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Which apartment would you choose?

Which apartment would you choose?

  • Apartment #1

  • Apartment #2

  • Keep Looking

Results are only viewable after voting.
H

Herr Kutz

Platinum Member
Hey all, I've looked at two apartments so far and both have their pros and cons and I'm trying to decide which is better. They are both in good locations and close to work, but the location of Apartment #1 would "sound" more impressive if I was telling someone where I live. Apartment #2 is on more of a quiet street. They are about 1-1.5 miles apart.

Apartment #1:
- Reserved off-street Parking Spot
- closer to work

  • 1.7 mile, 8 min drive to work

  • 1.5 mile, 6 min drive back from work

  • or

  • 1.4 mile walk (didn't time it yet but google is telling me 22 min)

  • or

  • 1.7 mile, 7 min bike ride to/from work
- Realistically I would probably end up driving so I would probably get less walking in than Apartment #2.
- Better layout. Visitors would not have to walk through my bedroom to get to the bathroom.
- Has a gym but it's sort of pitiful. There was only a rack of dumbbells up to about 50 lbs and like 4 cardio machines. The good thing is I wouldn't be able to make an excuse to not do something active.
- Right next door to a grocery store (a pro imho)
- More expensive at $1300/month (I can definitely afford this, but I was mentally trying to stay at $1200/month max)
- Huge water heater for the whole complex
- The landlord says many about 1/2 the units aren't always occupied due to presumably rich people only using them during special events in the city
- Heater is built into the hotel style A/C unit
- Has a courtyard but it's not very private
- Better natural lighting but by no means great
- Probably a slightly better location overall
- Located on a very scenic street but the unit is at the back with views of parking lots. This might be a good thing to cut down on noise from the busy street.


Apartment #2:
- Street Parking (getting a spot close by would rarely be an issue)
- Even closer to work

  • 0.8 mile, 4 min drive to work

  • 0.4 mile, 2 min drive back from work

  • or

  • 0.3 mile, 6 min walk to and from work

  • or

  • very quick bike ride
- Has a pool but it's basically useless since it's too small to swim.
- Would consider dropping my $35/month parking spot at work since it's so close to work
- Cheaper at $1200/month
- Has a tiny half height water heater
- Has a nice grill that is available for the "complex" to use
- Has a separate electric heater for winter
- Has a very private courtyard
- Next to a very small park but I'm not sure what use this would be of to me.





Common features:
- Washer/dryer
- Dishwasher
- Full size fridge
- Electric oven/range
- No central A/C
- Roughly the same size
- I think they are both condo units. Apartment #1 for sure is.
- Talking with the landlords they both seem pretty nice and easy to deal with but it's hard to tell since they're trying to "sell their product".
- Utilities would be pretty close in cost. Electricity might be slightly cheaper at Apartment #1....maybe.

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Apt 1 doesn't have a bathroom so I'd go #2.

I'd lean toward Apt 2 if it really is quieter. Though, there's a lot to be said for off-street parking. Which building is quieter internally? Does either smell like cigarette smoke?
 
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Both were quiet but neither are huge complexes. I saw no signs of life at either when I was checking them out just after work. Apartment #2 had no smell that I could recall and Apartment #1 kind of had a weird smell but it did not reek of smoke. I actually just checked the listings and Apartment #1 has been removed so I'm guessing someone else signed the lease. Ha!
 
No washer/dryer in 1 would be kinda a turn off. That means having to go to laundromat all the time.

Overall #2 seems better as well. Being a realistic walk distance from work is a bonus too.
 
I feel like Apartment #2 is pretty much the dream setup for me personally, while 1 is just squarely in "not bad" territory.
 
I say #2, but no AC and if that apartment is above ground level you will sweat!

N/M At least it has a Window unit.

LMFAO at no shiter comment. They have this at the Apt I guess.

rural-outhouse-weathered-located-countryside-35075819.jpg
 
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#2 just for the quick walking commute. Although 1.4 miles isn't far to walk/bike either. Not sure what city you're in but city driving sucks, even short distances.
 
Biggest downside I see to #2 is the half height water heater. Maybe nice units are ok, but my gf had an apartment with one and it was miserable. Shower quick, turn it down when soaping up, and then get out before the water became ice cold. Especially bad if you did anything else before showering. Never again!

On #1 I'd also be concerned about how loud the a/c units are. Looks like you have more control with 2, but I've never liked window units and I've been under the impression they use more power.
 
Guess it doesn't matter now, but I liked 1, especially for the grocery store. I like walking, so a big attraction for me is interesting things to see while walking, useful things to access, and not playing Frogger on dangerous roads.
 
I would never ever live where parking on the street was expected. I probably wouldn't chose place where you had to park in a lot either. I would look for something with your own non-shared garage, or a private driveway to park in.
 
Street parking and having to go through the bedroom to use the bathroom would be deal breakers for me. I don't know that I would like Apt 1 that much but Apt 2 would be completely unacceptable.

-KeithP
 
Demo24 said:
Biggest downside I see to #2 is the half height water heater. Maybe nice units are ok, but my gf had an apartment with one and it was miserable. Shower quick, turn it down when soaping up, and then get out before the water became ice cold. Especially bad if you did anything else before showering. Never again!

On #1 I'd also be concerned about how loud the a/c units are. Looks like you have more control with 2, but I've never liked window units and I've been under the impression they use more power.
Click to expand...

Well that would definitely suck because I like my long, hot showers. Actually I heard one of the A/C units kick on in #1 and it normally I wouldn't take notice of those things but it did seem pretty loud.


As far as driving in the area, there is very little traffic since it is not quite downtown and finding a parking spot on the street generally is not an issue unless you are on one of the two main streets. I also have a small, old, dinged up car that's easy to park. As far as driving distance, any of the places in the area I'm looking would be much better than my current 75 mile round trip commute.
 
I'd go with #1. I'm betting you could probably use the exercise if you'd actually consider driving in lieu of a 20 minute walk or 7 minute bike ride.

Big drawback to #2 is having to get to the bathroom through the bedroom. That would kinda suck if you had guests over, and it would really suck if you had someone crashing overnight on the couch.
 
Always pick the apt with the fewest neighbors unless you're very noise tolerant.

Even condos are often very cheap construction and all you have between units is studs and some sheet rock. That will mask the sound of a very quiet burp and that's about it. So either test the apt out by having a friend go into a neighboring apt and making some noise or try to avoid the problem from the get go.

That means your holy grail is a ground floor corner unit where ideally you just have two neighbors. Units next to an elevator shaft should also work as long as you're far enough away from the machinery.
 
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Thebobo said:
You could buy a house?

what area are you in?
Click to expand...

I'm not ready to buy a house. I've casually browsed but the poster below you is correct, I would have to get a house about 10 miles out.

Edit: Or the other option would be to move a couple miles from where I'm currently looking and live in the hood which has a very high murder rate.
 
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I'd choose #1 only because #2 doesn't have good parking. Close to grocery store can be nice, but it also means you might hear forklifts beeping at 5am. From 2004-2007 I lived in a townhouse behind a small strip mall which had an Aldi & and Mexican grocer. It was convenient as hell to pick up fresh produce after work, but ultimately, it was not in a great neighborhood, and I took a job for the same company but at a different office which would have added another 30 minutes to my commute if I hadn't moved.
 
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