by Sean Kelly

Created on: June 21, 2009   Last Updated: July 02, 2009

My first experience in renting came in the form of a two bedroom, one bathroom apartment in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. If you're familiar with the city, you'll know it is a college town. Mount Pleasant is the home of Central Michigan University, and the Soaring Eagle Casino. Apartment complexes are as abundant as gas stations. All offer some nice things, some are mediocre compared to others, some are classy, which means really expensive and unaffordable for a non-spoiled rich college student. Not being familiar with the area, and having the mentality of an invincible Marine, I refused the offer of renter's insurance. Being a proverbial rookie in renting, I did not think to take pictures of existing damages, anything that was not pristine. That heavy burden was piled on top of my shoulders from the get go. Add in the fact that the day of moving in, some of my furniture decided to attack the hallway ways, going as far to bite a hole through the drywall exposing the electrical wiring behind it. Other extensive damages included a punched hole in the wall by a drunken friend, the carpet having to be removed due to a poorly sealed air conditioner (they installed it) and the blame being lied on me. I tried to explain my side of the story, but having dealt with thousands of college students prior, they didn't believe that their maintenance man was an incompetent moron. Instead of getting back my security deposit, I was sent a bill that was in the four figures range. I was less than thrilled to open up that envelope.

My second experience in Mount Pleasant was at a two story, two bedroom, and one bathroom town house. The place was gorgeous, truly exceptional. I was not keen on the area though, many shady characters loitered around at all times of the day, and the Police were often in the parking lot hauling away some screaming lunatic. Accidents happen, no matter how hard you try to prevent them, they will still occur. My fiance had the front door open, sitting out on the porch enjoying a cigarette when the wind blew the door wide open and the door handle punctured the laundry room door. Purely accidental, no malice involved. That accident cost me $100. The day my father and I installed the washing machine that cost me $600, because the same maintenance man must have been employed at this complex, because the main water lead pipe was inadequately soldered and it broke free. Water surged out of the broken pipe for forty-five minutes, flooding the entire downstairs portion

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