2015 Apartment Guide

2015 APARTMENT GUIDE

ON THEMOVE

CAROLYN DUFF | THE DEPAULIA

2 | Apartment Guide. May 18, 2015.

MOVING CHECKLISTTWO MONTHS OUT

Decide if you’re moving or renewing your lease

Finalize budgets/roommates/cosigners

Decide if you’re using a Realtor/apartment service or looking on your own (PadMapper, Craigslist)

ONCE YOU HAVE AN APARTMENT

Reserve movers or UHall truck

File for change of address through USPS

Schedule to transfer gas, electricity and cable/internet accounts

Start packing nonessentials

TWO WEEKS OUT

Get boxes and packing materials

WEEK OF MOVING

Get keys

Schedule final walkthrough in old apartment

Bribe friends with pizza and beer to help move

Deep clean apartment

What’s Insidepage

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WHAT’S GOOD IN THE ‘HOODS

THINKING OUTSIDE OF THE (IKEA) BOX

DIY ON A DIME

WHAT KIND OF ROOMMATE ARE YOU?

Use this handy guide to help you figure out which neighborhood is the right fit for you.

There’s more to life than cheap swedish furniture. Learn about other wallet-friendly methods of furniture acquisition.

Everyone loves a crafting session. Some-times a good craft job is all a hum-drum apartment needs.

Having roommate issues? Maybe you’re the problem. Find out with this quiz.

Apartment Guide. May 18, 2015. | 3

For many college students, transitioning from the rules of resident advisors to the legal obligations present in contracts with landlords can be challenging. Suddenly, warnings and informal roommate counsel turn into damage fees, late fees and the struggle to get landlords to respond to repair requests.

Navigating legal contracts can turn out to be a nightmare in itself, and coupled with an unresponsive landlord, the apartment experience can turn out to be the ultimate horror story.

For first-time renters, it is important to conduct preliminary research on your soon-to-be landlord before you sign any kind of binding agreement. This can be done through a simple Google search or even asking the current tenants about their relationship with the landlord.

Finding out as much as possible about your potential landlord can only work to your benefit, and can even save you trouble by discouraging you from signing a lease.

Landlords are “obligated to repair anything deemed ‘essential’ to the health and safety of his tenants,” according to the Money Times.

“This includes dealing with heating, water and electrical issues; remediation of mold or fungus; battling bug infestations; and keeping the roof in working order.”

Ultimately, My Property Guide, a local resource for people buying, selling, renting or letting property, advises tenants to keep in mind that the “landlord’s obligations do not arise until he (or she) has been made aware of the defect.”

Furthermore, the landlord “is then allowed a reasonable time to carry out the

repairs. This will be judged according to the type and extent of the disrepair.”

It is important to document everything when it comes to making contact with a landlord. From keeping copies of e-mails and text messages, to repair requests and even including photos of damages with date stamps, the more documentation, the better.

Should your landlord ignore your requests, especially in situations that concern you and your roommates’ health

and safety, Money Times reports you have the right to alert “state or local health and building inspectors, sue your landlord in small claims court” or break your lease — a situation where it is advised to contact an attorney first.

Professional letting agencies that work with multiple apartment locations tend to have a better reputation for responsibility and maintenance of property. These agencies normally have repairmen ready to fix repairs and essential damage once

a work order is put into place. While sometimes this can mean more expensive properties, the benefits for some are worth it.

In late January, Chicago’s Building Department compiled a problem landlords list on its website “in an attempt to crack down and publicly shame apartment building owners into providing tenants with basic services such as heat, hot water and working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors,” according to the Chicago Tribune.

These landlords are the worst of the worst in the city, many of whom “have been found to be liable in two or more administrative hearings within a two-year period and have at least three serious building code violations.”

The Chicago Tribune reported that most of the apartment buildings cited are on Chicago’s West and South sides. If searching for an apartment in these areas, this list might be helpful to consult.

Although bad landlords are certainly problematic, and in some instances, dangerous, it is important to effectively communicate with landlords, and document all communication no matter what the circumstance is.

