0:00

If you're currently renting an apartment

0:10

or thinking about renting an apartment,

0:12

I'm going to tell you why you should

0:14

consider renting a room instead. Because

0:18

the fact is, and this may surprise you,

0:21

you actually end up in a much better

0:23

situation by renting a room. Hello, my

0:27

name is Ernest and this is Advanced

0:29

Perception, where a very experienced old

0:32

guy like me offers surprising and often

0:35

unconventional advice on a variety of

0:38

life situations and troubles.

0:41

So, if you find this interesting or

0:43

helpful, please subscribe and feel free

0:46

to ask any questions or leave a comment

0:49

in the description below. Now, let's

0:52

jump into this.

0:54

First off, I want to clarify what I mean

0:57

by an apartment. I'm not talking about

0:59

an exclusive luxury apartment. You know,

1:03

those kinds of apartments for highincome

1:06

people with their own private

1:08

everything, a jacuzzi and enough

1:11

soundproofing that a bomb could go off

1:13

in their apartment next to you and you

1:16

wouldn't even hear it.

1:18

I'm talking about your average apartment

1:20

complex with a hundred or even more

1:23

units. And that right there is the first

1:27

problem, parking. Now, most of these

1:30

places are supposed to have their own

1:33

designated parking spot for you. But

1:36

sometimes the other people who live in

1:39

the complex seem to think that a

1:42

designated parking spot is a suggestion,

1:46

not a rule.

1:47

And that often includes when they have

1:50

visitors. They take your parking spot

1:53

when you're gone. And if this happens on

1:56

a Friday or a Saturday when the office

1:59

is closed, it can be a real pain in the

2:01

ass to deal with. Sure, the complex may

2:06

have signs posted with a towing warning,

2:09

and you might be able to call and have

2:12

their ass towed, but who the hell wants

2:15

to go through all that when you're tired

2:18

from a long day's work and you just want

2:20

to pull in with what should be into your

2:24

spot and go into your apartment. It

2:27

happens all the time. I know because I

2:31

personally had to go through that

2:33

more than once. Which leads me

2:37

to the next issue, accidents. The more

2:41

people that you have crammed into a

2:43

relatively small space, the chance of

2:46

someone running into your car when

2:48

they're pulling out or possibly hitting

2:51

your car when they're pulling in, such

2:55

as if they're intoxicated.

2:57

or the not so considerate person that

3:00

apparently wants to create a work of art

3:03

from your drivers or passenger doors by

3:07

not so gently banging into them when

3:10

they open their doors. And again, this

3:13

happens all the time. And often times,

3:17

there's nothing you can really do about

3:19

it. It's simply a reality of apartment

3:23

complex living. And speaking of living,

3:27

let's talk about the often not too

3:29

considerate neighbors.

3:32

When you get an apartment, logistics is

3:35

a very big part of the equation. If

3:38

you're not able to get a top floor

3:40

corner unit, you can be really screwed

3:45

because otherwise you end up anywhere

3:47

else and you're going to have neighbors

3:50

on either at least three sides of you,

3:54

if not four. And there's a very high

3:57

probability that at least two or more of

4:00

those neighbors will be your neighbors

4:03

from hell with everything from their

4:07

loud TV, screaming kids, barking dogs,

4:11

or perhaps a combination of all of the

4:14

above. And often times, once again,

4:18

there is little you can do. You can

4:21

complain to the office and that may or

4:23

may not actually do something. But then

4:26

again, that's a crapshoot.

4:31

Then there's also the distinct

4:32

possibility that if you do report them

4:36

or if it's something that ends up

4:39

getting them evicted, let's just say

4:42

they'll remember you or at least

4:45

remember your car and leave your car

4:48

with a not so nice going away present,

4:51

which I've had happen to me several

4:54

times.

4:56

Now, let's talk about the wonderful,

4:58

warm, and friendly application process.

