As I've mentions previously, we are only summering in the Hamptons, which means that the beginning of July brought on apartment searching. It's fun...for about a minute. In theory it is fun to look at homes around the city to see how people have renovated or decorated. However in process it's much less appealing. It's hot. They are sticky and muggy. You like some, you hate some, most you don't see yourself living in. Joe and I looked at four apartments in a week. We were scheduled to see five, but stood outside of the fifth for 25 minutes in the 100' heat with another prospective tenant while the landlord never showed. One less to worry about, I suppose. More time to address the dehydration that settled in while I was waiting.
In the spirit of apartment hunting, I've developed a top ten list of do's and dont's when seeking your new home:
1. Do use Zillow.com. It's easy to use, has great mapping features and shows everything for rent in one area on one screen.
2. Don't even consider a third floor walk up that doesn't have central air. It may be "great in the winter since heat rises" but on these 90' summer days, every room feels like you're standing in the shower.
3. Do consider your potential Landlord's reading material and discussion topics upon first meeting. There is nothing wrong with reading Christian Science Monitor, however it may not be the chosen reading material when your prospective tenants arrive. This followed by a quick Republican jab about Global Warming makes us unlikely to engage in further discussions. We may not disagree with your views, but don't need to talk religion and politics with a near stranger who would have a key to our home.
4. Don't try to talk yourself into an area because the rent is reasonable. The rent is reasonable for a reason.
5. Do make sure to inquire about utilities costs on top of the rent. Paying for water in a multi-unit building could result in you paying for your neighbors gardening hobby.
6. Don't think that an unresponsive landlord is going to change. If it takes him/her multiple days to reply to your inquiry about the available apartment, nothing is going to change about their responsiveness once you move in. The toilet will be long overflowed by then.
7. Do evaluate your access to a stash of quarters. Can you see yourself walking to the laundromat every week for hours? Despite a beautiful apartment, not having a washer and dryer at our disposal (without having to dig up enough quarters to wash and dry) was a deal breaker on our end.
8. Don't be blinded by the "Beautiful Victorian style spiral staircase". It's metal, it's narrow, it's taking up almost all of the useable space in your living room AND there is no question that you'll fall down it. Period.
9. Do ask about previous pets. Then take that answer and consider your allergies. Cat hair never really goes away. Nor do your allergies. And take it from me, a perpetual stuffy nose is not hot.
10. Don't see apartments in the middle of the day when the crazy neighbors are at work. Before you know, you're moved into an apartment with rice paper for walls and the couple to your left is amidst a divorce - she throws dishes and he brings his new(est) girlfriend into the spare room.
We were lucky to find an apartment in our desired area in a short amount of time. The landlord appears to be attentive and reasonable. I may eat my words on that one, but for now I'm simply going to enjoy the end of the apartment hunting process. Cheers to city living, and happy hunting!
No comments:
Post a Comment