May

21

A Moving Tale

Filed Under Saving Money 

for rent signAlmost a year ago, the hubby and I needed to rent a new apartment, so we started hunting.  The goal, of course, was to get the best possible apartment for the best possible price.    You may have heard that there’s something of a housing crisis, and it’s worse here in Sunny Fla. than in most other places.  But of course, the other side of crisis is opportunity, and the word was that there is a big gap between asking prices and selling prices, and rental prices too.  And with all the new building going on, there were TONS of rentals.  

 

So here’s the upside of the real estate downturn: so many landlords have so many homes and apartments that they’re trying to keep afloat that they’re often VERY negotiable on price.  And other things as well. 

 

We looked around at many of the new buildings in and around Miami, and were surprised to see that many of the asking price for rents were nowhere as low as we expected.  But, simply by asking “can you do any better on the rent?”  a great percentage of them said yes.  We got offers for free months, gift cards for furniture and design stores,  free cable and internet, even upgrades.  But  the newer buildings we saw didn’t even have room for all our stuff, and that was the deal breaker. Do they think that everyone has multiple homes? 

Anyway, after seeing probably 20 apartments, we found one that definitely fit our parameters:  A newly renovated apartment in a very well-run older condo building on the water, with huge rooms and tons of closet space, 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, open kitchen, 7 closets, lots of amenities, and the clincher, a wrap around terrace with a million dollar view.

 

But, the apartment was fully furnished, and the entire great room, living room, kitchen and hallway was painted a jarring Pepto-Bismol-Pink.

 

All workable, with just a request — the furniture was removed, and we got a credit on our rent for painting the apartment a beautiful, soothing beige the color of coffee ice cream.

 

So here we are in a beautiful waterfront apartment for far less than we would have paid a year or two ago.  My biggest problem now is that, as a native New Yorker, I am great with living in small spaces — this was the first time I had to figure out how to fill all these big rooms. Not a bad problem, huh?  It took a few tries and arrangements, but it’s done, and it’s so fun to be able to have a room where you can actually walk between the furniture and the wall. 

 

Here’s another Moving Story: My friend Judith was moving at the same time, and found a new, really big loft apartment on the Miami Bay.  But after less than a year, the apartment they were renting went into foreclosure. Asking around in their building, they found an almost-identical apartment two floors above them, on a corner, with extra windows, which had never been lived in and was not quite ready to go.  Judith’s husband, the ever-handy Randy, offered work in exchange for rent, so exchanged three months’ rent for painting, buffing the marble floors and putting up window treatments.  And did I mention that the rent was $450 less per month? 

 

The apartment we live in now has just been sold, and the new owners want us to stay.  But it has come to my attention that we can find something nearby, not quite as nice but not bad, for slightly more than we’re paying now.  So when they take over, we will start negotiating. I will report on the progress.  So remember, always ask!  Meanwhile, enjoy the view!Million Dollar View

 

 

For more about decorating on a budget, click here.

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