Rant/vibes for apartment hunting!

parsleysage

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I've been wanting to write this post for awhile & have tried several times but I always get pissed off and frustrated and depressed when I start, haha, so I've put it off.

I've hinted at/right out complained about my apartment before but for those who don't know, I live in about 600 sq. feet and it isn't enough for me & three cats. The litterboxes take up over half of my bathroom, there is nowhere else in the apartment for them, and I'm constantly walking on the litter they kick out even though I sweep every time I clean the boxes. When I get out of the shower and step on some litter?
They don't have a lot of space to run & play either on their own or with da Bird, and unfortunately I haven't been able to afford a cat tree yet, so it's a challenge to give them adequate kitten-style play and vertical space.

So, I'm apartment hunting. My lease isn't up until January, but I have to give NINETY DAYS notice if I'm staying or not, which is just so ridiculous I can't even begin to talk about it, so within the next two months I need to find a larger place, within my budget, that allows 3 cats.

This is the most difficult and stressful task I've ever undertaken. Money is tight for me and I am making every effort to cut back on convenience eating (my #1 issue) and extraneous/impulse purchases (mostly Amazon LOL), but even so I still can't afford much more than I'm paying now since I have debt. The problem is that I live in a popular area of our city and I'm basically in one of the cheapest complexes already. The draw for me is that it's a nice, safe area, and I'm 5 minutes from work and can come home on breaks. The apartment itself is pretty crappy - built in the 70's I think. Noise insulation sucks, it's extremely difficult to cool efficiently (my unit runs almost constantly to keep it at 75 which is 5+ degrees higher than my comfort level anyway), and the appliances are at least 20 years old. The burners come unplugged if a pan is jostled, one of them shot blue fire at me once, and I don't even have a window in my oven door! So that plus the space issue PLUS the fact that they'll be raising my rent if I choose to stay here = I want the heck out! All I'm paying for is the location, which admittedly is very good.

I have found a few other places outside of this area but still relatively close, but they are either in a very shady, run-down neighborhood or else won't accept more than 2 pets. ARRRGHGHGHGHHH!!!


My leasing company is this huge corporation who owns properties all over Virginia. I actually like having a big company, the apartment is crap but they have been great about fixing things, and have convenient office hours and website, etc. The other good thing is that their apartments are considered like a "network" so I can transfer there and *****NOT HAVE TO PAY ADDITIONAL PET DEPOSITS*****. That's such a huge thing for me right now. It cost me a total of $550 to move these guys in and most of the places I've looked (that allow pets at all) it will cost just as much to move them to a new place, and I just don't have $600.


So far, my best options ("best options") (besides winning the lotto or magically getting a promotion/raise) are these:

1. Move, alone, to another complex that is owned by my leasing company. There are two viable ones, price-wise, but they are 30-40 minutes away from work!!!!
I also haven't visited them to see what kind of neighborhood they are in.


2. Stay in this complex and move into a renovated (mine is non-renovated so that's why it has the crappy appliances and fixtures) 3-bedroom with a roommate. Third bedroom for the cats and litterboxes in the closet, so I'd have to split the rent like 60/40 instead of 50/50 as a result. Next challenge: finding a compatible roommate who not only doesn't mind 3 cats roaming around in the house but also doesn't have any cats of their own as I'm at the complex's limit.

There is also option 3., get a part-time job, and I am trying to get into pet-sitting on the weekends (I'm currently doing that this weekend actually!), but I'm scared to go all out and get a second job in e.g. retail or food service. I work in a top-10 bank with excellent benefits & good pay if I can ever get off the bottom rung, I LOVE the culture and our values and I feel pretty good about our job security... I don't want to jeopardize that with an outside obligation. If my work suffers and I have to admit it's because I'm working a second job, I am scared of getting fired. Also, if I had to work late and was late or had to call out to the second job, I could lose the second job and be up a creek!

