Rent/Moving Foo

[thistlechaser]

After I called the super a second time, reminding her that I had not heard back on the message I left her on Tuesday, she called me about lowering my rent. The owner is willing to knock it down $75. $75! I don't know if I should laugh or be insulted. I'm paying about $300 over market average for a one bedroom in this town (before that discount). About 33% over average, one-third more... But hey, $75 lower!

Bah.

For $75 over my pre-discount rent, I could get a two bedroom, one bath place with a personal garage (not just a space in a big one). Sigh. I suspect if I do decide to move, that the owner would pull the same crap that tersa's did: Seriously lower it only once I gave notice and they saw I was serious about moving. Grr.

I'm doing a fast search of craiglist, to make sure I'm correct in saying that my place is really overpriced. There's only one other one bedroom apartment for what I'm paying, and it's in a gated community. Another one is close (a little under my rent) but has things like a spa and lots of extras. There are a handful of places with rents $100-$200 under mine. The majority are $300+ under mine.

So I'm basically where I was when I started all this. $300/month saving would be great, but I'm thinking my peace, quiet, and this great location might be worth the difference? But that's so much money, and it really galls me to think that maybe the people who just moved in might be paying a lot less. (I don't feel comfortable just going over and knocking on a stranger's door and asking them what they're paying in rent.)

I'm sitting here at my desk, with all of my windows open. All I can hear is the wind and the crows (I think it's crow mating season, they've been really loud lately). Now and then a car goes by, but this is a small street and they go so slowly you can't hear them unless you're listening for them.) In the apartment I lived in before this one, when I was paying that $300 lower price, it was noisy as hell. Spanish music blasted day and night. Loud cars. Loud people. Dirty people. Screaming. Other than the price (and the sucky super), I'm really pretty happy here. I should probably leave well enough alone, I guess.

What do you think, Miss Crow?

Comments

[tersa.livejournal.com]

I say talk to the people on craigslist. Find out where they're located. Take a look at the place. See if they're somewhere you wouldn't mind living.

You can't really bluff about giving notice. It's a threat that you have to be ready to back-up with action at the end of the month.

However, look at it this way. $300/month is $3600/year.