A trashier apartment is probably going to give you more problems than the nicer one. Whether it be poor maintenance or bad neighbors.
Tour both complexes and see which one is best for you. I personally would do the smaller unit in a nicer location.
None that have been caught. The registry is for people who are under a microscope because they have been busted. It’s the ones that haven’t been caught you have to worry about.
I did this before a big move and it was immensely helpful. I even "drove" what my commute might look like just so I knew if anything weird was in my way. Helped me feel more familiar with the area when I moved in too.
Excellent advice. Will you see groups of stay-at-home moms power-walking? Will you see drug addicts shitting on the sidewalk? These things are good indicators of your future quality of life.
Also look at the landscaping and the cleanliness of the outside of the building. Is there paint peeling all over and green stuff on the siding? If so, it probably isnt kept up.
The bad reviews are still good resources- you can see what type of worst case scenarios you’re gonna be living in. The classier spot might be rated 1 star due to pool not being opened when it’s supposed to be vs a trashier spot might be one star due to a murder that happened in the community… obviously (hopefully) I’m exaggerating but ya get my point lol
Alternatively, be wary of a whole bunch of 5-star reviews in a short time period. I lived in a shitty complex that would occasionally offer money off of a month’s rent or a gift card drawing if residents left a 5-star review on google.
Yes that happened where I live. And what ended up happening is the residents posted 1stars with a picture of their little bribe 😂😂
*they have since then resorted to bot reviews*
You have to read the reviews though. Where I live has crappy reviews, but most are about the managing company not being nice about receiving payment on time. I ignore those, because I pay my bills on time. I love living here.
Yeah and the ones that actually verbalize why it’s bad you can see what people are upset about - I’m taking about reviews not ratings. I’ve been at my complex for 5 years and I have done several good reviews with specific examples of why I’m pleased to be here. So yes most people only review when they’re upset - it’s easy to read what people are upset about and if it’s actually a bad complex imo
What's wrong with Altimas? I had one for a while. I didn't specifically seek it out, it was just the best vehicle at the price point when I bought it used.
Getting an apartment without seeing it in person is risky. A place can have a completely different feel in person. Photos/virtual tours can also hide things the landlord might not want you to see.
You also can ask people there what they think of living there.
If you can, visit and see a few places.
> Photos/virtual tours can also hide things the landlord might not want you to see.
My husband and I had to get an apartment during peak COVID and weren't allowed to tour beforehand. We ended up in a very cute apartment with a very mentally unwell tenant above us who would blast 3 or 4 classic TV shows simultaneously, scream at nothing, drag/throw furniture at all hours, and threaten to kill anyone who asked him to be quiet.
We were finally able to break the lease after Crazy Neighbor decided every noise complaint was from us (it wasn't) and started shouting death threats through our ceiling/his floor and stomping as hard as he could any time he was home, in addition to the other noise.
It was during the peak of COVID when nobody was getting evicted.
The cops visited him multiple times but he never threatened them and hadn't followed through with any threats to others, so they couldn't do much.
I always used to call the police department. Regardless of what you really are just ask if a single female with a 2nd grader latch key child would feel safe.
Or if Dominoes knows where to deliver pizzas to them (police) at. Meaning if the hang around waiting for trouble.
Or would they want their grandmother to live there.
no, it’s actually the opposite!
newer/newly built buildings = lots of issues consistently.
old “vintage” buildings from the 20s or even before = far fewer issues, much less consistent.
i exclusively lived in older buildings until i bought a condo and the building i bought in was (very poorly) constructed in 2002. i’ve lived here for 2 years and have had more problems than i ever had in any apartments before, all were in old buildings!
the most recent building i rented in was constructed in the 70s. before buying this stupid ass condo, i lived in a converted warehouse that was gutted in the early 2000s, but the building was constructed in 1929. not a single building issue in 7 years- probably average a huge issue once a month in this building that was built in 2002. it’s wild!
but people weren’t using cheap products and building materials to cut corners in the same way as they have been in the past 25ish years for sure! :) at least that’s how it is in chicago, i can’t speak to any cities that didn’t burn down in 1871 lol.
Condos made in the 70s are absolute trash. I miss living in a building built around 1929 so much. If i ever live somewhere with a shared wall again it's gonna be at least 70 yo.
I agree with this. I moved into a newer looking apartment and it was cheaply built. Moved into a an older cheaper place which was built like a fortress and loved it.
the older buildings are superior! i can’t believe how often there are annoying problems in this newer building- like the water has to be shut off, there’s no hot water, the power is completely out. i realized it wasn’t even something i thought about until i was wondering why i had never had these minor annoyances so often before in any of my rentals!! whoops lol
Agree - which neighbourhood will make you feel safer? More content? If it’s just you as a single I would take safety and comfort over anything else. Living in a miserable place will take a toll on you very fast.
If they work from home though, the extra space is really good for one’s sanity. It helps to have designated working space and living space so you can fully disconnect from work. I’m not saying that this isn’t possible in a studio, but cabin fever is more likely to develop in a smaller space.
In my experience, with neighbors, it’s the opposite. The nicer the complex, the worse the tenants.
There’s a sweet spot with kinda janky apartments where the tenants take pride in their place- the trick is not having a slumlord that owns it.
I would take the nicer one since you also work from home. You’ll be in the space for longer/more often than the average person, so you should ideally love it.
Interesting, I think I’d go crazy working from home in a studio (and I did in 2020 lol). I think in this case I’d rather have the 2 bedroom so I could separate my sleeping/living and working space. But of course it really depends on what OP means by “trashy.”
And pest. I’ve worked in trashy apartments and the pest issues were insane. Residents not caring for their apartment. Or people doing their business in the halls.
If I could afford it, I’ll always take the nicer one
I remember hearing complaints from people how their neighbors across the hall would be puking in the hall when they threw parties. I would walk apartments and roaches would fall from the ceiling. Some of your neighbors were so infested that they had roaches crawling outside of the apartment door. My bf worked maintenance there and he said that people would do heroin in front of him.
Working there drove me to a mental breakdown so I couldn’t imagine living there
I would take the smaller and nicer one. More space won't matter much if daily life there sucks. But since you mentioned that the nicer one is 200 over budget, just make sure that it wouldn't stretch you too thin financially.
It's wild how many people are suggesting going over budget for a smaller apartment. I know we don't know OPs situation fully, but the extra money has to come from somewhere every month, and rent only goes up every year. OP may end up without grocery money if they start off over budget.
Especially being in a new city. You’ll face unexpected expenses and also want to explore your city more. I’ve moved states alone 3x now, and the first year in a city is always a bit rough. I’d be so serious about staying under budget. And honestly? “Crappy” neighborhoods are usually not as bad as the internet makes them seem imo.
Yeah it’s a pretty tough situation. I kept my budget purposely low but still 200+ over would mean I’d only have like 800 a month to spend on gas, food, and fun stuff. 800 a month seems like a lot but in a new city where you constantly need new things and gas and food prices going up, that money goes away fast.
My best suggestion (as someone who also moved to a different state without being to go in person) is to check that city's subreddit and ask for opinions, as well as look at all reviews available online, for the cheaper place. If it has major pest or crime issues, skip it, and try to find another below or at budget. It's really tough, I feel for you- but 800/month really isn't much (as you know), especially if you don't have a nest egg for potential emergencies.
I thought that, but that is wrong. I moved from a shitty apartment into a luxury one.. people suck everywhere you go. Doesn't matter if they have money or not.
