By The Nevada Sagebrush editorial staff

What struggles or challenges did you face while living in the residence halls?

Whether you had your own room or shared with a sibling at home, adjusting to sharing space with new roommates can be difficult.

In situations where your roommate doesn’t seem to respect your common space, communication is key.  Resident Assistants provide tenants with a roommate contract at the beginning of the year and it is critically important that you take the contracts seriously.

Be honest about your habits because there are ways to compromise in order to make everyone happy. Had I been told up front that my roommate would have his girlfriend over every night, we could have had a conversation defining boundaries on day one before the annoyance became a full-fledged problem.

If problems arise halfway through the semester, make your opinions clear to your roommate as opposed to allowing your disgruntled feelings to build up.

What are the trials and tribulations of living in a house?

The process of adjusting to a home near campus that was built decades ago can often be a challenging one. Sometimes, your front door lock breaks, and sleeping becomes a game of paranoia. In a case like this, I highly recommend cuddling up in your roommate’s bed until daylight.

Other times, mold will find comfort in your shower. Not to worry, though, this is just a matter learning how to handle bleach.

These are just a few of the everyday issues that anyone residing in an old-fashioned house is likely to encounter.

When it comes to maintenance, keeping up with the seasons’ impact on your yard is seemingly a full time job. If your front lawn resembles a jungle more than it does a yard, you may want to invest in a lawn mower.

A quick call to your landlord tends to be the last thing anyone wants to do, but if it keeps the appliances functional and the fungi from spreading, it may be worth it.

I want to have a pet in college, but what does it take to be a good owner?

The key to being a successful pet owner in college is being able to understand your limits. If you are always running errands or have meetings to attend, what time will you have left over to take care of the new pooch you just brought home?

Left unattended, a high-maintenance animal such as a cat might tear up all of your couch cushions. However, if you are already a homebody and want someone to keep you company while you do your homework, then bringing in a dog or cat might work.

Additionally, if you can work out a fair schedule with a roommate or close friend to check in on your animal, then the likelihood of your pet being happy and comfortable in your home will rise exponentially. If you are the busybody type but still want a friend to say hello to at the end of a long day, consider investing in an animal that is low-maintenance like a fish or a lizard.

How do you furnish a new place on a tight budget?

Transitioning from the residence halls to an apartment or a house is expensive. Aside from putting down housing deposits and installing utilities, you still have to figure how you are going to furnish it.

Many house essentials can be found for free if you look hard for them. Before I moved into my current home, I asked my Facebook friends if they had any furniture they wanted to get rid of. Interestingly, my professor was able to gift a couple of things. If none of your friends have anything, search for free things on Craigslist.

I also resorted to garage sales. Not only did I find two couches and a bed for an affordable price, but the family that sold it to me did me the favor of helping take the things to my apartment. The same prices could be found any time at Salvation Army and Goodwill thrift stores.

Any used items can be restore with some simple touch ups and a wash from a rentable carpet cleaner.

What should be considered when looking for an apartment?

Moving into an apartment is a massive step towards becoming a real adult. It may sound like a joke, but I promise it’s true. It’s pleasing to have your own space and to just have a place to call home.

This is an amazing experience but there still are some struggles that come with living in an apartment.

You don’t have a lot of closet space, which for me isn’t a huge deal but when you have a large amount of winter coats it can be an issue. If you aren’t big on cooking this may not pertain to you, but you usually won’t have much kitchen or cabinet space, and that definitely puts a limit on hosting the traditional “family dinner” many of us seem to cherish.

Finding an apartment can be a long process, so make sure you are asking the right questions and doing walkthroughs for every perspective apartment. This will help you premeditate all of the issues mentioned above.

The Nevada Sagebrush editorial staff can be reached at cboline@sagebrush.unr.edu and on Twitter @TheSagebrush.