Some landlords see the potential of taking advantage of students who might be renting for the first time. Because of this, always be aware of your rights as a tenant and read your lease carefully before signing, keeping an eye out for hidden clauses or anything concerning work orders and repairs.

If stuck with a bad landlord, consult parents and in extreme situations, legal counsel, to figure out what can be done next within the parameters of your lease and the law.

By Zoe KreyOpinions Editor

SUSAN JOUFLAS | MCT CAMPUS

Dealing with bad landlords

Moving out can be an exciting time for DePaul’s dorm-residing population. For many, it marks the last time residing within a supervised environment, as the future may hold the notion of living independently off-campus for the first time.

However, the truth of the matter is that independent living can bring its own set of challenges. Those residing off-campus must be aware of how people within the housing markets can take advantage of them.

“Knowledge of one’s rights is often the best initial line of defense against violation of one’s (renter’s) rights,” Julie Lawton, a DePaul law professor, said.

Rental homes come in all shapes, sizes and states of dis-repair. Same goes with landlords, some of whom may oper-ate in an unscrupulous manner.

“If students research prospective landlords and try to only rent from those with positive reviews, that can help avoid challenges down the road,” Lawton said.

The possibility of such challenges, however, can never be ruled out. Should a landlord violation occur, students should always first notify their landlord via a written note about the problem. Oftentimes, notice of violation and knowledge that legal action is possible is enough to make landlords cave in.

If that does not work, tenants can put forth their viola-tion legally. Building code violations — such as disrepair, or discontinuation of utilities — should be addressed through proper city authorities pertaining to housing quality or safe-ty. Violations of leases, which often pertain to financial vio-lations, can be brought up in small claims “pro-se” courts, where tenants represent their own case. Lawton also points out that “there are a number of hotlines that students can call (for) a quick answer to whether their concern is legally defensible.”

Most importantly, The Chicago Residential Landlord Tenant Ordinance (RLTO) delineates the rights that most renters are entitled to within the city, of which all renters should remain aware.

By Kevin GrossNation & World Editor

Fight for your rights as rentersFreedom from unreasonable landlord accessLandlords are not allowed to enter your home unless they have given you notice two days in advance, and in most cases must do so between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. The only exception to consensual access involves cases of emergency or certain repair situations that require unexpected access to the renter’s unit.

Reasonable maintenance of the homeLandlords are required to keep a housing unit in agreeance with safety laws, which can be violated through conditions such as flooding, rats and pests, faulty electri-cal circuitry, fire damage or poorly main-tained locks. If a tenant notifies a landlord of a maintenance violation that is not rectified within 14 days, the renter has the option to fix the problem themselves and deduct the repair cost from rent, have the rent cost deducted to reflect poor housing value and quality or, in some cases, terminate the lease. Such penal-ties against the landlord are not allowed, however, if the maintenance damage is blatantly caused by the tenant.

Avoidance of security deposit abuse If a tenant rents a home for more than 12 months, they are entitled to receive

interest on their security deposit. Fur-thermore, a landlord can only deduct portions of the security deposit needed to cover unpaid rent or maintenance damage caused by the tenant, who must receive a written list of reasons that de-posits were deducted. Security deposits also have to be returned within 45 days of the end of a rental.

Avoidance of home lockoutIf a landlord physically locks out a tenant or intentionally cuts off utilities such as heat or water, the tenant is allowed to bring police action against the landlord. Additionally, landlords can be fined $200-$500 each day that this continues.

Fair sublease policiesLandlords must give a tenant the abili-ty to sublease a unit without additional charge or penalty. Furthermore, if a tenant leaves their unit without finding a subleaser, the landlord must attempt to sublease the unit for them, with the tenant only paying the difference be-tween the new renter’s rate and his or her own. For instance, if a leaving tenant paid $600 per month and left the house, with the landlord only being able to find a new renter willing to pay $400 per month, the first tenant will pay $200 per month for the remainder of their rental.