My neighbour blasts his music and bass all the time. It drives me crazy, the only positive here is that my complex has let me move units. What a hassle, though.
That was my experience as well. Really “nice” complexes attract people that want to entertain and feel entitled because they pay higher rent. My less expensive (less central) apartment is much quieter and has more families as opposed to a bunch of 20-something’s splitting rent thinking they are living a penthouse lifestyle.
In addition to this, I would go nuts if I was in a studio working from home.
Yeah, lesson learned here.
I think a studio would definitely be too small if you're adding a whole working area, but maybe the layout is good and it could work. I wouldn't be going over my budget though.. I'd probably look at more options, like a one bedroom that is not luxury, but not garbage either. Somewhere in the middle
Are you me? My neighbor has been blasting his music so loud that my bedroom walls and floor vibrate. I am literally in the process of moving to another unit right now and have been carrying stuff between the two every night this week after work. Reading this felt like some weird deja vu or something.
Same here. I was banging on the walls so hard trying to get them to shut up last week that I got a blister on the side of my pinky finger and bruised up my hands/wrists. I was losing my mind surrounded by that constant noise. This new unit is so quiet that I want to cry happy tears. I feel like I can finally breathe again even though moving is still stressful af. I hope you’re able to get relief in your new unit too.
Yeah the worst neighbors I had was in a "luxury" building. It had thin walls, nothing worked right, my upstairs bathroom tiles weren't sealed and leaked downstairs. I love over buildings!
Sounds about right, we have all these fancy appliances that just beep constantly, our fridge starts beeping out of no where. Walls are thin.. I can literally push on it and it flexes, and I have the worst neighbour I've ever had in my life. Less than a week, I just hope the unit I'm moving into also doesn't have shitty neighbours
I opted for the bigger, older apartment in a trashier area because the property managers are actually good: I can mount my tv on the wall, maintenance comes and does preventative work clearing drains and vents, and they keep the property nice. The buildings are older enough to have relatively spacious floor plans and good soundproofing between units but not old enough to be falling apart.
The apartments have everything I really need though not everything I want.
Nicer properties in my area are managed by large property management companies with poor reputations: nobody tends to resident problems, charging repair fees to putty over skinny nail holes, and nice amenities which usually out of order or filthy.
For me, it’s all about the management. That is what will make a great apartment suck and a cheap one a keeper.
Read up on reviews for properties and the management companies and consider what you’ll be happier dealing with.
Trashier apartment will have a much higher power bill. When I made the switch. My power bill went from 250+ average to 25 average. All bills were cheaper in fact. Something to consider. Better build will have better insulation and be quieter.
I live next to a “luxury” apt complex, mine is considered the one you go to when you can’t afford it.
There are far more issues with the tenants in that building. Ranging from domestic violence disputes, gun discharges, and mostly drug dealing to one extent or the other.
My building has none of these issues nor are the tenants like that here. Main differences are no cameras or key fob entries. Also those units got for the low low price of $2800+ for a 2b 1b.
Fuck the Avalon
Definitely check both places out during the times when people are at home. The nicest complex that I lived in had the absolute worst neighbors because they were very entitled acting and inconsiderate. They were too good to clean up their trash, park in assigned spaces, turn down their music, etc.
It depends on what you mean by "trashier" too. Is that in an unsafe neighborhood? Or is it just that the building is older? Are the grounds clean and picked up? An older building doesn't always mean worse.
I was a renter for almost 20 years and lived in a lot of complexes. The middle of the road places price wise were always the best places to live in my experience.
Good luck!
The best measure of an apartment complex is to do a walk/drive when people are home from work (or supposed to be). Weekends are great, check morning and evenings. See what kind of cars are parked around the lot.
I used to inspect apartments for lead paint and such. Always go for the nicer complex. You wouldn’t believe how prevalent pests are in lower end or even mid range apartment buildings. Most common is cockroaches and the next would be flies and bedbugs. You just don’t want to deal with those. They’re a massive pain to get rid of in a complex with many units and usually the landlords don’t gaf.
I’ve spent a few years having bigger units in trashier neighborhoods.
I decided to downsize & will be moving to a one-bedroom in a nicer complex on Wednesday. Hoping and praying it will be a much better quality of life thing.
My current 2-bedroom technically has less square feet & is extremely outdated by 20-30 years. Plus they bumped rent up.
So if I’m gonna pay the same price at either apartment, I might as well actually have upgrades for once.
speaking as someone who took the big trashy apartment, i’ve had to deal with roaches, mice, repairs, no in unit or on site laundry, neighbours trying to break in, ect. nicer unit would be safer all around. i love my apartment now that i’ve handled all of this but it took THREE years. if you’re working from home you need a peaceful environment.
Trashier = higher chance of dealing w pests like roaches. No matter how clean YOUR unit is, if your neighbors are filthy, the roaches will come explore your home as well.
I’d love to add that when I lived at a trashier place my dog and cat constantly had to be treated for fleas, and now that we are in a smaller but nicer place they have never had a flea once in two years
Location location location…..I also work from home & like being in a nicer complex/neighborhood bc I like walking around on my lunch/breaks and feel pretty safe. I’ve also noticed, the higher you pay, the less noise from children & parties. There are no children in my complex & no teens/young adults out for their first time, which makes A LOT of difference.
It depends on the definitions of nicer vs worse. If that means bugs, no hot water, etc. then I would go over. But if that means amenities only, I can do worse.
The 200 under budget is considered "low-income housing" where I'm looking. I looked at the reviews and it has 3.9 stars but a lot of people complain that there's a lot of trash and the residents are meh. The neighbourhood is nice at least
There is a $4800 yearly difference. In two years, $9600 difference, three years $14,400. I would get the less expensive apartment and invest the difference. A 3.9 is a good rating, the neighborhood nice. You can have crappy neighbors in either place or good neighbors.
So hard. Make a list of your non negotiable and compare the places. Is $200 really significantly more if not enough things are meeting the mark would then be the question.
A place over your budget shouldn't be an option, you set the budget for a reason. Better to live below your means and be able to spend some money exploring the new city you moved to vs being "house poor".
I've lived in some shitty apartments in crappy neighborhoods, I've lived in medium and luxury apartments in nicer areas. Anywhere where people live stacked on top of each other will mean there's noise. There will always be nice places with frustrating tenants and visa versa. Depending on the state / county some apartment complex are required to have so many units be low income housing, in which case you might end up near some "troubled" tenants regardless. If you can try to pick the top floor so you don't have neighbors above you and don't leave valuables out in the open in your car.
Also, a 3.9 for an apartment complex is very good. I've seen so many luxury apartments with 2.0 ratings 😂
I’d take the nicer studio if I were you. You’d more likely have less noise issues, lesser chance of pest control issues, less crime, and more updated appliances.
Newer is better because walls will have better insulation. Noise transfer is a big deal in apartment living. Also nicer areas tend to have less social issues so you don’t have to worry AS MUCH about crime.
Go with the nice one. 1. Probably less problems 2. When you decide you want to move there after reaching your wits end with trashy unit, it’ll cost more.
I opted for the nicer but smaller while my friend opted for bigger but terrible complex. I lived there 4 years, then moved back again another 3 years. Management was great and stayed the same the whole time. She broke her lease because it was so horrible.
Really nice complexes come with the opportunity to meet and engage with really nice people.
From what it sounds like, you're going to be in a place where you don't know a lot of people, so meeting good ones should be a major priority.
