Finished High School and Don't Know What to Do Next? Here's What to Do! Part 1: Moving Out

Hi guys!
This article series will be a quick guide on what to do when you've finished high school and are ready to live your own independent life! Although it is directed towards high school graduates, I hope that people in all stages of their life are able to benefit from it in some way! Firstly, I want to talk about moving into your first place. Just as a disclaimer, I'm basing my advice in this article on my personal experiences as well as the experiences of my friends and family.

There are many options you can take when you decide to move out after school, each has their pros and cons and would suit some more than others. Here is a couple:

Student Accommodation
Student accommodation is a quick and easy option which is good for the short term if you are planning on studying at University. There is almost always student accommodation located close to the uni as well as shops and public transport. Another benefit is that they'll often be furnished already and contain facilities such as a common area, gym, secure car parking and a pool. Depending on the type of person you are, it is a great opportunity to meet new people and make new friends. However, although water and electricity are often included, the rent can get pretty pricey. another problem is you could end up moving in with someone you are not comfortable living with.

Finding a place with your friends
Finding a place with your friends can be a good idea because you are already familiar with their personalities. You'll have more flexibility and choice in choosing a house or apartment that suits all of your needs as there are plenty of choices. However, you need to be careful who you chose. This is because although it seems like you got on well at school, it may turn out that living with them could be different which could damage your relationship. Also, it may be hard to be accepted by a real estate agent if you are all first time renters with no history. A better option is to move in with older friends who may already have a place or a rental history.

What to Do

So now that you've found a place to live the first thing you'll want to do when you sign the lease is to go and take photos of any kind of damage in your room (chips in paint, holes or cracks, mould etc). Often landlords will want to inspect the house/apartment occasionally and when you move out. Sometimes after these inspections, they may charge you for the damage so it is good to have proof of the contrary. the best way to do this is to take a photo of the damage while holding a coin up next to it so the scale of the damage is clear. This rarely happens, however, it is good to have it just in case.

The second step is to, if you weren't handed an inventory by your landlord, take note of all the things that were in the place when you moved in. If people are already living there and you've just moved in with them, ask what is theirs and what belongs to the landlord. This is because if anything is missing when you move out they could potentially ask you to pay for a replacement. Another tip is that if something is broken that belongs to the landlords, don't throw it out. A friend of mine did this with a broken chair and then he had to pay for a new one.

The third step is to just get to know you're roommates and what the systems of the house are. Many people have different ways of organising things and it's important to understand them in order to be able to function happily together. If there is something that you want to change than discuss it with your roommates and find a way that works for everyone. The last thing you want is to not get along with your roommates!

Those are the very basics! It's difficult to write a guide about moving in because there are so many different options. However, this advice should apply to most. I'm planning to write more guides soon that will be more specific. If you have any questions do not hesitate to ask! Thanks for reading and I hope you found my article helpful and interesting!

edit:
I feel like I should add, I'm by far not the best writer out there or the most informative, but hopefully that should improve as I write more of these articles. I've always wanted to be able to create something useful for the world but I never had any insentive to. However after coming across steemit I'm finally inspired to write! Thanks for the support and I'm looking forward to improving and hearing any advice you may have!