New Journey Of Finding My First Apartment

Hey, everyone, and welcome back to my podcast. This week, I’ll share the story of how my boyfriend and I found our first apartment last winter, when I lost my job and felt uncertain about my future. So if you’re ready for me to spill the tea about what we went through, sit back, relax, and let’s get this episode started.

Transcript

00:11
Hey you guys, my name is Brooke and welcome to my podcast blogger with a twist. So on my podcast, I'll be doing topics about lifestyle.  I may do some rants or inspirational topics or whatever  comes to mind as the gist of this podcast.  So if that sounds interesting to you,  then subscribe,  share the podcast with your friends or family,  get your snacks together  and let's get this episode started.

00:43
Hey you guys and welcome back to a new episode and hopefully you guys out there doing good.  So.

00:51
I first want to say thank you to all of you guys that did download my last episode.  I honestly was not expecting to get a lot of downloads or any downloads at all because of such  a big hiatus that I took. But I am so appreciative for all you guys that did download that episode  and for understanding that I just needed to take the time to get some things together.  So thank you, thank you, thank you. And so besides

01:21
that today's episode I thought I would talk to you guys about my journey of finding my first apartment. I know in my last episode  I had mentioned briefly if I might  or might not do an episode on this specific topic but after thinking about it I figured that you guys may be curious about my journey and also maybe my experience and story could be hopeful to anybody out there that is looking for their first

01:51
apartment.  So that being said if you guys want to know the tea and my journey then get your snacks together  and let's get this episode started. Like I said in my last episode I lost my job at the cafe as a barista. I felt like in the back of my head I had a feeling that we were not going to get approved for a lot of apartments because I didn't have a job and we're only applying based off of one source of income which was my boyfriend's. Now the first place that we

02:21
looked at I believe was back in October and that was called Garden Court Towers and when I tell you guys I really fell in love with this place I felt like it was really modern and it had pretty much everything I would want in an apartment it had a gym also in the units they had washer and dryer they also the one unit that we looked at that I really liked they had this patio so you would go inside the bedroom and walk out to the patio which I

02:51
thought was so cute. You know, you have like your little breakfast on a patio.  They also had this community kitchen area that I thought was very modern. I love the design of it, the decorum. And then when you go outside, they had the pool outside and about six or seven gas grills lined up, which I thought was so fun. You know, if you want to  have a barbecue or a pool party, you could do that. They also had a playroom if you have kids.

03:21
and also conference rooms if you need to do some work whether you're podcasting or you need to do some writing, schoolwork, like whatever.  But  like I said, I really fell in love  with this place. But in the back of my head, I had to tell myself I have to keep my options open.  We did end up applying for the apartment and of course we did not get it. I feel like for me, the one thing that kinda made me feel like even when I did get a job, I would not reapply is because the application

03:51
fee that my boyfriend paid I felt like they was being kind of shady as far as giving back the money I felt like they was giving him the runaround and so it kind of left a bad taste in my mouth which kind of sucked because I really liked that place but yeah that one did not work out the second one that we went to go see I want to say was probably maybe a couple weeks after the first one and I think that was also in October I cannot pronounce the name right I think it's called it  the Carriage House C-A-R-R-I-A-G-E

04:21
uh Now that place I felt like I liked the units but I also felt like because they were still in the middle of doing renovations and construction stuff like that  I could not get the full visual of the place  and for me  it was just  eh. Now one thing I did forget to mention is that  the first place I think the rent was about 

04:50
$1,800 which was a little bit too steep for  my boyfriend and I's pockets at the moment. As far as the second place,  the one that needed all the renovations and stuff like that, I think the rent there was probably  under $1,800. I don't remember now the third one,  which we saw I believe in  November,  I think like a day before my birthday. I was actually late  for the tour. So  my boyfriend ended up

05:20
Calling me on FaceTime now from what I saw on a video. I did like it even even my boyfriend He said it was a pretty nice apartment I think the rent was under 1800 as well, and I think also at that time I did have a job which was pretty much right around the corner from the apartment Which would have been a bonus because I would not have to take the bus to get to work I would not have to take the train so that saves me money on transportation right there, but I just felt like the area

05:50
It's not a lot of stuff and I feel like it's a it's a little bit more expensive But I think the name of that place was called Arch Street the next place we looked at which was number four was called West Lofts now that place right there I Did like it because at the time I never thought I would want to live in a loft But the way they had these lofts design was really cute They did have a gym and you can definitely tell the gym was very out

06:20
outdated  they did have a laundry room with some beanie bag beanie bag chairs I think that's what you call it  so you can sit down and watch TV while you do your laundry  and Also, what's so funny is that  it used to be my mom's old high school because when I was walking around During the tour I kept looking like this looks familiar It looks like it used to be a high school and that's when a guy that was showing us the units told us that yeah used to be  West Philadelphia High School now after

06:50
After we did see this place, my boyfriend wanted to apply. Now I don't know why I not follow his lead,  but I told him that you know we could wait until tomorrow the unit is going to still be available. Tell me why right? I think we applied the next day or the day after next  and the unit was not available no more. So I feel like if I had to just listen to my boyfriend there was a high probability that we could have got approved for that apartment but I was  being

