drake
drizzy
Premium,MVM
join:2002-06-10
Brooklyn, NY
 ·Optimum Online
| Looking to leave the nest this year for an apartment.
Yeah, it's time to leave the nest sometime this year and start looking for a place on my own.
I already did some googling, but craiglist seems to really interest me in the apartments available (mostly in Brooklyn so far), but it looks as though I may need a roommate with numbers between $1200 - $1600 per month for a typical two bedroom unit.
I see this happening maybe at the end of this year, in time to celebrate for the holidays of 2008.
Anyway, I'm just looking now. I'm here though seeking advice on moving into a new apartment for the first time -- what I should look for? What questions are crucial to ask when investigating an home? I've been settled in my place since birth -- 7 months shy of 21 years, so it's a major move for me.
A fair share of experiences are welcomed, too.
Thanks. 
--
"HMOs will pay for your Viagra, but they won't pay for your glasses. So you can have a hard-on, but you can't see where to put it."
- Tom Dobbs [Man of the Year]
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The Dv8or
DSLReports Forums -- The Mouse House 2.0
Premium
join:2001-08-09
Danbury, CT
clubs:
| Never look alone.
Consider that you might compromise on something when you first see it, but you have to live there long term. Suddenly that cracked sink becomes a much bigger deal.
All promises come in writing.
Brokers and broker fees are not required.
How far from the subway are you? That walk is three times as long in the rain and snow.
Those four flights of stairs arent a big deal until youre carrying a mattress or groceries.
Just some thoughts.
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You're so vain... I bet you think this post is about you. |
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HardwareGeek
join:2003-11-15
Brooklyn, NY
| reply to drake
Also look at the neighbor hood, go for a walk in it especially after 8pm.
Are there a lot of hot chicks around or hood rats?
Is there a large police presence?
Are there any weird smells in the corner stores?
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Email/MSN: Michael at hardwaregeeks.comAIM: MikeR35292 |
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whizkid3
Premium,MVM
join:2002-02-21
Queens, NY | If you don't know the neighborhood, visit it on a warm Saturday night at midnight. Then you will likely find out if it is a:
- quiet neighborhood
- boiserous, but safe
- kevlar required |
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DJMADfx
join:2002-02-27
Bellmore, NY
| reply to drake
Adding onto what HardwareGeek said...
You might be better off going down to the police precinct that serves the neighborhood to get the real scoop on things.
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1,000 post mark hit on 1/4/03 at 11:10PM EST. HacK ThE PlaneT |
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The Dv8or
DSLReports Forums -- The Mouse House 2.0
Premium
join:2001-08-09
Danbury, CT
clubs:
| said by DJMADfx  :Adding onto what HardwareGeek said... You might be better off going down to the police precinct that serves the neighborhood to get the real scoop on things. I dont agree with this at all. I don't think youll ever get an accurate idea from the police. Either they'll make it sound great because they live in the neighborhood, or they'll be assholes about it.
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You're so vain... I bet you think this post is about you. |
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Network Guy
join:2000-08-25
New York
 ·PHONE POWER
·Broadvox Direct
 ·Verizon Online DSL
| reply to drake
Look around in the summer time, and spend time in your target neighborhoods around 3 ~ 6pm and midnight. You will get an idea for the crowd of kids hanging out, and at night for the resident drug dealers and low-lives.
Where I live it's common during the summer to come across assholes double parking their pick-up trucks in the street so they can talk loudly and drink alcohol on the sidewalk. On the positive side, I live one block away from I-95 and five short blocks away from the six train. Super convenient, but also super annoying at times.
If you're leaving the nest to turn around and need to share your place with a stranger for the rent money, that sounds like a stupid idea to me. |
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jwersan
R.I.P. Mom, Brian, Ziggy, and Max.
Premium
join:2004-12-20
Port Jefferson Station, NY
clubs:
·Optimum Online
| said by Network Guy :If you're leaving the nest to turn around and need to share your place with a stranger for the rent money, that sounds like a stupid idea to me. I have to agree, while friendships could be tested, rooming with a friend is a MUCH BETTER idea...
