(no subject)
we went to dc this past weekend (well, my weekend which is fri/sat) to look at housing. we had a couple of appointments set up but we also wanted to spend a lot of time driving around and hunting for "for rent" signs since these places often end up being the best deals. we LOVED the eastern market neighborhood but when we saw that even one bedrooms were renting for nearly 2000, we decided to go drive a little further east and only went about 6 or 7 blocks before seeing rent prices literally cut in half. the neighborhood looked well maintained with a good mix of people.
we found a for rent sign at a house in front of a convent. the nuns were dressed in blue and gathering outside. it was a 3 story house and we assumed just one level was for rent. we called immediately and got a call back in a matter of minutes. its 1500...for the whole house...all 3 stories! WHAT?! the management company was super friendly and an agent called again to say he could show it. he opened the door and we immediately started to grin rather madly. hardwood floors, fireplace, backyard, built in bookshelves....awesome...lets take an application. then the rental agent says he has something else for the same price just right around the corner that would allow dogs too. so we leave to go look at this place. and as we're leaving we see the nuns walking by, praying the rosary has they walk in a line around the block. amazing. beautiful and perhaps a sign?
the second house. we pull up and the grins start again. there is an awesome porch out front with hanging plants and a bench. a woman is planting more flowers in the front. the exterior is much more kept up and updated and it actually seems like a nicer neighborhood. i think the woman planting the flowers might still live there and feel bad for just showing up but the place is vacant when we walk in. the house definitely has more updates...beautiful pine floors but the fireplace doesn't work. immediately i notice the kitchen which is twice as big as the first house. i peak outside and see the backyard is also considerably larger with brick patio type flooring with a section in the middle sectioned off for a perfect garden. then i notice something amazing...something IN F-ING CREDIBLE...stairs to go downstairs to a FINISHED BASEMENT. oh a finished basement. a place where i can put a lazy boy and play video games. a little clubhouse retreat for my inner immature bachelor self. when hil and i were planning on renting a house in philly if we didn't move someplace else, i talked rather obsessively about wanting a basement for myself but never thought it would be affordable in a place like DC.
the second floor of this house is carpeted and has 2 full bathrooms which is kinda weird. the closet space/storage isn't as great as the first place. the house in general is also probably a little skinnier in general than the first one.
oh no....decisions? well we want an application...we'll figure out throughout the day which one is our first choice...not to mention we have some other places to look at (which will probably all look like poo compared to this wonderful house hunting experience).
we look at lame condos and apartment complexes which we aren't into. we go to scheduled appointments but then bounce when we take a look at the neighborhood. we do, however, look at a townhouse in alexandria which we also really liked. the staff was friendly and the community was nice. we put an application in for that too "just in case."
i tell hil that i would like her to pick if she's up to it since we're making this move for me and i want her to have the most perfect place. her first instinct is to prefer the first house but then reasons her way to the second house because of the larger yard (the dogs have been in a 1 bedroom apt for over a year now) and the updates/location. so we put this house as our first choice.
they are checking our references/credit/employment and things are looking really good. i'm keeping my fingers crossed and hoping things work out. the management company is great. the neighborhood is great. the space is wonderful and the owner (the woman planting the flowers) had great things to say about the house and neighboorhood....they are even building a harris teeter around the corner (an awesome southern grocery chain) and a dog park is just a few blocks away.
and i'm hoping those nuns are helping us out ;)
we found a for rent sign at a house in front of a convent. the nuns were dressed in blue and gathering outside. it was a 3 story house and we assumed just one level was for rent. we called immediately and got a call back in a matter of minutes. its 1500...for the whole house...all 3 stories! WHAT?! the management company was super friendly and an agent called again to say he could show it. he opened the door and we immediately started to grin rather madly. hardwood floors, fireplace, backyard, built in bookshelves....awesome...lets take an application. then the rental agent says he has something else for the same price just right around the corner that would allow dogs too. so we leave to go look at this place. and as we're leaving we see the nuns walking by, praying the rosary has they walk in a line around the block. amazing. beautiful and perhaps a sign?
the second house. we pull up and the grins start again. there is an awesome porch out front with hanging plants and a bench. a woman is planting more flowers in the front. the exterior is much more kept up and updated and it actually seems like a nicer neighborhood. i think the woman planting the flowers might still live there and feel bad for just showing up but the place is vacant when we walk in. the house definitely has more updates...beautiful pine floors but the fireplace doesn't work. immediately i notice the kitchen which is twice as big as the first house. i peak outside and see the backyard is also considerably larger with brick patio type flooring with a section in the middle sectioned off for a perfect garden. then i notice something amazing...something IN F-ING CREDIBLE...stairs to go downstairs to a FINISHED BASEMENT. oh a finished basement. a place where i can put a lazy boy and play video games. a little clubhouse retreat for my inner immature bachelor self. when hil and i were planning on renting a house in philly if we didn't move someplace else, i talked rather obsessively about wanting a basement for myself but never thought it would be affordable in a place like DC.
the second floor of this house is carpeted and has 2 full bathrooms which is kinda weird. the closet space/storage isn't as great as the first place. the house in general is also probably a little skinnier in general than the first one.
oh no....decisions? well we want an application...we'll figure out throughout the day which one is our first choice...not to mention we have some other places to look at (which will probably all look like poo compared to this wonderful house hunting experience).
we look at lame condos and apartment complexes which we aren't into. we go to scheduled appointments but then bounce when we take a look at the neighborhood. we do, however, look at a townhouse in alexandria which we also really liked. the staff was friendly and the community was nice. we put an application in for that too "just in case."
i tell hil that i would like her to pick if she's up to it since we're making this move for me and i want her to have the most perfect place. her first instinct is to prefer the first house but then reasons her way to the second house because of the larger yard (the dogs have been in a 1 bedroom apt for over a year now) and the updates/location. so we put this house as our first choice.
they are checking our references/credit/employment and things are looking really good. i'm keeping my fingers crossed and hoping things work out. the management company is great. the neighborhood is great. the space is wonderful and the owner (the woman planting the flowers) had great things to say about the house and neighboorhood....they are even building a harris teeter around the corner (an awesome southern grocery chain) and a dog park is just a few blocks away.
and i'm hoping those nuns are helping us out ;)