5:03

Very fortunately for me, I've not had to

5:07

rent an apartment in several years, but

5:10

I have gone with quite a few people when

5:13

they were apartment hunting and being

5:16

there when they were actually going

5:18

through the application process. I

5:22

didn't say anything, but I was thinking,

5:25

"Thank God I don't have to go through

5:27

this intrusive bullshit." These

5:30

apartment rental companies basically

5:33

wanted to know their entire damn life

5:36

story. Your employment, your credit

5:38

rating, you name it. And at the end, I

5:41

was surprised that they didn't also

5:44

request a damn DNA sample.

5:48

Apparently, it's not enough that they

5:52

charge outrageous rents for what amounts

5:54

to a small hole to exist in, but

5:57

they want to make the process as

5:59

intrusive and degrading as possible.

6:03

Which brings us to the next issue,

6:05

criminal rent prices.

6:08

Sure, you might be able to find a studio

6:11

or onebedroom for $6 to $800 a month,

6:16

but if you want to live in an apartment

6:17

complex that doesn't look and feel like

6:21

a bario in Mexico after a bomb blast,

6:25

you can easily expect to pay $1,100 and

6:29

up per month. And that often doesn't

6:33

even include utilities.

6:36

Now, let's compare that to renting a

6:39

room in a home. The simple fact is you

6:43

won't have to deal with all of that

6:46

nonsense I just mentioned previously.

6:50

If you can find a house where someone is

6:53

rent a room, it's quiet, safe, and

6:56

comfortable, that's your absolute best

6:58

bet. And perhaps the best part, it's a

7:02

hell of a lot cheaper and it usually

7:04

includes utilities, internet, and Wi-Fi.

7:09

Now, there are many different kinds of

7:12

landlords.

7:13

Some are very cool, and some are

7:16

intrusive and nosy who don't

7:20

understand or respect boundaries. And

7:23

the only way you can really find that

7:25

out is by renting a place and living

7:28

there for maybe two or three months. And

7:32

if you're not really liking or

7:34

compatible with that person, start

7:37

looking for another one. But I truly

7:40

believe renting a room is still far

7:43

superior.

7:45

Rooms may be furnished or unfernished,

7:48

but definitely look for something with a

7:51

fridge and microwave. They should also

7:54

have some access to the washerd dryer

7:57

and the kitchen.

8:00

I forgot to mention that the room should

8:02

have a decent AC in the window if the

8:05

house doesn't have central AC.

8:09

If I could just take a moment for this

8:12

pitch. Here's the amazing and incredible

8:14

Earnest Man tote bag.

8:18

Christ, which can be all yours for a

8:21

very reasonable donation by just

8:23

clicking on the link in the description

8:26

below. It's sturdy and holds a lot of

8:29

ramen noodles.

8:31

No, seriously, it it holds a a lot of

8:34

ramen noodles.

8:37

The interview and application process

8:40

should also be very simple and

8:42

straightforward. Just your basic

8:45

employment info, you agreeing to have a

8:47

criminal background check done. It

8:50

should be less than 30 bucks,

8:52

non-refundable,

8:54

and some simple contact references.

8:57

It should not require a lease agreement.

9:01

This is a case-byase basis. You have to

9:04

remember you're both just feeling each

9:07

other out for the first two or 3 months

9:10

to see how you get along. But the

9:12

primary thing that the owner in the home

9:15

who lives there wants to feel is safe.

9:20

And if at any time you come across as

9:22

aggressive or insulting, they can and

9:26

should tell you they want you to leave.

9:30

Remember,

9:32

you are living in their home and you are

9:35

living there by their good graces. And

9:37

as long as you accept and understand

9:40

those boundaries, you should get along

9:42

just fine.

9:44

Now, of course, there are all kinds of

9:47

people who own homes, so it's something

9:49

you simply have to feel out for

9:52

yourself. Some allow pets, some don't.

9:56

Some have kitchen access, some don't.

9:59

You just have to work out for yourself

10:02

what works for you or what can work for

10:06

you. But in my opinion, rooming is still

10:09

generally a much better deal than an

10:12

apartment any day. Well,

10:16

I really hope you found this helpful or

10:19

at least interesting.

10:21

Until next time, this is Ernest and

10:23

that's all I've got for today. Take care

10:26

of yourself.