I am so indecisive, help me pick an apartment. lol

[pinkeye714]

Our lease in up in about 4 months. Pretend I do not have security deposit or anything tied to any of them. I can not decide what would be the better deal. :/ This is going to be our first apartment alone.
so here it goes.

Choice A, (where we are at now)
-$669
-(water is changed every month, but living with two three people, water runs around $40-70)
-1079 sq ft of space.
-2 bed, 2 bath.
-bottom floor.
-small 24 hr gym
-That sticky vinyle counter tops. and old appliances.
-master bedroom is average size.
-screened in patio.
-washer and dryer hook up.
-big kitchen.
-Older carpet, not in bad shape at all.
-fair neighborhood.
-by construction though really close to shopping.
-older apartment
-wont have to rent a moving truck.


Choice B.
-$645
-$50 standard water trash and sewage.
-730 sq ft.
-1 bed 1 bath.
-Top floor
-new large 24 hr gym
-granite counter tops. and new appliances.
-master bedroom huge with walk in closet.
-non screened in patio.
-washer and dryer hook up.
-smaller kitchen.
-new carpet.
-quite neighborhood.
-not close to construction or shopping.
-new apartment
-will have to rent a moving truck.

Sigh. I am tied. I like nicer but i like room. ahah! :[
if i do have the second bedroom it will be used for music and animals. :/

[mainbutter]

Do some more looking around, there are always better options.

I detest community apartment buildings and will never live in one again. My gf and I rent half of a duplex and wouldn't have it any other way, except renting a house, or even better owning our own place.

[pinkeye714]

Do some more looking around, there are always better options.

I detest community apartment buildings and will never live in one again. My gf and I rent half of a duplex and wouldn't have it any other way, except renting a house, or even better owning our own place.

I have looked into that. though they are out of my price range. in clearwater is more of a city-ish place. i have looked into st, pete, which is lower and a little farther away from my work. but they are run down.

hmm, it could also be i am not looking in the right place. i have looked, craigslist, ebayclassified, hotpads, rent.com, apartment finder. and....i think that is it?

[Argentra]

Drive (or bus/walk if you're like me) around the area you want to live in and actually look for complexes that look acceptable from the outside first. I know there are tons that I would never even approach no matter what amenities they might offer.
Then take a tour of each one you like, talking to the office folks, getting the flyers and such. Take notes on what you see and on what they say to you so you can compare later. Figure out what things are most important to you - square footage, a pool or gym, gated or not, w/d hookups, and the like. Those are the things you'll be comparing between each complex you visit. Seeing the places in person is a LOT different than looking at pictures and ads online or in booklets.
Sit down with your partner in this and talk it all over - which ones looked good, which seemed too good to be true (and there will be those), and compare your preferences at each one. That gives you a place to start.

I am practically an expert in finding apartments. I also know how to make sure I find one that will accept my animals. That is very important, as a lot of managers will object to snakes but allow lizards. Sigh. I managed to get the folks at the last two complexes I've lived at (one in Denver) to accept my snakes by showing them the cages I myself built which are strong, sturdy, and have spring latch hooks to close them. You do what you must to keep your critters.

As for the ones you listed above... I would say it comes down to that list. Figure out which amenities are most important to you and base any decisions, even which ones to go look at again, on that list.

Good luck! I know how stressful it can be.

[pinkeye714]

Drive (or bus/walk if you're like me) around the area you want to live in and actually look for complexes that look acceptable from the outside first. I know there are tons that I would never even approach no matter what amenities they might offer.
Then take a tour of each one you like, talking to the office folks, getting the flyers and such. Take notes on what you see and on what they say to you so you can compare later. Figure out what things are most important to you - square footage, a pool or gym, gated or not, w/d hookups, and the like. Those are the things you'll be comparing between each complex you visit. Seeing the places in person is a LOT different than looking at pictures and ads online or in booklets.
Sit down with your partner in this and talk it all over - which ones looked good, which seemed too good to be true (and there will be those), and compare your preferences at each one. That gives you a place to start.

I am practically an expert in finding apartments. I also know how to make sure I find one that will accept my animals. That is very important, as a lot of managers will object to snakes but allow lizards. Sigh. I managed to get the folks at the last two complexes I've lived at (one in Denver) to accept my snakes by showing them the cages I myself built which are strong, sturdy, and have spring latch hooks to close them. You do what you must to keep your critters.

As for the ones you listed above... I would say it comes down to that list. Figure out which amenities are most important to you and base any decisions, even which ones to go look at again, on that list.

Good luck! I know how stressful it can be.

Thank you very much Argentra. At first i liked Choice B a lot more. It was so much nicer, just from looking at it i was thinking that those apartments should have been more money. (then again the apartment got new management and did a million dollar renovation and kicked out old tenants because they background check now.) so as time passes. the price will go up a little more, but i am locked in on my price i was quoted. so yay.
But i have no idea what i want. I mean, Not really?
I want a 24 hr gym. I tend to work late and like to go work out at 11 or 12.
and i love patios. Either place will take my animals.
I have a large family in california that i would love to come visit me. I have not seen them in two years. I coud use that extra room for visiters. but will be a little ashamed at choice A.
I need to think about this more. (i cant ask my other what he wants to do. he is so passive he says yes to everything! it is like talking to a wall sometimes.)

[DooLittle]

That's tough. Both have pros and cons. The new place obviously is "nicer". I would feel more comfortable knowimg they did back ground checks and I didn't have any crazy neighbors. But let me tell ya, hauling in groceries to a top floor apt is a pain in the butt. Also, having more room would be nice. I think I would do some more searching, try to find something you really like. Definately take a look at CL. Good luck.
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[Mike41793]

B

You cant get any classier than granite countertops

[pinkeye714]

LOL Mike. That is what one of my sisters told me.

- - - Updated - - -

That's tough. Both have pros and cons. The new place obviously is "nicer". I would feel more comfortable knowimg they did back ground checks and I didn't have any crazy neighbors. But let me tell ya, hauling in groceries to a top floor apt is a pain in the butt. Also, having more room would be nice. I think I would do some more searching, try to find something you really like. Definately take a look at CL. Good luck.
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I like Choice B more. But space is nice. Since this is our first apartment alone. i am not even sure what i am looking for. Choice B does not have a garbage disposal. i would need to learn to stop throwing food down there. i throw everything in that thing lol.
I am defiantly thinking about driving around and maybe see what catches my eye.

I always tend to fall for the 55+ communities. wtf they always look awesome.

[Mike41793]

Listen to us lol!

For space you could always put your herps in the living room. That would give you more bedroom space if you chose B.

[WarriorPrincess90]

My friend just found a huge 2 bed 2 bath apartment in Clearwater with a giant walk in closet, but they don't allow snakes. She has one, but she hides her easily enough. I'm pretty sure it's more in the 800-1000 range though.

If you live alone, I'd say that the one bedroom might be okay, but I only have 900 sq ft in my 2 bed/2 bath and I think that's small. I could probably get by with 730 if I was all by myself...but prefer more.

However, living with people who are not your significant other is a huggggee pain in the butt. Worth the loss of space? I'm not so sure. The newer appliances and counter tips of the little one would be tempting...but again...spaaace. Lol. I think I'd go with the space in the long run. If the little one was like 850 sq ft I'd jump on that, but 730? Yikes!