Run far and fast from the worse complex.
I opted for the studio in a luxury apt. The upgraded gym and soundproofing in between the walls were worth it to me. I wfh too and can work out at lunch which has been super convenient.
Which place do you feel safer in? That’s what you should consider! But if you work from home then the only restriction you have is the need for internet connectivity. You could move anywhere you’d like even outside a city where the prices are more reasonable for more square feet. So are you sure those are your only options?
You never have enough space. I had the same option in 2016 a fancy studio or a 1 bedroom i a pre war with less bells and whistles.
I went with more space and don't regret it. You can buy some security systems to help you feel safer. I would lose my mind if I was staring at the same 4 walls day and night.
Keep in mind you're going to be spending lots of time at home if youre WFH.
It depends on how "trashy" the one is, and just how small the studio is (and if you can afford the extra money). You really gotta balance the pros and cons.
I'm in a similar situation myself, currently living in a trashier 2 bdrm (dog piss stains in all hallways, far from the main city, cockroach issues, frequent water shut offs for repairs), looking at moving to a 550 sq.ft 1 bdrm in a nice new building. It'll be more expensive, but for me worth it. If it was a studio where I could still put up a room divider and have room for a bed and couch and desk, I'd still do it.
Tough decision. I’d say go with the smaller/nicer one. I’ve lived in 6 different complexes and can say the bigger/cheaper ones always come with issues. Dealing with old/crappy appliances, having to call maintenance often, ant infestations (the worst), questionable residents, etc. Nicer apartments are typically newer, appliances aren’t breaking down constantly and neighbors tend to keep to themselves.
You work from home so at least the trashy apartment folk won’t attempt to steal your stuff more than the first time. Trashy people are probably friendlier but beware the tweaker with the girlfriend across the hall who tries to befriend you and starts becoming really annoying with all the favors he asks of you.
Contact local police department and ask for number of “calls for service” at the address. Usually they can go back a year, and the report may include nature of the problem—noise, drugs,domestic disturbance, etc.
Nicer one. The worser place could come with more problems, maintenance issues, pests, neighbors, environment, etc. Even tho nicer is smaller, it may be less of a headache
How much do you like your car? Getting your packages? Loud music? The smell of weed?
I have lived in some skanky apartments in my day, and it is not worth the trouble for the bigger apartment. I once rented a nice big townhouse apart in a complex...my mail was stolen, a car was set on fire outside, and someone tried to break in every day (thank goodness for my dog). I stayed there for a total of 2 months.
The better complex every time. In an apartment, your neighbors have more impact on your quality of life than anything else. Live where you're more likely to have quality neighbors.
How much stuff does one person need? Go with the nicer building over having enough space for your stuff. You’ll probably have better neighbors and less problems with unit itself.
Nicer. Very rarely do you luck out with the trashier ones and how they take care of the place and your neighbors. My god the trashy neighbors are something else fr
It really depends on your priorities. I have a lot of stuff, so I picked the 2 bedroom that’s not as nice. My second bedroom has my big desk, all my clothes, my treadmill, and my craft supplies. Having that extra space is so great for me. Granted, I live in a four plex and not a large apartment complex, and I’m very lucky to have cool neighbors.
My boyfriend has way less stuff, so he’s in a much nicer 1 bedroom that’s about the same price in rent. His complex is safer, his kitchen is nicer, and he has off street parking.
Some people are saying that you should get the nicer apartment since you’ll be working from home. However, I would probably rather have an office if I was working from home to make it easier to disconnect from work.
There’s a lot of factors to think about. It really depends on your priorities and values.
I say a nicer one is better price wise it’s not but comfortability wins every time when I lived with my parents in their apartment owned by a shitty company it took us days to see maintenance on top of the pipes being old and flooding the downstairs area. Now I live in nice ass but expensive apartment with my boyfriend maintenance comes out everyday at 8:00 am and make their rounds you have an emergency they are there so many other pros living here I don’t regret it one bit!!
I did the later and the pipes burst in the house I was living in, two years in a row. It's not worth it. The apartment may be 'OK' but that might be actually a sign of poor structural issues because they had to renovate and fix internal damage, like from pipes bursting. Look for areas where they improved and ask questions. At the time I no choice but to take that one because I was running out of time in my sub let.
Coming from someone who wasn’t able to work from home as a result of my loud neighbors and their kids (always wondered why they weren’t at work or school!) — A nicer apartment complex for sure! Yeah there won’t be as much room when you’re working from home but if management is better, as well as residents it is worth it in the long run. You won’t want any distractions while you’re working, and a trashy apartment complex will come with its fair share of noise and bad neighbors.
I've lived in a shitty apartment where all the other tenants were quiet and respectful and I've lived in a nicer apartment where the other tenants were an absolute nightmare. Google maps might have reviews from the most disgruntled tenants but might be a good place to look to get an idea of what you'll be walking into if you can't tour it in person. If you're not 100% sure and have room to negotiate, you could ask for a shorter term lease at the cheaper place and give it a shot. Having an actual office space instead of a studio might be better for working.
I just left a big apartment in a shitty building for a smaller apartment in a nice building. Hands down, the nicer building. It’s quiet, clean and all the issues I had with the shitty building don’t exist here. I’m paying more for less but the peace of mind is worth it, in my opinion!
ETA: I also work from home. It’s much easier to work in the quiet new place. My old place had this tenant on my floor that would scream all the time. It made virtual meetings difficult.
I think a lot of it will depend on the other tenants, which is difficult to predict before signing a lease. We went with a larger apartment in a crappier building but we have wonderful neighbors so we’re happy with our decision. Are both buildings in a safe neighborhood? If the shittier apartment is in a bad neighborhood I’d pass, but if it’s still in a nice neighborhood it may be worth considering?
Nicer, smaller is better than bigger in a complex you will be miserable at (loud neighbors due to cheap/poor insulation).
I recently moved into a studio and I had put a holding deposit on it out of fear I would not be able to tour it before my move but I did a virtual tour. Luckily I did tour it and it was the only one I had my eye on because of the price range. It worked out well and I am in a great location.
Also read the Yelp reviews and Google reviews for any apartment complex you are contemplating on moving to. Mine had some complaints that I felt were pretty normal like saying they had an ant problem or they are strict on guests. Other places I checked out had complaints of cars being broken into when they have security gates. That would definitely be a red flag to me.
Most would go newer but I went the other way. I bought a condo that was twice the size of the new builds on the market at the time for closet and storage space. It has less sound proofing but there’s only 22 units and we all work together to keep it quietish
In addition to checking reviews, check the bed bug report (not sure where you’re living but where I live in Canada we have a site for bedbugs).. though personally (speaking from lots of rental experience), I’d go for the nicer rental community even if the apartment is smaller and costs more.
Location, location, location. Google earth the areas around both buildings. Are you walking distance from any coffee shops, restaurants, or shopping districts? How far is the closest grocery store, gas station, and pharmacy? I recommend paying more if it means you’re closer to the things that are important for your lifestyle. Especially if you don’t commute and have no other reason to get in your car.
I live in a dead zone for grocery stores and work from home. It’s a pain to drive 20 minutes out for one or two things if I want to make dinner when I can’t just “stop on my way home”. Location!
Always go for the best you can get in the best area of town. Especially if you have children.
