Ciao Mum: A Girl's Guide To Moving Out
4:45 AM
So, you want to move out of home? You've graduated from high school, sponged off your parents, gone on your long awaited Santorini trip and just when all seemed to be going perfectly your parents asked the dreaded question, 'when are you going to start paying us rent?' Seriously Mum, why would we pay to live at home when we can just like...move out? And just like that, you're ready to pack your bags and start your journey as a real, fully grown adult.
My experience of moving out came a little earlier than most. I was seventeen when I decided to up and leave home. I'd always been super independent with little regard for authority (sorry Mum) so once I had finished high school, moving out felt like the next natural step. I packed up all my furniture, that actually belonged to my parents but it was in my room so it was totally mine, and moved into the city centre with my now ex, ex boyfriend and a few friends.
At first, living out of home was the best! I suddenly had a new found freedom to do whatever I wanted... and I really did do whatever I wanted. I felt it was perfectly acceptable to drink Midori and lemonade for breakfast, do flaming absinthe shooters on a Tuesday evening, eat at a different restaurant every night and I even bought a cat.
But, things soon went south. I realised I really didn't like living with my boyfriend's hipster sister, I was being ripped off with the amount of rent I was paying and apparently I didn't really like cats after all. But time passed, I broke up with my cheating hobbit-sized ex, he stole my cat and my journey into share-housing truly began. Now I have been living out of home for 8 years and I know all the do's and don'ts of moving out and moving house. So, if you're thinking about moving out, read ahead so the experience is fun, painless and you don't lose a stack of money, or a cat, in the process.
1. Choose Your Roomies Wisely
Most of the time you think living with your best friend would be the BEST THING EVERRRRRR! It's not. It has only ever worked for me once and that was very recently. Living with a good friend is very different to spending all of your time with them. You know how funny it is that she's really messy and her mum always bitches at her about it? Yeah, well that's about to become your issue and it can cause a lot of tension. Have a good, hard think about your friend's character traits and how those traits will translate into housemate habits. Is she good with money or would she prioritise a new dress over rent? Is she good at sharing and team work or is she totally selfish, but you love her anyway? There have been many relationships left ruined in the wake of a share-house disaster so really take time to consider who to live with.
2. Finding Somewhere to Live
When you are looking for your first rental property there are two things playing against you, the first being your age. Real estate agents aren't supposed to discriminate but of course they do. It's their job to find the best tenants for their clients and, unfortunately, when you're twenty they just think you will be drunk and loud all the time…which in my case was incredibly true, #noregrets. The second is that you have no real estate references, so no one knows if you are going to look after their home or completely destroy it. The best thing to do if you are in this situation is to look for private rental listings. These are houses advertised to rent by the owner of the house and not by a real estate agency. Owners are usually a little more lenient and if they meet you and you make a good impression they are likely to give you a chance. These rentals are usually found on places like Gumtree or in your local paper. When I was younger 99% of my share houses were private rentals.
3. Signing the Lease Agreement
This is a big one! A lease agreement is a legal, binding document. You can't get out if it just because you've had a fight with your bestie and you're sick of her using all your expensive shampoo. Make sure you read it thoroughly and are comfortable with all the terms and conditions. If you are unsure about the people you are moving in with, or unsure about the location of your property then ask to sign a short 6 month lease instead of committing to a whole year. It is important to know that the real estate agency can increase your rent whenever your lease agreement ends. So understand that if you choose a 6 month lease this gives them the opportunity to up your rent in 6 months time. Also, signing the lease makes you legally responsible for the property and the rent payments. So, if someone wants to move in with you and share the responsibility of the property, make sure they sign the lease agreement too. If you don't they could walk away and leave you to pay all the rent on your own. Breaking a lease can also be very costly. Some homeowners/real estate agents are happy to find someone else to move in but others will make you cover the cost of the rent for the entire period until someone else is found and legally, they can make you pay for advertising which could end up costing you a small fortune.
4. Bills, Bills, Bills
If you are moving in with multiple people do not, under any circumstance, put all of the bills in your name. When you first move into a house you have to have the electricity and gas officially put in the names of people on the lease agreement. Make everyone equally responsible for the house and put different bills in different people's names. They are more likely to pay you on time if they understand the pressure of paying a bill. You do not want to be the person who is constantly out of pocket and chasing everyone up for bill money.
6. The House Bond
A bond is usually the equivalent of four weeks rent and is handed over to your real estate agent /owner upon signing the lease. The bond is like insurance for the home owners. If you damage part of the property they can keep part or all of your bond to cover the cost of repairs. Regardless if you are renting through an agency or privately, it is a legal requirement that the bond be lodged with a bond administrator. That means your bond money is held in a government account until such a time that your lease ends and you formally apply for its return. Make sure that your real estate agent provides you with a receipt or document as proof of your bond being lodged, so you know your money is safe. If you are just renting a room off someone, don't just let them keep your bond in their bank account. They might spend your bond on a new Camilla outfit and drunk night out with their best friends and not have it to give back when you need it…
7. Bond Inspection Report/Condition Report
This is often ignored by young renters because they are so keen to get into their new space. But before you move anything into your sweet new pad get a bond checklist or condition report from your real estate agent or home owner. Go through every single room in the house and note down any damage or marks on the floor, walls, ceilings and windows. It is also crucial that you take photos of any marks or damage. This goes for the garden too, especially the lawn. Note if it is dead or dying when you move in. I can't tell you how many times I have heard of real estate agents trying to withhold bonds using dead grass as an excuse, even if it was dead to begin with. Like I said, take pics of everything and email them to your agent so they can't blame you for pre-existing damage.
8. Keep a Paper Trail
Never ring your real estate agent about any issues; always put any concerns you have in writing. This ensures you have dated evidence to provide them with should you get into a sticky situation. For example, I once had a very leaky tap and emailed my agent about it several times to have it fixed. They never organised a plumber and when I received the water bill it was HUGE! I used my emails about the leaking tap as evidence that the excess water consumption was due to the leaky tap and had the home owner pay a portion of the bill. Just be smart kids.
9. What You'll Need to Move Out
The initial move can be pricey. You'll need to make sure you have the amount to cover the cost of your bond PLUS two weeks rent.
In addition to your bond you'll be required to pay two weeks rent up front to make sure you're always ahead in your rent payments. so, you have to pay:
Bond (usually equal to 4 weeks rent) + 2 weeks rent in advance + have the money to start paying rent straight away. So all up, you'll need the equivalent to 8 weeks rent. Yay math.
Don't panic about paying the two weeks rent in advance; at the end of the lease you don't have to pay the final two weeks rent. Which means you may actually be able to afford to live that week #perthlife. Oh, and you'll need some furniture too!
So, now that you have all the important details about moving out, you can take the first step into spacial freedom. WOO! On a quick note I'd also just like to mention that Midori was considered trendy in 2007. They had big city billboards and everything!
Angie xo
2 comments
I clearly missed the memo about MIDORI not being trendy. Best easy cocktail = Japanese sLIpper... Amaze. x
ReplyDeleteI secretly still love it ;) xxx
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