PopSugar

Do You Ever Spy on Your Neighbors?

CasaSugar — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 07:00:46 -0800

A recent New York Times article reveals that window watching (spying on your neighbors) is a common activity in big cities, where apartment windows often face each other. One woman interviewed for the article notes, "In a large city where there’s a lot going on around you, it can feel very isolating and lonely. By having contact with these total strangers through the window, it’s a safe way of having a relationship without the hard part of a relationship."

While I don't live within window-watching proximity, I know that many of my friends have sneaked in a little window watching in the past. What about you?

How-To: Find an Apartment on Craiglist

CasaSugar — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 09:00:07 -0800

Apartment hunting is a necessary evil. It's not fun, but you can't fake it either - unless you actually like crashing with your parents. Short of throwing money at a broker, there aren't too many secrets to apartment hunting; you've just got to search the local papers, classifieds, and online agency listings, cruise the neighborhoods you like for signs, and of course, scour Craigslist in depth. I'm sure you can handle most of this, but there is a method to the madness of Craigslist that you may not all be aware of. It doesn't guarantee you a dream pad for the price of a shanty, but it'll at least get you in front of what you're looking for. If you're looking for tips on how to up your credit score for a prospective landlord, you'd better check out SavvySugar. To hear my tips, read more.

First of all, if you're looking for an apartment from long distance, you should be extra cautious, demand to see many photographs and references, and don't sign a lease until you or someone you know has visited it.
Moving on - no pun intended: You should begin looking for a place two months in advance of when you want to move. Most places are listed about a month ahead, and in big cities, apartments will go in a day. But, if you give yourself two months, you'll get a better idea of what's available, what you can afford, what neighborhoods you like, and how quickly things are going.
You should already have an idea of what you're looking for. So write it all down in front of you, and don't be too picky; a penthouse apartment with maid, pool, gym, and ocean and mountain views for $700/month is never gonna happen.
The wonder of Craigslist is that it allows you to add your search terms to your RSS reader. To do so, go to your city's site on Craigslist, click "Housing," then fill in specifics like keywords, rent, number of bedrooms, neighborhood, and whether you need a pet-friendly place. Then, choose "apt/housing for rent" from the drop down menu, and check off "has image." Then, scroll to the bottom of the page and click the yellow "RSS" button. This will bring up the feed and allow you to add it to your RSS reader. Try Google Reader or Bloglines, if you don't have one already. Just so you know, you can use this same method for looking for furniture, cars, or anything else on Craigslist. And, you can download an app to your Blackberry or iPhone for your reader so you can read listings on the go.
If you're open to a range of living situations, neighborhoods, rents, etc., then your chances of finding a place are greater, but that also means you'll need to subscribe to more feeds. So go through the last step again until you've entered all the possible search terms and combinations.
I have 118 blogs in my RSS reader (a lot!), so if I were apartment hunting, I'd want to compound them all. You can combine a bunch of feeds into one with FeedBlendr.
If you're afraid to get dirty with an RSS feed, you can do it the old-fashioned way, by making methodical searches. Peruse Craigslist's various categories (apartments, rooms, sublets) the same way you entered a range of search terms. You never know: a temporary rental could last three years, or a shared apartment could be with someone who travels nine months of the year.
Whichever way you'll be reading the listings, you need to do so routinely. Get up first thing and the morning and then look again every few hours. Set an alarm if you have to remind yourself.
When you see something that you might like, click on the map link at the bottom of the CL page to verify its address (people lie about neighborhoods sometimes). Or better yet, use a Google Maps/Craigslist mashup like MapsKrieg, which allows you to see all the listings for your location on a map.

Stay tuned for tips on actually snagging the apartment you want once you've found it!

Source

Cool Idea: Maps Krieg

CasaSugar — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 13:00:28 -0800

In big cities, Craigslist is the master when it comes to looking for apartments. But, unfortunately people tend to fudge about what neighborhood their listings are in. Google Mapping dozens of listings a day can really cut into your day job - and who wants to be homeless and jobless?
So, along came MapsKrieg, a website that has mashed together Craigslist and Google Maps, so you can view apartment listings, photos, and details geographically on a map. Just type in the location you'd like to search by address and city or zip code, and it'll reveal clickable pushpins for each listing. Or, you can just navigate a listings table that lists the headline, rent, listing date, and says whether or not photos are available. Obviously, the site only supports cities that already have listings on CL, so you might be out of luck if you live in rural areas. The drawback is that as it stands, in beta, you can only search by location, not keywords like "studio," "furnished," "cat-friendly," etc. But, it's a start. I've got my own digs now, but I sure do wish I'd known about this handy site in my renting days.