BTW, DON'T move the girlfriend in unless you are getting married anyway, because this is just as stupid too...
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RIAA/MPAA... Bite me!!!!
Death Penalty for parking violations!
In constant search for intelligent life on Earth! |
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Network Guy
join:2000-08-25
New York | Unless he intends in stringing along said female in lieu of sex and rent money. |
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The Dv8or
DSLReports Forums -- The Mouse House 2.0
Premium
join:2001-08-09
Danbury, CT
clubs:
| reply to jwersan
said by jwersan :BTW, DON'T move the girlfriend in unless you are getting married anyway, because this is just as stupid too... Date a homeless girl. This way, when youre done, you can just drop her off anywhere.
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You're so vain... I bet you think this post is about you. |
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Network Guy
join:2000-08-25
New York | That's cold  |
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jwersan
R.I.P. Mom, Brian, Ziggy, and Max.
Premium
join:2004-12-20
Port Jefferson Station, NY
clubs:
·Optimum Online
| said by Network Guy :That's cold That's "The Dv8or"!!   |
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FiL
Premium
join:2005-08-16
Silver Spring, MD
| DO NOT move in with your girlfriend!!! BAD IDEA!
LOL. First hand experience here... It's all luvy-duvy at first, but maaaaaaan, that shit turns into a nightmare 3 months in. I'm not lying. Once you go through your "Im a fuckin' adult, I'll stay out however long I want" phase, don't forget she's thinking the same thing...and watchin ya girl come in after 1am tends to fuck with a man's mind. It Will Happen, among other stupid things.
I'd even suggest against a roomate for the same reason, you'll be sleeping an the asshole would walk in drunk 3 am slammin doors an waking ya ass up. Lonewolf is key man! The Key! Take it from me, I thought it'd be cool to move in with my girl....shhhhhiiiiittt. Now were broken up. The apartment broke us up really though...lol.
You've been warned...Peace! |
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The Dv8or
DSLReports Forums -- The Mouse House 2.0
Premium
join:2001-08-09
Danbury, CT
clubs:
| Based on that response, I guess she got a real good taste of who you are once she started living with you. I bet you were actively flashing gang signs while typing this at your keyboard.
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You're so vain... I bet you think this post is about you. |
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HardwareGeek
join:2003-11-15
Brooklyn, NY
| reply to FiL
said by FiL :DO NOT move in with your girlfriend!!! BAD IDEA! LOL. First hand experience here... It's all luvy-duvy at first, but maaaaaaan, that shit turns into a nightmare 3 months in. I'm not lying. Once you go through your "Im a fuckin' adult, I'll stay out however long I want" phase, don't forget she's thinking the same thing...and watchin ya girl come in after 1am tends to fuck with a man's mind. It Will Happen, among other stupid things. I'd even suggest against a roomate for the same reason, you'll be sleeping an the asshole would walk in drunk 3 am slammin doors an waking ya ass up. Lonewolf is key man! The Key! Take it from me, I thought it'd be cool to move in with my girl....shhhhhiiiiittt. Now were broken up. The apartment broke us up really though...lol. You've been warned...Peace! Thats why you date a bi chick with kids, since she has a kids shes always home and if you get caught cheating you can just say I just got her for you. |
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archaned
Premium
join:2003-06-18
Brooklyn, NY
·Optimum Online
1 edit | reply to The Dv8or
I saw that he mentioned brooklyn. I don't know any cop who
lives close to the precinct they cover.
I'm sure there are stats available somewhere though.
Take pics of the apt if you can for review later. Make
sure the layout is one you like. I grabbed my firt apt
because it had a huuuuuge bedroom. But later i hated
the layout.
Everything others have said is on point. It gets crazy
where i live in the summer, being bordered by 2 parks.
i.e. no parking on weekends when all the sports folks
and picnic folks come out. once summer is done it gets
whisper quiet. lol.