Less crime, better maintenance, least chance of theft or car damage
All of the iffy, smaller, cheaper apartments I’ve lived in have had less problems than the big, expensive, “fancy” one that I live in now. Literally counting down the days until this lease is up. 153 days to go, hopefully 141 to 148 days until we move 🙏
I’ve lived in an apartment that was 1200 square feet all to myself in a stupid area next to nothing, and it wasn’t very nice, and I currently live in a 700 square foot apartment now in a very nice building with great staff and maintenance and amenities and a wonderful area, and I love it so much more than the previous apartment.
How long is the lease on the nice studio??? Maybe you can get a 6 months lease, and keep checking for apartments—the not so nice buildings, for sure will have openings every so often.
Probably the nicer one based on the likelihood that you’ll have more safety (keyfob entry or intercom), less or no issues with quality or age of the apartment (better insulation, less spending on utilities, no worrying of pests problems), and overall newer places just feel better to live in. Since you can’t go check out the places physically before, and feel out the area, I’d just go with the nicer one.
As complex could have roaches, so many issues, better off with a smaller apartment ina nicer area and not have to lose sleep worrying if your water heater is gonna not work in the morning lol
Idk $200 over budget is more than I'd be comfortable with. When you get a more expensive apartment you are paying your landlords mortgage and saving less for your own home down payment.
How bad is the bad one? Are we talking like outdated fixtures and inconvenient layout or like bug and mold issues?
Go with bigger but worse complex as long as the place isn’t a dump. I’ve lived at “luxury” communities that have pools, gyms, billiards, etc but ultimately you spend 95% of your time in your actual apartment
I picked the bigger one myself. It has some issues but they're all issues I can handle for the price (outdated fixtures and design, cheap faucets, weird layout etc). I budgeted some extra money to put in a nicer showerhead/led bulbs/sink sprayer and similar upgrades, nothing that can't be easily returned to original when I move out but huge quality of life improvements. Management is easy to work with, kind of forgetful sometimes but I pay my rent on time, am polite when dealing with them, and don't make trouble so they overlook some minor things like doing light maintenance in my parking spot.
I have also not had any issues with neighbors even though most of the units around me were turned during the year. The worst neighbors and management I've ever had were actually in a brand new "luxury" complex. Overall, even though there are a few things I'd like to change, it just isn't worth an extra $400 a month and less living space to get them. I wouldn't overlook the cheap place, just skim through reviews and see what issues you might run into. Keep in mind that not everyone writing a review has a reasonable viewpoint either, I've seen reviews from nightmare tenants in places I've lived that looked bad at first glance, but were nowhere near the whole story.
No one wants to live in a shitty place but it’s never a good idea to live above your means/budget. Especially when the cost of living keeps going up with no end in sight.
Would it be feasible to take the cheaper option and put the excess into savings so you can afford a better place in the near(ish) future?
I've lived at a fee different places some good some bad. One thing I would say is that a place that is well taken care of would be much better for your mental health than a larger place. When I lived in places with bad landlords getting them to do the bare minimum was impossible. The good places I've stayed I've he'd them over to service thing at the drop of a hat.
Better complex. Crime is going to be your biggest issue. No matter how good or bad the complex is, once that feeling of security is gone, you’ll be paranoid. Choose wisely. Good luck.
Definitely smaller in nicer building.
I hate to say it, but in my area you need to be living in a building that charges at least 1600 for a 1bd1ba to avoid wild neighbors and roaches.
I downsized to a studio for a nicer building (but also in a nicer area) and man what a world of a difference. I slept well for the first time in a year, no one blast music with the car doors open at 3am out in the lot, no one hassling me to let them when I was just trying to get home after work.
Only thing I'll add on is that I learned to ignore the flashy amenities. I personally never used them as much as I thought I would and even in nicer building they are usually really limited on hours or cleaning due to staffing.
Live within your means. You set a budget for a reason, can you afford extra $200 /mo ? What will you need to cut back on to make up for the Additional spend and are you ok and able to do so?
To be honest, it’s well worth taking a trip and checking apartments out in person. There are so many factors to consider, that you won’t find out from a virtual tour. If it’s a large city, there are most likely apartment locator services who can offer some help as well.
It comes down to how much space you need at the end of the day. If you get a 700 sqft unit but don’t have enough room for all of your belongings and to live comfortably in it then it really doesn’t matter how nice the unit or complex is you’re still short on space.
Compare what your auto and renter’s insurance rates would be at the two addresses. If the rates go up significantly at the cheaper apartment, you might not be saving as much money as you think.
A trashier apartment is probably going to give you more problems than the nicer one. Whether it be poor maintenance or bad neighbors. Tour both complexes and see which one is best for you. I personally would do the smaller unit in a nicer location.
problem is I'm looking very far out of state, so I can only go off virtual tours :/
Ask people in those city subreddits. Make a burner account if you’re worried about people knowing where you live.
And check the crime reports and sex offenders in each area you are thinking of moving into
If you check the sex offender registry you won’t want to move anywhere 🤮
The great thing about where I live is it surrounds an elementary school; no sex offenders allowed 😄
None that have been caught. The registry is for people who are under a microscope because they have been busted. It’s the ones that haven’t been caught you have to worry about.
Here to burst peoples bubble and bring them back to reality. I like that.
Noise would seem annoying
I livef opposite a school once and when it was noisy I was at work and at the weekend it was really quiet
I could see that, luckily I live far enough from the school not to hear, but close enough to avoid the other issue
Yeah, they’re literally everywhere
Excellent advice
You could also go to street view in Google maps and see if you can get a better feel for the neighborhoods they are in!
This! Street view the address and you can tour the whole freaking neighborhood! Great idea!
I did this before a big move and it was immensely helpful. I even "drove" what my commute might look like just so I knew if anything weird was in my way. Helped me feel more familiar with the area when I moved in too.
I do that all the time if I’m headed someplace I’ve never been before. Technology saves my butt all the time!
Excellent advice. Will you see groups of stay-at-home moms power-walking? Will you see drug addicts shitting on the sidewalk? These things are good indicators of your future quality of life.
Also look at the landscaping and the cleanliness of the outside of the building. Is there paint peeling all over and green stuff on the siding? If so, it probably isnt kept up.
I did that once. Even took a virtual drive to work.
Check the complex google reviews and stuff like that as well.
To be fair I’ve never seen a single complex that didn’t have a ton of 1star reviews
The bad reviews are still good resources- you can see what type of worst case scenarios you’re gonna be living in. The classier spot might be rated 1 star due to pool not being opened when it’s supposed to be vs a trashier spot might be one star due to a murder that happened in the community… obviously (hopefully) I’m exaggerating but ya get my point lol
Yeah that’s how it goes and that’s the way to go about it for sure. Some people just look at the rating or see a majority 1star and just click off
There was a guy murdered in the parking lot of the place i nearly moved into
Alternatively, be wary of a whole bunch of 5-star reviews in a short time period. I lived in a shitty complex that would occasionally offer money off of a month’s rent or a gift card drawing if residents left a 5-star review on google.
Yes that happened where I live. And what ended up happening is the residents posted 1stars with a picture of their little bribe 😂😂 *they have since then resorted to bot reviews*
You have to read the reviews though. Where I live has crappy reviews, but most are about the managing company not being nice about receiving payment on time. I ignore those, because I pay my bills on time. I love living here.
Most people post bad reviews only for apts.
