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Single Parents
Apartment moms
How much thought did you put into your current or past apartments?
I have put a lot of research in, and although it is more than I would like to spend, I can do it with my budget and you do get what you pay for....location and newer apartments so less issues with maintenance.
My dad told me to sit by in the parking lot at various times of days for noise and what not. I have driven by a few times. Many kids in the area and surrounded by housing additions. Also a cop car or two within the complex.
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Re: Apartment moms
I would go at night to see where the security and street/parking lights are. One apartment I lived in had a security light that shined in my bedroom window. Even blackout shades didn't work as well as I would have liked. So, if you know which unit you might end up in, make sure the area is well lit, but not into a bedroom window!
You mentioned kids being around--how old are they? Are they young enough that they should be supervised but aren't?
I like to check out what the parking lot looks like during the day and again at night. I look to see if a majority of my potential neighbors work during the day. I check to see how difficult guest parking is to get. Also, if there are assigned parking spots, how far would your spot be from your apartment. With a little one, the closer, the better, obviously!
With my DH being in the military, we rent, so I've been through this a lot. I would rent as nice of a place that you can comfortably afford. No sense in blowing your budget, but, if you are able to get a place in a complex that has more young families than young singles starting out, you're more apt to get along with your neighbors more easily.
Good luck!
I am paying $1300/month right now. I would say it is out of my budget as a newly single mother, but I couldn't imagine moving. Honestly, my ex contributed so little so I was spending more money on bills, food, etc when he was around.
Don't put yourself in a position where you will be struggling, but I say go to th top of your budget if you find something you love.
Have you made a list of your must-haves? For example, hardwood floors, closet space, dishwasher, first floor, etc. I think that it is good to have an idea of what you really want before you look at a place. If you don't, you might fall in love with a place on first appearences, but you might forget to make sure it has what you really want.
When you have visited the parking lot, are the neighors approachable? Do you think that you could stop and ask someone what they feel are the positives and negatives of where they live? They might be able to point out things that you never considered.
Good luck. I hope that you find a place you love.
I unfortunately have a very minor criminal background from when I was a stupid youngin. Nothing serious but it has prevented me from getting really nice apartments.
I am actually moving to a new apartment in 2 weeks for several reasons. I currently live an hour away from my job, family and friends (due to STBXH's demand) and I don't know anyone in the area and everything is a good drive away so I am moving much closer. My new place is also $200 less a month but has the same amount of space. I just don't have a dishwasher anymore, which I can work with. I needed something cheaper because of having a second child on the way and I hope to buy a house within 2-3 years.
But because my STBXH is absolutely insane and I don't trust him I had a few demands. My car had to have a garage, I had to be above floor level (harder for ex to break in a window or something), the building itself had to be locked and secured and I had to be located very close to a police station (now 1/2 block away).
They are older apartments but I inspected them very closely before applying and I have lived in much worse. I know the neighborhood and town like the back of my hand and I know it is safe for my children. EVERY complex is going to have rude obnoxious neighbors that bump their bass, play music too loud, party on the weekends. That's a given and just something I have to deal with.
So past apartments I really didn't care at all, I moved where ever would accept me (I had a recent background then). But now I have to think about the safety and benefits for my children.