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 Posted: Wed Nov 21, 2012 9:22 pm
I have lived at home my entire life. You know, all 22 years of it.
I (recently) graduated from university and have been hired full-time at the company where I have been interning for the past two years. Living at home (plus all my scholarships and pure nerdiness) means I have no student loans, but it's definitely time to move on.
So, I'm moving out. I am trying to pick an apartment. (And I'm totally botching the process because apartment hunting is basically shopping with huge consequences... and I hate shopping.)
My mother works at the same company I do, and she relocated to my floor just after I graduated. In other words, I see her the majority of the day, every day. We used to stay out of each other's way, but now that I'm at work full-time and can no longer escape to school, we're at each other's throats. I have to get out of here soon.
I've narrowed it down to two apartment complexes, and I'm having trouble picking one. Really, either would be perfectly fine, but I think that makes the decision even harder because there's no clear winner. I should probably look around some more, but there's nothing outright wrong with these two, and I just want to be done with it. (Did I mention that I hate shopping?)
Anyone got any advice for the first time moving? Picking an apartment? Trying not to murder my mother in the meantime?
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Posted: Thu Nov 22, 2012 6:55 pm
Well if no clear winner with the apartments, what about with building management? What's their process for getting anything fixed in your apartment? My building has an office in the building so makes it very easy smile
How about bus routes? Or what's in the general area of the buildings? Shopping areas (yes I know you hate shopping, but from time to time your going to have to run out and buy food or toliet paper)
How's the garbage disposal setup in the buildings? Or recycling? Once I lived in a building with a garbage drop on each floor...love that lol.
Do you have air conditioning? If not, then consider where the windows are and are they going to get direct sunlight all day during the summer, making your apartment a sauna.
What are the laundry facilties like? Do you have your own, or are they in the building? if not how close is the laundrymat?
Think about your day to day living and what your going to be doing, is the building in an area you won't mind heading to late at night? What sort of security do they have?
What are the other tenents like in the buildings? Families? lots of kids? Younger people? Could mean loud music, crying babies....are pets allowed?
Do they have guest parking?
lol that's all I can think of atm, sort of things you think of after you move in wink
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Posted: Thu Nov 22, 2012 7:09 pm
check the environment of each apartment. Is the place relaxing? no uber noisy next door neighbors? good management?
the next thing you will need to know is if the place or community is safe. Is the place safe for night walks and such? Is the apartment danger free? (fire exits, extinguishers and alarms) Are there night watchers?
check the quality of the place. you need a place where you can just relax and do your stuffs. Make sure nothing is broken inside, pipes, leaking roofs, broken tiles, vents and windows. also make sure the door has a double lock feature..
last but not the least, Accessibility of the place. Is there a bus stop or terminal nearby? is there a 24/7 mart around? You need to confirm these things so that you won't have to worry about going to the office or even going to the park or mall. having an easy route to and fro will lessen the stress on travelling between points.
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Posted: Thu Nov 22, 2012 7:15 pm
All great things to think about. Basically, run down is this:
Apartment #1
- More expensive, but within budget (barely)
- Allows cats with a large deposit and monthly fee
- 780 sq ft
- Washer and dryer in unit
- 9+ miles away from work
- Centrally located in the city
- Ground floor, which is actually what I want
- Still trying to figure out sun exposure since my cats will want sun
- Large patio
- Parking always available, including private garages for rent
- Available first week of December, and I can hold it for 30 days
VERSUS
Apartment #2
- A little cheaper, but not by much
- Allows cats with a deposit, but there's no monthly cat fee
- 843 sq ft
- Only a washer/dryer hookup--so I'd have to buy a set and factor that into the cost
- 5+ miles from work
- Good part of town, near my childhood home; directly across from (my old) middle school
- Parking, no garages
- Very good reviews; even has a wait list
- Not available until February--at the EARLIEST
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Posted: Thu Nov 22, 2012 7:21 pm
I live in a city with a rotten public transportation system, unfortunately--I love trains, buses, and taxis. I find them practical and also, somehow, really relaxing. I'd ride around on them all day if I could. That said, having a terminal nearby would do me little good.
Both have good environments and are in a good part of town. The more expensive of the two has a double entry with a keypad outside, and is outside a really good neighborhood. The other apartment is near a good school system.
Okay, we did have a shooting the year before last at the closest high school, but these days, that doesn't seem all that uncommon.
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Posted: Thu Nov 22, 2012 7:28 pm
Now I'd be nervous about being on the ground floor...how easy can someone from the outside access your patio door? Can they just stroll on up and knock? This would mean you could not have this or windows open at night or when your not in the apartment.
Do you need to worry about your cats getting out if your on the ground floor? Cats are very good at getting through the screen lol.
Also think about outside noises, in the city..going to have traffic noises and whatnot, tho you will get used to it if your not already lol. Other one you'll get the screaming kids wink
Also look at the requirement for if you want to break your lease once your in.