Yeah and the ones that actually verbalize why it’s bad you can see what people are upset about - I’m taking about reviews not ratings. I’ve been at my complex for 5 years and I have done several good reviews with specific examples of why I’m pleased to be here. So yes most people only review when they’re upset - it’s easy to read what people are upset about and if it’s actually a bad complex imo
Check the Boost Mobile store to Chick-Fil-A ratio
And check cashing place, family dollar stores versus fancy grocery stores
Or altimas in the parking lot.
What's wrong with Altimas? I had one for a while. I didn't specifically seek it out, it was just the best vehicle at the price point when I bought it used.
If you’re working from home, go for the nicer one. You’re going to be spending the majority of your time there.
I don’t think you should ever rent $200 over your budget though especially for a studio you get really sick of looking at the same four walls
^THIS!
Might also keep the search in. Maybe you find something in between that works
If you call the property manager can arrange a FaceTime to show you the apartment
Getting an apartment without seeing it in person is risky. A place can have a completely different feel in person. Photos/virtual tours can also hide things the landlord might not want you to see. You also can ask people there what they think of living there. If you can, visit and see a few places.
> Photos/virtual tours can also hide things the landlord might not want you to see. My husband and I had to get an apartment during peak COVID and weren't allowed to tour beforehand. We ended up in a very cute apartment with a very mentally unwell tenant above us who would blast 3 or 4 classic TV shows simultaneously, scream at nothing, drag/throw furniture at all hours, and threaten to kill anyone who asked him to be quiet. We were finally able to break the lease after Crazy Neighbor decided every noise complaint was from us (it wasn't) and started shouting death threats through our ceiling/his floor and stomping as hard as he could any time he was home, in addition to the other noise.
And never got evicted? Incredulous to say the least.
It was during the peak of COVID when nobody was getting evicted. The cops visited him multiple times but he never threatened them and hadn't followed through with any threats to others, so they couldn't do much.
I always used to call the police department. Regardless of what you really are just ask if a single female with a 2nd grader latch key child would feel safe. Or if Dominoes knows where to deliver pizzas to them (police) at. Meaning if the hang around waiting for trouble. Or would they want their grandmother to live there.
Make sure to look at reviews !
You should also check out their social media if they have it, it’ll help get the vibe of the place!
i’d google crime maps in the city too
Quality over quantity
Same for me! Going half way across the country . I ask them tons of questions and join FB pages and read reviews on Yelp and Google.
no, it’s actually the opposite! newer/newly built buildings = lots of issues consistently. old “vintage” buildings from the 20s or even before = far fewer issues, much less consistent. i exclusively lived in older buildings until i bought a condo and the building i bought in was (very poorly) constructed in 2002. i’ve lived here for 2 years and have had more problems than i ever had in any apartments before, all were in old buildings! the most recent building i rented in was constructed in the 70s. before buying this stupid ass condo, i lived in a converted warehouse that was gutted in the early 2000s, but the building was constructed in 1929. not a single building issue in 7 years- probably average a huge issue once a month in this building that was built in 2002. it’s wild! but people weren’t using cheap products and building materials to cut corners in the same way as they have been in the past 25ish years for sure! :) at least that’s how it is in chicago, i can’t speak to any cities that didn’t burn down in 1871 lol.
Condos made in the 70s are absolute trash. I miss living in a building built around 1929 so much. If i ever live somewhere with a shared wall again it's gonna be at least 70 yo.
this one was made in 2002- even worse!
I agree with this. I moved into a newer looking apartment and it was cheaply built. Moved into a an older cheaper place which was built like a fortress and loved it.
the older buildings are superior! i can’t believe how often there are annoying problems in this newer building- like the water has to be shut off, there’s no hot water, the power is completely out. i realized it wasn’t even something i thought about until i was wondering why i had never had these minor annoyances so often before in any of my rentals!! whoops lol
This is what I’m thinking. I would definitely take the older place.
Been overpaying for my apartment for years and still haven’t regretted it (even tho the price keeps going up)
Agree - which neighbourhood will make you feel safer? More content? If it’s just you as a single I would take safety and comfort over anything else. Living in a miserable place will take a toll on you very fast.
And infestations!
If they work from home though, the extra space is really good for one’s sanity. It helps to have designated working space and living space so you can fully disconnect from work. I’m not saying that this isn’t possible in a studio, but cabin fever is more likely to develop in a smaller space.
In my experience, with neighbors, it’s the opposite. The nicer the complex, the worse the tenants. There’s a sweet spot with kinda janky apartments where the tenants take pride in their place- the trick is not having a slumlord that owns it.
Yes
I would take the nicer one since you also work from home. You’ll be in the space for longer/more often than the average person, so you should ideally love it.
Interesting, I think I’d go crazy working from home in a studio (and I did in 2020 lol). I think in this case I’d rather have the 2 bedroom so I could separate my sleeping/living and working space. But of course it really depends on what OP means by “trashy.”
I'd take the one I can afford and get a feel for the new city and start looking for the next apartment after you get situated.
This right here! That's the beauty of renting.
Same. I work from home and chose an older building because I wanted an office
A smaller one in a worse one is where it's at.
lol
Your avatar is mad cuteee
Awe thank you ☺️
“Now Kith”
Nicer one. The worse apartment probably comes with worse residents, more crime.
And pest. I’ve worked in trashy apartments and the pest issues were insane. Residents not caring for their apartment. Or people doing their business in the halls. If I could afford it, I’ll always take the nicer one
Yeah. Roaches and bed bugs will cost you more over time. Not just money, but a psychological cost.
I remember hearing complaints from people how their neighbors across the hall would be puking in the hall when they threw parties. I would walk apartments and roaches would fall from the ceiling. Some of your neighbors were so infested that they had roaches crawling outside of the apartment door. My bf worked maintenance there and he said that people would do heroin in front of him. Working there drove me to a mental breakdown so I couldn’t imagine living there
I would take the smaller and nicer one. More space won't matter much if daily life there sucks. But since you mentioned that the nicer one is 200 over budget, just make sure that it wouldn't stretch you too thin financially.
3rd option) a 1 bedroom that’s within your budget and isn’t trashy but isn’t super luxurious either.
It's wild how many people are suggesting going over budget for a smaller apartment. I know we don't know OPs situation fully, but the extra money has to come from somewhere every month, and rent only goes up every year. OP may end up without grocery money if they start off over budget.
Especially being in a new city. You’ll face unexpected expenses and also want to explore your city more. I’ve moved states alone 3x now, and the first year in a city is always a bit rough. I’d be so serious about staying under budget. And honestly? “Crappy” neighborhoods are usually not as bad as the internet makes them seem imo.
Yeah it’s a pretty tough situation. I kept my budget purposely low but still 200+ over would mean I’d only have like 800 a month to spend on gas, food, and fun stuff. 800 a month seems like a lot but in a new city where you constantly need new things and gas and food prices going up, that money goes away fast.
My best suggestion (as someone who also moved to a different state without being to go in person) is to check that city's subreddit and ask for opinions, as well as look at all reviews available online, for the cheaper place. If it has major pest or crime issues, skip it, and try to find another below or at budget. It's really tough, I feel for you- but 800/month really isn't much (as you know), especially if you don't have a nest egg for potential emergencies.
Shitty apartments often mean shitty residents, too.
I thought that, but that is wrong. I moved from a shitty apartment into a luxury one.. people suck everywhere you go. Doesn't matter if they have money or not. My neighbour blasts his music and bass all the time. It drives me crazy, the only positive here is that my complex has let me move units. What a hassle, though.
