As a resident manager at Candlewick Apartments, it is Wendy Balomenos' job to help move people in and out of apartments. She also serves as a liaison for vendors to paint, install carpeting, clean, landscape, remove snow and repair appliances. She's a facilitator and takes great care in making sure every inhabitant's living needs are met. For someone who has (and currently is) living an apartment lifestyle, she ought to know what those needs are all too well.
Balomenos remembers back to when she graduated high school and moved into her first home. Moving into an apartment was a learning experience for her. Being conscious of and courteous towards her surrounding neighbors was a big lesson.
"I usually tell people, 'It's apartment-style living so you're going to hear, see and smell your neighbors,'" said Balomenos. "You have to be more respectful towards your neighbors and be considerate. Don't park goofy. Pick up after yourself."
It's not just your home, it's their home, too. Shari Crahan, compliance director at Oakleaf Property Management, can relate. She lived in an apartment many years ago and said the experience was very different from living in a house.
"We were on the first floor and had people living above us," said Crahan. "I had never lived in a two-story building so it was very different hearing people get up in the middle of the night. The stairs were located on the side of our building, so we heard people going up and down the stairs. Lots of activity at all hours of the day."
Crahan went from living in a house with her mother with guidelines and rules to follow, to living "freely" and with a roommate. She went from only having a car payment to worry about, to paying for utilities, phone and rent. But she adapted well to the lifestyle change.
For those who are looking to become first-time renters, here's what Balomenos and Crahan suggest you do:
LOOK EARLY
Balomenos: It's very tight. Most people will take whatever they can find because there's usually a three- or four-month wait list at least. So start looking four months early. Start looking as early as you need one. Get your name on that wait list. I have a small handful of people that call and check in to ask how far they are on the wait list. That always gets a good bug in my ear. They're eager.
KNOW YOUR PRICE RANGE
Balomenos: Don't get the nicest apartment and then decide you can't afford it. But we do qualifications and stuff anyways to make sure you can afford an apartment.
Crahan: Make sure you can afford it. Ours are all based on income. Know what your rent and deposit are going to be.
LOCATION CAN BE KEY
Balomenos: Location for a job or school is obviously why people look in certain areas.
Crahan: Drive around the property before you sign a lease. Look at it. If you see a bunch of kids and you don't want to live some place with a lot of children, then that might not be the best place for you.
WEIGH YOUR OPTIONS
Balomenos: This is going to be your home whether it's for six months or two years or whatever. You want to be comfortable.
YOU ARE RENTING
Crahan: You have to remember that it's not yours, so you're going to have rules that you might not really like.
BE AWARE OF SURROUNDINGS
Crahan: You're going to have neighbors with kids and you're going to hear little kids run. Your neighbors might smoke and the smoke could come underneath the door. Your neighbors aren't going to have the same lifestyle as you.
YOU MUST SHARE
Balomenos: It's apartment-style living, so there's a good chance you'll have to share things. There is no assigned parking, so you'll have to choose whatever is left over in front of your building.
QUIET DOWN
Balomenos: Keep the noise level down, because your neighbors can hear you, especially out in the hallway or if your TV is too loud.
Crahan: You can't have a party and be loud at 2 a.m., but a lot of people do that.
INSURE YOURSELF
Balomenos: Renters insurance. I usually tell them it's eight or 12 bucks a month depending on what coverage you want and which insurance company you use.
CHANGE OF ADDRESS
Balomenos: Go to the post office and update your mailing address. Most people will do that a day or two or a week before they move in.
GET YOUR POWER
Balomenos: The day before you move in, it's always good to go to MidAmerican Energy and get the electric and gas turned over in their name.
LATE NIGHT PROBLEMS
Balomenos: After hours or on the weekends or in the evenings after 5 p.m., we share the after-hours phone number. There's always someone that's going to answer. If you have no heat during the winter or a toilet overflows or a dishwasher leaks -- whatever the issue might be, someone is always going to answer.
BE A GOOD NEIGHBOR
Balomenos: Be considerate of your neighbors. That's huge. Living this close to other people, you always have to think about others. People will throw garbage all over and litter. This is someone else's home, too.
Crahan: Keep your neighbors in mind. We don't ask everybody to like their neighbor or be friends with them, but you have to figure out how to get along. Know what the rules and policies are.
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