Moving to the Washington D.C. Area?

Moving anywhere is scary enough. Moving to a completely unfamiliar city with no family or friends nearby is probably one of the scariest things I've ever done. However, there were a couple things I learned along the way that might help others.

1. Finding a place to live: Now my biggest problem was I was only looking to stay in the D.C. area for the summer, which meant most housing was off limits. First I looked at apartments however most needed a 1 year commitment or at the bare minimum, a 6 month commitment. Neither was going to work. So then I started looking at Craigslist. Craigslist ended being awesome. Washington D.C. is full of colleges the sublet category was full of students trying to rent out their apartments for the summer while they were home. I also tried Roomster.com however you have to pay to become a member. If you have never rented out an apartment before, the following are questions you want to remember to ask.

Are utilities included?--Some people in Craigslist forget to mention whether utilities are included in the price given and if not, you are probably looking at a couple hundred a month more in rent expenses

Who is responsible for the leaky faucet/ hole in the wall etc---If you have to pay for a repairman, then that should be considered.

Do other roommates smoke?--being a non smoker and having lived in a house full of smokers, my entire wardrobe smelled like I smoked, which was not good come interview time for jobs. It is a legit question to ask, especially if you are a non smoker.

What tends to be the other roommates hours?---If you have to get up at 6 am while your roommates party until 2am is clearly not going to work.

How old is the place?---This I did not ask and when I moved in, I discovered all the outlets were 2-prong, meaning none of my 3 pronged plugs ( like my laptop charger, extension cord, printer etc) could work unless I bought a converter. The converters I found at Target but either way it was something I wish I had known before I got there.

How accessible is it to public transportation?---With rising gas prices, finding a place close to work or public transportation accessible will save on money.

Some places require you to show that you are employed before you move in as a security that you can afford to pay the rent. Make sure to save up at least 3 months rent before moving. This is because you are more than likely going to have to pay a security deposit, which you will get back at the end of your lease, however it can be as high as a month's rent.

Finding a Job: Now again, I was only looking to stay the summer so I needed a full time, temporary job. I again turned to Craigslist. They had plenty of jobs however not all responded to my emails. If they have a number, call! Don't depend on email. Also try the local paper once you get there or Monster.com. Both are great with listings.

Don't bring everything you own with you!: Because I drove from Boston to D.C. in my car, I clearly could not fit everything in my car. What was fabulous was asking where the nearest Target/Walmart etc was so i could get all the essential little things that I couldn't fit/didn't want to stuff in my car. An air mattress was also a smart move considering it works fine and fits in tight spaces. If you don't own an air mattress yet, get one! Its a great investment for people coming to stay at your place or for moving to someplace new.

Hope these tips help with your move and good luck!