How to deal when when your friend is looking for an apartment too

July 16, 2008 | By Alissa AuthorMy First Apartment

It’s tough to think about others when you’re super stressed; either you and your friend will bond over your housing woes – or you’ll just compound them. But, as long as you are not competing for exactly the same type of place, your friend might be an excellent resource and/or sounding board. But, there are…

More Apartment Websites!!

May 18, 2008 | By Alissa AuthorMy First Apartment

Looking at Apartment Therapy’s website last week made me wonder just what other type of resources are out there. If you didn’t check out Apartment Therapy last week, or even if you did, they’re currently showcasing the winners of their annual Small, Cool, Apartment contest. The contest is really, pretty rad and definitely should silence…

Spring Dumpster Diving for Free Furniture!

April 30, 2008 | By Alissa AuthorMy First Apartment

Dumpster Diving It’s a pretty great term, right? It sounds almost exotic—maybe even hipster cool these days. I mean, Mary-Kate Olsen’s even made running around like a Hobo look hot. Hear me out though — I’m not recommending that you jump headfirst into your smelly neighborhood garbage can, but welcome to the Christmas of moving…

Transference: blaming your apartment is easier than admitting moving to a new city is hard

April 23, 2008 | By Alissa AuthorMy First Apartment

As ya’ll might have guessed, I’ve been having a rougher time of it of late. And, yeah, I realize that much of it is in my head – and has little to do with the actual apartment but more with my general everyday living experience in a new city. But, it’s easier to blame an…

Did I take that apartment too soon? EEK!

April 21, 2008 | By Alissa AuthorMy First Apartment

As you’ve probably noticed, most of my advice comes from my own experiences. I don’t claim to know everything(oh, oh, I laugh), but I do have 20/20 hindsight vision. That said, I’m still unsure as to whether or not I made the right choice in taking my apartment. To recap—it was the 3 bedroom in…

Moving to a pad in a new city: Part 2

April 18, 2008 | By Alissa AuthorMy First Apartment

So, as promised, here are some more tips on how to move cities without pulling all your hair out. Never done that yet– but yeah, come close. Shudder. 4) Be realistic about how you will fund the move. Often, if you are moving for a job, companies will offer stipends. And, even if yours hasn’t,…

Finding a pad in a new city

April 14, 2008 | By Alissa AuthorMy First Apartment

Word on the street, is that many of you are attempting to not only move apartments, but move cities as well! Firstly, congratulations – that’s a big, scary move and no matter the impetus be it a significant other, job, family or ___, you deserve kudos for the effort. I should know. I just uprooted…

Using Craigslist: A Sample Email That Got Results

March 31, 2008 | By Alissa AuthorMy First Apartment

In my last post, I gave suggestions about what attributes made a good response to a Craigslist Apartment listing. Today, you get to see the email that ‘won’ me the chance to meet my now future-roommate for my now-future apartment(I move in Wednesday!!) Subject: Park Slope Apartment!Hello! My name’s Alissa, I’m 25(f), originally from Chicago,…

Using Craigslist: How to Sell Yourself to Potential Roommates.

March 27, 2008 | By Alissa AuthorMy First Apartment

The subletting plans are still cooking, so we’ll be taking a quick detour this week: Depending on where you live, the housing market may be horrendous or peaches and cream. Either way, if you don’t have friends who also need an apartment, you are going to need to convince a stranger that you 1) are…

We have a winner!(OR, I FOUND AN APARTMENT!!)

March 23, 2008 | By Alissa AuthorMy First Apartment

Another weekend, another apartment search, right? Wrong, amigos. This three day weekend was 100% mine; craigslist can kiss my non-irish arse. How come? Because this gal–this gal right here–found an apartment! I’ll give you the stats and then I’ll discuss: 3 bedroom, 1 bathroom, $900.Location: 10 — Central Park Slope. it’s only two blocks to…