07:20
a procrastinator I don't know why

07:23
And then the last place that we saw, which is one that we choose  is Chestnut Hall Apartments.  Now, by the time that we got to this place, we were kind of getting at our wits end because for one, my boyfriend, the house that he was living at with his roommates, he had already told his landlord that he was moving out by the first week of December.  So I kind of felt like we were on a time crunch. so, so definitely we were really trying to find  something. And so when we got to

07:53
Chestnut Hall Apartments because it is an older building. A lot of amenities that I liked in the first few places that we saw was not in this building, which was a little sad. But at the same time, it was closer to how much we want to pay as far as rent. Another thing that I didn't like about this place is the fact that they don't have gas. learning how to use an electric stove to cook food when I'm

08:23
used to using a gas stove was definitely an adjustment for me to say the least. Now I would definitely have to say that us getting approved for this apartment was definitely a hassle. And I say this because my boyfriend, think he has, I think he has some debt that he had to pay off, which also delayed the process. And on top of that, I think they did do like a background check, not, not a background check. I think they did like a little bit of a credit check or something like that because

08:52
I've  never rented I think they also charge just like an extra fee to move in and it's so funny because I remember people tell me that Having no credit is just as bad as having bad credit and always thought well wait a minute So you're trying to tell me if I don't have any credit at  all  It's just as bad as having bad credit, but then I thought about it. Well when you are

09:17
putting things on your credit card, at the of the day it is your responsibility to pay off that bill. And so when you're applying for these apartments, it's almost kind of like your liability or high risk because you don't have like a proven track record that you've ever rented anywhere. But when we finally got all of that squared away, we got approved until we was able to move in. My boyfriend and I did live in my mom's house for a couple of weeks. Now during the process of

09:47
my apartment. I did not mention it to my mom that I was even looking for an apartment.  It's not because I did not want her to know.  I know with my mom

09:57
If I am going to move out is it is a one-way trip. It's not a round trip not a two-day pass I got to make sure  that I have everything in order So I wanted to make sure that we found it that we found a place that we could afford to rent  and we were  able to still have access to the Supermarket or  or if we need to go to the pharmacy Maybe go to the dollar store, you know Just being around things that we can  go to without having a car

10:26
because right now even though me and my boyfriend both have our driver's license we don't have a car and honestly I feel like living in Philadelphia you don't really need a car I told myself that the next time I get a car I will want to have a house with a garage but yeah I want to say we lived in my mom's house probably for about like three weeks maybe at max  and then the day that we did  move into the apartment my boyfriend rented a u-haul truck and he

10:56
I wanted his friends to help him out as well as one of my friends as well. And yeah, that is basically What we went through to find this apartment we went to see a total of about four or five apartments before Well, actually we went to go see five apartments in total I definitely feel like there are a lot of things I sacrificed as far as choosing this building because it is not as modern as other places it has an electric stove the washers right the washer

11:26
dryer. It's not in unit but it is down the hallway which is still pretty convenient as well. Despite it not being the fanciest building I love the view  that you can see like the Philadelphia skyline when you look out the window. I love the shape of the windows  and I love how spacious that the living room area is. So yeah it has its pros it has its cons but I'm so happy that we found a place and I definitely feel like finding this place. You know I'm just so grateful

11:56
that we did not give up and that my mom let us crash at the house for those couple weeks. Living on my own for the first time, I didn't know how I would feel. Like I know a part of me was excited to finally have my own space and call something my own and you know, decorate how I want to decorate. At the same token, I think because I had lived with my mom for all my life, I didn't know like what I miss living with her. Like I don't really know.

12:23
But I will say that after  being in my apartment for the first few weeks in December,  I finally got used to having my own space and I love it. I can invite my friends over, you know, and have company.  So it's been a really nice adjustment. I would definitely say for anybody out there, if you are looking for your first apartment,  what I definitely have learned throughout this whole journey is that number one,  definitely keep your options open. You don't want to fall in love with the first place that you see.

12:53
Secondly,  make a list of certain amenities that you're looking for as far as do you want a gym that is in a building? Do you want a washer and dryer that's in unit? Like think about certain things that you want to find in an apartment. Also have a budget as far as how much you're willing to pay. I would also say write down things that you are willing to sacrifice  in order to save some money because

13:23
Because you know have to think about even outside of your rent and the things that does not cover. Can you buy groceries? Can you  buy your other necessities? And just to even have money  once you done paying your bills and stuff to go out with your friends or treat yourself to something nice. Also think about your location. I feel like a lot of times when you are renting an apartment you are paying for a location. So if you move somewhere where you have a lot of things around

13:53
you're walking distance like a supermarket, a pharmacy, other stores that you like to shop at. And also when you are finding furniture for your apartment I would definitely say ask your friends and family if they have any furniture that they are willing to give you. Check some secondhand stores as well. Or my favorite thing so far has been shopping on Amazon to get some of my stuff and even Ikea. But yeah you guys, hopefully you guys

14:23
Enjoy this story about me going apartment hunting. It was definitely a journey to say the least. It really made me appreciate the fact that it is not  easy finding your dream apartment. Living with my mom, didn't have to,  I didn't have to pay rent, but not as much as I pay now. But then again, like my mom said, you got to pay the cost to be the boss. know, hopefully, like I said, you guys enjoyed this episode. If you guys

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guys have any other questions that you want me to answer in another episode definitely feel free to email me  everything is in the description but thank you guys again for listening and I will talk to you guys in my next episode peace