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Posted: Thu Nov 22, 2012 7:45 pm
Margareee Now I'd be nervous about being on the ground floor...how easy can someone from the outside access your patio door? Can they just stroll on up and knock? This would mean you could not have this or windows open at night or when your not in the apartment. Do you need to worry about your cats getting out if your on the ground floor? Cats are very good at getting through the screen lol. Also think about outside noises, in the city..going to have traffic noises and whatnot, tho you will get used to it if your not already lol. Other one you'll get the screaming kids wink Also look at the requirement for if you want to break your lease once your in.
I was going to buy a bell and hang it over the patio door so that if someone tries to come in, it would ring and alert me. I also have a three foot iron railroad spike that I can use to wedge it shut at night in case someone tries to pick the lock.
I'd keep the curtains shut while I was gone during the day so that no one would be tempted if they looked in. Well.. a little cracked open, for the kitties to look out.
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Posted: Sun Nov 25, 2012 11:24 am
Let Me Live I know the ground floor seems scary, but I'd feel more comfortable and less like I was imposing on the neighbors. Plus, moving in and out will be easier. :]
I was going to buy a bell and hang it over the patio door so that if someone tries to come in, it would ring and alert me. I also have a three foot iron railroad spike that I can use to wedge it shut at night in case someone tries to pick the lock.
I'd keep the curtains shut while I was gone during the day so that no one would be tempted if they looked in. Well.. a little cracked open, for the kitties to look out.
I don't like the sound of a monthly cat fee. It's your cat, you shouldn't have to pay a fee to keep it in your apartment.
If it were me, I'd either go with Apartment #2 or look around some more.
Is the rail spike also an emergency zombie-killing tool? cat_xd
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Irako of the Desert Vice Captain
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Posted: Sun Nov 25, 2012 4:32 pm
Irako of the Desert
I don't like the sound of a monthly cat fee. It's your cat, you shouldn't have to pay a fee to keep it in your apartment.
If it were me, I'd either go with Apartment #2 or look around some more.
Is the rail spike also an emergency zombie-killing tool? cat_xd
I visited Apartment #1 yesterday to tour it again---and it was gone! Both one bedrooms of that size/price were taken earlier last week (both by out-of-state men who didn't even see them in person) even though the apartments weren't technically available yet. The apartment manager looked super guilty when I showed up.
There were other slightly larger, slightly more expensive units available, but... I just don't want to back myself into a financial corner. I could wait for another of the smallest units to become available, but it could be months.
I just liked Apartment #1. Plus, it was available sooner. But now that neither will have a unit available until February (or later), I think I'm going to get on the wait list for Apartment #2. On paper, it wins. It's larger, cheaper, and closer to work.
Also, most apartments in my city have a pet deposit and/or fee. Freaking cats. Costing me money. Argh. (Most apartments also have a "must be declawed" rule, too.)
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Posted: Sun Nov 25, 2012 4:52 pm
Let Me Live You know me, I'm a sucker for zombie weaponry. :]
I visited Apartment #1 yesterday to tour it again---and it was gone! Both one bedrooms of that size/price were taken earlier last week (both by out-of-state men who didn't even see them in person) even though the apartments weren't technically available yet. The apartment manager looked super guilty when I showed up.
There were other slightly larger, slightly more expensive units available, but... I just don't want to back myself into a financial corner. I could wait for another of the smallest units to become available, but it could be months.
I just liked Apartment #1. Plus, it was available sooner. But now that neither will have a unit available until February (or later), I think I'm going to get on the wait list for Apartment #2. On paper, it wins. It's larger, cheaper, and closer to work.
Also, most apartments in my city have a pet deposit and/or fee. Freaking cats. Costing me money. Argh. (Most apartments also have a "must be declawed" rule, too.)
Lame about the apartment. Those guys must have offered a lot of money.
Absolutely not. Declawing should be out of the question. Dogs don't have to be declawed. Cats shouldn't be left defenseless.
I can understand a pet deposit, but there is no reason to charge a monthly fee. It's probably because somebody is afraid of animals and do you want to live in a place like that?
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Irako of the Desert Vice Captain
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Posted: Sun Nov 25, 2012 4:57 pm
Irako of the Desert Lame about the apartment. Those guys must have offered a lot of money.
Absolutely not. Declawing should be out of the question. Dogs don't have to be declawed. Cats shouldn't be left defenseless.
I can understand a pet deposit, but there is no reason to charge a monthly fee. It's probably because somebody is afraid of animals and do you want to live in a place like that?
I would never declaw my cats, especially since both have had them for so long that it would be painful and cruel to take it away from them. (Even if they did ruin the leather furniture.)
I'm just so ready to move out. But on the other hand, I know I can't rush into this.
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Posted: Sun Nov 25, 2012 5:01 pm
Hey! I’m talking! cat_scream
i'm not ready to move out @.@
but then again, i'm still in high school
i want my cat to die of old age before i love out, so that i don't have to worry about pet fees or anything like that. cut down on my expenses a little bit, y'know?
plus, i'd like to have some money before i do move out, so that i can pay bills and stuff @.@
$1600 around here isn't much x.x
Ok, I’m done. Go back to your babble
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