For many young people like TikToker Gigi Bello, having a rented apartment means dealing with a lot of problems. For Bello, that was the “Landlord Special“, or layers of white paint smeared over her peephole. Not having a peephole was a safety concern, and she took it upon herself to fix it. Now that it’s on TikTok, many young people have been inspired to take these issues upon themselves to fix. Many of these issues, however, could be avoided by a little extra attention in the apartment hunting phase.
What To Look For In Your Rental
1. Your Non-negotiables
It’s important that your apartment fits your lifestyle, not the other way around. Obviously, you have to have a good idea of your budget, which will give you a good idea of the location you can afford. However, the tradeoff may be worth it if a more expensive area will meet your commute and transportation needs.
2. Management and Amenities
It’s important to take good care in picking who will be collecting your rent and answering your maintenance requests. Big companies may be more reliable than individual landlords, but always check reviews. With an individual landlord, however, having a personal connection may give you a little more negotiating power. See if they can fix little things, maybe undo that landlord special, and if they’re providing you maintenance service as well as things like pest control.
3. Good Bones
If it’s important to you, apartments and houses with charm are a very achievable goal. Unfortunately, many of these are older and come with a myriad of other issues, but living somewhere unique may make that worth it. If that’s not your jam, newer cookie-cutter builds will give you a stronger base to make your own.
4. Move-in Condition
Once the hunting is over, it’s time to move in! The unit you toured may not be what you’re moving into, so take care in doing a full walk-through of your new home. Take pictures of everything so you can prove what it looked like when you moved in, and alert your landlord of any issues. Now that you’ve moved in, it’s time to make it yours.
How To Make It Yours
1. Renter-Friendly Workaround
When living independently as a young adult, that security deposit can sometimes be no joke! Don’t let that deter you from making your space your own. Many people have been in your shoes and have found workarounds before you. Peel-and-stick wallpaper, creative standing decorations, and hardware replacements are all easy and temporary ways to elevate your space.
@honeyidressedthepug Every renter friendly DIY from this apartment in one TikTok ✨ undoing starts next week 🫠 #renterfriendlyhacks #diyhome #colorfulhome #renterfriendlydecor
♬ A Day in the Sun – Nianyii
2. Get Your Hands Dirty
If you want to commit to customizing your space, the best way will require some grunt work on your part. Don’t be afraid to look up some tutorials, buy some tools, and figure it out. There’s no reason you can’t, so empower yourself to—and do some cool stuff.
3. Go Off The Beaten Path
Even if you don’t want to go crazy, there are still lots of avenues to find good decor. Shop upscale if you have the means (think Pottery Barn), and secondhand if you have the time. At any price point, there are usually good places to find things online; you just have to discover your niche (Etsy has a little of everything). Shopping creatively is an excellent exercise in identity curation, and you can get a cute apartment out of it!
4. Don’t Be Shy
The final thing to remember about customizing your space is that it’s yours. You don’t have to worry about trends or what your guests will think. Fill it with all your weird things, or leave it empty. Get creative and stay true to your style, and remember that the coolest space is an authentic one.
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