La La LI La La La LI

I'm employed, but homeless. Kind of.

Only "kind of" because I have temporary lodging while I find a place to live...strategically located around the corner from a mall.  When you're as big a fan of #retailtherapy as I am, and your bank account and wallet are collecting cobwebs like mine are, this is TORTURE! 

The Point:

Apartment hunting at the last minute (for instance, when you find out you're starting a job in 5 days in an area you've never been to/spent a good deal of your life trying to avoid) is kind of like the Hunger Games. You know right away which ones won't make the cut, only one apartment is left at the end, and you'd do anything to get your hands on that rental agreement. There's lots of trickery and obstacles along the way, enter Craigslist scams and competing prospective tenants.

The Plan:

1. Create EXTENSIVE apartment spreadsheet
2. Browse Craigslist (because what other choice do you have so close to desired move-in?)
3. Call/E-mail these people to set up an appointment and hope they're not trying to steal your identity
4. See 'em and sign on the dotted line

In Practice:

One person DID appear to be trying to steal my identity...let's hope she didn't. Barbara, I'm looking at you.

Number of appointments:  6

Number of apartments seen:  3

1. Great neighborhood, FAR away (relatively speaking) from my job. Small, but clean. Way too expensive, but manageable

2.  SLUM. Not kidding, even a little.  Don't believe me? Here's my conversation with the current tenant:

Tenant:  You want to live here?

Me:  Yes, well maybe.

Tenant:  No.

Me:  I'm sorry, what? What do you mean?

Tenant:  This place is rampant with mold and mildew. I go through about a gallon of bleach a week. You don't want you live here.

He was right...I DON'T want to live there. Ran into the landlord on my way back to the car. This is what he opened with: 

"I mean, it's a basement apartment. You can't expect it to be the Taj Mahal, you know? ::Chuckle:: What do you think?" 

Oh, you want my thoughts?! They consist of only one thing:  RUN!!!!

3. PERFECTION. Great neighborhood, even better landlords, perfect amount of space, rent is all-inclusive (heat, water, electric, cable!!, internet!!!!!). #obsessed

• Deposit:  Made
• Other appointments:  Cancelled
• Furniture:  Purchased
• First Month's Rent:  Paid

Apartment:  FOUND

Look out, world! I'm LI-bound