PS i'll be searching in a few mths currently me and my
bro pay about 2100 in rent separately. So we either have
to decide to get something cheaper together or a starter
home. He is on his last semester at school thats the
reason for the wait. |
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drake
drizzy
Premium,MVM
join:2002-06-10
Brooklyn, NY
·Optimum Online
| reply to Network Guy
said by Network Guy :If you're leaving the nest to turn around and need to share your place with a stranger for the rent money, that sounds like a stupid idea to me. Never said I'd be moving in with a stranger, lol. It may be my cousin, or a real close friend of mine (female).
There's a saying: "you don't really know someone 'til you're actually living with them." haha
--
"HMOs will pay for your Viagra, but they won't pay for your glasses. So you can have a hard-on, but you can't see where to put it."
- Tom Dobbs [Man of the Year]
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drake
drizzy
Premium,MVM
join:2002-06-10
Brooklyn, NY
·Optimum Online
| reply to drake
I appreciate the replies thus far.
I always consider what to look for in an area when apartment searching, lol -- I live in the 'hood' anyway (Crown Heights) as it is now.
Oh, and yeah, I started looking into areas of Uptown Manhattan too; certain parts of Washington Heights / Inwood started to catch my eye.
--
"HMOs will pay for your Viagra, but they won't pay for your glasses. So you can have a hard-on, but you can't see where to put it."
- Tom Dobbs [Man of the Year]
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VishuzNinja
Legalize Ganja
join:2007-04-21
Brooklyn, NY
clubs: 
| reply to drake
Looks like I'm in the same boat as you are for this year.
I'm 19 but I'm planning on moving out of my moms apartment into my own, maybe with a roommate but I'd much rather live alone. Found a good amount of apartments with rent that has all the utilities included on CL. Most studios or 1 BR units go for around $800-$1,200 - at least at the range I'm looking at.
The most in my opinion you should be worrying about is if you'll be able to keep paying the rent and bills. Most importantly I'd prioritize the neighborhood & building or private house @ the top.
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"You have your way. I have my way. As for the right way, the correct way, and the only way, it does not exist." -Friedrich Nietzsche |
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patcat88
join:2002-04-05
Jamaica, NY
1 edit | reply to archaned
said by archaned :I saw that he mentioned brooklyn. I don't know any cop who lives close to the precinct they cover. I'm sure there are stats available somewhere though. Find precinct map, compare whitest/richest areas of NYC to your apt's precinct. Use US Gov Fact Finder »factfinder.census.gov/servlet/TM···26758203
to find a race map, which races to look at and how to interpret them, depends on your beliefs. TIP: remember hispanic is not a race, so remember to choose non-hispanic races, and then hispanics of any race, also limit your map to a county, if you try to get a map of too much data it errors at you, also use "percent" data sets for races, also once you get a map, set "display map by" to "census tract" for highest resolution, also in upper left area of screen "Change ... Data Classes" to 7 from the default 5, gives you more color levels on your map. The maps take many minutes to load usually, Feds too cheap to pay for CPU for the server.
Also since this data is 8 years old at this point, its ignores all the gentrification that happened in last 8 years, but that might be a good thing, since neighborhood may look gentrified during the day, but the Real Estate agent will never take you there at 10PM when all the hood rats are running around the streets. Some bloggers report that during the day Harlem is hipster and gentrified, but at night they get mugged by people on the street, or they find a mugger blocking the door to their apt building, so now they are leaving. So gentrification isn't fool proof, unless it was a calm place to begin with.
Also, it might be good to find people that live there, and talk to them about their neighborhood. An area might look like it needs Kevlar at night, when its nothing but harmless homeless drunks, not dealers. Other cases you might confuse races, or realize this is an immigrant area, and they come with a different moral code from their home country, than people who have been here 100+ years. Even 2 neighborhoods in different boroughs with same racial make up may have very different crime rates. Another choice to make is, are you a female or male? Can you rough up a drunk or not? Do you look mentally ill/serial killer or not?
EDIT: Another indicator of the violence of a neighborhood is to watch »gothamist.com/labs/map . Be sure select "ALL" under "View Incidents". Watch it for a few days/a couple weeks, you'll get to know the worst of the worst areas very quickly. |
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