The Consumer Game

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    Apartment Hunting

    Challenge:

    Find an affordable, comfortable apartment. Use no more than 30% of your monthly budget for rent and do not deplete your savings past the point of three months emergency income.

    Getting Organized:

    STEP 1-Make one list of what you think is important to have in your home (apartment) such things as the number of bedrooms, security system of some sort, storage, close to bus line, washer/dryer, view, pool, nonsmoking, pets, wheelchair accessible, safe neighborhood.

    STEP 2- Make another list of all the expenses associated with renting an apartment. Include such things as rent, damage deposits, last month's rent advance, cleaning deposits, cleaning and laundry supplies, paper products, kitchen staples, etc.

    STEP 3- Print this Apartment Comparison Apartment Chart and fill it in with the items from your two lists.

    Gathering Information:

    STEP 4- Look through the want ads in the local paper to find three apartments that seem like good prospects and that are within your budget. Note all the information available in the ad on your chart. Which one seems to be the best prospect?

      STEP 5- Call the apartment manager using the numbers listed in the ads. As the manager responds to your questions write her or his responses on the chart. Be sure to ask what type of rental agreement is used. There are two basic types: periodic tenancy, which is renewable, usually month-to-month or week-to-week and "tenancy for a specific time," which is when the landlord agrees to rent for a predetermined time span. If the span of time is under one year, the agreement must be notarized. To learn more about rental agreements and landlord-tenant laws visit this The Washington State Bar Association Page Washington State Bar's web site for an explanation of the two different types of rental agreements.

    Sorting and Analyzing:

    STEP 6- On the Apartment Comparison Chart sort the information into three categories:

    category 1- criterion that is basic and essential. Without it conditions would be highly inconvenient to intolerable.

    category 2- criterion that is not essential but desirable. Without it life would be at times inconvenient or uncomfortable.

    category 3- criterion that is a luxury. It adds pleasure but would not be missed.

    Creating the Final Answer:

    STEP 7- Present your chart to your instructor. Indicate which is the best apartment for you and defend your choice using the criteria on the chart.

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