I cannot tell you how much i really hate looking for an apartment. If only I could find the perfect place at the perfect price in the perfect area but noooooo!!!! It's days, weeks, maybe even months before you settle on something.
So currently I am 5 weeks into apartment searching and I am really just done but I have yet to find that perfect apartment. As a reminder I am from Massachusetts, a commonwealth state and it just really sucks. I don't plan to live here forever even though I grew up here and have love for my home state. Go Red Sox!
Firstly finding something within the price range is a task within a task. I immediately set up a budget for how much we could pay monthly and figured that times 3 because hell if you don't have first, last and security you're not getting an apartment. I have heard in some states it is illegal to ask for all 3 but hey it's Mass. The complicated part is when every time you land on a possible match you have to factor ALL of the following into the budget and ask yourself a variety of questions.
1. What is included?
2. Heat?
3. Heat and hot water?
4. Just hot water?
5. Is the heat gas and electric or just electric. All electric is super expensive in my experience.
All these things will affect the budget and most of these things you practically have to pry out of some of the landlords. Save some stress and try to use a rental agency who already gets this info out of them for you.
That brings me to my next point I probably should have mentioned earlier. I use the worst site for this ever but I find it's easier for other people to post on it so it's used more. CRAIGSLIST. And I know i'm not the only one who does it.
Problems with looking for an apartment on craigslist.
1. Everything is posted multiple times.
2. 50% don't have pictures.
3. Out of the 50% left half are in your area
4. Out of whats in your area half of that are decent enough to email
5. And out of that many you email. You might get one or two responses
But thanks for letting us at least search our monthly budget that is nowhere near what it will take to rent the apartment you have list an the price you have listed it at. Yes, thanks.
While i'm already on this hideous mission to find something iv'e already realized doesn't exist (i.e. the perfect apartment) I need to remember the many other things I need to find out if the apartment has or doesn't have. These thankfully (actually thanks this time) are usually listed in the description but still you never find anything that fits your ideal space.
For me it's...
1. Counter space!
2. Microwave, fridge, dishwasher included
3. Close to my family
4. Close to my fiance's work
5. Not 3 flights of stairs. (Do you know how long it takes a 4y/o to get up just 1 flight?)
The reality is that there is no such thing as a perfect apartment. And I'm not talking about those apartments in the city that you buy for umpteen thousand dollars for that are all pretty and furnished. I have determined I need a house to be happy so until then I will try to keep things as cheap as possible and try to save every little penny to get that house because if I have to look for another apartment again I might lose it.
I hope many of you can relate to my pain. Comment below and tell me your horror story
Firstly finding something within the price range is a task within a task. I immediately set up a budget for how much we could pay monthly and figured that times 3 because hell if you don't have first, last and security you're not getting an apartment. I have heard in some states it is illegal to ask for all 3 but hey it's Mass. The complicated part is when every time you land on a possible match you have to factor ALL of the following into the budget and ask yourself a variety of questions.
1. What is included?
2. Heat?
3. Heat and hot water?
4. Just hot water?
5. Is the heat gas and electric or just electric. All electric is super expensive in my experience.
All these things will affect the budget and most of these things you practically have to pry out of some of the landlords. Save some stress and try to use a rental agency who already gets this info out of them for you.
That brings me to my next point I probably should have mentioned earlier. I use the worst site for this ever but I find it's easier for other people to post on it so it's used more. CRAIGSLIST. And I know i'm not the only one who does it.
Problems with looking for an apartment on craigslist.
1. Everything is posted multiple times.
2. 50% don't have pictures.
3. Out of the 50% left half are in your area
4. Out of whats in your area half of that are decent enough to email
5. And out of that many you email. You might get one or two responses
But thanks for letting us at least search our monthly budget that is nowhere near what it will take to rent the apartment you have list an the price you have listed it at. Yes, thanks.
While i'm already on this hideous mission to find something iv'e already realized doesn't exist (i.e. the perfect apartment) I need to remember the many other things I need to find out if the apartment has or doesn't have. These thankfully (actually thanks this time) are usually listed in the description but still you never find anything that fits your ideal space.
For me it's...
1. Counter space!
2. Microwave, fridge, dishwasher included
3. Close to my family
4. Close to my fiance's work
5. Not 3 flights of stairs. (Do you know how long it takes a 4y/o to get up just 1 flight?)
The reality is that there is no such thing as a perfect apartment. And I'm not talking about those apartments in the city that you buy for umpteen thousand dollars for that are all pretty and furnished. I have determined I need a house to be happy so until then I will try to keep things as cheap as possible and try to save every little penny to get that house because if I have to look for another apartment again I might lose it.
I hope many of you can relate to my pain. Comment below and tell me your horror story