Apartment Search Update!
Today we went to view another property. I should have taken photos but I was shy, the lady and her husband who own it were showing the flat and I just felt awkward pulling out my camera. I'm sorry, I guess I'm not cut out for sharing a house hunt online am I?! I know, I've been such a huge disappointment to you but it's just not my thing to be aggressive with people -- here the whole "American" approach doesn't work the same, what is normal in the states with certain mannerisms isn't that typical here and well, I don't like to push things until I really speak the language and such.
Okay but let's get back on track because I'm rambling. So the place we saw had a lot of great points. It's 940 warm, 5 rooms (3 bedrooms), 2 balconies, 1st floor (2nd floor according to Americans), a basement room for storage, 129 m² (1,388 ft²), in the desired neighborhood (List) but not really the perfect street according to Thorsten, and available March 1 (as in one week LOL) so that's a little soon! But the bathroom was new, the kitchen was new, the wallpaper and flooring was new in all of the rooms, and the balconies both had lovely views and very private. The house was nice -- very old-fashioned inside... and the kitchen was big enough for table which is a priority for us. It also had a beautiful floor plan and the windows were massive with transom windows above them all for extra light -- the apartment was flooded with sunlight. The backyard was very, very pretty. It's also a 5 minute walk from Lister Platz, the bahn station here.
Oh and a major perk -- NO agent fees. It's typical here to pay 2-3 months rent to the agent in addition to 2-3 months rent for a deposit which can drain your bank account.
So what are the "issues"? Well Thorsten wasn't sure about the neighborhood. He wants to be closer to the forest. This place is about an 8 minute walk. And I wasn't keen on the laminate floors, they are new but a bit too dark for my taste but hey I could lighten them up with large rugs so that's not too hard I guess. But I'm REALLY set on original or new hardwood floors. And the corner stove or whatever it was -- the landlord didn't know if it worked or not but honestly I found it a little unattractive although the others looking at the flat seemed to love it. Maybe I'm missing something? I asked the landlord if we could pay to install all new hardwood floors since we plan to live in a flat for years and possibly have a baby there and etc. and she said no because they had just installed these.
I wish the photos above were better, they are from the website where I found the apartment and they do the apartment no justice at all. You have to believe me I guess.
Here's where the apartment is (Marked A) in relation to the forest (the massive green space)... I don't think it's THAT far... Maybe 8 minutes by foot. We plan to buy bikes in the Spring anyway...
So the floors, the neighborhood, the freaky stove and that's it -- the only concerns we have. Okay the bathroom wasn't great but what rental bathroom ever is? I think I would take it and just throw down some beautiful carpets because honestly the rest of it was so nice and the ceilings were high -- like I like -- and the balconies (two! eek!), and the back one overlooking the yard... soooo large and pretty -- I could put a lovely patio set there.
But I don't know... I feel like I'm just getting tired of house hunting. My husband tells me that we can do better. I hope he's right, I can't find anything here.
We put our names down... we'll see... But Thorsten wasn't crazy for it. Sometimes I wonder if our tastes on this will ever match up because he really wants the perfect flat even more than I do and I thought I was picky!!! I'm American, according to me this is top of the line because rental property in most major cities in the states in the best neighborhoods are pretty terrible unless you pay thousands per month you know? I mean, to get 1,400 square feet in Boston -- well that's unheard of for under $3,000 a month - image 3 bedrooms in the Back Bay for any less than that? Ha!
Oh well... let's see if the lady calls us back. She was very nice and stylish, I liked her personality. But then again, she may not have liked us because I asked a million questions. Thorsten told her we can't move until April 15 and she's really looking for someone to take it March 1, yup 8 days from now. But hey that's what we get in a market where there is NO housing and a ton of people looking for a flat!
What do you guys think????
