Graceful Guidance: Apartment Hunting and Hard to Like Coworkers

[tabs]
[tab title=”Lost in the Pineywoods”][dropcap]”I[/dropcap] want to move out of town, and I want to do it at a decent price. Now, I know that a lot of leases are six to 12 months, but does that mean I should start looking around for a place really soon so that I can get it at a good price? And which is better: shorter or longer leases?”[/tab]
[/tabs]

I consulted several sources from friends who have done the apartment moving many times to professional consulting websites. The consensus on when to start looking and planning is several months before move-in. However, landlords are typically not allowed to show off apartments prior to 60 days before the end of a lease, so searching may be difficult any longer than two months out.

It is important to plan your budget two or so months before moving date because the amount of money you can afford to spend each month will determine which apartments you consider.

As I well know, planning a rent budget can be tricky. This article is a good resource for establishing an apartment budget.

After establishing a budget, start scheduling apartment tours at least a month or a month and a half in advance. You can see several places and not feel rushed into a decision. Remember to get all of the details beforehand so you are not stuck paying an application fee you didn’t know about or unable to view an apartment because you forgot your ID. This is also a good time to start packing.

Opinions on shorter leases v. longer leases are slightly varied, but more people tend to prefer longer leases over shorter.

Shorter leases are better if your landlord is prone to raising rent prices and your contract allows that. Shorter leases give you more flexibility to decide if you like the neighborhood or time to decide if the apartment works with your work, school, etc., locations.

Longer leases are typically cheaper than shorter leases, and the tenant doesn’t have to deal with renewing the lease as often. Landlords prefer longer leases, so they will probably offer better deals and incentives to the longer leases.

Happy hunting!

[tabs]
[tab title=”Concerned Staff Member”][dropcap]”S[/dropcap]o say there’s this guy at work I hate. How do I get rid of him? What would be the best way?”[/tab]
[/tabs]

My first impression of this question is wariness, but I will continue with the hope that you are asking for advice that does not involve mob hits…

Everyone has most likely had to deal with a difficult coworker. That being said, learning to deal with difficult people is an art worth perfecting. I have compiled a few tips that should help deal with an unwanted coworker:

[list style=”check”]
[li]Discuss the issue with the coworker.[/li]
[/list] Now, this can be tricky business, depending on your relationship with the person. If you feel like you are in a relatively good place with this person, personally, come to them about the behavior that you are having issues with. If your relationship is more problematic, you may want to move on to the next step.

[list style=”check”]
[li]Band together with other coworkers.[/li]
[/list] Let me be clear: I am not advocating gossip. Gossip causes way more trouble than it is worth. What I am suggesting is talking about whether the issue is bothering other people in your place of work. If it is, try to get some of your coworkers together to address the issue, first with your coworker and then with your manager. If this does not work, progress to the next step.

[list style=”check”]
[li]Be a better employee than they are.[/li]
[/list] Studies and personal experience say that administration is more likely to listen to and promote those who do the job better than others, communicate better than others, and are more likeable than others. If you prove there are people out there who are really good at the job, you could convince management that they need to hire more people like you.

[list style=”check”]
[li]Be positive and stay motivated.[/li]
[/list] One of the surest ways to better deal with a coworker is to not let the coworker’s behavior bother you. Avoid being angered easy. This will make your life so much better. Avoid being around the coworker if possible. If they approach you, go shelve another row. If you have to work on a project, volunteer for a team they will not be on. Remind yourself why you are at this job, and you just might wait them out. If their behavior bothers others, they probably won’t stay around longer than you.

If you would like to ask a question, please send it to info@texasforestcountryliving.com.