My landlord called today to say they're having someone come look at my building tomorrow to sell it. Even if the new owners might let me stay, I know my rent would skyrocket.
I've been thinking of moving anyway, this just speeds up my process. I may even start looking for something for the end of Septemeber.

What do you look for in an apartment?


UPDATE - It's official. I have to be out by the end of the month.

Now I'm freaking out.

If I was going to live in an apartment. I'd definitely want a washer/dryer in the apartment. I've lived in places where that was not the case and I hated it. Oh god, in college it took hours to do laundry. I also like the top floor so no one is above me. More quiet that way.

hokie1 said:

Yikes.

That is something I have accepted that I will never be able to afford in the location I am willing to live.

i hate moving..... i look for location and cost.... we are looking for a house rental now until we can get n a new one.... need more space oh and gotta have washer n dryer... i refuse to go and do laundry somewhere....

Oh. OK

I guess after that I'd want the place to be clean obviously and I really don't like sliding glass doors. I'd like something with a bit more interest. Oh, and a cute kitchen.

Ill miss that place!

My must-haves this time around include one bedroom, hardwood floors and a decent bathtub. I don't ask for much.
I'd prefer to stay in my current neighborhood, no more than 4-6 units in the building, older building with nice woodwork/some charm (no cookie cutter apartments) and boy would it be nice to have some greenspace, but everything's kinda up in the air.
I think I've made up my mind today I want to move as soon as possible. I get in these states and now I know I'm gonna fixate on this...

...and then three years after you've moved out there's a knock on the door and the new tenants receive a package. They open it and are mystified by the pretty pink laptop that's inside...

retina said:

Actually, I requested it delivered to my work address. Did I tell you the new ship date is now 9/5?

The feeling when you walkin and your heart scream "HOME!". That's what I always look for.

HamsterHuey said:

I'm going to walk aournd my nighborhood this weekend and look for "for rent" signs and hopefully get just that.

laundry on each floor (less crowded)
closet space (!!)
dishwasher (!)
bathtub
double pane windows (less noisy & temp sensitive)
covered parking
mailboxes INSIDE the lobby
balcony preferred
no main streets or busy businesses in the immediate surroundings (riff raff!)

did I mention CLOSET SPACE?

I've narrowed it down to those


.
[Edited 8/31/07 12:31pm]

laundry hook-up
hardwood floors
ac-
3 bedrooms

wants:
dishwasher
parking space

CarrieMpls said:

Safe and secure. Laundry hookup is a must.



Also, look at the types of cars parked around the apartment complex. If you got a lot of Rice Burners and cars with college stickers, etc. on them, I'd avoid that The noise level would be too much.

Also, often a hundred dollars in rent a month extra could mean the difference between a good apartment and a great apartment, depending on what your salary can tolerate.

Oh yeah, also get one where the sunset doesn't face the largest windows in the aprtment. It makes a huge difference in how hot your apartment gets.


I miss apartment living to some extent cause you don't have to worry about your A/C breaking, mowing your lawn, and general maintenance.

Imago said:

I don't know what a Rice Burner is. But my neighborhood in general is quiet. It's mostly late 20-late 30 somethings.

And a/c is not standard in apartments here. I have never had it in any apartment i've lived in. Some do, some don't. Since I tend to prefer older buildings, they usualy don't.

Washer and dryer. Nothing else matters as much.


Exciting, Miss Mipples! I absolutely LOVE moving (save for the actual moving part). I'd do it every six months if I could!

INSATIABLE said:

Now that I'm over the shock I'm warming up to the idea. As I said, I've been thinking of doing it for some time, this may just be the push I need.

And washer/dryers simply don't come in cute old apartments in Mpls for the price I can afford. It's just not done here.
But I HAVE to have laundry available on site.
I've had free laundry right outside my door (shared with the 3 other people living in my building) for the last 3 (4?) years and I'm waaaaay spoiled by Mpls apt standards.

But I really want a bathtub. I currently only have a shower.

CarrieMpls said:

Girl avoid older buildings! Do you want to die of aspestice poisoning?



Washer & Dryer

Oh, if the place has a swimming pool walk buy it and scope out the hotties. If you're in to guys and stuff, check to see how tight their bathing trunks are. The tighter the trunks (or if they wear thongs), they more gay men there are, and that ALWAYS makes a swimming pool more intersting.

Ooh. And get an apartment as far away from the dumpster as possible, but not close to the street. The closer you are the dumpster, the more car noise you have to put up with, and you're always hearing the clank and clunking and shit.

Imago said:

I don't like big new apartment complexes with pools and work out rooms. I like charming old brick buildings with only 3 other people living there.

"aspestice"? Really, Dan?


I mean, really?!

INSATIABLE said:

CarrieMpls said:

Carrie, do you not value my input at all?

Imago said:

Your dumpster advice was good.

CarrieMpls said:

It pales in comparisson to my Rice Burner advice.






I don't think you value my input.

CarrieMpls said:

Oh, it would be a dream to live somewhere like that. In California, we simply don't have a huge amount of cute old brick buildings converted into apartments, unfortunately. At least, not in my price range.

But yeah, tubs are nice, but for an average-sized adult, they're pretty useless. Unless you've got a giant one. Otherwise, it's like sitting in a barrel. Water up to your waist, whoop-de-doo. I'll take an easy-to-clean shower stall any day! Sex is easier in those, too. FYI.

Imago said:

I don't think you value my ass.

Imago said:

Frankly, Dan, it was racist. We all know how culturally ignorant you are around here.






To be honest, some of the best neighbors I've ever had drove rice rockets. Fucking late-90s Honda car clubs.

hokie1 said:

I like my women on top

INSATIABLE said:

My super-white, I mean wonder bread white, roomate from Connecticut used to call them "EMV"s or "Ethnically modified vehicles"