1.BE PREPARED FOR DELAYSWhether you drive or take the Metra, you’re going to deal with delays. One of the major complaints about the Metra trains is that they’re consistently delayed, especially the BNSF Railway line, which passes through Downers Grove and Naperville, where many students are from. Students who drive always have to be thinking about how to schedule their day around the traffic on the expressways surrounding Chicago. It’s helpful to have a daily plan of what you will be doing, hour to hour, while commuting, so there’s no need to rush throughout your day.

2.FIND A FRIEND WHO YOU CAN STAY WITHWhile it’s nicest to be at home, in your bed, far away from the bright lights and loud noises of the city, it’s also helpful to have a friend to stay with when you have an early morning following a late night downtown. It also gives commuters a rare opportunity to hang out with their friends who live in the city, as commuters typically go from class to class until they head home.

HOW TO SURVIVE AS A COMMUTER

BRIDGEPORTHome to five of Chicago’s mayors, including two of the Daleys, Bridgeport has always had a presence in the city’s political scene. This neighborhood may be a bit of an unconven-tional choice for a DePaul student, but with its proximity to the Stevenson Expressway, I-90 and I-94 Bridgeport is a convenient location for those who frequently commute to the suburbs. Bridgeport also is home to a burgeoning art scene, with venues like the Co-Prosperity Sphere and the Bridgeport Art Center, any creative type would be right at home in this neighborhood.

30 minutes50 minutesto THE LOOPto LINCOLN

PARK

$770

$990median rent for 1 br

median rent for 2 br

PILSENA traditionally Latino neighborhood, Pilsen is quickly being occupied by young artists and professionals. Unlike some of the more northern community areas, the Lower West Side community is still predominately Latino. The vibrant culture is visible in many Mexi-can restaurants, bakeries, murals along 18th St. and the National Museum of Mexican Art. Easy access to the loop campus makes this neighborhood desirable for many students, but getting to Lincoln Park may be a bit tricki-er for students without a bike or a car.


PARK

$1,000

$1,244median rent for 1 br


CHINATOWN / ARMOUR SQUAREAn interesting option for those seeking a different experience from the standard North Side neighborhood. Bustling restaurants and bars, ethnic groceries and the Ping Tom Memorial Park define community life in this southern neighborhood. East of the Red Line, life differs from the ethnically-defined dynamics of Chinatown’s small borders, with famed venue Reggie’s Rock Club and the amenities of the South Loop close by. Addi-tionally, McCormick Place—the site of De-Paul’s future basketball arena—is just a short bus ride away.


PARK

$1,400


median rent for 2 brmedian rent for 2 br


PARK

$1,350


LOGAN SQUAREAlthough widely gentrified, stretches of the neighborhood located around Logan Boule-vard, or between California and Sacramento Avenues function as a communal focal point highlighting the diversity of local activity. Live-music drinking spots, the iconic Logan Movie Theater, and restaurants highlighting both traditional Latino cuisines and eclectic modern tastes can all be found along this corridor. West of Kedzie Avenue, the neigh-borhood is generally considered to be less gentrified, with local businesses reflecting this (still interesting) reality.


PARK

$736

$939median rent for 1 br


HUMBOLDT PARKHumboldt Park has been the home of a large Puerto Rican community since the 1970s, but has lately become a victim of gentrification. Despite this, the area is home to many Puerto Rican restaurants. The National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture is a prominent feature in Hum-boldt Park, showcasing the culture of the city’s Puerto Rican community. The neigh-borhood is home to a 207-acre park, which features two lagoons, a fieldhouse and even a baseball park.


PARK

$1,350



WICKER PARKOnce a dying neighborhood ravished by crime, Wicker Park radically changed during the ‘90s after community efforts cleaned up the area and gentrification began to take place. Wicker Park is like Lincoln Park’s hipper and younger counterpart at a simi-lar price point—think upscale resale shops versus high-end yoga boutiques, or young professionals versus families. It’s home to dozens of booming independent businesses and restaurants, and easily accessible via the Damen and Division Blue Line.

