apartment hunting
As at least one friend has pointed out to me, I have never really gone apartment hunting for just myself. I've always been looking for myself and exactly one other, at least a housemate. So there's always been someone else with a direct interest (as in, also benefiting) in the outcome. My most sanguine take on the new experience is that it's interesting, maybe mildly liberating. At worst, well, when it's too anxiety-provoking, I put it off.
My criteria are a bit fluid, unfortunately. Right now, I'm tempted to move just up the street, either into a roomy 2-bedroom main floor of a house for $825/month, or a possibly adequate 1-bedroom 3rd floor apartment for $540/month. The former will probably give me month-to-month terms, the latter is with a 6-month lease. I'm waiting to hear what the penalty is for early withdrawal from that lease.
My plans are loosely something like this: Immediately move somewhere convenient to my current job (a contract that runs out in September). Save money for another move (making that $540/month look good). Find work in the Windsor/Detroit area or Vancouver or maybe Toronto for October or so and move for that. I want to stay in Canada and get my citizenship. I may decide I miss Ann Arbor too much and give up on Canadian citizenship. A friend in Ann Arbor starts a new lease in August and is willing to share a place with me there.
Anyone have recommendations on choosing a moving company, in case I decide to use one either in-town or cross-country? I hear driving across Canada can be nice; maybe even in a rented truck in Autumn.
Anyone local willing to help me move across the street in exchange for mere food and company?
My criteria are a bit fluid, unfortunately. Right now, I'm tempted to move just up the street, either into a roomy 2-bedroom main floor of a house for $825/month, or a possibly adequate 1-bedroom 3rd floor apartment for $540/month. The former will probably give me month-to-month terms, the latter is with a 6-month lease. I'm waiting to hear what the penalty is for early withdrawal from that lease.
My plans are loosely something like this: Immediately move somewhere convenient to my current job (a contract that runs out in September). Save money for another move (making that $540/month look good). Find work in the Windsor/Detroit area or Vancouver or maybe Toronto for October or so and move for that. I want to stay in Canada and get my citizenship. I may decide I miss Ann Arbor too much and give up on Canadian citizenship. A friend in Ann Arbor starts a new lease in August and is willing to share a place with me there.
Anyone have recommendations on choosing a moving company, in case I decide to use one either in-town or cross-country? I hear driving across Canada can be nice; maybe even in a rented truck in Autumn.
Anyone local willing to help me move across the street in exchange for mere food and company?