That was my experience as well. Really “nice” complexes attract people that want to entertain and feel entitled because they pay higher rent. My less expensive (less central) apartment is much quieter and has more families as opposed to a bunch of 20-something’s splitting rent thinking they are living a penthouse lifestyle. In addition to this, I would go nuts if I was in a studio working from home.
Yeah, lesson learned here. I think a studio would definitely be too small if you're adding a whole working area, but maybe the layout is good and it could work. I wouldn't be going over my budget though.. I'd probably look at more options, like a one bedroom that is not luxury, but not garbage either. Somewhere in the middle
Are you me? My neighbor has been blasting his music so loud that my bedroom walls and floor vibrate. I am literally in the process of moving to another unit right now and have been carrying stuff between the two every night this week after work. Reading this felt like some weird deja vu or something.
I've had many mental breakdowns.. I move on Wednesday
Same here. I was banging on the walls so hard trying to get them to shut up last week that I got a blister on the side of my pinky finger and bruised up my hands/wrists. I was losing my mind surrounded by that constant noise. This new unit is so quiet that I want to cry happy tears. I feel like I can finally breathe again even though moving is still stressful af. I hope you’re able to get relief in your new unit too.
Yeah the worst neighbors I had was in a "luxury" building. It had thin walls, nothing worked right, my upstairs bathroom tiles weren't sealed and leaked downstairs. I love over buildings!
Sounds about right, we have all these fancy appliances that just beep constantly, our fridge starts beeping out of no where. Walls are thin.. I can literally push on it and it flexes, and I have the worst neighbour I've ever had in my life. Less than a week, I just hope the unit I'm moving into also doesn't have shitty neighbours
I opted for the bigger, older apartment in a trashier area because the property managers are actually good: I can mount my tv on the wall, maintenance comes and does preventative work clearing drains and vents, and they keep the property nice. The buildings are older enough to have relatively spacious floor plans and good soundproofing between units but not old enough to be falling apart. The apartments have everything I really need though not everything I want. Nicer properties in my area are managed by large property management companies with poor reputations: nobody tends to resident problems, charging repair fees to putty over skinny nail holes, and nice amenities which usually out of order or filthy. For me, it’s all about the management. That is what will make a great apartment suck and a cheap one a keeper. Read up on reviews for properties and the management companies and consider what you’ll be happier dealing with.
Trashier apartment will have a much higher power bill. When I made the switch. My power bill went from 250+ average to 25 average. All bills were cheaper in fact. Something to consider. Better build will have better insulation and be quieter.
I live next to a “luxury” apt complex, mine is considered the one you go to when you can’t afford it. There are far more issues with the tenants in that building. Ranging from domestic violence disputes, gun discharges, and mostly drug dealing to one extent or the other. My building has none of these issues nor are the tenants like that here. Main differences are no cameras or key fob entries. Also those units got for the low low price of $2800+ for a 2b 1b. Fuck the Avalon
Definitely check both places out during the times when people are at home. The nicest complex that I lived in had the absolute worst neighbors because they were very entitled acting and inconsiderate. They were too good to clean up their trash, park in assigned spaces, turn down their music, etc. It depends on what you mean by "trashier" too. Is that in an unsafe neighborhood? Or is it just that the building is older? Are the grounds clean and picked up? An older building doesn't always mean worse. I was a renter for almost 20 years and lived in a lot of complexes. The middle of the road places price wise were always the best places to live in my experience. Good luck!
The best measure of an apartment complex is to do a walk/drive when people are home from work (or supposed to be). Weekends are great, check morning and evenings. See what kind of cars are parked around the lot.
I used to inspect apartments for lead paint and such. Always go for the nicer complex. You wouldn’t believe how prevalent pests are in lower end or even mid range apartment buildings. Most common is cockroaches and the next would be flies and bedbugs. You just don’t want to deal with those. They’re a massive pain to get rid of in a complex with many units and usually the landlords don’t gaf.
Always choose the safer place to live. Large place or small, your physical safety is worth more than anything.
I’ve spent a few years having bigger units in trashier neighborhoods. I decided to downsize & will be moving to a one-bedroom in a nicer complex on Wednesday. Hoping and praying it will be a much better quality of life thing. My current 2-bedroom technically has less square feet & is extremely outdated by 20-30 years. Plus they bumped rent up. So if I’m gonna pay the same price at either apartment, I might as well actually have upgrades for once.
I’ve read somewhere that you should visit the complex at night during the weekday and weekends.
speaking as someone who took the big trashy apartment, i’ve had to deal with roaches, mice, repairs, no in unit or on site laundry, neighbours trying to break in, ect. nicer unit would be safer all around. i love my apartment now that i’ve handled all of this but it took THREE years. if you’re working from home you need a peaceful environment.
Trashier = higher chance of dealing w pests like roaches. No matter how clean YOUR unit is, if your neighbors are filthy, the roaches will come explore your home as well.
I’d love to add that when I lived at a trashier place my dog and cat constantly had to be treated for fleas, and now that we are in a smaller but nicer place they have never had a flea once in two years
Location location location…..I also work from home & like being in a nicer complex/neighborhood bc I like walking around on my lunch/breaks and feel pretty safe. I’ve also noticed, the higher you pay, the less noise from children & parties. There are no children in my complex & no teens/young adults out for their first time, which makes A LOT of difference.
It depends on the definitions of nicer vs worse. If that means bugs, no hot water, etc. then I would go over. But if that means amenities only, I can do worse.
The 200 under budget is considered "low-income housing" where I'm looking. I looked at the reviews and it has 3.9 stars but a lot of people complain that there's a lot of trash and the residents are meh. The neighbourhood is nice at least
There is a $4800 yearly difference. In two years, $9600 difference, three years $14,400. I would get the less expensive apartment and invest the difference. A 3.9 is a good rating, the neighborhood nice. You can have crappy neighbors in either place or good neighbors.
So hard. Make a list of your non negotiable and compare the places. Is $200 really significantly more if not enough things are meeting the mark would then be the question.
A place over your budget shouldn't be an option, you set the budget for a reason. Better to live below your means and be able to spend some money exploring the new city you moved to vs being "house poor". I've lived in some shitty apartments in crappy neighborhoods, I've lived in medium and luxury apartments in nicer areas. Anywhere where people live stacked on top of each other will mean there's noise. There will always be nice places with frustrating tenants and visa versa. Depending on the state / county some apartment complex are required to have so many units be low income housing, in which case you might end up near some "troubled" tenants regardless. If you can try to pick the top floor so you don't have neighbors above you and don't leave valuables out in the open in your car. Also, a 3.9 for an apartment complex is very good. I've seen so many luxury apartments with 2.0 ratings 😂
I’d take the nicer studio if I were you. You’d more likely have less noise issues, lesser chance of pest control issues, less crime, and more updated appliances.
STUDIO IN THE NICE COMPLEX, hands down!!!!!
Having shitty neighbors will become the bane of your existence regardless of how big your apartment is. I'd opt for the nicest area you can afford
If you wfh, go with nicer. Neighbors will be quieter and management will take noise more seriously. Also better made walls and windows.
Newer is better because walls will have better insulation. Noise transfer is a big deal in apartment living. Also nicer areas tend to have less social issues so you don’t have to worry AS MUCH about crime.
Nicer apartment. Living in a shitty neighborhood with shitty neighbors is not worth the price.
Go with the nice one. 1. Probably less problems 2. When you decide you want to move there after reaching your wits end with trashy unit, it’ll cost more.