Coveted Crib: Victoria's Deco Dream Apartment (Part One)

CasaSugar — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 12:00:40 -0800

It only makes sense that Oakland, CA, artist Victoria Skirpa makes stunning sculptures and covetable jewelry from her one-bedroom apartment overlooking Lake Merritt. After all, the lake is known as "the jewel of Oakland," and Victoria's apartment, location, and beautiful jewelry (she's having a special invite-only sale this upcoming weekend) are all equally treasurable. When I visited her home, I was literally drooling over her crazy views, as well as her very cool vintage furniture finds, original artwork, and unbelievable closet space (I am incredibly envious of this last item). Since there's so much good stuff to see, we'll take this tour in bite-size pieces, starting with her entry and studio/living room.

View Slideshow ›

Su Casa: Bright and Beautiful in Washington DC

CasaSugar — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 08:30:55 -0700

Su Casa member Katiepwise recently moved to Washington DC, where she's done a fabulous job of making her apartment simultaneously vibrant and cozy. Describing her style, she says, "I love bright colors and am not afraid to use them. I mix Ikea furniture with hand-me-down pieces from family. I attempted a 'salon-style' art wall over my couch and I live to color out just about anything! If I could paint my walls, I would, but since it's a rental, all the walls are beige. My dream is to have an eggplant-colored library and hot pink Moroccan themed sun deck." Check out her cool apartment in the slideshow!

View Slideshow ›

Are You Into the Old or the New?

CasaSugar — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 11:00:00 -0700

When it comes to apartment living, what's your style? Do you prefer the stately beauty of old, classic buildings? Or do you love the convenience and tech-friendly nature of new apartment complexes?
Source

In the News: The New York Times Explores the Art of Home

CasaSugar — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 09:00:45 -0800

What do you do when you've been priced out of your New York apartment? Well, if you're playwright Brooke Berman, you translate the unpleasant experience into artistic expression. Brooke, whose play “Hunting and Gathering” explores the subjects of home, transience, and character, was partially inspired by her experience of living in more than 30 homes in 20 years. Read the whole story - and check out the audio slideshow - here.

Source

Do You Live in an Apartment or a House?

CasaSugar — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 04:00:08 -0700

Source

Do You Rent or Own?

CasaSugar — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 13:55:01 -0700

Source

How-To: Snag Yourself an Apartment

CasaSugar — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 11:00:17 -0800

Now that you know how to find an apartment on Craigslist, I'd like to give you some tips on how to snag the apartment you want. If you found a listing you like in the newspaper or on a sign, no need to put on the earmuffs: these tips apply to you, too.

First of all, if you see a listing that's even of vague interest to you, email or call the contact with all of your information, and do it fast. Some digs will go within a couple hours or a day.
You should have all of your credentials and references ready to show a potential landlord in case something pops up.

To hear the rest of my tips, read more.

When you've made an appointment to see an apartment, get there early! If you're first, the landlord will show it to you first, and if you like the place (assuming you have good credit), it's yours. If you come after it's been shown, you may lose out.
People can be flaky, and there are a lot of scams on Craigslist, so don't hold out for anything thinking you've found "the one." Keep sending out emails and visiting apartments until you've signed a lease.
On that note, don't be a flake yourself. If you've said you're going to visit an apartment, go! And, come prepared with anything the landlord has asked for, in addition to extra credentials and references. Also very important, bring a checkbook when you visit an apartment. Be prepared to put a deposit down, or even the first/last months' rent (if you want it) when you visit the place: it's pretty standard to ask for either of them.
Also, take photos. You'll be looking at a lot of apartments, and you'll want something to look back at if you end up deciding between places.
Finally, keep at it. Don't get bummed or frustrated. Don't panic if you need to leave work early. Apartment hunting is practically a rite of passage, and your bosses will understand.

Source