One event that has been extremely stressful every single year of my college career at ONU is the housing lottery. Every single year something proves to be difficult. Computer systems go down. Lottery numbers are not distributed correctly. Rooms disappear right before your selection time. Given my unlucky housing experiences, I was thrilled that I was not a part of the lottery this year given my impending graduation. I mean, no housing process can be worse than the ONU system, right?
Enter apartment searching.
With a move down to Columbus to begin a post-graduate internship and my career as a public relations professional in my near future, I officially starting hunting for an apartment this week with Ellen Keough. I thought after spending approximately ten million hours of my life watching episode after episode of house-hunting themed HGTV shows, I would be a pro at this property purchasing business. Little did I know how difficult it is to find an inexpensive, well-kept, apartment with decent amenities and a good location.
Additionally, have you ever tried searching for an apartment online in a city that you are not entirely familiar with? It is impossible! There are never enough pictures of the complex, and they always seem a little too staged to be believable. Of course, prices for utilities are never listed, so you cannot figure out the true price of your desired abode. My main complaint? You cannot find out if an apartment with your desired layout is available until you sell your name, phone number, email address, and soul to the website.
I am sure that as a newbie apartment searcher, I am a little too nitpicky and worried with details (maybe it was unfair of me to instantly rule out the nice, pretty apartment complex when I found out it was on Booty Lane…). On the other hand, is there a reason apartment listings cannot be straightforward and transparent online? It seems to me it would move the process along much quicker, and create less stress for both parties.
Regardless, I am going to be on the apartment hunt for a while. If you have any tips or have the inside scoop on the Columbus area, give me a shout out!
The search is pretty intimidating, however I am so glad we are going through it together! Having a roommate and friend that is also making a move from cornfield Ada to a big city like Columbus makes the entire experience less stressful. Also, financially, living in a two bedroom apartment is going to save us both so much money! The rent for a one bedroom apartment is quite pricey. I am beyond excited that you and I both got big girl jobs in Columbus. :) Can't wait to find a place and get down there.
ReplyDeleteGirls, I feel your pain, well I am starting to I guess. I just got a job in Louisville, KY. I have no clue where to start. I am moving to a completely new city where I literally know no one. I am trying to find the best areas to live in by talking to my future boss and when I went down for my interview I asked every single person I came into contact with where they would suggest I live. I just starting the online looking and got more frustrated then anything. Luckily, my step mom used to be a rental property manager for a big real estate agency so she knows the ins and outs, but not for Louisville especially. Good luck with the hunt! You will find something great :) P.S. when I lived in Columbus over the summer I lived out in Delaware, too far away cause of the commute, but Worthington and Grandview are both great. My brother had an awesome and inexpensive apartment in Grandview that he loved!
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