Finding an apartment takes a decent amount of effort in order to find the right one. There are pros and cons of renting, and not weighing them can lead to renter’s remorse. Researching apartments can take time even if you sign with the first one you come across. So what happens after you sign your lease, do you move in and then have renter’s remorse set in?
There are many reasons you could regret signing the lease for your apartment. Some of those can include the size of the space seeming different or your roommate you thought was great is now showing some red flags. No matter what the reason is, renter’s remorse is common and can be frustrating. About two-thirds of renters experience renter’s remorse. When you sign a lease you are locking yourself into an apartment for a set amount of time. Whether you are feeling renter’s remorse or not, the best way to resolve it is to focus on the positives of the situation. Here are some tips to overcome renter’s remorse.
Identify Problems
Sometimes there is an obvious reason you may be feeling renter’s remorse, other times there is not a clear reason. However, in order to resolve a problem you must figure out what it is. To try and find the root of the problem, make a list of all the things you are not satisfied with. If these are problems you or your landlord can fix or realize if the problem is really even that bad. Always remember that because an apartment is a rental you are only obligated to it for a short period of time.
Identify Aspects you Like
Unless you desperately were in need of a place to live, you normally pick your apartment based on aspects you like about it. That could be the price, location, history, amenities, or anything else that interested you about the apartment. Being able to focus on the positives will help you realize the negatives might not be so bad. You might even realize your apartment checks off more boxes than you realized.
Talk to Your Landlord
Most landlords care if their tenants are happy, so if you are feeling renter’s remorse it could be in your favor to schedule time to speak with your landlord. They can help improve any problems or come up with solutions for any fears you have. Sometimes if the situation is really bad they will let you shorten or out of your lease entirely. Ultimately, it is never a bad idea to bring up any concerns you may have with your landlord.
Do Not Look at Listings
Even if you are satisfied with your rental you may feel the urge to browse other apartment listings. Instead of driving yourself crazy and potentially finding a better option, let’s nip that urge in the bud. If you enjoy browsing apartment listings for fun (a lot of people like to do this) try to look in other cities. This will help ease potential renters’ remorse while still browsing other apartments.
Put Things into Perspective
In the grand scheme of things, your situation may not be ideal but it could always be worse. Renter’s remorse can stem from thinking you should be able to get everything you want at one time and in reality that might not always be possible. In reality, some things are going to be great and others are not. That is a part of life. You may not be able to change your situation but you sure can change your attitude about it.
Roommate Related Problems
Roommate problems can be a common trigger for renter’s remorse, even if you love everything else about your apartment. However, you are going to have to live with this person until the lease runs out, so you might as well try and make the best of it.
Try and identify the issues you and your roommate may be having and figure out if it can be fixed. For example, if your roommate is not as clean as you then you can talk to them about it. You can come up with a cleaning chart or some kind of compromise. If there is not a clear issue then you and your roommate should set some guidelines and boundaries in order to live amicably together.
Focus on the End
It is important to remember rentals are not forever. You can concentrate more on the light at the end of the tunnel which is when your lease runs out. Whether that is six months or more, you have an out.
How We Can Help!
Talons Group is here to make sure you don’t have renter’s remorse. We help you find the perfect place for you. Whether you are a student looking for an apartment near campus, or you are looking for a short-term rental, we can help you. Contact us today to get started on your renting journey!