How Do You Know You Have Outgrown an Apartment?

Like children, we outgrow some things in life and some of you are outgrowing your rentals.  You are giving everyone grief around you.  Driving through the apartment complex parking lot like a bat out of hell, you practically run to your apartment praying the whole way that no one stops to talk to you.  You are arguing with your roommates.  Talking badly about your neighbors.  You have thoughts of suing the landlord, the property management company, the contractors, and anyone else you meet almost weekly.  Yes, one has outgrown his or her rental dwelling.  So now what?  You start looking for a place like yesterday!  Stop talking yourself into staying at the rental, talk yourself out of it!

1) You know you have outgrown the apartment when more people have moved in since you first signed the lease.  You also know that you are breaking the rules when the leasing office is unaware that you have others living there.  You might be out sooner rather than later depending on the type of manager or management company that is running the place.  

2)  You understand since the early days of your moving there, you just aren't getting along with anyone such as: family members, the office staff, and your neighbors.  That's not a "they" problem, that's a you problem!

3) You look around and the place is just too small, too big, too something.  Yes, you need to make plans and get gone, Goldilocks!

4) When you go from room-to-room every time you use or look at something, it is broken and there is no getting anything fixed.  Now why are you paying rent again?  You might want to put your next rental payment in escrow while you're still under contract.

5)  You simply hate driving to and from the community.  You find yourself passing by the apartment complex with a sigh of relief on some days only to come back and say, "What the...?"  It's just too much going on at your spot, I get it.  

6) You have fantasized about doing awful things to the management.  Okay, let's not get carried away, to jail that is!  It's simply not worth it.

7) You know it's time to move when you find yourself spending more time everywhere else than where you stay.  

When you or someone else you know is thinking and doing things that scream, "Get me out!" It is safe to say that one has outgrown the apartment.  Time to go all out and find something that you really like.  In the meantime, until the lease is up or you have the money to pay the lease break fee, try to get some things done in your humble abode that will make you feel a bit at ease.

Nicholl McGuire is the owner of this blog and the author of What Else Can I Do on the Internet?