childhood bedroom, it’s time to find a place to set up camp. There are no more Hogwarts-esque “sorting hats” like parents or college housing offices to ensure that you have a room to call your own, so the responsibility rests squarely on your shoulders to figure out what you value in a living space, how much you are willing to spend, and where exactly you want to live. To do so, it is necessary to balance the three main criteria for judging an apartment: neighborhood/location, cost, and space.

The Grad Olympics

By Christopher Schonberger
8/12/08
SHARE THIS: Share

Are you amped that the Olympics are finally here? Yeah, me too—no matter how hard

You're Selling THAT?

By Chris Zoia
7/18/08
SHARE THIS: Share
COMMENTS (0)
FILED UNDER:

Although you might live in a humble hole-in-the-wall, at least you don’t live in this hole-in-the-wall. The lovelylisting blog showcases photographs of atrocious domiciles from actual real estate listings. I guess with the housing market being as bad as it is, some owners have just

Subletting and the City

By Christopher Schonberger
6/26/08
SHARE THIS: Share
COMMENTS (0)
FILED UNDER:

Don’t have an apartment yet for the summer? Getting tired of sleeping on a different friend’s couch every week or looking at apartments that you’re not ready to commit to for a year? It’s time to think about subletting.

Preparing the Necessary Pre Apartment Search Documents

By Julie Fishman
•
COMMENTS (1)
FILED UNDER:
SHARE THIS: Share
Quick Tips

  1. Prep the paperwork – Almost all landlords will require some combination of the following: copies of your photo ID, a letter of employment, your two most recent pay stubs, your most recent tax return. Also, bring along a blank check for the deposit.

  2. Bring it with you– The apartment hunt is competitive, so every advantage helps. Bring your paperwork with you when you view apartments. When you find “the one,” you can hand over your paperwork and lock it up quick-fast.

  3. Guarantors – Most landlords require that a tenant’s income is 40-45x the monthly rent. If your income isn’t that high, a guarantor (e.g., parent) must co-sign the lease. Have a guarantor in mind ahead of time in the event that you need one to push the application through.

  4. Leases – Before signing a lease, be sure to read it thoroughly. Make sure there aren’t any restrictions in the lease that your broker may not have shared with you. Also, make sure nothing is missing that should be in there (e.g., your right to keep a pet in the apartment).

  5. Roommates – If you’re apartment hunting with a roommates, make sure that they are on the lease and have all their documentation lined up, as well.

If you thought finding an apartment was a struggle, you are in for a treat, mon frere. Actually sealing the deal is half the battle, and in most cases it involves an infuriating mix of timing, luck, and favoritism. Fortunately, a little preparation and a light sprinkling of gamesmanship can give you the head start you need to nip all those other jokers at the finish line.

10 Myths About Life After College

By Gradspot Dot Com
6/02/08
SHARE THIS: Share

Our guest blogger today is Kristen Fischer, author of Ramen Noodles, Rent, and Resumes: An After College Guide to Life

Roommate Living

By Julie Fishman
•
COMMENTS (0)
FILED UNDER:
SHARE THIS: Share
Quick Tips
  1. Compatible vs. likeable – Good friends don’t necessarily make good roommates. The tensions of shared living could make even the best of friendships turn sour. If you and your BFF don’t vibe in terms of everyday living, find someone else.
  2. Finding a roomie – If you don’t have anyone lined up, try the Gradspot Roommate Finder, or down a tallboy of common sense and hit up Craigslist.
  3. Establish ground rules – You can avoid unnecessary drama if you set down house rules beforehand. Under whose name will the lease be under? How will you divide the rent and bills? Will you decide to split the cost of furniture? Take care of all your housekeeping before you and your roommate(s) move in to nip conflict in the bud.
  4. Sweating the small stuff – Don’t be shy about confronting your roommate about rude or inappropriate behavior. Addressing the problem head-on is always better than letting emotions build up, and it will save you bruised egos (and broken bones) in the long run.
  5. Building a Love Nest – Moving in with your significant other is a bold move that could take the relationship to the next level. Before you settle with your sweetheart, though, make sure that you’re ready to get to know the person at a very intimate level. If your main motivation is to save on rent, you should think again.

We all had roommates in the drunk and hazy college dorm days, but when work and bills enter the picture, the whole "Dude of course your friend can stay on the couch for three months" attitude begins to wear off. With responsibility comes stress, and nothing brings out people’s dark-sides more than being tired and late for work. Roommates cuts costs and provides a live-in

Guest Blog: Christine Hassler on "Smart Slacking"

By Gradspot Dot Com
5/28/08
SHARE THIS: Share

Christine Hassler is a life coach and speaker, and she's author of the new book 20 Something Manifesto. In the following excerpt from her book, Hassler describes the art of “smart slacking.” To learn more about her writings

©2010 Gradspot LLC