(no subject)

[rootofnewt]

Okay... we're looking at houses and apartments in Charlottesville pretty steadily. I've been reading the want ads for a couple months... And now we're calling places.

Actually, explodingcat is calling places. For some reason, I can't bear to call strangers on the phone. Boy, horribly shy, can call these places, while social me cannot. ;)

Anyhow, I don't understand landlords. They advertise places they want to fill NOW. THey didn't advertise last week or last month, but NOW. See, I read my lease, I give one-two months' notice, per the lease agreement. I like to have a place lined up BEFORE I give notice. Why don't landlords realize this? Are other renters so evil and late?

Comments

[mmymoon.livejournal.com]

*cries* I have to go look for a place soon... if you hear/see of any little tiny places, let me know.

Living-space-hunting always makes me crazy. Maybe I'll just move into Chris' hearse. ;p

[krasota.livejournal.com]

What's your price range?
Do you want to share a house with strangers? Do you want a studio apartment? One bedroom? Do you need laundry, other amenities (dishwasher, disposal), AC, carpet/hw? I know you have a kitty, so that's something to remember. you want parking, too, i assume?

http://www.cvillewantads.com/
http://www.brac.com/
http://www.dailyprogress.com/ (their classifieds are online, otherwise, buy the sunday paper)
the hook, the cville weekly--also have ads.

There's a board with roommate wanted postings up in... Newcomb? down by the cafeteria. i saw it while flyering with xiane

there are lots of studio or 1br listings available.

[mmymoon.livejournal.com]

*bliiiiinks*

Seriously? Um... Under $400/month would be ideal. (Or else I'd go try to get that niftypoo apartment over the Jefferson. GOD, it's so beautiful.) No strangers... unless they're someone's mutual friends... I'm an aquired taste. ;9 That, and my current housemates make me homicidal.
Any sort of apartment that has its own potty and room for a sewing closet... and a kitty... I'm always used to having laundry, but I think I could live without it. Parking, yes.

*poingpoingpoing* I'm going to try to cruise Neighborhood Properties' stuff eventually -- they told me to call back in the middle of Feb -- because Belmont is all spooky and cheap and stuff. Sigh. I just want my beautiful victorian mansion...

[krasota.livejournal.com]

Well, those are all things to think about when you go looking. And things for me to keep in mind when I'm browsing the want ads. I can forward you listings you might like. What month is your lease up? What's your experience with neighborhood? I've been warned away from them. Then again, for the price you want, they might be your best option, especially for belmont.

It's a shame you have a kitty, otherwise I'd suggest we look for a place together. We screech and bounce a lot in our household, so that's nothing new. Then again, maybe I should talk to boy. With vigilant cleaning and restricted areas, I could probably live with a cat. ;) I've been threatening to get one because of the eeeeevil mice problem we have. Of course, most people wouldn't be able to handle my stringent air standards (no perfume, no standard cleaning products, etc), so I don't usually think/offer that type of stuff.


I haven't seen too many apt/efficiencies for the 400 range, other than garrett square... And you probably don't want to be there. You might be able to find a roomie situation where there are two bathrooms (or a master suite) in a two-three bedroom apt.house in that price range.

[mmymoon.livejournal.com]

I think my lease is up in June. Blegh. I'm willing to overlap a month or two... these are really terrible landlords. (Hence my freezing to death!) The whole "own bathroom" thing is merely because last year, I had to share ONE bathroom with five. really. really. effeminate actor-boys. I became murderous...

*dances* Xiane told me to check out Neighborhood... I'm not sure what's the deal with them, except they are cheap, and the guy I talked to said they specialize in "dilapidated victorian." Heh. I know it's going to be insane to try to find a single apartment for cheap... I have a friend who might want to rent with me, but knowing his tendency to skip town randomly, I'm a little spooked.

Speaking of Spooks, heehee, you should talk to the boy! I'd be like the poingy little sister you never had or particularly wanted. I always confine the kitty; he's an evil beastie who tries to run out front doors and such if I let him into the house. Kya, such fun it would be! Finally, people who would help me lace up my corset... ^-~

[karenthecroccy.livejournal.com]

I am one of those "I do not like to call strangers" people. I have to be in the right mood to do the calling. On the wrong day, calling to order a pizza or whatnot can be a big old production for me.

Some people choose to pick on me for this. It doesn't help matters.

As far as apartment renting goes, I tend to charm the landlords over when I meet them. If I'm the one to make the phone call, I make the appointment and ask the pertinent questions at the showing. Then I spring the cat on them and arm myself with adorable can't see her claws photos. :)

[risabe.livejournal.com]

Are other renters so evil and late?

In short: Yes.

I used to see so many judgements against people for running out on their rentals that it wasn't funny. All over their credit report. Most rental places run credit reports in Fayetteville due to this problem. And don't even ask about when I went to small claims court...the number of evictions going on...

And the calling thing: AGHHHH. I HATE calling places. HATE IT. I make Tripp call for everything: pizza, utilities issues....everything. I am shy as hell and no one will believe it!

[ashbet]

Plus, it's hard to show an apartment that has people *living* in it . . . I know that I'd be furious if I'd given notice and then my landlord decided to parade people through my place. I *believe* it's even illegal (to take people into a rental property when it's still occupied, without the tenant's permission -- and even WITH the tenant's permission, the landlord would then be liable if anything were stolen or damaged).

So the landlords have to have an empty place in order to advertise/show it, which means they want to rent it NOW.

In an apartment complex, there are usually 'equivalent' empty apartments that they show, but for private landlords and the type of housing you guys are looking for, they can't exactly have prospective renters traipsing through the place while the previous tenant is still resident.

Please let me know if there's anything I can do to help . . . **hugs**

-- Andi