Relocating

[trikuda]

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On the relocation topic, how much stock are people putting in online reviews of apartment complexes? Nearly every complex in the Tampa area I've looked up online has at least a few people talking about how it is a crime-ridden roach habitat where you will have all your stuff stolen, get shot, have to deal with infestation, and alligators will eat your children and pets.

Well I looked at the online reviews of the places that I was considering, but I took them with a grain of salt. Or a pound of salt. The apartment complex that I chose in the end had something like 12% out of 100%, with every review saying things pretty similar to the reviews you describe. During my interviews, however, I stayed with two different grad students in two different apartments in the complex, and thought both were great. The apartments were also HUGE (~200 sq feet bigger than the others we looked at) and around $100-150 cheaper than all of the other apartments I found online. So..I took personal experience plus the recommendation of the two students I stayed with over online reviews.

I also looked at the online reviews of a few places I lived in while in college. Perfectly reasonable apartments had some absolutely horrible reviews. For one, I think people expect too much when renting the cheapest apartments in town, and for two the people who tend to leave really negative reviews also tend to be really bad tenants (from the few that I've met). Constantly paying your rent late and being rude to the office staff will not make the management respond quickly to your maintenance requests. 🙄

 

[ClinPsyD917]

Ollie and Trikuda:

Thanks for posting about the internet reviews!! If anyone else has input, I'd really appreciate it.

I'm moving to San Francisco for school, and it's SO stressful trying to find a place to move into. I'll find (online) these beauuuuuutiful apartments that are not TOOOO expensive... and I'll google them. Time and time again, the ratings for that place are 50% or lower... and it completely scares me. And like Ollie, where I am is reaaaallly safe (*knocks on wood*)... I leave my windows open while I'm gone, my door open when I leave the apt for a few min, etc... so I'm REALLY scared to get myself into a "beautiful" apt that has a million and a half break-ins. It's good to know that the comments don't necessarily describe the truth... though I know I'll still have to be careful!

Thanks again!

 

[paramour]

Ollie, Trikuda, ClinPsyD:

I, too, looked at several apt ratings and it was amazing how many rodent-/insect-infested places exist with holes in the walls, leaks in the ceilings, horrific management, and people just waiting outside the door to rob you when you leave. I'm not so sure I would make my decision based solely upon these ratings as it could be that some of these individuals are the problem-renters anyway, as I believe someone's already suggested.

I would perhaps try to contact others in the area (grad students, etc.) who might be familiar with what you're looking at or know someone who can help you out if you're unable to visit before moving in. One of the programs I interviewed at had a number of current grad students who were volunteering to go around to places & check things out (including taking pics to send) for incoming students. Several of them had horrible experience with their own apts when they first moved there and they wanted to hopefully prevent the same from happening with anyone else.

 

[paramour]

Anyone ever had look at haggling with their rent? If this guy would go only $50 cheaper, my mind would be more at ease for some reason. Ah, well, I suppose we shall see since I just sucked it up & asked him. He will probably think I'm a complete loon now.

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

It doesn't hurt to ask. The other thing....although $600 is a lot ($50/mon), sometimes that is worth the extra time you'd spend looking for another place. You may also not find another place for less, so....

-t

 

[paramour]

It doesn't hurt to ask. The other thing....although $600 is a lot ($50/mon), sometimes that is worth the extra time you'd spend looking for another place. You may also not find another place for less, so....

-t

Yeah, I know--I had just about come to grips that I was going to pay the $600/mth anyway and be done with it so I could stress over other things. BUT, the guy came back this morning and agreed to the $550/mth. 😀:

Makes me wonder if I should have taken it down to $500 I don't think I'm going to push my luck with it, however. I told him my decision would be made by Monday--so now I don't have to spend the entire weekend second guessing myself. I know I can find cheaper places (I've had some offers) but they were with less than desirable individuals and/or rooms.

So, I'm content now. For the time being at any rate. I'll have to come up with something else to occupy my time for venting.

 

[amy203]

Are any of you thinking of using a moving company? We had a guy come over to give us a quote last week and I just about had a heart attack when he gave us the estimate. We officially have too much crap! My husband has always complained that I have too many books, and I never listened. It turns out I have about 19 cases worth! Oops... Looks like I will be selling some books. (Which will be so hard! They're my babies! Oh my gosh, it's like Sophie's Choice! Which ones do I give away! OK, this got a little off topic...)

 

[paramour]

Are any of you thinking of using a moving company? We had a guy come over to give us a quote last week and I just about had a heart attack when he gave us the estimate. We officially have too much crap! My husband has always complained that I have too many books, and I never listened. It turns out I have about 19 cases worth! Oops... Looks like I will be selling some books. (Which will be so hard! They're my babies! Oh my gosh, it's like Sophie's Choice! Which ones do I give away! OK, this got a little off topic...)

