So, it is the first of August and this is how my checklist fares for things that I need to do to be an official "grown-up".

Procure Employment: Check
Procure Apartment: CHECK! (Finally!)

Yes, it's true. I am proud to say that I am now officially moving out, and moving on to post-graduate life. What this has in store for me, I don't know. So far I have a lot of bills and a different address so that I can get more junk mail. I'm sure that once I am settled, I'll have lots of tips for the post-graduate city slicker, but at the moment all I have are some tips on how to procure an apartment, since I have finally reached my goal.

Some of you may remember, that not too long ago I was still within the amazon of apartment listings, feeling lost, bewildered, and at times highly amused by the apartments, condos, townhouses and efficiency suites that lay before me. So, having seen the good, the bad, and the ugly, I now feel qualified to share some tips on what not to do/what to do when searching and deciding on a home.

1) If it seems too good to be true- it probably is. Trust your gut. Are you feeling like the rent is way too low? Is there some strange vibe that you can't quite pinpoint about the place- listen to your intuition. It rarely steered me wrong. Sometimes there would be tons of hidden fees, or the renter would be downright dishonest. There are a lot of great renters out there. But there are also a lot of people who are desperate for money.

2) Aside from just plain wrong fits- take some time to really think about your decision. Although it might be tempting, don't commit right away. Think about the situation. Will you really be comfortable living in that place? What about the people?

3) Talking points- after a while I found that there were some really important questions to ask upfront, some that I didn't even think about until way after I had begun searching for apartments. Although the search is different for everybody, these are some basic questions I found to be standard:

- How many roommates will I have? Please describe them?
- How much will rent be? Is that including utilities?
- Will I have kitchen privilidges/ be able to store food? (Originally I had just assumed that I would be allowed to use the kitchen. However, this is far from standard. There are some renters who do not allow their tenants to use the kitchen, let alone common space)
- What is your policy on having friends over? (Again, at first I just assumed that everyone was as low-key about this as myself.WRONG! Some people are more protective of their space than others, and this is something that every first- time renter should ask.)
- Any other questions? Ask it! Do not be afraid or embarrassed to get the information you need to make an informed decision. You need to know what to expect before you move in!

That being said, every situation is different. There is a right and a wrong way to go about getting to know a potential roomie. Find out what situation you want/they want, and then decide. Some people will be looking to make friends. Others, will just want the rent money and to keep to themselves. Everyone is different, and it's important that you only settle for an environment that you are comfortable with!

Now that I have my own perfect city oasis/roomie, I am off to a week of packing and IKEA shopping. Upcoming blogs include furnishing rooms on a budget, and beginning employment!