(images: immobilienscout24 online)
Okay but let's get back on track because I'm rambling. So the place we saw had a lot of great points. It's 940 warm, 5 rooms (3 bedrooms), 2 balconies, 1st floor (2nd floor according to Americans), a basement room for storage, 129 m² (1,388 ft²), in the desired neighborhood (List) but not really the perfect street according to Thorsten, and available March 1 (as in one week LOL) so that's a little soon! But the bathroom was new, the kitchen was new, the wallpaper and flooring was new in all of the rooms, and the balconies both had lovely views and very private. The house was nice -- very old-fashioned inside... and the kitchen was big enough for table which is a priority for us. It also had a beautiful floor plan and the windows were massive with transom windows above them all for extra light -- the apartment was flooded with sunlight. The backyard was very, very pretty. It's also a 5 minute walk from Lister Platz, the bahn station here.
Oh and a major perk -- NO agent fees. It's typical here to pay 2-3 months rent to the agent in addition to 2-3 months rent for a deposit which can drain your bank account.
So what are the "issues"? Well Thorsten wasn't sure about the neighborhood. He wants to be closer to the forest. This place is about an 8 minute walk. And I wasn't keen on the laminate floors, they are new but a bit too dark for my taste but hey I could lighten them up with large rugs so that's not too hard I guess. But I'm REALLY set on original or new hardwood floors. And the corner stove or whatever it was -- the landlord didn't know if it worked or not but honestly I found it a little unattractive although the others looking at the flat seemed to love it. Maybe I'm missing something? I asked the landlord if we could pay to install all new hardwood floors since we plan to live in a flat for years and possibly have a baby there and etc. and she said no because they had just installed these.
I wish the photos above were better, they are from the website where I found the apartment and they do the apartment no justice at all. You have to believe me I guess.
Here's where the apartment is (Marked A) in relation to the forest (the massive green space)... I don't think it's THAT far... Maybe 8 minutes by foot. We plan to buy bikes in the Spring anyway...
So the floors, the neighborhood, the freaky stove and that's it -- the only concerns we have. Okay the bathroom wasn't great but what rental bathroom ever is? I think I would take it and just throw down some beautiful carpets because honestly the rest of it was so nice and the ceilings were high -- like I like -- and the balconies (two! eek!), and the back one overlooking the yard... soooo large and pretty -- I could put a lovely patio set there.
But I don't know... I feel like I'm just getting tired of house hunting. My husband tells me that we can do better. I hope he's right, I can't find anything here.
We put our names down... we'll see... But Thorsten wasn't crazy for it. Sometimes I wonder if our tastes on this will ever match up because he really wants the perfect flat even more than I do and I thought I was picky!!! I'm American, according to me this is top of the line because rental property in most major cities in the states in the best neighborhoods are pretty terrible unless you pay thousands per month you know? I mean, to get 1,400 square feet in Boston -- well that's unheard of for under $3,000 a month - image 3 bedrooms in the Back Bay for any less than that? Ha!
Oh well... let's see if the lady calls us back. She was very nice and stylish, I liked her personality. But then again, she may not have liked us because I asked a million questions. Thorsten told her we can't move until April 15 and she's really looking for someone to take it March 1, yup 8 days from now. But hey that's what we get in a market where there is NO housing and a ton of people looking for a flat!
What do you guys think????
(images: immobilienscout24 online)
Comments
Maybe because so many of the buildings in Australia are a lot newer, there is not so much of the beautiful features you're looking for, like floorboards.
I think it's a beautiful apartment, and 8 minutes walk from a forest? Amazing!!! And the kooky little corner stove is a bit out-there, but I can see how it's cute! You just have to decide 'I like that kooky little stove' and *poof* you will like it!
And the corner stove was a total eyesore.
All things nice...
I thought that I could put lots of beautiful white candles on the top in some great silver holders and some clear and colored glass bottles with fresh flowers on the top, like an alter or something, and the around the bottom to hide it I could build some type of door or mini folding screen, like a short version of a folding screen...
It's been so much fun seeing all of the flats you've found...I feel like I'm right there on the hunt with you :)
I guess I just wish the landlord would let me install light solid wood flooring -- I really dislike laminate, it's so cold and darker laminate is such a pain to keep clean. I noticed as I walked through you could see every single partial of dust.
The bathroom is tricky - do you really want a wrap-around shower curtain clinging to your legs, or would you pay to have a 'wanne' thing put in, those folding or perm. shower wall things?
I think the oven/fireplace thing is kinda cool. You could totally do something with that, I wouldn't worry about it so much.