SOUTH

UKRAINIAN VILLAGE With plenty of grocery stores and cultural in-stitutions, Ukrainian Village is a great neigh-borhood to live in. A large influx of Ukrainian immigrants moved to the area throughout World War I, shaping the neighborhood’s history and culture, which still remains intact to this day. The Ukrainian National Museum and the Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art both reflect the proud Ukrainian heritage of the residents. The neighborhood is filled with restaurants representing numerous cultures, including Old Lviv which serves a Ukrainian buffet and Japanese food at Kai Zan.


PARK

$1,400



WEST

IT’S ALL GOOD IN THE ‘HOODS A breakdown of Chicago’s neighborhoods to simplify your apartment search


3.BRING MEALS WITH YOU Commuters typically deal with incredibly long days in the city, leaving early in the morning and not getting back until late at night. With all the time spent in classes and traveling, you’re bound to get hungry. As food in the city is expensive, so it’s helpful to be able to bring a meal from home. While it can be fun to eat out once in a while, it’s more cost effective, and better for you to be able to bring a home-made meal. DePaul’s campuses are filled with microwaves as well, so commuters don’t have to resort to a boring sandwich every day, either.


PARK

$1,110



LINCOLN SQUAREWhere Lawrence, Lincoln and Western avenues meet sits the charming commercial heart of Lincoln Square. The neighborhood is still heavily influenced by its deep German roots, with long-standing institutions such as the Chicago Brauhaus and Lutz Cafe and Bakery, in addition to German cultural organizations. But it’s not an entirely sleepy area, and is marked by cultural diversity of neighboring Albany Park. It’s also home to many small business and a thriving bar and restaurant scene while maintaining its cozy neighborhood feel.


PARK

$1,180



UPTOWNFor those seeking the frills of Lakeview without dealing with the drunkenness of Wrigleyville, look no further than Uptown. Due to its size, Uptown has multiple cultural identities. Containing Little Vietnam with its cluster of Asian grocery stores and variety of Thai, Cambodian and Vietnamese restaurants, as well as entertainment hotspots like the Green Mill Cocktail lounge, the Riviera Theater and the Aragon Ballroom, Uptown is an excellent north-side alternative to Lakeview for those yearning for a little diversity in their lives.


PARK

$1,400



LAKEVIEW Great ample access to public transit, plentiful nightlife and safety are Lakeview’s most attractive qualities. Bounded by Diversey Parkway to the south, Irving Park Road to the north, Lake Michigan to the east, and Ravenswood Avenue to the west, the neighborhood has a community for nearly every student’s lifestyle. Chicago’s LGBTQ community thrives along Halsted Street, the Southport Corridor provides a change of pace for those looking to escape the quick pace of the city, and Wrigleyville is a party all year long.

GOLD COASTThe Gold Coast is centrally located between both DePaul campuses and just about every-thing else in the city. Michigan Avenue and the lakefront are within walking distance, but all of the amenities will cost you. The Near North Side (encompassing Gold Coast, River North, Old Town and Streeterville) has the highest average rent in the city. Parking is near impossible unless there’s parking in your building, and the neighborhood lacks the charm found in most of Chicago. Crime for the Near North Side is also on the higher side, coming in No. 5 for most overall crime.


PARK

$1,030




PARK

$1,910



WEST LOOPHome to some of Chicago’s best restaurants along Randolph Street, the West Loop has kept some of its industrial, gritty feel while developing over the past several years. The neighborhood is filled with mid- and high-ris-es with many converted lofts as well. Restau-rants and grocery stores (including a new Whole Foods and a nearly-new Mariano’s) are a-plenty, but the neighborhood doesn’t have a student-friendly feel. Come to the West Loop in your late 20s.


PARK

$1,660



SOUTH LOOPThe South Loop shares many similarities to the West Loop, but its proximity to the lake-front is what sets it apart. The South Loop has easy access to just about every neigh-borhood in the city due to its central locale, and easy access to restaurants — though many Loop spots follow 9-5 work-week hours, grocery stores (Trader Joe’s, Jew-el-Osco, Mariano’s, Whole Foods and Target all have outposts in the neighborhood). Like the West Loop, most residencies are in high rises or converted lofts, which don’t come cheap.

