HOUSING

Finding Housing
Utilities
Furnishings
Used Items
Rental Furnishings
New Items

Finding Housing

The area around Argonne is residential. There are many small, sprawling towns with single-family homes interspersed with apartment complexes. Green lawns surround every home, and often the houses are far apart. You will be living in the suburbs, or “suburbia.” The schools and recreational facilities are excellent. Shopping centers are conveniently located.

Many rental opportunities exist around the Argonne Laboratory.  The standard apartment rental agreement/lease is for one year. Some apartment complexes may be willing to write leases for a shorter period, such as six or three months but will likely charge a higher monthly rent. Short-term rentals may be more difficult to find.

The most common rental offering is an unfurnished apartment. Reasonably priced furnished units are almost non-existent. It is however, possible to furnish an apartment without a large expense. There are area companies that rent fully furnished units in local apartment complexes on a monthly basis (one month minimum). These usually contain all you will need, including dishes, cookware, and linens but are expensive (as much as double) compared to similar unfurnished units. To inform yourself about availability and location check out the internet listings at www.libertysuburban.com – in the right hand column under Ads, select rentals and then the category you are interested in such as: furnished apartments, houses for rent, rooms for rent and unfurnished apartments. The advertisements are listed in alphabetical order by location. Communities less than 20 minutes away from Argonne by car are: Bolingbrook, Clarendon Hills, Darien, Downers Grove, Hinsdale, Lemont, Lisle, Naperville, Willowbrook, Western Springs, Westmont, and Woodridge.

The Newcomers Assistance Office compiles a listing of apartment complexes in the area comparing their price, location and amenities. We only include complexes that have a full time rental office. We also have a listing of homes that offer single rooms on a month by month basis. Stop by our office to discuss possibilities and to obtain a listing.

A group of apartment buildings, usually of two or three stories, is referred to as an “apartment complex”. There are almost no “hi-rise” apartment buildings in the immediate area. Most apartment complexes have an outdoor swimming pool; some have tennis courts and clubhouses with party rooms, pool tables, etc. Almost all of the apartments have wall-to-wall carpeting in the living area, a kitchen equipped with the major appliances (refrigerator, stove, and a dishwasher) and ample storage cabinets in the kitchen. The apartments have built-in closets in the bedrooms and hallways for storage and individually controlled thermostats for heating and air conditioning. Coin operated washing machines and dryers are centrally located in each building.

If you come with your family including children, you might wish to rent a single family house. Although this is more difficult, it is not impossible. In addition to checking the classified advertisements in the Chicago Suburban News (www.chicagosuburbannews.com/ca.php ) check the Argonne News housing listings in the classified ads for homes of Argonne employees going on a temporary leave. You may also wish to consult a real estate agent to assist you in finding a rental house.

Before you sign the lease:

1. Make sure that you see the actual unit in which you will be living. Some visitors have learned that a "similar" or "identical" unit they are shown, may be in much better condition or have a better location than the apartment they are assigned. Place a cash (or personal check) deposit on the unit and obtain a written receipt containing the exact rental unit number.
2. Should you choose to vacate the apartment before the end of the stated term of the lease, you will be held responsible for paying the rent until the end of the stated term. The lease should indicate which services (such as electricity, gas, or water) are included in the rent and which services you must pay separately.
3. In addition to the first month's rent, you will be required to pay a security deposit before you move into the rental quarters. This deposit can be equal to or greater than one month's rent. Whether this deposit will be returned when you vacate the unit will depend on the wording used in the lease or rental agreement, whether you have complied with these regulations, and the condition in which you leave the unit when you move out. Be sure that you note in writing any less than perfect conditions or damages that are in the apartment before you move in and make sure a copy is attached to both your lease and the management's copy of the lease.
4. Check what additional monthly costs you will be responsible for. Your budget should include considerations for telephone, electricity, water, heat/air conditioning, internet access, and pet fees. In houses and townhouses you may also be responsible for sewer and trash collection.
5. Individual complexes may offer "move in specials" - for example, offering one month's rent free. Always ask! The offers change constantly.
6. Be sure to mention that you are an Argonne employee as many apartments will waive the credit check or be more flexible with short-term leases. Most rentals require a 12 month lease; however this is often negotiable depending on the availability of units on the market. Be prepared to pay a higher rent for a short-term lease.
7. If you have school age children, take time to visit the local school. When requested, school officials will take time to show you around and provide information. All local schools have English as a Second Language (ESL) programs for children who need this help. Be sure to discuss with the school authorities the programs that are offered.
8. Walk around a neighborhood or apartment complex during the early evening hours and on the weekend to get an idea of its atmosphere. Although in general the communities and housing complexes in the Argonne area are safe, there is always a potential for change. If you are concerned, contact the local police and ask if there is any significant problem with a specific apartment complex prior to signing a lease.

