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May 29, 2008 at 4:03 am #587069
wsChicMemberHello,
A good friend of mine is moving up from Portland and
needs to find a place to live, so far the search has been pretty overwhelming for her so I am trying to help out. Just wondering if anyone knows of a decent 1 bd/1bth apt under $1200/month that takes dogs (she has a 53lb boxer)
I would really appreciate any leads someone might have on this.
May 29, 2008 at 5:26 am #625562
JiggersMemberHahahaha… everyone here knows that I’ve been trying to find a place to rent for awhile that’s cheaper than what I’m paying now which is obscene for a 660 sq ft studio $875. You have to know someone or take your chance with a weirdo, or pay an obnoxious amount if you want to live alone. Portland is cheaper than here. I don’t understand why she wants to move to a wetter more expensive climate.
May 29, 2008 at 5:40 am #625563
SueParticipantwsChic, we found our rental house on Craigslist and got really lucky that it was the first place I called and we got it. At that price point, she should be able to find something here in WS though, however the dog might be a problem – most apartments seem to limit dogs to under 50 (or 25) pounds. My recommendation is that she should NOT rent at West Ridge Park or any property run by Allied Management – as soon as that management company took over the place went to hell and the rents went through the roof, while services diminished.
May 29, 2008 at 7:31 am #625564
JanSParticipantwsChic…I just saw a 1 bdr. apt in the Admiral District in the Seattle times…says they take dogs…$985/mo…maybe she should put the dog on a diet for a week or so, and have it weigh under 50 lbs? lol
May 29, 2008 at 7:32 am #625565
JanSParticipantI’m home recovering from surgery…lol…guess I could do a little research for ya, huh…I’ll see what I can find.
jiggers…I know you’re still lookin’….don’t know what to tell ya :)
May 29, 2008 at 12:25 pm #625566
wsChicMemberThank you so much JanS. Its kinda funny in this day and age it totally escaped me to look in the newspaper. I have been scouring craigslist and all the online apartment search sites but never thought to check the paper.
As for question as to why someone would leave wonderful Portland for Seattle, one word sums it up: Military. ;)
May 29, 2008 at 1:49 pm #625567
JoBParticipantthat should help her find a place…
and if the dog is only 3 pounds over… she can get away with saying he is under 50..
i have been driving by rental signs… i will be looking again soon myself.
May 29, 2008 at 2:40 pm #625568
JenVMemberJiggers- I used to live here: http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/apa/697158555.html
(of course, when I lived here it was only $395/mo)
anyway, it is a great building- VERY quiet. If you don’t have pets, it is a great place- and cheaper than what you are paying now. Utilities are cheap there too, there is a central boiler room and radiators in each unit. the walk in closet is big enough for a queen bed, so you can use it for sleeping.
May 29, 2008 at 3:41 pm #625569
AimParticipantJenV if that’s the building I think it is (SE corner?) it is such a lovely building. We were just saying the other day we’d love to live there had we not found this place we’re in.
To the original poster as well as Jiggers: it CAN be done. We rented this place 4 years ago for $650. It’s a 2br on Delridge. Quite honestly, had I had the address and driven by it first, I would have passed on it because it’s really ugly from the outside. However, I had made an appt with the LL and when I walked inside and saw it was over 1k sq ft with a HUGE kitchen (bigger than kitchens in some of the 40’s homes in the area) I was sold.
The appliances are not new, but when they break down the LL replaces them. He also redid my kitchen flooring once it started to crack, and he let me paint it however I wanted (adobe and brick colors in the kitchen. The rest is going to be painted this summer) In 4 years he has only raised the rent once, and apologized profusely and gave us a ton of warning when he did. It’s still only $715.
My suggestion: wait until you see the inside before declining a place. Rent from a family or someone with one or two small investment properties, not a big company, as a private owner will often negotiate with you. Look in the paper as well as all the usual places. Mine was hidden away in the “duplexes” section of the Sea Times.
I didn’t even have to go through a credit check – I had just gone through identity theft, explained that to the LL’s daughter when she showed me the place, and she said “since the credit check will clearly be a waste of time and money I will go with my gut feeling on you and rent to you, but don’t make me look bad with my father.” No deposit, no last month’s rent. Just the first, and she let me move in early.
We rarely have openings, because most tenants just don’t leave, but if we ever do I will keep you all posted.
May 29, 2008 at 4:02 pm #625570
JenVMemberAim- that’s the one. It’s called “the Chandalier”. I lived there for four years (1996-2000) and only moved b/c I had the opportunity to rent a house, and I wanted a cat. It really was/is a neat building.
May 29, 2008 at 4:54 pm #625571
JiggersMemberI remember when you could rent the Chandalier for $350 a month 8 years ago. $700 to live in a an 50 year old brick building that can crash on your head during a big tremor, no thanks. At least Soundview Apts across is much newer but small, very samll units and even more ridiculous in price to rent. My friend is 6-3 and saw one of those units in Soundview a few years back, and said it made him feel like he was living in a jail cell they were so small. Its all about greed and location.
May 29, 2008 at 5:01 pm #625572
JenVMemberThe Chandalier has been thru all the big earthquakes- it’s an old building. That’s the charm. :) Jiggers- have you thought about Burien? Rent is still cheap there and it is the new West Seattle…unfortunately there is nothing in WS under $800 any more.
May 29, 2008 at 5:40 pm #625573
JiggersMemberI’m thinking about camping at Camp Long in a tent somewhere were they won’t see me. plan B….lol
May 29, 2008 at 7:22 pm #625574
SueParticipantJiggers, you could become West Seattle’s very own Squirrelman. :)
May 29, 2008 at 7:55 pm #625575
JanSParticipantjiggers…unfortunately, you’re limiting yourself by what you can afford…I understand that…but sometimes you have to go with something small until the right thing comes along. I know that the SeaTimes used to have a huge “sharing” section….you might look to see if they still have it. :)
May 29, 2008 at 11:44 pm #625576
AimParticipantJiggers – see below. Have you looked at this one?
http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/apa/700162962.html
Posted an hour ago so it may still be available. :)
June 1, 2008 at 3:01 am #625577
ellenaterMemberJefferson Square takes dogs. I think they have one bedrooms for under 1k. Good luck, we are in a similar boat.
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