Also, I think it's pretty unlikely she'll get loads of people taking it for the March 1 date. That's nuts. You can offer an April 1 date and see if she bites. Depends on how much you want it, sounds like a divided issue... Our experience, and those of our friends, is that if the landlord wants you, he'll work with you.
hmm...interesting though!
The stove seems to be really ugly for you? To me it seems to be a bit like arts and craft-style. Or maybe it can be arranged that way?
But I don't understand the owner of the appartment when she is against changing cheap laminate floor against true wood. Strange.
Iris
All in all, I think it's great! Can't you rent the place now, and take your time to move in? make the changes you need, etc? Just a thought-good luck though!
Floors can be covered up. So for that matter can that stove, you could easily put a screen or something in front of it. These things are all fixable. Whereas ceiling height and balconies are not.
And I laughed and laughed about the forest. 8 minutes walk and its 'not close enough'. That's funny.
Go for it. Get it done, move in and then you can get settled and get on with life. Searching for apartments can be depressing and it is not a good use of time
That's what I think anyway!
xoxo
Best wishes for whatever works out!!
I agree on the stove, though- that thing looks like a total eyesore! Some landlords are like that about anything old- exposed brick comes to mind as a parallel. Some of it is just awful and would look 100X better painted, but people just seem to have this block about that. "But it's exposed! People like that!"
I think the shutter/screen ideas are great, and I can also see a skirt (the kind you see under farmhouse sinks in England sometimes) working well. Maybe some panels of fabric that you could change out with the seasons/trends?
I wonder what´s underneath this laminate flooring... Maybe if you ask again the owner will allow you to do someting about it.
Oh and by the way, it´s very common in Germany to make photographs while you check out an apartment.. so you shouldn´t be shy at all! :)
Take heart in Allison's experience. Home is so important to you, you'll find the right thing . . .eventually. I know that's not much solace right now!
Hang in there.
Second. I had taken out the hardwood floors off our shop and replaced it with lighter, high end laminate which contractors said would look almost real. Surpride:it doesn't. And it is so much harder to keep clean.
Third, which really should come first. I like Haus Maus even more than i liked decor8 which I thought would not be possible.
Chin up. And wait till the first rays of Spring.
Good luck
To the flat: the floors are horrible, that is true. It's a pity the landlady does not realize that. However, when I think what having hardwood floors installed in a flat this big might cost you, it all gets kind of scary.
I guess I'd keep looking. This is what I'm doing all the time :( Nothing even half that nice in my preferred area, no stoves, no forests.
I also agree about the floor. But as I have very strong thoughts about "Laminat-Boden" I am not the person to ask about this... ;-)
The 8 minute walk to the woods I don´t find too upsetting, as I consider anything under 10 minutes walk to be next door.
If the building and the floorplan are good, and you can imagine living with floor & oven... then try to get the place. Maybe the landlady chooses other peolple anyhow, and then you know: It wasnt meant to be, because something better is waiting!
He refused anything with radiators, I wanted old with architectural details...those two things don't exist! Finally, on a whim we looked at newer (1960's) so it had air conditioning/ forced air heat for him, yet it had window seats in every bedroom, fireplace in the master, etc. for me, and was priced over what we wanted but we made a lower offer and in the end it worked out. There is something out there meant for you, don't give up!
more often you need to make it perfect yourself.
In Germany it's not uncommon to rip out floors, kitchens and bathrooms and remodel them to your liking. It would be in the landlords best interest as well if his cheap laminate would be upgraded to wood, carpet or tile - besides, laminate is very loud and if you have tenants below you, they'd appreciate a different floor. Dto. for the fireplace, whereas it could be incorporated with your furniture and no challenge to a designer.
Having a nice sized balcony, sun filtering through the windows and nice neighbors would me much more important to me than a few flaws. Of course, if the entire neighborhood is less desirable then
keep looking....good luck!
Have a great day!!
And it is very odd to think the Vermieterin can find somebody to move in that soon. I usually quitt the old apartment when I find the new one and have then 3 months notice period. And last time they waited for me for more then 2 months without a rent. I mean it is also not easy to find some good tenants ;-)