Parentally-Challenged 'Adultescents' to Compete for Independence in the 2005 Apartments.com Room to Move Contest

Parentally-Challenged 'Adultescents' to Compete for Independence in the 2005 Apartments.com Room to Move Contest

Grand Prize Valued at $15,000 Awaits the Winning Entry

CHICAGO, March 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Apartments.com is once again looking for the nation's most freedom-worthy adultescent in the second annual Apartments.com Room to Move Contest. One lucky individual between the ages of 21 and 30 will get a new lease on life in the form of a total prize package valued at $15,000 and the chance to finally break free from living with their family. To ensure the "pride" of the family does not sneak back into the house, the prize includes the services of Karen McAloon, host of HGTV's Design Remix, who will be stepping in to revamp the newly vacated room and help give the winner's family the den, crafts room or workout area they have always wanted -- and waited for. Two runner up entries will receive $500 cash each.

"Last year's winner was a 25-year-old woman sharing a bedroom with her 17-year-old brother, so the bar is set high for this year's entries," said Michael Ricciardelli, Apartments.com spokesperson. "Living with your parents or a younger sibling is not a source of pride for adultescents, but getting thousands of dollars in cash from Apartments.com -- and the independence that comes with it -- can help make up for some pretty tricky social maneuvering."

According to the U.S. Census Bureau more than 18 million unmarried Americans aged 18 to 34 live with their families, so contest organizers are bracing themselves for a flood of entries detailing the humor and exasperation associated with this living arrangement, including house rules, tight quarters and the aggravation of spending the best years of one's single life under the watchful eyes of parents.

Apartments.com will judge contest photos and essays on the level of creativity and humor describing the circumstances, the source of the predicament, and the entrant's plans for freedom. Those eager to declare their independence can enter the contest from March 9 to April 17 on the contest Web site located at http://www.apartments.com/roomtomove . Official rules, guidelines, facts and statistics can also be found on the contest Web site. For those interested in expediting the relocation process, Apartments.com offers access to its wide variety of apartments directly from the contest pages.

Apartments.com allows renters to search from millions of online apartment listings and classified ads, including listings from more than 170 newspapers nationwide. In addition, Apartments.com offers users a "Fill Your Vacancy" service for listing single units that are For Rent By Owner (or landlord).

Source: Apartments.com

CONTACT: Kraig Smith of media imPRessions-Apartments.com, +1-312-222-9591, ksmith@media-impressions.com

Web site: http://www.apartments.com/roomtomove

NOTE TO EDITORS: Finalist B-roll footage and hi-res photos will be made available prior to finalist announcement on May 2

------- Profile: Ent