New Apartment
So. More about the apartment...
Last night we did the paperwork and put down the deposit for the new apartment. About the only thing we hadn’t known so far was the availability date. It’s ours as of the 15th. I have to call the current landlord today and give them notice. We’ll have some overlap, which is useful for winnowing out stuff we shouldn’t keep and haul to a new place.
It would have been nice to have lower rent. We pay $1050 now, including the $50 extra for water usage for the washing machine. The new place is $1050, but it’s so much bigger and nicer.
It’s a second floor of three. The first floor people have been there 28 years. The third floor people have been there a few. There are a couple of satellite dishes sitting on the roof of our bay window in the living room, which told us we could have Dish Network if we wanted. The highest speed DSL is available.
At least two of the five rooms are bigger than our biggest room. The kitchen is big, so we will be able to have a table there now. Gas stove, dishwasher, decent looking refrigerator; all seemingly newer and nicer than what we have here. There’s a bit more counter and cabinet space. The bathroom is close to double the size; plenty of potty chair space. The tub takes a curtain rather than door, which makes for easier cleaning and kid baths. Last night I told Sadie she can have baths in the big tub when we move. She’s getting kind of big for the baby tub. In fact, the overall apartment seems to be nearly double the size. The two small bedrooms are around the size of the bedroom the three of us use now. The master bedroom has a walk-in closet. There are lots of windows. It’s bright and airy. There are ceiling fans in three rooms.
The living room and master bedroom have hardwood floors. The other two bedrooms are carpeted. The kitchen and bathroom are tile. The whole place is wallpapered. There’s plenty of room for books, including many of them where Sadie won’t be able to abuse them so readily. There are laundry hookups in the cellar, and minimal storage space. We officially have two parking spots, but the landlord thought we might be able to squeeze another car in if needed. Interestingly, it’s a long driveway and the spots are along the right side, in order by floor. First floor is right by the road, then us, then third. In theory, that divides the snow shoveling in three.
Middleboro has municipal gas and electric, so that should be cheaper than in other towns. Being on the second floor and apparently better sealed, heat would probably cost less even without that.
We fell in love with the place immediately, and pursued it aggressively to cut out any competition. We saw it Monday, hand delivered the application and credit check info Tuesday, got accepted Wednesday, and signed the lease Wednesday night.
The fun continues. I have to call the landlord and formalize our notice and all. We are paid through the 13th. We have to give 30 days notice. I am assuming I can pay them the 17 days and be done end of month. If they really wanted to be difficult, which isn’t like them in such things, they’s make us pay through a full additional month, to October 13. We have to arrange for the utilities at the new place, and to end them at this place. We have to pack. Despite having literally dozens of boxes already packed, we’ve only just begun. We have to get rid of stuff.
Between this and work, blogging may continue to be light.
One amusing thing about the new apartment is that it is “around the corner,” really almost literally across the street, from my brother’s ex and his five kids. It’ll presumably mean I see much more of them, but their mother probably won’t appreciate it. Oh well. We weren’t looking to be so close; it just turned out that way. On the other hand, part of the reason for focusing on Middleboro was to be closer to my nephew and his wife.
We’ll be closer to Super Wal-Mart. We’ll miss being near Roche Brothers. There are other conveniences. It’s 17 miles from the office, about a 17 minute drive, rather than about 8 miles and a 10 minute or so drive. It’s all very fitting, as I was born in Middleboro, but never lived there. My first doctor was in Middleboro. He’s the one who saved my life by sending me to Boston when I had meningitis. The landlord’s wife was delivered by the same doctor and he was her doctor when she was young. That’s so cool. But I digress. I think Sadie helped us get the place by charming her. Heh.
Yay for a better apartment!
Sounds wonderful!
Posted by Ith on 09/01 at 12:14 PMYay! It’s letting me comment again!
Posted by Ith on 09/01 at 12:21 PMSounds great! Middleboro G and E is much cheaper and more reliable than elsewhere, which is nice. It will so good to have you guys so close!
Posted by Sharon on 09/01 at 12:28 PMIt sounds awesome! I am so glad you’ll be able to afford it and be settled before snow flies
Posted by caltechgirl on 09/01 at 01:17 PMI’m so glad it’s all working out! Yayaya!!
(Speaking of “too close for comfort,” imagine my discomfort when—for a few brief months—my current husband [then boyfriend] aaaaand ex-husband lived in the same complex. Oy.)
Posted by Margi on 09/01 at 02:31 PMNice to hear that you’ll be moving to bigger and better digs. But, lawd...the price.
We have an apartment..about 1100 square feet, fully carpeted except for the bath and kitchen; HUGE living/dining area (about 25x18); two nice-sized bedrooms, one with a walk in closet big enough for a small nursery, the other with a full-length closet; nice-sized bathroom; small, eat-in kitchen with tons of cabinet space; two large ‘hall closets’; laundry facilities in the basement, which also contains a 10x12 storage area for each apartment; a 8x18 partially enclosed patio and the water and garbage are included in the rent. It’s very nice....even by my standards...and we pay...550 a month.
Just goes to show ya how housing costs dramatically differ between areas.
Posted by Pammy on 09/01 at 06:06 PMThat is absolutely wonderful news. Congratulations!
Posted by Amanda on 09/01 at 06:11 PMPammy, and I was thinking, “great price!”
(I pay 1275.00 for my two bedroom in Monterey)
Posted by Ith on 09/01 at 07:28 PMyeah, we pay $2200 for a 2 bedroom in Pasadena, and we think that’s a good deal, considering that a two bedroom in a SLUM in LA is $1900.
on a more applicable note, we paid $925 for a 3 bedroom townhouse in Chapel Hill.....
Posted by caltechgirl on 09/01 at 08:24 PMHey, sounds great!!
Posted by Paul Burgess on 09/02 at 07:24 AMOH good for you guys!! We know about little apartments! And you’ll all have your own rooms! Great!
Posted by Redhead Mommy on 09/02 at 11:58 PMSounds like a great place. Congrats!
Posted by Bogie on 09/03 at 07:53 AM
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