Hunt for the Red Apartment: It's Over! The Fight is Over!
You read it here first! The Hunt has ended, and Joani has finally found a place to live in for (hopefully) more than a year.
I'm sure I've referenced it before, but I can't find it right now: the landlord vetted me out before I even got to see the place. Admittedly, for the price they are charging in the area (read: not much), it seems like an exclusive club to be invited to rent a place.
So I finally got to see the place yesterday. There are actually two places that were open for rent, and both on the second floor of the house. The one that I chose is in the back of the house, and there is less noise from Elgin St., which is roughly Ottawa's answer to Whyte Ave. in Edmonton. If the Senators make it past the first round in the play-offs, I really don't want to contend with those noise issues.
Anyways, I entered and went up the steps. I noticed that it might be a bit tight to get my couch up, but I'm sure I can think of something. The apartment is on the right after the landing.
Opening the door, the hallway leads straight towards the living room. On the right is first a bathroom, and further down, the bedroom.
In the bathroom, a previous tenant had written about friendship on the wall in a flowing hand and blue marker. Across from that wall is a wide counter with a sink in it, and a large mirror. The bathtub is tiled in a lovely blue ripple with white accent.
The bedroom is linoleum flooring, and large with pink walls - this was previously the blue-room apartment. Actually, the size of the bedroom is one of the reasons I chose it. I want to upgrade the size of my bed soon to a queen.
Leaving the bedroom, one walks directly in the living room, a hardwood-covered affair that admittedly squeaked with each step. Still, since I'm the only resident, I'm not too worried. I was already planning where to put my furniture, and which wall would be the accent wall. There's a large window to the right which looks out over a back alleyway. Oh well.
To the left of the living room is the kitchen, a large room which will be aided by the purchase of more counterspace. The backsplash is brown tile, and the fridge and oven are old and small... but there's a chance of one of them being upgraded. The sink is large, but one basin. And the counters have to go. White.
Which brings me to my next topic: it's interesting that the landlords are not adverse to home improvements - in fact, they're willing to compensate up to the value of the apartment. If I wanted to get new counters, fine. Want to paint a wall? Go for it. Knock down a wall and put in a hot tub? Well, maybe not on the second floor.
However, I am kicking myself for not asking the question of how the water was heated - it will be on my hydro (electricity) bill.
Also, this apartment has all but one of the eleven commandments that I had placed on a potential apartment: it has no laundry facilities. However, this is Elgin - they should be nearby.
I'm sure I've referenced it before, but I can't find it right now: the landlord vetted me out before I even got to see the place. Admittedly, for the price they are charging in the area (read: not much), it seems like an exclusive club to be invited to rent a place.
So I finally got to see the place yesterday. There are actually two places that were open for rent, and both on the second floor of the house. The one that I chose is in the back of the house, and there is less noise from Elgin St., which is roughly Ottawa's answer to Whyte Ave. in Edmonton. If the Senators make it past the first round in the play-offs, I really don't want to contend with those noise issues.
Anyways, I entered and went up the steps. I noticed that it might be a bit tight to get my couch up, but I'm sure I can think of something. The apartment is on the right after the landing.
Opening the door, the hallway leads straight towards the living room. On the right is first a bathroom, and further down, the bedroom.
In the bathroom, a previous tenant had written about friendship on the wall in a flowing hand and blue marker. Across from that wall is a wide counter with a sink in it, and a large mirror. The bathtub is tiled in a lovely blue ripple with white accent.
The bedroom is linoleum flooring, and large with pink walls - this was previously the blue-room apartment. Actually, the size of the bedroom is one of the reasons I chose it. I want to upgrade the size of my bed soon to a queen.
Leaving the bedroom, one walks directly in the living room, a hardwood-covered affair that admittedly squeaked with each step. Still, since I'm the only resident, I'm not too worried. I was already planning where to put my furniture, and which wall would be the accent wall. There's a large window to the right which looks out over a back alleyway. Oh well.
To the left of the living room is the kitchen, a large room which will be aided by the purchase of more counterspace. The backsplash is brown tile, and the fridge and oven are old and small... but there's a chance of one of them being upgraded. The sink is large, but one basin. And the counters have to go. White.
Which brings me to my next topic: it's interesting that the landlords are not adverse to home improvements - in fact, they're willing to compensate up to the value of the apartment. If I wanted to get new counters, fine. Want to paint a wall? Go for it. Knock down a wall and put in a hot tub? Well, maybe not on the second floor.
However, I am kicking myself for not asking the question of how the water was heated - it will be on my hydro (electricity) bill.
Also, this apartment has all but one of the eleven commandments that I had placed on a potential apartment: it has no laundry facilities. However, this is Elgin - they should be nearby.