So you finally moved into your first apartment and you’ve been happily living there for a better part of the year. The lease is now coming up for renewal and you have to decide what to do.
Remember the excitement when you first moved in? Remember how good it felt? Finally, you had a place to call your own. I bet you used to obsessively clean every night, spend all your spare money on decorations and constantly invite friends over for dinner parties and beer pong.
But suddenly, the obsessive cleaning stops, the weekend trips to Ikea come to a halt and the only time your friends come into your apartment is when they have to use the bathroom before a night out on the town.
Sound familiar?
We know the decision to look for new housing isn’t easy, but here are my top 5 signs that you’ve outgrown your apartment and it’s time to consider finding a new place to call home.
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You don’t see the point in cleaning the place anymore
I remember when I first moved into my apartment, I kept everything organized and clean. Right after dinner all the dishes would be washed, the bed would be made every morning, and all my clothes were neatly folded on their respective shelves. When I had friends over, I obsessively had everybody take off their shoes and cringed whenever somebody would touch one of my wall decors. But now, things have changed. My sink is flooded with dishes several times during the week, my bed looks like the aftermath of a 20 man pillow fight, and my clothes can pass as floor rugs.
If you don’t have the drive to keep your apartment clean anymore, you should consider it an early sign that it’s time to move on.
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You notice every little fault.
The weird draft the living room window gets, the way the heater makes an irritating squeal when you turn it on, the fact that the toilet paper holder is behind the toilet instead of next to it. When you first moved in, I bet these things didn’t cross your mind. But now, they seem to catch your attention multiple times a day and make you curse out loud in frustration, scaring your neighbors.
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You constantly stalk Craigslist for new listings
Yes, STALK. Every spare minute you have is spent on Craigslist scouring the classifieds section for a new place to call home. You click the refresh button multiple times in a span of five minutes hoping that you can find that diamond in the rough. You tell yourself, “I’m just curious” but curiosity turns into determination once you find that one bedroom “loft-style” apartment that’s in your price range. Now you’re debating living off ramen noodles for two months just so you can put your deposit down on that apartment (true story!).
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You desperately long to host get-togethers, but you can’t
When you first moved in, I bet your place was the go to spot for the first few months. Your friends would always come over and drink all your beer, your parents would come over every weekend and drink all your coffee, hell, I bet you even attempted to throw a full on dinner party with about 20 guests, and succeeded! BUT, at the expense of a few broken dishes, broken light bulbs and maybe even your favorite thrift store find, an antique table clock. You long to host another social event at your place, but for your money’s sake, there just isn’t enough room. Trust me, I know the feeling.
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You’d much rather spend time away from home
Now don’t get me wrong, there is absolutely nothing wrong with being outdoors on a nice, sunny and breezy day. Hey, by all means pull out a nice comfy throw blanket and take a nap on the grass. Where things change is when you’d rather sit in your car for an extra 30 minutes as opposed to stepping foot in your own dwelling. In my opinion, this is the BIGGEST sign that it’s time to move on. If you catch yourself doing this, I suggest taking a fresh look at your options to see what else is possible.
When your lease is up the easiest option is just to renew it. The decision to move is always more complicated and time-consuming. There are so many factors to consider: money, location, commute, amenities, utilities, credit and family might come into play when you decide to move. But in my opinion, the most important factor to consider is your happiness. If your place no longer feels a welcoming home, it’s time to move.
What about you? What are some signs you noticed when you outgrew your first apartment?
Our contributor, Alvin Alfonso, is Jersey- born, New York- raised ball of Filipino awesomeness. He holds an Associate’s Degree in Graphic Design and is a freelance blog/lifestyle photographer with a passion for writing. He is currently in the process of building a website that will focus on health and fitness.