CENTRAL

LINCOLN PARKAccessibility and convenience are certainly pros to living in Lincoln Park, but the downside is cost. While the average price per apartment may swing high due to the swanky apartments, there are more affordable options if you choose to live with one or more people. A simple solution to your neighborhood needs might cost you, but it comes with its perks. As a wealthier neighborhood, there’s tons of nightlife options, accessible transit, independent shops, grocery stores and proximity to other great North Side neighborhoods.


PARK

$1,750



NORTH

IT’S ALL GOOD IN THE ‘HOODS A breakdown of Chicago’s neighborhoods to simplify your apartment search

4. REMEMBER IT WON’T BE THIS BAD FOREVERCommuting is like a horrible nightmare that I worry I will never escape from. Don’t fret fellow students who live with your parents, one day you will be able to afford rent on your own. While you’re still commuting think about the positive aspects of living at home. For some of us, our parents make our food and wash our clothes. Someday we will look back on this extra time spent with our parents one day and treasure it. Or, at least that’s what we can tell ourselves when the Metra is delayed another hour longer.

Story by:Courtney Jacquin

Max KleinerBrenden Moore

Kirsten OnsgardErin Yarnall


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After signing the lease on your first apartment you may have the impulse to run to IKEA for the unlimited supply of stylish Swedish furniture. I will not deny that IKEA has everything, including their cheaper prices. But consider recycling perfectly good furniture — which can come at a discounted rate — that takes just a bit of creativity to find.

Start with Facebookand Craigslist ads

DePaul’s Students Living Off-Campus group is a student-led smorgasbord of opportunity. Students look for subletters, renters, and most importantly, people to take their old furniture off their hands. Graduating seniors are due for a furniture upgrade, or maybe they don’t want to haul their four year-old futon across the country back to their parents’ basement. Use your networking skills to build rapport with your peers and you can likely get a better price than what they think they want for the furniture.

To tackle Craigslist means employing a bit more street-smarts. Craigslist is the Wild West of bargain shopping. Here are some tips before you dive in:

• Pay attention to the age of the

furniture. If it doesn’t say, you may want to stay away.

• What do the pictures look like? If the owner put more than two seconds of thought into the photos, you’re off to a better start.

• Grammar is your friend. If it looks like an eight-year-old with their finger stuck on the caps lock wrote the ad, then that $2 couch may have been sitting in an alley for 6 months before the seller

found it. • Always see the furniture before

you fork over any cash, and always bring a big buddy with you to claim your Craigslist prize.

Garage sales You could make like

Macklemore and snag some grandma-swag at the thrift shop, but yard, garage and estate sales are also the epicenters for

reliable, discounted furniture. Garage salesmen and women are expert hagglers and would rather negotiate a price than turn down a sale. These are also great places to get quality furniture because, as your own grandparents will tell you, they just don’t make things like they used to. Tables, dishes, couches and chairs at garage sales may have lived through a generation or two, but when cared

for by the right family, they may last one more generation.

Your family Speaking of grandmas, your

family — or your friends’ family — is a great network to tap into for used furniture. Upward moving relatives are always replacing furniture, and everyone has that one aunt who hoards things to begin with. That’s where you swoop in to do everyone a favor. Whether it’s the cousin who finally moved out of your uncle’s basement or the grandma who moved to Florida, remind your family that you’re family, and that they can donate their furniture in lieu of sending a lame Christmas card this year.

For all used furniture, make sure you give it a good wiggle to check for stability. Look beneath the couch cushions for questionable stains, and always check drawers to see if they work properly. If you want to play hard-to-get with a seller and you can live with a less-than-perfect piece of furniture, nag enough about the flaw until the seller makes a better offer. Remember, furnishing your college apartment doesn’t mean you need top-notch stuff. Remember that you’re likely to pass on these pieces in the next few years, so do your wallet a favor and buy things with a bit more character.

