My entry into Canada was denied, so my plans to move to Vancouver have taken a 180 degree turn.
So now I'm in Seattle, and I'm looking for a place to stay until September 22nd (about six weeks). I can pay for rent etc, money is not an issue, but I'd rather hang with Hatrackers instead of any joe-shmoe from Craigslist.
I'm a quiet but not anti-social, non-smoker (but I can live around smoking it's no issue), non-alcoholic (but I do like the stuff), geeky artsy fartsy 24 year old gay male.
If anybody around Seattle has a room, PM me, I don't take up much space. Posted by Shawshank (Member # 8453) on :
No help for you Earendil, but I extend some serious sympathies for having your move halted.
Posted by ClaudiaTherese (Member # 923) on :
I'm sorry about your attempted entry experience.
Good luck!
Posted by Valentine014 (Member # 5981) on :
That sucks! If money is an issue, have you considered staying in a hostel? The first one I Googled has free instant noodles!
Posted by scifibum (Member # 7625) on :
I have a gay friend [that looks wrong, oh well] at work who moved to Seattle, and it was going to be all big and special. He changed his mind after 6 months and came back and resumed his old life. Weird echoes here.
Anyway, sympathies. I'm in another state and can't help though.
Posted by Earendil18 (Member # 3180) on :
My boyfriend works at Microsoft and their legal department is incensed at this. I may get another shot with some real cavalry backing me up. Apparently this was not supposed to happen. Thanks for everyone's replies. I'll visit you sometime Claudia! Posted by ClaudiaTherese (Member # 923) on :
If you like Korean, I know a great place in Richmond (suburbish of Vancouver).
Posted by Wonder Dog (Member # 5691) on :
Even though I can't help you out in Seattle, Earendil, I'd love to help arrange a BC Hatracker meet-up once you're situation in resolved (on either side of the border). Good luck!
Posted by Earendil18 (Member # 3180) on :
Sounds great. I'll keep my fingers crossed. Thanks guys!
Posted by Shan (Member # 4550) on :
Floorspace in Olympia is an option (an hour south of Seattle) while you work on this issue.
Hang in there!
Posted by romanylass (Member # 6306) on :
I don't have space, but..want to meet up at Seattle Center while you're here?
Posted by Earendil18 (Member # 3180) on :
Ok, so, update.
My boyfriend and I just decided that since he's transferring to the Redmond Microsoft in September, we're just going to get an apartment now.
Now, I'd like to know what people think of this. We've found a really schwanky place in Kirkland near the water. It's in a beautiful complex that's earthquake proof, fire proof, and sound proof. 9-1/2in thick concrete/steel walls. The apartment is 855 sq ft with "smart" appliances, hardwood floors, granite countertops, fiber optic internet, nice balcony. It's 2 blocks from the waterfront and downtown shopping area, and my favorite...a block away from Bungie Studios the makers of the Halo franchise. There's tons of stuff to do, but it's also close to the 405 so we can go to Seattle quickly as well.
They want $1750-ish. How does this sound to people?
[ August 11, 2008, 05:20 PM: Message edited by: Earendil18 ]
Posted by Juxtapose (Member # 8837) on :
I don't have much experience with pricing on that side of Lake Washington, but it sounds pricey. I'm living in a 3br apartment for about $900, which is admittedly closer to the dirt-cheap side of things. Just doing a quick browse of craigslist, it looks like you could get a fairly nice 2br/2ba condo in that area for closer to 1200-1400 a month.
Also, I'm betting the place is closer to the 405, rather than I5. You'd have to take one of the bridges to get to Seattle proper, which can be hell depending on when you go. Washington is looking at adding a toll to the 520 bridge (which would be closer to the area you're looking at, vs. the 90). The estimates I've heard are somewhere in the neighborhood of $6-7 one way, so keep that in mind too.
My 2 cents. Hope it helps. Posted by EmpSquared (Member # 10890) on :
Yeah. I live in Mountlake Terrace on the other side of that lake and it still takes me about 20 minutes to downtown Seattle, and 10 to north--Kirkland isn't really all that convenient.
My apartment is a 2 bdr for 1000, and it's got almost all appliances (minus fridge) in unit.
I guess it all depends on your priorities. If being close to Seattle isn't a dealbreaker, and neither is paying 1750 for 850 sq ft (which I'd probably never do) then do it. Kirkland is right next to Redmond, which would be good for his job. What do you plan on doing?
Posted by Juxtapose (Member # 8837) on :
Your apartment doesn't have a fridge, Emp? That's an interesting set up. How does it work?
Posted by ClaudiaTherese (Member # 923) on :
I'm glad you are finding good solutions. Posted by romanylass (Member # 6306) on :
That looks like an awesome place to live.
Posted by Earendil18 (Member # 3180) on :
Yeah, this place is nice, but we don't have to be near the water, and really, EMP I think nailed it on the head. After looking at Craigslist, there's definitely lower priced stuff. I think it's because the complex is so new, and also close to the water that it's more $$$. There's other stuff that's less around that block, but they're older buildings.
The soundproofing is a big thing with me, but if we just got a house...where?...location?
*Splod*
So now both our heads are spinning! Thanks guys! The legal situation is starting to roll so I may still make it up to Vancouver for a month.