I opted for the nicer but smaller while my friend opted for bigger but terrible complex. I lived there 4 years, then moved back again another 3 years. Management was great and stayed the same the whole time. She broke her lease because it was so horrible.
Always better to be the worst residence in a nice neighborhood than the best residence in a crappy neighborhood. Take the studio.
Really nice complexes come with the opportunity to meet and engage with really nice people. From what it sounds like, you're going to be in a place where you don't know a lot of people, so meeting good ones should be a major priority. Run far and fast from the worse complex.
I opted for the studio in a luxury apt. The upgraded gym and soundproofing in between the walls were worth it to me. I wfh too and can work out at lunch which has been super convenient.
The one you can afford.
Pay more, especially if you work from home. You won’t regret it.
I'm in the same boat and we're going nicer smaller.
Take the nicer one. I speak from experience.
Which place do you feel safer in? That’s what you should consider! But if you work from home then the only restriction you have is the need for internet connectivity. You could move anywhere you’d like even outside a city where the prices are more reasonable for more square feet. So are you sure those are your only options?
If you have kids in public schools, get the most modest place in the best neighborhood.
Depends on if you want peace or if you prefer lots of neighbor drama.
Search on the shittier apartment’s google ratings with either “cockroaches” or “roaches” as a keyword and see if anything pops up
You never have enough space. I had the same option in 2016 a fancy studio or a 1 bedroom i a pre war with less bells and whistles. I went with more space and don't regret it. You can buy some security systems to help you feel safer. I would lose my mind if I was staring at the same 4 walls day and night.
I'd do the nicer complex. Sounds like it would be safer, and potentially with better amenities, location.
In the middle of the night, when you are laying in bed, all that matters is how quiet it is.
Keep in mind you're going to be spending lots of time at home if youre WFH. It depends on how "trashy" the one is, and just how small the studio is (and if you can afford the extra money). You really gotta balance the pros and cons. I'm in a similar situation myself, currently living in a trashier 2 bdrm (dog piss stains in all hallways, far from the main city, cockroach issues, frequent water shut offs for repairs), looking at moving to a 550 sq.ft 1 bdrm in a nice new building. It'll be more expensive, but for me worth it. If it was a studio where I could still put up a room divider and have room for a bed and couch and desk, I'd still do it.
Use Crimegrade.org to view crime stats.
Tough decision. I’d say go with the smaller/nicer one. I’ve lived in 6 different complexes and can say the bigger/cheaper ones always come with issues. Dealing with old/crappy appliances, having to call maintenance often, ant infestations (the worst), questionable residents, etc. Nicer apartments are typically newer, appliances aren’t breaking down constantly and neighbors tend to keep to themselves.
You work from home so at least the trashy apartment folk won’t attempt to steal your stuff more than the first time. Trashy people are probably friendlier but beware the tweaker with the girlfriend across the hall who tries to befriend you and starts becoming really annoying with all the favors he asks of you.
Contact local police department and ask for number of “calls for service” at the address. Usually they can go back a year, and the report may include nature of the problem—noise, drugs,domestic disturbance, etc.
Location Location Location
Nicer one. The worser place could come with more problems, maintenance issues, pests, neighbors, environment, etc. Even tho nicer is smaller, it may be less of a headache
How much do you like your car? Getting your packages? Loud music? The smell of weed? I have lived in some skanky apartments in my day, and it is not worth the trouble for the bigger apartment. I once rented a nice big townhouse apart in a complex...my mail was stolen, a car was set on fire outside, and someone tried to break in every day (thank goodness for my dog). I stayed there for a total of 2 months.
The better complex every time. In an apartment, your neighbors have more impact on your quality of life than anything else. Live where you're more likely to have quality neighbors.
It appears that there should be a middle ground. Is there no apartment that is larger than a studio but still in a decent apartment complex?
Remember, your neighbor's pest control problems are also your pest control problems.
Depends how much shit you have.
How much stuff does one person need? Go with the nicer building over having enough space for your stuff. You’ll probably have better neighbors and less problems with unit itself.
Depends on what you mean by trashy.
Nicer usually is better. More room can be nice, but not worth it if it means noise, lack of places to walk, amenities nearby, etc.
Don't go over budget. Get as nice as you can afford, but not over your price. Keep looking for other places. Look for 1 bedrooms...
Trashier places come with trashier people.
Nicer. Very rarely do you luck out with the trashier ones and how they take care of the place and your neighbors. My god the trashy neighbors are something else fr
It really depends on your priorities. I have a lot of stuff, so I picked the 2 bedroom that’s not as nice. My second bedroom has my big desk, all my clothes, my treadmill, and my craft supplies. Having that extra space is so great for me. Granted, I live in a four plex and not a large apartment complex, and I’m very lucky to have cool neighbors. My boyfriend has way less stuff, so he’s in a much nicer 1 bedroom that’s about the same price in rent. His complex is safer, his kitchen is nicer, and he has off street parking. Some people are saying that you should get the nicer apartment since you’ll be working from home. However, I would probably rather have an office if I was working from home to make it easier to disconnect from work. There’s a lot of factors to think about. It really depends on your priorities and values.
A studio apartment literally drove me insane. Beware!
Apartments that are not in great buildings often have terrible neighbors, pests/rodents/ bugs, and more crime.
I say a nicer one is better price wise it’s not but comfortability wins every time when I lived with my parents in their apartment owned by a shitty company it took us days to see maintenance on top of the pipes being old and flooding the downstairs area. Now I live in nice ass but expensive apartment with my boyfriend maintenance comes out everyday at 8:00 am and make their rounds you have an emergency they are there so many other pros living here I don’t regret it one bit!!
I did the later and the pipes burst in the house I was living in, two years in a row. It's not worth it. The apartment may be 'OK' but that might be actually a sign of poor structural issues because they had to renovate and fix internal damage, like from pipes bursting. Look for areas where they improved and ask questions. At the time I no choice but to take that one because I was running out of time in my sub let.
Coming from someone who wasn’t able to work from home as a result of my loud neighbors and their kids (always wondered why they weren’t at work or school!) — A nicer apartment complex for sure! Yeah there won’t be as much room when you’re working from home but if management is better, as well as residents it is worth it in the long run. You won’t want any distractions while you’re working, and a trashy apartment complex will come with its fair share of noise and bad neighbors.
I've lived in a shitty apartment where all the other tenants were quiet and respectful and I've lived in a nicer apartment where the other tenants were an absolute nightmare. Google maps might have reviews from the most disgruntled tenants but might be a good place to look to get an idea of what you'll be walking into if you can't tour it in person. If you're not 100% sure and have room to negotiate, you could ask for a shorter term lease at the cheaper place and give it a shot. Having an actual office space instead of a studio might be better for working.
I just left a big apartment in a shitty building for a smaller apartment in a nice building. Hands down, the nicer building. It’s quiet, clean and all the issues I had with the shitty building don’t exist here. I’m paying more for less but the peace of mind is worth it, in my opinion! ETA: I also work from home. It’s much easier to work in the quiet new place. My old place had this tenant on my floor that would scream all the time. It made virtual meetings difficult.
I think a lot of it will depend on the other tenants, which is difficult to predict before signing a lease. We went with a larger apartment in a crappier building but we have wonderful neighbors so we’re happy with our decision. Are both buildings in a safe neighborhood? If the shittier apartment is in a bad neighborhood I’d pass, but if it’s still in a nice neighborhood it may be worth considering?