By Megan DeppenNews Editor

Thinking outside of the (IKEA) box

This floral-patterned couch gifted from a generous grandma complements any recycled home decor.MEGAN DEPPEN | THE DEPAULIA


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I moved into my first apartment almost one year ago and as soon as I signed the lease, I couldn’t wait to start decorating. I’m pretty good at crafting, if I do say so myself, so I’ve managed to create several things that I can hang on my wall without shame. For those of you who don’t share my talent, here are a few ideas that will get you started.

My favorite way to craft is “upcy-cling,” or turning something obsolete into something useful. Buying materials at craft stores is really expensive and most of your supplies will go to waste. Upcycling is a great way to save money because you can use things that you already have.

If you’ve burned through a candle, re-use the empty container. You can re-fill it with wax to make a new candle, or do what DePaulia’s Editor-in-Chief Courtney Jacquin does and use it to grow a small plant in. You can also do the same things with mugs you aren’t using. I like to use old teacups with pretty patterns that I find at thrift shops for either of these options.

I like having plants around my apart-ment as decoration. It’s kind of my way of proving to guests that I am responsible enough to keep another living thing alive. It also makes my space feel a little homier

because I’m used to being around nature.For another simple DIY, use a wine

bottle for a vase. There are a lot of ways to dress up an empty bottle. First, remove the label by soaking the bottle in warm water and soap for at least 15 minutes, then peeling it off. You can wrap either string or painter’s tape around the bottle, spray paint it, then remove the wrappings once it’s dry. Or roll the bottom half of the bottle in glue, then glitter and let it dry. If you don’t want to put that much effort to it, just keep it simple and use the bottle as is.

For décor in my room and storage for my jewelry, I used an old picture frame to create a jewelry holder that hangs on my wall. To achieve this, remove the glass and backing from a wooden picture frame, paint it any color you want, and use a staple gun to attach several wires from one side to the other. I enjoyed using the staple gun — I have little experience with power tools so I felt pretty powerful using it. If you don’t have access to a staple gun, wrap the wire around the side a few sides before moving to the opposite side. You can hang your earrings from that wire. Then, screw hooks into the bottom of the frame to hang your necklaces on.

We’ve all seen funny Pintrest fails on the Internet so it’s known that the success rates for DIY projects are very low. For

the best chance of success, plan for plenty of time to work on your DIY. If you rush through the steps, your project will be a sad mess.

Also, know your crafting limitations. Think about steps to complete a DIY project, and ask yourself if you possess the necessary skills before tackling it. For example, if a project involves some sort of intricate painting, but you’ve never painted before, practice before painting on your fi-nal product. Or if you want to create a DIY to display your favorite quote, but your handwriting resembles a second-grader’s, use a stencil or ask a friend with good handwriting to write it out for you.

No matter how hard you try to make some cute décor, it’s OK if it doesn’t turn out. Usually the process is a lot more complex than the instructions let on. My friend and I once attempted to make pic-ture frames out of old records. We bought stacks of records from a thrift store and followed some simple directions from a website we found. Despite our determina-tion and countless attempts, not a single record turned out. It pains me to think about the records that went to waste that day, but we had a lot of fun failing.

If you view your DIY as a fun activity, you won’t be so disappointed if it doesn’t turn out.

DIY on a dimeUsing crafty skills to turn a dull apartment homey for cheap

By Carolyn DuffAsst. Design Editor

Botched DIY projects by DePaulia staff members Carolyn Duff, Courtney Jacquin and Erin Yarnall. For the full video, see depauliaonline.com.

COURTNEY JACQUIN | THE DEPAULIA

1. The garbage is overflowing. You: a) Take it out yourself. Like ALWAYS. Why are you the only responsible roommate?!!b) Ignore it until the Trash Fairy inevitably takes it out. c) Strategically balance your trash on top. You’ll get around to it later. Maybe. d) Take it out, but make sure to announce your efforts to your roommate(s) for future reference.