Utilities

Prior to moving in you will want to make sure that all utilities are hooked up and working. Having a Social Security Number will make this process much easier; however it is possible to do it without. Without a SSN you will likely have to contact the company by telephone as most websites require the SSN field to be completed. To start service with any utility you will need to provide:

• your complete address - street name and number, apartment number, building number, city or town, and zip code;
• the name of your employer, employer's address, and phone number;
• your landlord's name and phone number;
• phone number of a colleague or friend as a reference;
• your Social Security Number; ( If you don't have a SSN yet, just explain the situation to the operator. You may need to show proof of identity at a Currency Exchange. Here a notary public can verify your signature and residence against two pieces of identification one of which must contain your picture (passport or driver's license). Although the business is called a Currency Exchange, they will not be able to exchange foreign currencies. For a fee, this business will cash checks without a bank account, send money by telegraph, and serve as a notary public.)
• information about your previous utility service and location if you have lived in the United States before coming to this area; and perhaps
• information on your major credit card such as Visa or MasterCard.

Electricity - is usually an additional expense in a rented house or apartment. Electricity is used for cooking, lights and air-conditioning. In this area, your electricity needs will be supplied by ComEd ( www.exeloncorp.com ) 800-334-7661.

Gas - natural gas is the most common heating fuel. Be certain to ask if the cost of heating the apartment or house is included in your rent. If you have rented a house, the gas probably has been turned off. It will be necessary to contact Nicor (Northern Illinois Gas; www.nicor.com ) to turn it on. Call 888 Nicor4u (888-642-6748) at least five days before you move so that the meter can be turned on.

Telephone - service is a very competitive business in the United States. You will find a summary of providers in the front of the local telephone directory. Services, plans and costs change regularly for both local and long distance services. You will likely be able to view the most recent information on individual company websites. Changing companies and services at a later time is not difficult. You can choose different companies to provide your local and long distance service.  

Water - is usually included in the rental fees of an apartment. If you are renting a house, you will have to contact the town or village water department for information.

Garbage Removal - is included in the rental fees of most apartments. There will be a central collection point for garbage and recyclable materials. When renting a house you must pay extra for this service. You will either have a monthly charge or must purchase garbage stickers (available at checkout of local supermarkets) and place one on each barrel of trash that you put out. Most area communities have free curbside recycling programs. Please check with your village hall for rules concerning pickup.

Furnishings

Since there are very few furnished apartments or houses available in this area, most visitors to Argonne will find it necessary to rent unfurnished accommodations. The following are suggestions of where to find the necessary furnishings, either new or used, quickly and at a reasonable cost. Electrical current in the United States is 110-120 volts, 60 hertz. If you bring small appliances, remember to bring plug adapters and a transformer.

Used Items

Argonne News - Published and distributed lab-wide every two weeks. There are usually a number of people selling household items. If you are looking for something specific you can advertise for it under the "Wanted" section. Computer ad rules and submission procedures are online at www.anl.gov/news.html.

Garage Sales - Garage sales are probably the best places to find low cost items of all sorts and "making the rounds" can be an entertaining way of spending a morning. People usually hold them on weekends, although many do begin on Friday morning. You will find these sales advertised in the local newspapers which can be purchase mid week at local supermarkets, or check out the listings on the internet at www.libertysuburban.com – in the right hand column under Ads, select Garage/Estate Sales. On weekends, you will often find signs posted on street corners directing you to sales.

It is important to remember that the best items are usually sold quickly so it is necessary to arrive early on the first day of a sale. It is also wise to bring cash - often the sellers are understandably reluctant to accept checks. With large items it is sometimes possible to leave a deposit and return later to pick them up. Be sure to obtain a receipt for your deposit and exchange names and telephone numbers with the seller.

The garage sale "season" begins as soon as the weather starts to warm up in the spring and continues throughout the end of October. There are a few in the winter as well. Many organizations collect items and hold garage sales annually. Selection is always greater at one of these sales than at individual homeowners. When checking out which garage sale to attend, focus on multi family or street garage sales as you will find a lot more offered in a small area.

Estate sales also offer quality items. The term estate sale is used when the entire household is being dissolved rather than a garage sale in which only select items no longer needed are sold.

Classified Newspaper Ads - look in local newspapers for individual items being sold. A telephone number is given and you must make an appointment to see the items.

Shops - Some shops specialize in selling used items. Goodwill ( www.goodwill.org ) is an organization that collets used items for resale to provide training and employment services. You will find lots of good kitchen items and clothing but limited furniture items.

Rental Furnishings

Some visitors will wish to rent furniture for an apartment or house. Furniture may be rented locally from one of several companies, which can provide coordinated and attractive furniture "packages" (basic furniture for a whole unit) at several price levels. You will find information about the companies in the Yellow Pages of your telephone directory under "Furniture Renting and Leasing" or check at your apartment manager's office for brochures on furniture renting. This can be a costly but convenient solution so be certain that you read and completely understand the furni­ture rental contract you sign.

New Items

New items are available in many stores at many price levels. For a listing of shops in our area and their product lines contact the Newcomers Assistance Office. It is quite possible to furnish your home or apartment for a reasonable amount of money. There is an IKEA (www.IKEA.com) about a 10 minute drive from Argonne providing a complete selection of household furnishings at modest prices. In addition several other nearby department stores such as Target (www.target.com and Wal-Mart (www.walmart.com) offer serviceable furniture basics. Specialty stores in the area focus on mattresses, electronics, kitchen and bath needs. You will likely be overwhelmed with the shopping possibilities and selections, yet still be missing items that you are familiar with from home.

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