I enjoy being busy, but on my own accord. My family likes to call this “turtle speed.”

While I’d like to disagree, sometimes slow and steady does win the race, such as shopping for a house to live in next year.

Like many other things, I take my time. Some East Lansing landlords don’t seem to agree with this method. And neither do my roommates.

Since the end of summer, my email has been swamped with a bunch of leasing deals and offers. As a former leasing agent myself, I know that signing doesn’t begin until October. So, I proceed to delete these pointless and irritating messages filling my inbox.

You shouldn’t have to convince me to live somewhere via email, much like public relations for a university. If you’re an established residence, people should already know you exist.

It’s also my job as a buyer to do my own research.

Looking for the perfect place to share a home with my potentially six other roommates, it’s hard to satisfy everyone. East Lansing landlords like to speed up this process by having students line up outside of a leasing office the night before contracts are given out. This is a bit ridiculous to me.

However, it beats pitching a tent on Munn Field for basketball tickets in the middle of November, because I won’t even do that. This is more serious. Picking a home for my junior year will be life-changing. Mainly, the location determines if I’m going to be trudging 10 miles each morning to class or not.

No matter how you cut it, choosing someplace to keep your car, food and bed is a crucial decision.
Just because I’m a turtle doesn’t mean I can’t get things done, though. Have a little faith in me, roomies! I just want to please everyone. Unfortunately, that takes time.

Waiting for the opportunity to snag our first house comes with much preparation. Tours, calls and price comparisons all need to be done, for starters. This could take days. The reason that you really need to be patient with this is you don’t want to leave problems for your future self. You don’t want to be stuck in a two-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment with bunk beds on the fourth floor of your apartment complex.

East Lansing housing also is all about first come, first serve for potential residents. Much like arriving hours before a home football game for front-row seats, houses can become picked over fast. The market for prime housing is located around Grand River Avenue and the streets directly behind or adjacent. But there are only so many worn-out party houses I’d be willing to call my own.

Houses have essentially no amenities included other than trash pick up. Bills for these homes can run rampant if you and your roommates aren’t careful.

I’d say I’m most afraid of continuing my search for a home when I see how guys transform their homes into disaster areas. In my now six years of coming to East Lansing, I’ve never been more horrified to see the bathroom and kitchen sinks particularly of a house shared by multiple gentlemen.

Keeping an open mind when shopping is something a lot of us need to learn how to do. Take the time to decide who gets which section of the rooms and kitchen pantries, for that matter.

I’m no expert, but if one roommate isn’t completely involved in the decision-making process, that’s their loss. Give them the last choice in picking bedrooms.

Finally, listen to everyone’s opinion. Just because you want your own bathroom and a swimming pool with a fabulous view of the men’s lacrosse team house next door doesn’t mean you’re going to get it.

Everyone living together needs to find a happy medium. So for now, be a turtle. Take your time.
Your roommates and leasing companies might be rushing you to find housing before November, but there still will be plenty of sufficient housing if you need a little longer to think things through. You will have a place to live next year, I promise.

Cayden Royce is a State News reporter. Reach her at croyce@statenews.com.