Posted by Earendil18 (Member # 3180) on :
quote:Originally posted by Juxtapose: Your apartment doesn't have a fridge, Emp? That's an interesting set up. How does it work?
Haha, oops. I meant it's not free with the unit. I have washer/dryer, disposal and all that, but I pay for the fridge.
Posted by Juxtapose (Member # 8837) on :
OK, I kind of wondered if maybe I'd just misinterpreted what you said.
Earendil, you might try looking around the Juanita neighborhood a bit if you haven't found a place yet. It's only a few minutes north of downtown Kirkland, and there's at least one bus that takes a direct route there.
Metro's trip planner is useful if you don't have a car and are unfamiliar with the bus routes.
Posted by Earendil18 (Member # 3180) on :
We've been looking the areas a little further away from the water. We realized we could get a whole 3BR house for the same amount of money we're paying for that apartment.
That being said however, I don't want that much space considering we're two guys, and I do like being close to the downtown area.
Would traffic be an issue if we lived in Juanita? Everyone talks like traffic is a huge issue, and complain about it taking 20 minutes to get to downtown Seattle. I come from Spokane, and I had to drive across town every Friday night for Sabbath. That took 30 minutes, so I can't help but wonder if peeps take for granted the extensive freeway/highway system here. I have no bearing!
All I know, is that soundproofing is a big issue for me. It's either an apartment with expensive building materials, or a house where it becomes a non-issue.
Jux, that metro planner is nice. Thank you!
Posted by ClaudiaTherese (Member # 923) on :
My husband and I looked at condos, standard apartments, and rented houses when we last moved. An important realization for us was that getting a lot of square footage wasn't worth the (somewhat hidden) costs that came with it:
－ most freestanding buildings required the user to take care of lawn maintenance, which meant more money and time invested (and more space for equipment such as lawnmowers, etc., unless we wanted to be constantly renting such items) － we didn't want to have to deal with unexpected costs for replacement and repairs of appliances, exterior surfaces, plumbing, etc. － and other details which I haven't the time to go into right now
For these reasons, renting a fairly new [non-house] in an area with a strong local community and resources reachable by walking worked out best for us.
Y'all might well come to a different conclusion.I just thought it worth mentioning that (in my eyes) the 3-bedroom house comes with a lot of potential disadvantages, too, although they may or may not be of concern to you. I didn't realize they were of concern to me until we sat down and really thought about it.
[ August 12, 2008, 04:24 PM: Message edited by: ClaudiaTherese ]
Posted by Earendil18 (Member # 3180) on :
Could you elaborate a bit more on that? The utility costs of work, I'm not sure I understand.
Again, having a place that's quiet is important, not sure how many apts have good soundproofing. Is 91/2inch concrete overkill or what? Posted by ClaudiaTherese (Member # 923) on :
I will edit for you.
－－－
Edit: Done. I was using utility in the philosophical sense, and I'd forgotten the more common (and relevant) definition of the term in this context. My apologies.
－－－
Edited again to add: I have no idea about what is and is not overkill in soundproofing, but I hope you do find something that works for you, whatever it may be.
[ August 12, 2008, 04:31 PM: Message edited by: ClaudiaTherese ]
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
quote:Originally posted by EmpSquared:
quote:Originally posted by Juxtapose: Your apartment doesn't have a fridge, Emp? That's an interesting set up. How does it work?
Haha, oops. I meant it's not free with the unit. I have washer/dryer, disposal and all that, but I pay for the fridge.
In our area it's pretty standard for a kitchen to come with a stove/oven, but not a fridge. We bought one when we moved out here and have moved it with us.
Also, around here if you rent a place with washer/dryer hookups it's pretty standard to either supply your own or pay an extra rental fee if you want to use theirs, but most places don't even have them available.
It is quite different from when we rented in Dallas. Out there almost everywhere came with a fridge and most places with washer/dryer hookups had them available for rent for an extra $35/month or so.
Posted by romanylass (Member # 6306) on :
Is the soundproofing becasue you or your boyfriend is a musician?
The traffic is terrible, I live way south and try to avoid going into Seattle on a Friday evening for sure.
Posted by Earendil18 (Member # 3180) on :
The sound proofing is because I like quiet. I don't want to hear people banging each other on any side of me. I don't want people to hear me, and I don't want to hear people. No dishes clicking, no footsteps, no talking.
[ August 12, 2008, 08:53 PM: Message edited by: Earendil18 ]
Posted by Earendil18 (Member # 3180) on :
I'm going to try negotiating a lower price, or at least asking why it's overpriced compared to the fully furnished penthouse suite @ $1450 one block CLOSER to the waterfront.
Posted by Earendil18 (Member # 3180) on :
Welp, I got two more free weeks of rent, but that's about as far as I could push my luck. It's definitely a sellers market around this area, but when 1 month free rent + 2 weeks is put back into the rental price, we're paying about 1500, so I'm happy.
FINALLY. It's done! Now I get to worry about furnishings!
Thanks everyone for your input and your help! Posted by Juxtapose (Member # 8837) on :
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If you like Korean, I know a great place in Richmond (suburbish of Vancouver).
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