I also can't do option 4., move back home with my parents. My older brother has "temporarily" moved back home and is in my old room to start with, and then my elderly grandparents live in an annex to the house and they are in and out of our house using the washer, bringing us mail/newspaper, etc., and they leave the doors open all the time. They are also getting to be senile and my nana in particular has trouble seeing - she will walk through the living room where I am sitting in broad daylight and not see or notice me unless I call her name. They could easily trip her and she is a rather fragile 86. I also don't think my parents could survive with 3 inside cats, even for a short period of time.

I'm sort of at the end of my rope. I am a perpetual, persistent optimist, that annoying cheerful person who ALWAYS finds good in every situation. ...I am completely out of optimism with this. I've been working on this since I got the boys, more than three months ago now. Every lead I've chased down during that time has gone cold. I am so, so, so frustrated, and making myself sick with worry.

Sorry for the really long and rambly post (do I get an award for longest post on TCS?!
) but I'd really appreciate any vibes you could send my way! I need to get this figured out, not only for the obvious reasons but also for my mental health. Please send vibes that I'll find a viable option that will allow me to live in a safe, comfortable, affordable apartment with more room for my ever gro-o-o-o-o-wing kittens!

Sometimes I don't know what I did before TCS.
 

mystik spiral

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Awww, good luck!

And I feel (at least some of) your pain... I lost my condo last year to foreclosure after being unemployed for nearly two years, then living in my mom's basement for a year, and FINALLY back into an apartment - but I've only got 550 square feet, and I worry that Holland doesn't have enough room to play. The rent is great and they allow up to two pets, and it's less than 10 minutes from work, but I don't have a lot of spare income either.

I do work part-time at a retail job... It's only 4-5 hours a week, and I would love to pick up a few more hours, but it does amount to an extra $100 or so per month. My regular job knows I work another job on Saturdays, and I was totally up front with the retail job when I was hired - I applied for the holidays last year and let them know I was looking for a full time job. I literally got my full time job about a week after I was hired at the retail position... I told them I'd stay on weekends through the holidays, and once the holidays were over, they practically BEGGED me to stay on, even for a few hours a week.


Does your job specifically restrict you from working another job? If it doesn't say anything about it in your employment handbook, that might be something to consider. Just be honest about it - I highly doubt your performance would suffer, and let's face it, in this economy many, many people are having to work more than one job just to make ends meet. Me, I'm just naturally drawn to the non-profit industry, where the work is rewarding but the pay kind of sucks...


I have also considered trying to find a roommate, but that would probably be my last resort, personally. I have lived alone for too long to try to mesh with someone else, no matter how compatible they may be! But you never know, there could be someone out there who would love to join you, Simon, Garfunkel & Joni! It might be worth it to at least advertise and interview anyone who expresses interest.

Also, it kind of sucks to say this, but if you get a retail job and are good at it, they aren't going to fire you for calling in now and then. I work at Ross, and there have been several times where they've called me to see if I can come in early because other people have called out sick. It's great for me, because I can pick up a few more hours, but I can tell you that since I've been there (started last November) I don't think anyone has been fired. And, I think most retail places are looking for part-timers so they don't have to give benefits. I can basically pick and choose when I want to work because since I've got a full time M-F job, I'm available evenings and weekends - the times that most people don't want to work anyway. As it is, I work Saturday nights, which works great for me, and it's not a shift that other employees are fighting to get, ya know?


Good luck!!! Too bad we don't live closer, we'd probably get along great!!
 

denice

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Many banks require notification and approval for a second job. They want to look for conflicts of interest or the appearance of a conflict. The business could be one of their big customers or a big customer of one of their competitors. Often it's more about the appearance of a conflict rather than an actual conflict. The high foreclosure rate has made the rental market really tight. I just had the biggest rent increase I have ever had but they are putting money into renovations so at least they aren't just putting all the money in their pockets. They just rennovated my kitchen and bathroom and it is really nice.
 

ldg

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Well, as someone who lives in an RV with 8 cats and a husband (about 40 ft long by 8 ft wide, 7' 6" ceiling (the RV, not the husband
)), I have ideas on how to make small spaces work for multiple cats.


Of course... more space is better.
Never having lived less than a 40 minute commute to work, I say get out there and take a look at the other apartment complexes despite the longer commute!

