If you don't own a house but live in an apartment or condominium area, parking can sometimes be slightly more than just an issue- it can make your life miserable. Recently, I have had my own woes in dealing with parking at my apartment complex. The issue? People, for some reason, like to create their own parking spaces out of sheer laziness.



Parking is often mostly an issue at apartment complexes because you have a large number of people coming and going out of the same building. Therefore, most people (by nature) try to get the closest and/or more convenient parking space. Recently, the parking situation became so bad at my apartment complex (with people double parking, parking in front of the garbage dumpster and blocking other people in) that the apartment staff was forced to paint “NO PARKING” in certain areas of the parking lot. But should it have had to come to this? The same day that they painted the “NO PARKING” on the parking lot, people still came and parked over it. It was unbelievable.

If you live in an apartment complex, you need to learn how to get along with people who you normally may have never spoken to. Additionally, if someone isn't following the rules of the apartment complex, is being unruly or is being disrespectful in any way, you need to report it to you apartment management office. The management team should be able to address your problem from there. Living in an apartment definitely gives one great training for living in theif first house. It teaches you to appreciate your neighbors as well as how to learn how to deal with other people's indiscretions.

Rather than confront a neighbor directly, I have personally witnessed people write notes to leave it on the cars or vehicles of those who were in the wrong. When parking at an apartment complex or anywhere else for that matter, make sure that you know the rules for that parking lot. If you want to park in a certain spot but notice that it doesn't look like a designated parking space or that no one else is parked there, then you are probably better off parking your vehicle in a designated parking space if you're not sure. If you step outside and are getting ready to head to work and see that someone else's car is parked behind you, blocking you in, don't get upset, contact a tow truck company, leave a note on the person's car or, if your apartment management office is open, contact them about what to do.

When it comes to parking, you need to be courteous to those who live in your apartment complex. Remember that saying of doing unto others what you would want done to you? I'm sure you wouldn't like it if you stepped outside and found that you were blocked in. Similarly, when you pull into a residential area, it may have been ok to blast your music on the highway, but turn it down to a respectable level so that you don't disturb others. These are just some simple reminders to make your life and the life of others around you a little more enjoyable.