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There will be less selection, but you can drive a killer bargain as a tenant looking in December - particularly in early December.
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Nov 10, 2015 20:21
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Eponine posted:So at least in Chicago, winter is the off-season for rentals and I've gotten really good deals by doing apartment shopping and moving during the winter rather than in the summer. A lot of heat here is radiated through the building, so they'd rather have the unit full and paying some rent rather than partially heat an empty unit and not collect anything on it. Nice! I've heard that a few times. I haven't actually heard anyone say I'll be homeless if I try to move around that time so I think I'm worrying too much. That thing isn't a terrible idea in my mind. It sounds stupid but modern housing is soul crushingly isolating if you're single, new to a city, etc. so I can see the appeal.
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Nov 10, 2015 20:21
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HondaCivet posted:Nice! I've heard that a few times. I haven't actually heard anyone say I'll be homeless if I try to move around that time so I think I'm worrying too much. You're going to be moving here when everyone is super-antisocial, too, as the October-April cloud has settled in over the city. Honestly, your best bet is probably finding a place that wants somebody for the first of December, and either trying to talk them into letting you pro-rate for mid-December, or sucking it up and paying two weeks of extra rent. When I found a place, that's what I ended up doing (and this was seven years ago, when it wasn't so bad).
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Nov 10, 2015 21:28
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Oh joy, the house I've rented and just moved into appears to have black mold. Oh happy day. Stay tuned for adventures in mold remediation.
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Nov 12, 2015 03:13
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toplitzin posted:Oh joy, the house I've rented and just moved into appears to have black mold. Keep a positive attitude. A ton of mildew and molds are dark in color, but most are not the dreaded "toxic black mold"  No mold is good mold, so obviously get your landlord on it, but if you don't have allergies or a compromised immune system, cleaning the area with diluted bleach and wiping it down (not rinsing) is a good stopgap. On non porous surfaces, that is all you will need to do. If it's a well sealed painted wall, you can clean it and then repaint with paint with anti-mold additive. If it is a porous, non cleanable surface, your landlord should work with you to get it replaced. A big thing will be determining how the mold got moisture to grow. Was your building vacant and unheated? was it filled with crowded furniture and poorly ventilated? is there water leakage? The core issue should be addressed. A space heater or dehumidifier will help!
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Nov 12, 2015 04:19
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Godline posted:So was just given my months notice which I'm not complaining about landlord is within her right to do so the basis for it is where my issue comes from. Update on the above in case anyone was interested. So I quickly found another place to live, move 2nd week December which even surprised me at the fast turnaround. The landlord even apologised and offered to retract the notice as it was coming up to the Christmas period. Told her where to stick it mind. Signing paperwork for new place next week so fingers crossed it doesn't fall through......
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Nov 12, 2015 08:42
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 gently caress this. I seriously hope I won't need rat traps instead.
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Nov 12, 2015 17:33
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Set them up the way they tell you to, perpendicular to the wall with the bait facing it. Are you using actual chunks of cheese for bait? Try peanut butter.
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Nov 12, 2015 17:36
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i like nice words
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Anne Whateley posted:Set them up the way they tell you to, perpendicular to the wall with the bait facing it. Are you using actual chunks of cheese for bait? Try peanut butter. One peanut covered in peanut butter jammed into the trigger. Caught 2 pretty quickly that way, one nut was found on the floor ~1 foot away, the other was still in the trap after trapping them. Best method imo.
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Nov 12, 2015 17:55
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Anne Whateley posted:Set them up the way they tell you to, perpendicular to the wall with the bait facing it. Are you using actual chunks of cheese for bait? Try peanut butter. Turned the traps. I've never been instructed how yo best trap rodents so I was just going by what I've randomly seen and remember. I used a raisin and a chunk of dried banana for bait. Peanut butter isn't really A Thing here, so it's rather expensive and not something I normally buy. Thanks for the suggestions though.
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Nov 12, 2015 18:03
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Oh, here they have the directions on the package. You definitely want something sticky even if it's not pb. Any nut butter would work. Maybe honey?