!!!!!!!
 
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parsleysage

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Thanks y'all... I am feeling better about things today but it's still a stressful situation. Thinking about it exhausts me, lol!


Originally Posted by Mystik Spiral

Does your job specifically restrict you from working another job? If it doesn't say anything about it in your employment handbook, that might be something to consider. Just be honest about it - I highly doubt your performance would suffer, and let's face it, in this economy many, many people are having to work more than one job just to make ends meet. Me, I'm just naturally drawn to the non-profit industry, where the work is rewarding but the pay kind of sucks...
I'm not really sure what our policy is, but it just makes me nervous. I don't like the idea of my manager knowing that I'm working 2 jobs to make ends meet. My department is only about 7 people and we are all pretty close - I find it hard to believe that it wouldn't affect his view of my performance... like if I were sick and called out for 2 days and I work a second job, and someone else called out for 2 days and they don't work a second job - I don't know, maybe I'm being too paranoid.
I want to be first in line for projects & promotions, not have my manager think, "oh, 3 nights a week she has to be at her other job by 6, not sure if she's available for more responsibility" kwim? If it comes down to it and I have to, then I will have to do it and that's all there is to it. Just don't want to put myself in that position unless I do have to. The petsitting is going pretty well so far, I have three other "gigs" coming up in the next 2 months. At least that will provide some spending/food money so that my regular income can be used solely for bills & debt payments.

Originally Posted by Mystik Spiral

I have also considered trying to find a roommate, but that would probably be my last resort, personally. I have lived alone for too long to try to mesh with someone else, no matter how compatible they may be! But you never know, there could be someone out there who would love to join you, Simon, Garfunkel & Joni! It might be worth it to at least advertise and interview anyone who expresses interest.
It's definitely a last resort
ughhhh.... I do NOT want to live with anyone. I lived with my parents for 22 years and I've only been on my own 8 months. I'm not ready to give up my freedom!!! But I do like the idea of having a bigger place and paying less rent than I do now due to splitting it. So we'll have to see... but yes, it's definitely a last resort.

Originally Posted by Mystik Spiral

Also, it kind of sucks to say this, but if you get a retail job and are good at it, they aren't going to fire you for calling in now and then.
Maybe this depends on where you live? I worked in retail before coming to the bank and many of my friends/acquaintances who worked retail were fired for scheduling issues - I think it's the #1 thing you would get fired for in retail, at least based on my experience. There's absolutely no way I'd say no to my first job on staying late or working on something, etc., so the second job would always get short-changed if it was necessary.

Originally Posted by Mystik Spiral

Good luck!!! Too bad we don't live closer, we'd probably get along great!!
Where do you live? Maybe I'll move


Originally Posted by Denice

Many banks require notification and approval for a second job. They want to look for conflicts of interest or the appearance of a conflict. The business could be one of their big customers or a big customer of one of their competitors. Often it's more about the appearance of a conflict rather than an actual conflict.
Yeah, I'll definitely have to check our policy.

Originally Posted by LDG

Well, as someone who lives in an RV with 8 cats and a husband (about 40 ft long by 8 ft wide, 7' 6" ceiling (the RV, not the husband
)), I have ideas on how to make small spaces work for multiple cats.
Laurie, what do you do for litter? I could make the space issue work, but I cannot make the litter work. There truly is nowhere else, no other spare wall, except in my hallway which is carpeted and where the boxes would block more than half of the walkway. So if there is going to be an obstruction, I'd rather it be in the bathroom where the floor is linoleum instead of on carpet. Also the generally mediocre quality of the apartment itself is really getting on my nerves.