2. You’ve been daydreaming about your leftover pizza all day. When you get home, you see it’s been eaten by one of your roommates. You: a) Go on a witch-hunt until you find the heartless monster that ate your beloved pepperoni slices. Have they no respect? No dignity?b) Shhhh, I’m actually the roommate that stole the food...c) Confront your roommates. They inform you that you ate it when you got back from the bar last night. d) Order a new one but make sure to talk to them about it later. Whoever ate it was probably hungry and it’s not like you’ve never stolen any of their food. 3. How often are you at your place?a) I’m out and about from the time I wake up to the time I go to bed. b) If I don’t have plans, work or class, I’m there. c) I’m practically always at a friend’s/my significant other’s. There is a strong possibility someone else has moved into my bedroom by now. d) I always have a pretty busy schedule but try to escape the chaos of the city and relax at home when possible.

4. Describe your bedroom:

a) A place for everything and everything in its place. b) I can’t remember the last time I saw the floor. c) There’s always a bit of mess, but I can usually find my stuff. d) It depends on the day, but generally it is in pretty decent condition.

5. What exactly did you contribute to your apartment?a) I brought practically all the furniture, art for the walls and a bunch of dishes and silverware. Honestly, this place is basically mine. b) Well, I bought this really cool tapestry for the living room and Season 2 of “Bob’s Burgers” on DVD!c) We wouldn’t have shot glasses or a wine-opener if it weren’t for me! d) I didn’t bring everything, but I brought a decent amount.

6. You hate your roommate’s significant other. You: a) Ban him/her from coming over when you’re home. You pay rent and you get a say in who’s welcome here, dammit! b) Ignore it. They’ll (hopefully) be a thing of the past soon enough. c) Passive aggressively make your opinion clear. *Slams door*d) Talk to your roommate about it. She’s pretty understanding.

7. How often do you go out during the week?a) I only go out on the weekends, no matter what. b) My friends beg me to leave but I have Netflix and a kitchen here so...c) I only go out on the appropriate drinking days: Mixed-Drink Monday, Tipsy Tuesday, Wet Wednesday, Thirsty Thursday and on the weekend. d) If my homework is finished and I don’t have early classes, why not go see some friends?

8. How do you divvy up housework? a) I don’t make any of the messes, ever. Why should I have to pick up?b) If I see something that needs to be done, I do it. c) I do everything because my lazy roommates don’t. Have I mentioned I hate my roommates?d) We have a pretty good system worked out.

9. Which Leo is your ideal roommate?a) Teddy Daniels from “Shutter Island” because you don’t mind a little crazy in a roomie as long as they’re willing to do a little dirty work. b) Jack Dawson from “Titanic” because you’ll never let go (of the shoe boxes and plastic bags piling up in your apartment). c) Jordan Belfort from “Wolf of Wall Street” because you’re always down for a good time. d) Romeo Montague from “Romeo and Juliet” because you appreciate his loving personality and think Tybalt totally had it coming.

Mostly As: While you really do mean well, your desire to have a picture-perfect place at all times is kind of unrealistic. You’re in college and should enjoy the time you have to be slightly irresponsible and have it be socially acceptable. Your roomies appreciate having a mom figure around sometimes, but they wish you’d occasionally just relax and have some fun.

Mostly Bs: Maybe you’re used to your parents doing everything or maybe you just don’t even realize it, but you need to be a little more proactive about putting in some work around your place. Keeping an apartment in shape is a group effort — and lifting your feet up so your roomie can vacuum underneath them does not count as effort. Your roommates do, however, love your tendency to be 100 percent drama-free.

Mostly Cs: You’re undoubtedly a great time to be around and an awesome friend, but sometimes your roommates want to come home and not listen to you blaring Chief Keef at 1 a.m. on a weeknight. Occasionally staying in would be good for your grades, health and relationships with your roommates. But don’t let this stop you from having fun when the time is right.

Mostly Ds: You must have grown up with siblings because you understand that keeping the peace with those you live with requires patience and work. You recognize that you aren’t the only person paying rent and make sure not to irk those you share a roof with. I guess what I’m trying to say is... will you live with me?

QUIZ: WHAT KIND OF ROOMMATE ARE YOU?

DANIELLE HARRIS | THE DEPAULIA

2015 Apartment Guide

Documents

Transcript of 2015 Apartment Guide