Homeownership—it’s so much work! You’ve got a hefty monthly payment, plus you’d better have cash reserves because if something breaks, fixing it is on you. Maybe you feel nostalgic for those days when you were a carefree renter. But we’re here to remind you renting isn’t exactly a walk in the park (or the apartment complex courtyard), either.
Maybe you have to be an apartment dweller to get it, but there’s more to renting than writing a check and calling the landlord for free repairs. If you’ve ever lived in an apartment complex, you’re thoroughly familiar with the pain of the following scenarios.
The old tenants are always around in spirit
Things we don’t like to think about: When we move in, we’re just one tenant in a long list of people who’ve occupied the space—and it shows. Perhaps the previous renters’ hooks are still hanging in the kitchen. Or maybe you’re getting junk mail for 15 different strangers. No matter what, you have to think good thoughts so that you don’t focus on the fact that a lot of people used that bathtub before you.
You worry about wear and tear all the time
Security deposits are all in the details: The only way you’re ever getting yours back is if you move out with scuff-free walls, scratch-free floors, and unstained countertops. And to make that happen, your walls will be bare of your favorite paintings forever, and you’ll have to put the dog in booties (trust us, they do not like that). Plus, no matter how careful you are, sometimes you’re still left to hunt down the security deposit after you move.
You’re always wondering what that sound was
Have you ever been woken up by the sound of three bowling balls rolling across the ceiling at 3 a.m.? If you answered yes, you’ve probably been a first-floor renter. Noise happens when you share walls. And it usually happens after midnight. And you never can identify what it was. Are your neighbors moving furniture? Playing bocce in the hallway? Did they take up clog dancing? These are some of life’s greatest mysteries that, sadly, we’ll never solve.
Read the full article at Realtor.com.