Originally Posted by LDG

Never having lived less than a 40 minute commute to work, I say get out there and take a look at the other apartment complexes despite the longer commute!
It's not the principle of the commute, which I rather enjoy - I love driving, love singing along with the radio (which I can't really do in my apartment, I have a loud voice LOL!), and could use the extra time to wake up in the mornings. The problem is I'd have to pay $40/month in tolls, and more than THREE TIMES the amount of gas per month - so, my thing is, if I'm paying $120-150 more per month due to traveling costs, why not get a more expensive apartment in this area?
The other thing is - my friends will never, ever come to visit me if I move out to those apartments. Ever. It's $1.40 in tolls and almost an hour away for most of them - since they live about 25 minutes from me now, and this would be an additional 25-30 minutes past my current place. It won't be the deciding factor, but the fact is, my social life is important to me. If I'm constantly driving back into the city to meet up with friends, that will put an even bigger strain on the gas bill, and is another tic-mark on the pros list of getting a more $$ apartment here.

It's hard to figure the math hypothetically. I'm just afraid I'm going to choose a place, either a far-away cheap one or an expensive close one - and get to the end of the month and have more bills than money.

Originally Posted by LDG

!!!!!!!
Originally Posted by CoolCat

................
Thanks y'all
 

mystik spiral

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I live in Denver, maybe you should relocate...


We only have one main toll road out here, and it's not one I use more than a time or two per year, but the difference I'm going to have in gas cost is HUGE!! When I was at my mom's, I had to fill up my tank at least once a week. Now that I'm 3 miles from work, I'll probably be able to go at least a month on a tank of gas.

Ironically, now it's my part-time job that I have a real commute to...
 

ldg

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Originally Posted by parsleysage

Laurie, what do you do for litter? I could make the space issue work, but I cannot make the litter work. There truly is nowhere else, no other spare wall, except in my hallway which is carpeted and where the boxes would block more than half of the walkway. So if there is going to be an obstruction, I'd rather it be in the bathroom where the floor is linoleum instead of on carpet.
The only place we have to put them is on carpet. We cover the carpet with overlapping heavy duty aluminum foil that we change when we clean the boxes, and then have a mat of fake grass down to catch the litter they leave coming out of the boxes.
But since you have young kitties, they'd probably do well with boxes they have to jump down into from the top. Can you fit tall boxes in there? Is there any height constraint? If not, buy a rubbermaid or sterlite container, leave the top on, but cut a fairly large hole in the top of it. This way the litter probably falls off of their feet when they jump up to the top of the boxes to leave them. I'd try it with one first, see if they'll use the mostly enclosed box.


Originally Posted by parsleysage

Also the generally mediocre quality of the apartment itself is really getting on my nerves.
Well, that's a different issue.


Originally Posted by parsleysage

It's not the principle of the commute, which I rather enjoy - I love driving, love singing along with the radio (which I can't really do in my apartment, I have a loud voice LOL!), and could use the extra time to wake up in the mornings. The problem is I'd have to pay $40/month in tolls, and more than THREE TIMES the amount of gas per month - so, my thing is, if I'm paying $120-150 more per month due to traveling costs, why not get a more expensive apartment in this area?
Oh sorry, you're right! I didn't know about the tolls, but should have thought about the gas.


Originally Posted by parsleysage

The other thing is - my friends will never, ever come to visit me if I move out to those apartments. Ever. It's $1.40 in tolls and almost an hour away for most of them - since they live about 25 minutes from me now, and this would be an additional 25-30 minutes past my current place. It won't be the deciding factor, but the fact is, my social life is important to me.
Oh gotcha! Hopefully the opportunity to move into a renovated apartment in your complex will happen!


If you're moving into an apartment that's nicer, but not much bigger, just think vertical when you move in. Cats are totally 3D and can use space you don't.
 

darkmavis

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I'm sorry I don't have any meaningful advice or suggestions, but I wish you luck on the apartment search!! One thing I will say about litter though- our litterboxes are in the spare bedroom, with carpet, and there is litter all over the house, everyday, even though I sweep everyday. There is just no way around it that I've found! I have mats in front of the boxes, and there's about 5 feet between the boxes and the doorway, then a mat just outside the doorway that has 2 cats and says Please Wipe Your Paws (I wish they would!!), and there's still litter all over the wood floors. I swear, they grab a paw-full and throw it on the floor when they come out!


