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So you want to rent your first apartment? Great! There are many benefits of renting, such as no lawn maintenance, free household repairs, and the ease of picking up and moving again (as opposed to owning a house with a mortgage, at least). Most first-time renters are, of course, young adults looking to cut free of their parents' reigns and begin an independent life... with the exception of occasional visits to Mom and Dad's for a free dinner or laundry, anyway! Buyer beware, though: plenty of landlords know how unexperienced the college-aged are in renting and will try to take advantage of your naivete. The following are some warnings before renting your first apartment that will keep you (hopefully) from having to head back to your parents' house with your tail between your legs.

1. The cost of moving out... it's more than you think!

Do not just assume that the cost of moving into a new apartment stops at the first month's rent and deposit. All first-time renters should know that moving in typically involves paying the first month's rent plus a refundable deposit (usually equal to one month's rent, although there are some exceptions such as pet deposits, etc.). Ask yourself first, "Do I have everything that I need?" Remember, you will have to clean the place once in awhile, and you will definitely have to eat! Also, there are set-up fees for certain utilities like cable or Internet services. Be sure to set up these utilities before moving in, and that way, too, you'll know if you have enough money to turn everything on.

2. Avoid needing to move back home right away by creating a savings account.

Just because everyone else is living beyond their means these days does not mean that you should, too! Before moving out, consider staying under your parents' roof for just a little bit longer. In the meantime, create a savings account and put away enough money to cover yourself in the case of a lost job or a cut in hours, car breakdowns, and so on. Be sure to have at least one month covered... that's a month's rent, utilities, food and transportation costs.

3. A word of caution about roommates...

While living on your own with your best buds may sound like a lot of fun now, shacking up with friends can actually ruin great relationships and cost you a lot of money, so be careful. If you must risk it, then get everyone's name on the lease, and do not have just one person's name on every utility bill.

4. Check out the apartment in person.

Never,

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