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Nov 12, 2015 20:40
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I have had good luck with fruit preserves/jam. Something sticky and caloric that they have to lick or tug at at.
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Nov 12, 2015 21:38
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Your profile says Denmark... they have Nutella there right? Use that and some kind of dried fruit.
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Nov 12, 2015 21:51
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Former lab animal tech checking in, you're fine, dats a mouse poop. Rat poop would be much bigger.
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Nov 13, 2015 05:49
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This morning, bait gone from both traps but neither of them snapped. I'll add some sticky honey or Nutella.
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Nov 13, 2015 07:29
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I just got a job in Minneapolis, and I'm currently living in SoCal. I'm intimidated to say the least, and I've been reading the OP and lots of MyFirstApartment. I'm going to look for a room or an apartment to sublet somewhere in the city. However, I may have to make the move from the 24th to sometime in December. Has anyone ever had luck in posting in SA city threads or even the city subreddits on Reddit? I'm already browsing Craigslist, Zillow, Padsmapper, etc, but I want to see if I can add these resources. Also, my Plan B is basically to fly in and rent something on Airbnb for a week or two at least.
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Nov 13, 2015 20:52
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The Minneapolis thread is good at offering apartment advice: http://forums.somethingawful.com/showthread.php?threadid=3034145
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Nov 13, 2015 22:04
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Couple nights in an AirBnB or motel is good. Depends on how much crap you have and what your timeline is (and how much money you have). Gives you a day or two to get the feel of the city and figure out neighborhoods.
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Nov 13, 2015 22:36
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rngd in the womb posted:I just got a job in Minneapolis, and I'm currently living in SoCal. I'm intimidated to say the least, and I've been reading the OP and lots of MyFirstApartment. I'm going to look for a room or an apartment to sublet somewhere in the city. However, I may have to make the move from the 24th to sometime in December. Has anyone ever had luck in posting in SA city threads or even the city subreddits on Reddit?
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Nov 13, 2015 23:21
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No, and yeah, I know about the weather. It's the reason why I want to cut down on costs by subletting, since hopefully, the room that I'm renting will have everything ready so that I can just splurge on winter gear. This is definitely at the top of my list of worries. And I'll check the Minneapolis thread out!
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Nov 13, 2015 23:55
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I found housing through a city subreddit (for LA, actually). There's lots of options. Definitely don't rent anything sight unseen, though.
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Nov 14, 2015 00:08
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I recently used AirBnB to sublet and was very happy with it. It was still a fairly local move, going from LA suburbs to the city itself for a new job, but that still meant that I'd have a 2 hour commute without moving and I didn't want to deal with that. I got a place for an entire month through AirBnB and used that so that I was local to my new job, plus I was in the area I'd be moving to permanently so I was able to look at apartments after work or on weekends without much issue. The nice thing was that it's like a yelp for roommates, and I was able to see that the place I was going in to and the people I would be living with were very highly regarded by many people who have stayed there (some even for a month as I had done). Price wise, it was obviously a bit more than what the cost of that room would normally be worth, but I still feel like I came out ahead because I got to live in a new area for a month while saving money by not needing to buy furniture or pay a deposit right off the bat.
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Nov 14, 2015 01:06
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Just moved into my first real apartment. It's a hipster warehouse loft (though it's only 520 SF) so it's got the exposed bricks, wood beams, high ceilings, etc. It also has original 19th century hardwood floors which are heavily pockmarked and there are patches of newer flooring where people have made repairs over the years. It's structurally sound, and certainly gives the place "character", but..... How the hell do I keep this clean? My broom and mop can't get into the grooves and particles gets caught in between the boards.