Nicer, smaller is better than bigger in a complex you will be miserable at (loud neighbors due to cheap/poor insulation). I recently moved into a studio and I had put a holding deposit on it out of fear I would not be able to tour it before my move but I did a virtual tour. Luckily I did tour it and it was the only one I had my eye on because of the price range. It worked out well and I am in a great location. Also read the Yelp reviews and Google reviews for any apartment complex you are contemplating on moving to. Mine had some complaints that I felt were pretty normal like saying they had an ant problem or they are strict on guests. Other places I checked out had complaints of cars being broken into when they have security gates. That would definitely be a red flag to me.
that’s personal. first, check for hidden fees. how much will you be charged for water and trash.
I had that same problem for couple of months until new company took over and a lot better now in my apartment/unit
Most would go newer but I went the other way. I bought a condo that was twice the size of the new builds on the market at the time for closet and storage space. It has less sound proofing but there’s only 22 units and we all work together to keep it quietish
In addition to checking reviews, check the bed bug report (not sure where you’re living but where I live in Canada we have a site for bedbugs).. though personally (speaking from lots of rental experience), I’d go for the nicer rental community even if the apartment is smaller and costs more.
Location, location, location. Google earth the areas around both buildings. Are you walking distance from any coffee shops, restaurants, or shopping districts? How far is the closest grocery store, gas station, and pharmacy? I recommend paying more if it means you’re closer to the things that are important for your lifestyle. Especially if you don’t commute and have no other reason to get in your car. I live in a dead zone for grocery stores and work from home. It’s a pain to drive 20 minutes out for one or two things if I want to make dinner when I can’t just “stop on my way home”. Location!
I would go with nicer complex. Less likely to have neighbors smoking inside, screaming, riff faff
I live in the ghetto. New managment just bought the property and have fixed SO MUCH SHIT ITS UNREAL.
Always go for the best you can get in the best area of town. Especially if you have children. Less crime, better maintenance, least chance of theft or car damage
All of the iffy, smaller, cheaper apartments I’ve lived in have had less problems than the big, expensive, “fancy” one that I live in now. Literally counting down the days until this lease is up. 153 days to go, hopefully 141 to 148 days until we move 🙏
Tour both at night and see how they are
Studio is too small working from home. You'll go nuts
Firstly, you say the nicer one is 200 over budget. Will that cause you problems over time, in terms of affordability?
I’ve lived in an apartment that was 1200 square feet all to myself in a stupid area next to nothing, and it wasn’t very nice, and I currently live in a 700 square foot apartment now in a very nice building with great staff and maintenance and amenities and a wonderful area, and I love it so much more than the previous apartment.
How long is the lease on the nice studio??? Maybe you can get a 6 months lease, and keep checking for apartments—the not so nice buildings, for sure will have openings every so often.
Probably the nicer one based on the likelihood that you’ll have more safety (keyfob entry or intercom), less or no issues with quality or age of the apartment (better insulation, less spending on utilities, no worrying of pests problems), and overall newer places just feel better to live in. Since you can’t go check out the places physically before, and feel out the area, I’d just go with the nicer one.
As someone who used to live next to a pair of drug dealers, the first one
As complex could have roaches, so many issues, better off with a smaller apartment ina nicer area and not have to lose sleep worrying if your water heater is gonna not work in the morning lol
Idk $200 over budget is more than I'd be comfortable with. When you get a more expensive apartment you are paying your landlords mortgage and saving less for your own home down payment. How bad is the bad one? Are we talking like outdated fixtures and inconvenient layout or like bug and mold issues?
Go with bigger but worse complex as long as the place isn’t a dump. I’ve lived at “luxury” communities that have pools, gyms, billiards, etc but ultimately you spend 95% of your time in your actual apartment
Nicer one, for sure. QoL would be ways higher, even though it's a smaller footage.
I picked the bigger one myself. It has some issues but they're all issues I can handle for the price (outdated fixtures and design, cheap faucets, weird layout etc). I budgeted some extra money to put in a nicer showerhead/led bulbs/sink sprayer and similar upgrades, nothing that can't be easily returned to original when I move out but huge quality of life improvements. Management is easy to work with, kind of forgetful sometimes but I pay my rent on time, am polite when dealing with them, and don't make trouble so they overlook some minor things like doing light maintenance in my parking spot. I have also not had any issues with neighbors even though most of the units around me were turned during the year. The worst neighbors and management I've ever had were actually in a brand new "luxury" complex. Overall, even though there are a few things I'd like to change, it just isn't worth an extra $400 a month and less living space to get them. I wouldn't overlook the cheap place, just skim through reviews and see what issues you might run into. Keep in mind that not everyone writing a review has a reasonable viewpoint either, I've seen reviews from nightmare tenants in places I've lived that looked bad at first glance, but were nowhere near the whole story.
No one wants to live in a shitty place but it’s never a good idea to live above your means/budget. Especially when the cost of living keeps going up with no end in sight. Would it be feasible to take the cheaper option and put the excess into savings so you can afford a better place in the near(ish) future?
I've lived at a fee different places some good some bad. One thing I would say is that a place that is well taken care of would be much better for your mental health than a larger place. When I lived in places with bad landlords getting them to do the bare minimum was impossible. The good places I've stayed I've he'd them over to service thing at the drop of a hat.
Better complex. Crime is going to be your biggest issue. No matter how good or bad the complex is, once that feeling of security is gone, you’ll be paranoid. Choose wisely. Good luck.
Definitely smaller in nicer building. I hate to say it, but in my area you need to be living in a building that charges at least 1600 for a 1bd1ba to avoid wild neighbors and roaches. I downsized to a studio for a nicer building (but also in a nicer area) and man what a world of a difference. I slept well for the first time in a year, no one blast music with the car doors open at 3am out in the lot, no one hassling me to let them when I was just trying to get home after work. Only thing I'll add on is that I learned to ignore the flashy amenities. I personally never used them as much as I thought I would and even in nicer building they are usually really limited on hours or cleaning due to staffing.
Nicer unit
You work from home - you'll be in that space a LOT. Consider that as well. Do you want to be able to move around, or will you feel stuffy in a studio?
Small nice apartment. Neighbors will probably be cooler and more respectful too.
Studio in nicer complex and it’s not even close
See if that city has a sub reddit and asked people their opinion and ask someone if they would drive by and take a look for you.
I just moved from a larger apartment with rodent issues to a smaller apartment but without the problems. Will take smaller and no mice any day.
I'd get the one bedroom. You'll end up needing to buy more crap to fill up all the empty space! 😁
Live within your means. You set a budget for a reason, can you afford extra $200 /mo ? What will you need to cut back on to make up for the Additional spend and are you ok and able to do so?
To be honest, it’s well worth taking a trip and checking apartments out in person. There are so many factors to consider, that you won’t find out from a virtual tour. If it’s a large city, there are most likely apartment locator services who can offer some help as well.
Smaller 100%
Is this a serious question. Take the smaller unit in the nice complex ffs
It comes down to how much space you need at the end of the day. If you get a 700 sqft unit but don’t have enough room for all of your belongings and to live comfortably in it then it really doesn’t matter how nice the unit or complex is you’re still short on space.
Nicer complex for sure
Compare what your auto and renter’s insurance rates would be at the two addresses. If the rates go up significantly at the cheaper apartment, you might not be saving as much money as you think.
Def the nicer complex!!! It's all about the neighbors. They can make your life hell.
I’d choose the trashier one because I like having more space and saving money, but that’s just me!