Tips for Interns

Employee Owned Housing/Rooms for Rent

Many of the information provided on the EXP Interns site is submitted by Cummins employees. In order to provide information on the EXP Interns website, an employee must have an active Cummins WWID, so that we have a way to follow up should issues arise.

We require all property owners to provide a detailed description and both interior and exterior photos of the property. All rooms for rent on the site must be private bedrooms – we do not allow listings for shared sleeping spaces, though bathrooms may be shared. We encourage property owners to be very specific in terms of the amenities offered. The properties range from stand alone houses or individual apartments to sharing a room in an employee’s apartment or home.

Interviewing Your Potential Homeowner:
Living situations are different for every property, it’s just as important for you to ask questions before you sign an agreement as it is for them to ask questions of you. Take the time to get to know each other and level the expectations so everyone can feel good about the agreement.

• Which Cummins facility do you work in? What is your position there?
• Are you open to car pooling? If so, what is the expectation of gas payment?
• What amenities are available to me to use? What rules accompany these things?
• What are your general rules of the house? 
• Do you have children? What are their ages? Tell me about your family.
• Do you have pets? Will I be able to interact with them/are they friendly and what are the rules surrounding them?
• What are some of your hobbies? What do you enjoy doing on the weekends?
• Are there food allergies in the home I should know before I buy groceries?
• I have never been to **insert city**, would you be willing to show me around a little?

Etiquette for Interns living in an Employee Owned Home:

• Be respectful.
• Clean up after yourself.
• Keep the common areas clean.
• Do not leave your trash laying around, clean the kitchen up after you prepare food, put your shoes in a designated area, don’t leave your laundry piled in the laundry room.
• Don’t be loud.
• Help around the house (let the dog outside to pee, do the dishes, fold the clean laundry, take the garbage out…be part of the household)
• Don’t leave your laundry in the dryer. 
• If you break something, be honest, tell them right away and apologize. 
• Ask about houseguests before you invite one over. They reserve the right to say no as it is their home.
• If you are using a private bathroom, clean it once a week. If you are using a shared bathroom, help to keep it clean. 
• Vacuum your room frequently.
• Wash your sheets frequently.
• Get clarification on where you should park if you have a vehicle.
• Pay your rent on time – If you think you will not be able to make rent, talk to your homeowner about it before the due date so you can make arrangements with them.

Special Options
In some communities, you may have the opportunity to rent a college dorm or shared living space. This may be an ideal housing solution if you wish to have a space all to yourself for a lower cost.

Roommates
One way to cut your costs is to find a roommate or roommates. If this is your plan, be sure to join the Discord group for your work location to begin your search for roommates. Also, make sure that one of you takes the lead to secure a lease.

Once you’ve found a roommate, use this handy online guide to build a roommate agreement that covers all the bases. Roommate Agreement Builder

Things to Consider When Selecting Housing and Roommates

• Do I want to live alone or with others?
• If I am sharing a space with others, how will we divide rent and other living expenses (utilities, groceries, etc)?
• How do I feel about my roommates having guests over to our apartment or home? Would I require “quiet hours”?
• Do I need to be close to public transportation?
• If I don’t have a car, do I have plans to bring an alternative form of transportation with me (i.e. bicycle) or will I need to share rides with others?

Contact the EXP Interns Team
If you are still having trouble finding the right place to live or a roommate, feel free to contact us and we are happy to help!