This is another reason I'm sort of glad that my family's not moving with me initially. Moving our combined books would be a big problem. We both have nasty book habits. Seriously. We have 7-8 large bookshelves (to ceiling) that are packed full, and this does not include the garage full of TONS o' boxes of books with no where to go or the books we have stacked on our desks, or the . . . well, you get the point. 😀 What's really sad is we actually weeded out quite a few during our last move 3-4 years ago, yet we've somehow managed to get back up to that level and then some since then.

We used a moving company for our move, along with several trips with our own vehicles. There's no way we could have done it without the moving people's assistance as we, too, have entirely too much crap. This is even after we left the majority of our furniture behind, and gave away a bunch of crap.

One of my prof's was telling me the other day about some gal who is moving across country and selling ALL her stuff in a lot on eBay. Then, she plans to just buy what she needs when she gets there--This would be so nice to do, but there are certain things (and books!) I couldn't bear to part with.

G'luck!

 

[Ollie123]

I have to get a moving estimate soon. I'm terrified of the price, and I'm too attached to some of my stuff (couch, bookshelves and bed) to leave them behind.

What sort of timeline are some of you looking at for moving? I hope to move down in mid-July which means I need to find an apartment relatively soon. I have no idea how long the whole moving process will take though since all my previous moves have been within 10 miles of where I grew up! Paramour, you seem quite on top of this if you already have a place lined up. Or am I just behind schedule?

 

[paramour]

I have to get a moving estimate soon. I'm terrified of the price, and I'm too attached to some of my stuff (couch, bookshelves and bed) to leave them behind.

What sort of timeline are some of you looking at for moving? I hope to move down in mid-July which means I need to find an apartment relatively soon. I have no idea how long the whole moving process will take though since all my previous moves have been within 10 miles of where I grew up! Paramour, you seem quite on top of this if you already have a place lined up. Or am I just behind schedule?

I wasn't going to move until the weekend before classes started. I recently realized, however, that my program requires I report approximately 2 1/2 weeks (give or take a day or so) prior to that; so I suppose I'll be moving 3-5 days before that so I'm not moving during the week.

This initially gave me a fit though as I am teaching one final class at my current university during the last summer session. It doesn't end until August, so I was concerned that I would still be in the midst of my classes, making myself AWOL from the program. Thankfully, I should be done the Friday before the next week when I'm supposed to be there . . . although this means I have to have grades submitted fairly soon and I have to pack more quickly. I thought I was going to get a 2-week break between classes and moving but apparently not. Oh, well! I shall live.

Ollie, I don't think you're behind at all. I actually wasn't planning on making any housing decisions for another few months. However, I ran across an online community for the university where others were inquiring about housing. I also checked out previous years' (particularly summertime) threads regarding housing. I received the impression that most housing in the area is practically spoken for by June or towards the end of it.

I have no desire to "hunt" for it more than needed, so thought I would at least go ahead and start looking to see what was even available. Most people (at this time) seem to be looking for others who can move in immediately, but the ones looking for future renters are starting to slowly trickle in. I suspect that in a few weeks they'll start to increase more and then there will be a feeding frenzy for available housing! Or so I imagine.

Regardless, if the people and/or rooms to be posted are indicative of what's currently being posted, I won't be missing out on much, if anything. I found what appears to be a kick-ass deal in a wonderful location and the guy is willing to hold it for me until I need it in August, so I'm going ahead and requesting it. Saves me the trouble searching for a place later on.

So, lengthy answer short--yeah, I suspect I'm ahead of most at this point and you're likely not behind schedule. So don't fret! I know there are a few looking for houses right about now and have put offers in for 'em, but they're looking to buy so it might take a bit longer than expected. For everyone else? There's mastercard. Sorry, not sure how that snuck in there. 😀 No, for everyone else, they'll likely wait another month or so maybe (?) before they make their decisions.

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

Are any of you thinking of using a moving company? We had a guy come over to give us a quote last week and I just about had a heart attack when he gave us the estimate. We officially have too much crap! My husband has always complained that I have too many books, and I never listened. It turns out I have about 19 cases worth! Oops... Looks like I will be selling some books. (Which will be so hard! They're my babies! Oh my gosh, it's like Sophie's Choice! Which ones do I give away! OK, this got a little off topic...)

I sold 90%+ of my stuff. I sold all of it through Craig's List or e-bay. I should have held onto my mattress, but hindsight is 20/20.

-t

 

[sicologia]

So how many of you have thought about your impending relocation to another state? Are you going back for another look at the area to determine where exactly you will be moving? Counting on current students & recommendations for a new place of residence? Considering roommates to lessen the financial aspect of it, or do you prefer your privacy?

Basically, how do you plan on choosing where you will live for the next number of years?

Fortunately, for me, I have been wanting to relocate from SC for several years. Now that I've finishing a master's and specialist degree, I've decided to pursue a doctorate somewhere else. I will be moving to Philadelphia in less than 3 months. In that time, I will be graduating, getting married, going to Mexico, and packing two households of belongings. I'm planning on spending most of June locking down a home to live in for the next 3-5 years. My only roommate will be my new wife and our two hounds. We're very excited about the change! If anything, it'll be a true test of our committment to one another and an awesome challenge for both of us!