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Nov 16, 2015 02:28
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Large plastic kitchen mat, and area rugs you can vacuum? I'd also recommend an old school rope mop that gets into the grooves. Also I think you have the exact same kitchen as my friends apartment in Oakland, CA which is kind of weirding me out. E: comedy option, throw rushes on the floor in layers so you don't notice when your guests spill mead. Also creates cozy places for the hounds to sleep. Mocking Bird fucked around with this message at 01:24 on Nov 26, 2015 |
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Nov 16, 2015 02:35
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well I accepted a job several states away, one that I am pretty excited about. However I'm pretty tight with my family, who all pretty much live in Kansas. Any tips for leaving behind all your family and friends right before the holidays? I'm trying really hard not to be depressed and to try to focus on how cool my new locale and job will be... how do I combat the loneliness?
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Nov 18, 2015 01:00
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Make friends at your new job, and get yourself invited somewhere for Thanksgiving and Christmas. If you start a new job and make it known that you moved and have no family/friends, people will invite you for holiday dinner - take them up on it. If your family mails you Christmas presents, open them as they come in, not on Christmas morning, all alone, with no tree, in an apartment with tan carpet and tan walls and no decor - otherwise, you'll kill yourself. Outside of that, I think it's possible to will yourself to be happy and not lonely. It's an active choice. If you want to do this, do it and be happy about it, don't wallow in sorrow about how lonely you are.
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Nov 18, 2015 06:12
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Erethizon_dorsatum posted:well I accepted a job several states away, one that I am pretty excited about. However I'm pretty tight with my family, who all pretty much live in Kansas. Any tips for leaving behind all your family and friends right before the holidays? I'm trying really hard not to be depressed and to try to focus on how cool my new locale and job will be... how do I combat the loneliness? There will probably be several restaurants serving Thanksgiving dinner for people in a similar situation, too, especially if it's a decent-sized city.
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Nov 18, 2015 12:16
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Man, I disagree. "Pretend it's not happening" is good advice if you don't like your family or the holiday, but if you actually do, I think it fucks you up worse. Decorate, even if you're living somewhere temporary. In order of descending price/effort: - Get a real but small Charlie Brown Christmas tree, and put a string of lights on it (no need for ornaments). Connect it to a timer so you walk in to a warm glow after work. - Target has these big wall decals of a Christmas tree, stick-on ornaments and lights included, for all of  . Also comes with a timer.- After December starts, basically any grocery store will have those tiny rosemary trees, with or without glitter. Whatever you choose, stash your presents under it. Set up a Pandora (spotify, iheartradio) station with your favorite carols. Keep easy versions of old traditions, and create new ones of your own. If your family always makes cinnamon rolls for Christmas breakfast, you can at least do the kind in a tube. In the weeks leading up to Christmas, see what your new town offers that your old one didn't or that you never had enough time to do. Decorating a community tree? A Messiah sing? This is the future, so on Christmas morning, Skype into the whole family celebration. If either side isn't set up for it yet, the new Kindle tablet is all of $50 and you can do a dry run when you're together over Thanksgiving. It's not going to be the same as being there, but it's a lot better than a five-minute phone call. You gotta have something to do later in the day, like a concrete time when you need to be somewhere. If you can get on an orphan holiday with someone you meet, that's great. If not, look for soup kitchens that still need your help (you won't be the only one with this idea), or a chill church that goes caroling or delivers dinner to shut-ins, or a community organization that has an event for foster kids or at-risk teens or whatever. Hopefully you can eat wherever that is, but if not, go out somewhere you've been meaning to try. The only other thing I'd say is no booze. That turns homesickness into a breakdown real quick.
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Nov 18, 2015 14:48
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Anne Whateley posted:Man, I disagree. "Pretend it's not happening" is good advice if you don't like your family or the holiday, but if you actually do, I think it fucks you up worse.
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Nov 18, 2015 19:16
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Good news - I will be able to stay until Saturday and have Thanksgiving with the fam and come back for Christmas! It's a 9 hour drive but whatever, I don't want to spend the holidays alone right after moving out. In other good news, I hate being cold and my new place is in south eastern New Mexico so for once I won't be freezing my butt off all winter. It will be weird getting used to living in a desert after living on the Great Plains my entire life but I think it will be different in a good way.
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Nov 23, 2015 02:56
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Are you used to small town living? It can take some getting used to.
