Quick Ditty
Figured I'd post a little entry about current happenings and updates in my job status/location/etc.
Since finding out I was offered a job at Target I've taken the drug test, completed tons of paperwork and written countless e-mails (thank you's, letters to family/friends regarding my new job, and planning e-mails for services needed in the coming weeks) to cover nearly every little thing in the move.
This past Monday my dad drove Chris and I out to Minneapolis (we left at 3am from West Bend) to meet Joyce, my relocation expert, by 9:30am. Turns out the weather sucked and we drove through pitch black, snow, fog, more snow, traffic, and blizzard. It wasn't bad, though, and we ended up finding an apartment. We'll be living here, in The Deforest, which is a 4-story low-rise with amenities in the larger towers (fitness center, sauna, hot tub and swimming pool, as well as community amenities like a party room and lounge). Our specific floor plan is Plan D, the 1 bedroom with loft. It's a ridiculous amount of square footage for us, and we got it at a great deal since the people living there before us had to move unexpectedly and the next set weren't approved or didn't move in for some reason. A "great deal" is the normal rent at $1650 per month, whereas ours will be $1100, including all utilities except for electricity and parking (and extra $60 for underground). We can even have cats later on at no additional rent, just $200 fully refundable deposits per cat. The best part is that I can see Target HQ from the living room window, and only have about a 3 block walk in the morning.
There are only a couple concerns with this community. It gets horrible reviews online related to its management staff (rude and not accommodating in terms of hours/conditions) and parking (guest parking is a joke). As far as I'm concerned (well, while reading the lease information and rules/regulations in every minute detail so I don't break any of them), people are complaining about issues they knew upon move-in to be true. Guest parking is horrible because it's a series of high-rise buildings in downtown Minneapolis. There are only a few spots available so they issue guest parking passes well in advance and then tow many vehicles throughout the day, even receiving a share of the profit from a local towing company. Honestly, I wish that MPM had been more concerned about this last year, especially on holiday weekends (like Halloween) when we could barely park in our own lots. I think we may escape most parking issues not having people visit all the time and encouraging any parkers to do so on the streets, which are pretty ample if you're willing to walk a couple blocks.
Also, people were upset you couldn't drink in community areas (which I would think to be true of course, kinda a dorm situation) and that you have to pay a fee to reserve the community room (duh?). Finally, as far as rude management goes, as long as they don't lose my rent checks or raise my rent unexpectedly or don't maintain the apartments (which comprise about 3 complaints from the over 150 online) then we'll be fine. I'm willing to be a little open and go into the office in the early am instead of getting stuck not being able to go, and I've never had serious problems with rude management beyond the norm. Maybe these people have never lived with any downtown property companies before. Who knows?
We've hired movers for February 19th (Two Men and a Truck), which have varying reviews. I'm okay with this, though, since we'll be packing all the little stuff while they pack the big items and load the truck, drive, and unload. This was a point of concern for awhile but once you learn to not look at the reviews (because most of the time people who complain go out of their way to do so, while those that have a positive experience choose to do nothing about it) you learn to just go with your gut. Someone came out to do an on-site assessment, sent me back a reasonable quote and I heard many great things about them (personal accounts) from people at work, so I was sold. They will be coming out and packing up the truck on Thursday the 18th, then driving on the 19th, arriving in Minneapolis at 10am so we should be all done unloading by noon.
Now we just have to pack (and find boxed to pack -- we've been getting a bunch from both our work places, but we'll need more most likely) and I need to go through some stuff at home because there's more to bring. I also need to get confirmation that I'm officially able to sign a lease for the new place, as it takes 3-5 days and a background check, etc. Then I need to set up the time for the elevator and loading dock to be blocked off, get parking situated and hopefully get my tax returns shortly thereafter so I can pay for all this stuff we'll need to fill the apartment.
Finally, we found a subletter (not only for this summer but also for next year!). She's really nice and was excited about the place before even really seeing it fully. Also, turns out McBride is amazing and is going to change our lease date so it technically ends on April 30th, when they'll return our full security deposit. Our subletter is going to send in hers directly to McBride, move in on May 1, and then stay through next year, so although she'll be responsible for wear and tear and stuff, we will leave the apartment in great shape for her. The best part is that the apartment was literally on the website for (I think) 3 days before we got an e-mail about it. We didn't even have to put up anything on any other sites or anything. Also, her app went through because they took the apt. down from the site already! Here's to awesome windfalls that fix any and all issues you might have previously had!
After we get confirmation about the apartment I'm going to setup all the details for move day and then get cracking on the packing. We've put together a few boxes but obviously have to do everything pretty quickly here. Then I'm going to slowly whittle down my list of things needed to be done before I move (changing all addresses and getting new insurance quotes and plans, etc.) and then get excited about new furniture, new cell phone plans, new job functions, new wardrobes and a new city. New everything!