Oh, I just thought of something- I used to work as a receptionist at a real estate office, and we managed some rentals and also just listed the apartments/houses to find tenants for other landlords who then managed the properties themselves. We had one Realtor who was really good with finding rentals for people. Let's say you called the office about the apartment on Main Street. The Realtor says our properties don't accept pets (hardly any of ours did), but then she'd look on the computer through the MLS and try to find someplace listed with another office that does accept pets and otherwise meets your needs. Realtors have access to this stuff, so it wouldn't hurt to call some offices to ask what they may have listed, or if they could look and see if there are other offices that have places listed. So yeah, either real estate offices or just general property management companies, like the company that manages your place. Look on the internet for property management companies in your city and see if they have available apartments listed on their website, or call them.

Good luck!!!
 

Winchester

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I really don't have any advice, but I'm hoping you can find something soon.

I hear you about the litter. We have three covered litter boxes in our bathroom and, even though I sweep thoroughly at least twice a day, I'm constantly stepping on litter. I've learned to wear a pair of sandals at all times. Even as soon as I get out of the shower, I slip into my sandals. The two boxes in the kitchen aren't that bad for some reason, but those bathroom ones track litter everywhere.

I really hope you can find something very close to where you live now and in much nicer shape. Good luck!
 
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parsleysage

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I'm about 90% sure I've chosen a new apartment. It's nearby but a bit farther from work - I could still go home on lunch but it would be a short visit, but still nice to know I could do that. It's a 2BR townhouse with about 250 sq. ft more than my current place. It has a dining area (something I don't have now, my dining table is in my living room) and a half bath on the first floor, which is really nice. It is more per month but I just couldn't avoid it, especially as they are going to raise my rent here anyway. The places that were farther away were cheaper but it was going to be $42 per month in tolls, and more than triple the gasoline bill, so the true cost would have been higher. At the new place, the cats will have the second bedroom and their litterboxes will go in the closet - but at that point I'm going to do the large Sterilite tubs which I've heard so many of you rave about!
I wish I could do them now


The other news is that I did get a second job. A few months ago when things were more desperate I called the clothing store where I worked from my junior year of high school until I got the job at the bank, and asked my former boss if she needed PT help. She didn't then - but she called me last week and asked if I was still interested. I took it as a sign, calculated my risk, and said yes! It's better in a lot of ways because I have worked there since I was 16, so I don't feel the pressure or risk of the schedule conflict issue - she would understand if I had to be late or call out, etc. It's also great because I HATE training, ugh. I hate not knowing things lol and making stupid elementary mistakes. (Not that you can be blamed when you're new, I just hate it.) So it's nice to skip the whole new-girl thing. It's about a 20-minute commute so a decent chunk of my pay will be going to gas, say 25% or so, but the rest of it will really, REALLY help.

Thanks so much for all the help and encouragement! I really appreciate being able to "think out loud" and sound things out with y'all.
I am going to look into changing the way we do litter at the house now so that I won't go crazy between now & January when I move, lol!
 

ducman69

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I'm skipping ahead here, but before I could afford a home, I found it advantageous to live with roommates.

Alone, I could have only afforded a tiny place. With three other roommates sharing a place, I got my own personal room with a lock as a sanctuary, BUT I also got a nice kitchen and a huge living room and sweet balcony, all of which I could not have afforded by myself.
 
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parsleysage

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Originally Posted by Ducman69

I'm skipping ahead here, but before I could afford a home, I found it advantageous to live with roommates.
Totally agreed - I posted several ads for roommates on Craigslist, but I was upfront about the cats and I guess there aren't any fellow cat lovers in my city who want a roommate. I got a couple responses from people who clearly didn't read the ad (I said I hadn't picked a place so the potential roomie would get 50% choice of location - and the emails said "can you send me pictures of the place?" Uhh....). Otherwise, no serious responses. I was pretty disappointed but hopefully I'll make it work with my increased income - and the next place I want to move is hopefully into a house that I own! lol!

All but one of my friends are allergic to cats so they couldn't be roommates, either - and the one who isn't is in nursing school and can only work a few hours a week, so didn't have the income needed.
 
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