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Nov 24, 2015 05:40
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Erethizon_dorsatum posted:In other good news, I hate being cold and my new place is in south eastern New Mexico so for once I won't be freezing my butt off all winter. I have some bad news for you about night time in the desert.
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Nov 24, 2015 05:53
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photomikey posted:Are you used to small town living? It can take some getting used to. Yes, Carlsbad will actually be the biggest town I've ever lived in. And I know it gets cold at night, but I figure it's a fair trade for winter highs being in the 50s. I've been hired as a biologist for an environmental consulting company and I can't wait to see all the cool desert critters!
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Nov 24, 2015 19:10
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There's a house we like posted for rent but the ad showed a for sale sign in the yard. I emailed them for clarification and they said the house was for rent, for sale, and rent to own simultaneously. I asked for further clarification because  and they assured me that if we signed a lease they'd take the house off the market and we wouldn't be punted out if a buyer came along.Is this a red flag? We really like the house but we don't want to be screwing ourselves over here. Edit: finally talked to the agent, owner is desperate to get someone to take this house which is why it's for rent, sale, and rent to own. Another red flag? Problem! fucked around with this message at 00:38 on Nov 25, 2015 |
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Nov 25, 2015 00:23
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Aquatic Giraffe posted:There's a house we like posted for rent but the ad showed a for sale sign in the yard. I emailed them for clarification and they said the house was for rent, for sale, and rent to own simultaneously. I asked for further clarification because It can be hard to fill vacancies in the winter. This works in your favor here. You could sign a 16 month lease so that you can move in the springtime in case things don't work out.
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Nov 25, 2015 02:56
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It's not necessarily a red flag, he's just clearly desperate. Is it in an undesirable market/location? Definitely do your due diligence and make sure the place is in good shape and there's no problems, but it sounds you could probably get a good deal since he wants to get someone in the house asap. The only thing I'd be concerned about is if any issues do come up after you move in, is this guy going to fix them if he's that desperate for money?
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Nov 25, 2015 03:27
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Rent to own is pretty much always a scam I think (or at least a terrible idea if not an outright scam), but if they are willing to just do a regular lease then it isn't a huge flag. I think the above are probably right - trying to get a renter into a unit in December is a nightmare, and no one in their right mind wants to move in the middle of winter. So the owner is probably desperate to do something about it before they are facing having to have it sit empty for 3-4 months while they pay the heat to stop it freezing. Even if they aren't in a dire situation, losing a third of the year + expenses would be bad poo poo for a lot of people. We actually got our current place in a similar situation (the previous tenant bought a house and moved in January, so we picked it up below market for February and then extended for 18 months). Our landlord is actually a really great dude, and while he never has the cash for the property improvements he dreams about (stuff like relocating laundry from the basement to each unit, redoing the kitchens) he has always been prompt on getting repairs done. It's very possible for someone to have the cash flow to manage maintenance but not be able to shoulder a 3-month gap in their rental. Definitely go into it with eyes open though, make sure you get a word in with the owner so you can judge what sort of person you are dealing with. I hate working with agents because you have no idea who the landlord is going to turn out to be.
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Nov 25, 2015 03:52
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I have a showing scheduled for tomorrow morning so I'll give it a thorough look. From the listing and the pictures and a drive-by I did this afternoon (it shaves a whole 20 minutes off my currently one hour commute!  ) it checks off literally every box on our house wishlist so I'm really hoping it's nice on the inside.They already said they're going to give me an 18 month lease, so there's that. $1350/month for a 3 bed/3 bath house, too.
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Nov 25, 2015 03:54
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Aquatic Giraffe posted:$1350/month for a 3 bed/3 bath house, too. God I hate renting in Boston. 
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Nov 25, 2015 03:56
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Aquatic Giraffe posted:they assured me that if we signed a lease they'd take the house off the market and we wouldn't be punted out if a buyer came along. e: Trust to the extent of "I can reasonably believe the things I was told on the phone aren't completely false.", not just taking whatever they say at face value. ladyweapon fucked around with this message at 04:24 on Nov 25, 2015 |
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Nov 25, 2015 04:20
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