Now to play some quality WoW so my head will hopefully stop pounding. :)
Since finding out I was offered a job at Target I've taken the drug test, completed tons of paperwork and written countless e-mails (thank you's, letters to family/friends regarding my new job, and planning e-mails for services needed in the coming weeks) to cover nearly every little thing in the move.
This past Monday my dad drove Chris and I out to Minneapolis (we left at 3am from West Bend) to meet Joyce, my relocation expert, by 9:30am. Turns out the weather sucked and we drove through pitch black, snow, fog, more snow, traffic, and blizzard. It wasn't bad, though, and we ended up finding an apartment. We'll be living here, in The Deforest, which is a 4-story low-rise with amenities in the larger towers (fitness center, sauna, hot tub and swimming pool, as well as community amenities like a party room and lounge). Our specific floor plan is Plan D, the 1 bedroom with loft. It's a ridiculous amount of square footage for us, and we got it at a great deal since the people living there before us had to move unexpectedly and the next set weren't approved or didn't move in for some reason. A "great deal" is the normal rent at $1650 per month, whereas ours will be $1100, including all utilities except for electricity and parking (and extra $60 for underground). We can even have cats later on at no additional rent, just $200 fully refundable deposits per cat. The best part is that I can see Target HQ from the living room window, and only have about a 3 block walk in the morning.
There are only a couple concerns with this community. It gets horrible reviews online related to its management staff (rude and not accommodating in terms of hours/conditions) and parking (guest parking is a joke). As far as I'm concerned (well, while reading the lease information and rules/regulations in every minute detail so I don't break any of them), people are complaining about issues they knew upon move-in to be true. Guest parking is horrible because it's a series of high-rise buildings in downtown Minneapolis. There are only a few spots available so they issue guest parking passes well in advance and then tow many vehicles throughout the day, even receiving a share of the profit from a local towing company. Honestly, I wish that MPM had been more concerned about this last year, especially on holiday weekends (like Halloween) when we could barely park in our own lots. I think we may escape most parking issues not having people visit all the time and encouraging any parkers to do so on the streets, which are pretty ample if you're willing to walk a couple blocks.
Also, people were upset you couldn't drink in community areas (which I would think to be true of course, kinda a dorm situation) and that you have to pay a fee to reserve the community room (duh?). Finally, as far as rude management goes, as long as they don't lose my rent checks or raise my rent unexpectedly or don't maintain the apartments (which comprise about 3 complaints from the over 150 online) then we'll be fine. I'm willing to be a little open and go into the office in the early am instead of getting stuck not being able to go, and I've never had serious problems with rude management beyond the norm. Maybe these people have never lived with any downtown property companies before. Who knows?
We've hired movers for February 19th (Two Men and a Truck), which have varying reviews. I'm okay with this, though, since we'll be packing all the little stuff while they pack the big items and load the truck, drive, and unload. This was a point of concern for awhile but once you learn to not look at the reviews (because most of the time people who complain go out of their way to do so, while those that have a positive experience choose to do nothing about it) you learn to just go with your gut. Someone came out to do an on-site assessment, sent me back a reasonable quote and I heard many great things about them (personal accounts) from people at work, so I was sold. They will be coming out and packing up the truck on Thursday the 18th, then driving on the 19th, arriving in Minneapolis at 10am so we should be all done unloading by noon.
Now we just have to pack (and find boxed to pack -- we've been getting a bunch from both our work places, but we'll need more most likely) and I need to go through some stuff at home because there's more to bring. I also need to get confirmation that I'm officially able to sign a lease for the new place, as it takes 3-5 days and a background check, etc. Then I need to set up the time for the elevator and loading dock to be blocked off, get parking situated and hopefully get my tax returns shortly thereafter so I can pay for all this stuff we'll need to fill the apartment.
Finally, we found a subletter (not only for this summer but also for next year!). She's really nice and was excited about the place before even really seeing it fully. Also, turns out McBride is amazing and is going to change our lease date so it technically ends on April 30th, when they'll return our full security deposit. Our subletter is going to send in hers directly to McBride, move in on May 1, and then stay through next year, so although she'll be responsible for wear and tear and stuff, we will leave the apartment in great shape for her. The best part is that the apartment was literally on the website for (I think) 3 days before we got an e-mail about it. We didn't even have to put up anything on any other sites or anything. Also, her app went through because they took the apt. down from the site already! Here's to awesome windfalls that fix any and all issues you might have previously had!
After we get confirmation about the apartment I'm going to setup all the details for move day and then get cracking on the packing. We've put together a few boxes but obviously have to do everything pretty quickly here. Then I'm going to slowly whittle down my list of things needed to be done before I move (changing all addresses and getting new insurance quotes and plans, etc.) and then get excited about new furniture, new cell phone plans, new job functions, new wardrobes and a new city. New everything!
Now to play some quality WoW so my head will hopefully stop pounding. :)