In the glorious town of Charleston, on a side street just off Lincoln Avenue there sits a blue house. Miss Blue if you will.

This quaint house looked livable nine months ago before we signed the lease.

However, the last eight days have have been nothing like I had dreamed all summer.

Upon arriving to the house, we found the house painted a dreary shade of blue from the inside out.

This was fine, we “bleed blue” just as thick as the next Eastern student. It was festive and it seemed only appropriate to end our Eastern career in an all blue house.

However, Miss Blue has provided us a very hostile environment since day one, as the old lady seems to be falling apart around us.

Now, many people would assume the security deposit from the pervious renters would be enough to cover any damages or repairs needed to ensure the satisfaction and safety of the new residents.

However, I cannot imagine this being true after Saturday night during a cookout I was hosting.

While finding my way out the back door I noticed a lake had formed on my kitchen floor.

The source?

My bathroom directly above.

I am not sure how many people have experience with hosting friends at their houses who have been drinking for more than three hours, but it is imperative that a bathroom is present.

And it is even more important that it works.

This was something we now lacked.

Trust me, my friends were mad, but I was absolutely furious about the whole situation.

When the maintenance help arrived, he told us he would not be able to look at the facility until Monday, two days away.

Before long, the race to find the best apartment or house in town for the best price will begin.

When this does, be smart.

Take the time to look at the house and make sure it is really worth your money.

Any manager can make the building sound like the ideal place to live.

My advice for a person looking to rent in Charleston, ignore the person giving you the tour and ask the current residents how their experience has been.

One of the advantages of renting in a community such as Charleston is the fact that anyone can ask around to friends and local residents to find out which managers are best to rent from.

This may sound like an unnecessary step when finding a college home; however, having a working bathroom is sometimes too much to ask for.

Kayleigh Zyskowski can be reached at 581-7942 or at denopinions@eiu.edu.