Remember that time we were going to move into a tiny apartment to save money to pay off The Man, a.k.a. student loans, a.k.a. "Why didn't you go to a cheaper grad school because it's not like your diploma is made of gold?"
Yeah, well that ambition quickly morphed into a greedy attempt to talk realtors into lowering their prices on high-end rentals. I composed a snappy little email touting our best tenant traits ("rarely clog toilets due to high fiber intake") and reminding the realtors of the glut of overprized housing and the economic advantages of renting low instead of staying empty in the winter ("Don't call me when your pipes freeze!"). Then, I emailed it to about ONE HUNDRED people. FIVE people responded. THREE told me I was crazy. ONE said maybe.
On Saturday, we met the other one. He showed us a place typically rented for $1,250 more a month than we are offering. Needless to say, I'm in love. It's an updated vintage home with charming features like a mud room and modern features like a bidet. It has 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, an office and a basement for storage.
Pros: Everything. (Especially the kitchen.)
Cons: Higher utility bills. No garage. Rent is the exact same as 2 bed/1 bath apartment we are currently renting. (That one is also a pro.) Landlord and wife live in a guest house behind the rental house because they are renovating it, so that's slightly awkward.
In any event, we won't be saving a cent compared to our current rental, but we will be getting more for our money, which is a form of frugality, right?
For the record, this post isn't because I need your help making a decision. Decision made, my friends. I want to live in that house. (Did I mention that it is fully furnished with antique shabby chic pieces that can be left per our request? And that, yes, I already pinched myself to see if I'm dreaming?)
I'm writing this post to see if you would be more likely to read my blog, tell your friends to read my blog or click on my ads if I lived in a cute house. I promise I would take lots of pictures. And maybe try to bake more.
Well, would you? Because I could really use a couple (hundred) extra bucks a month if you wouldn't mind. Did I mention there's a guest room ... which I'm not above renting out?
Start clicking.
Like, now.
03 December 2008
Would you love me more if I had granite countertops?
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15 comments:
Click. Click. Clickity-click.
I am so very excited for you all. Is this the one that puts you 10 minutes closer to my house? MOVE IN!!!!
I already told you that we'd pay you what we would have in hotel bills.
But I'm NOT trying to influence your decision.
i'll totally click on more links for you! just tell me which ones :)
I envision my bum safely and warmly ensconsed in a lovely little chair and a 1/2 overlooking your garden - sipping Martinelli's ( the fanciest of all non alchoholic beverages )and eating some homemade apple pie!( oh, and I take mine with ice cream straight up in case you are wondering)
Of course, to get more reader devotion from me, you'd have to move into a major league dugout, the back room of a Fox Sports Grill, or the basement at ESPN in Bristol. However, for your sake, I hope it all works out. Though have the landlord as yardmate could be dicey.
Just don't confuse the bidet and the mudroom or you'll end up with wet feet either way.
Of course, if there's a guest room I'm not sure how I can bid farewell to the Lincolnshire Courtyard Inn (great location but not remodeled since the 80's) as our Chicagoland home away from home.
Pictures, pictures, pictures!!! :)
I think you stumbled upon my dream home. Enjoy!!
Wow! So jealous. We almost rented a house that was 100 a month less than what we are paying now... but there were some other tradeoffs we couldn't deal with. Having a landord that close may be better than you think. In my experience, when you are renting an individual home, it often pays to have them close by for maintenance/logstical issues. Plus it sounds like they are invested in the quality of the house, so they will be on top of things. I'd gamble on it being a good thing as long as if you see a possible relationship issue, to nip it in the bud and assert boundaries. If you establish those things early it won't be awkward later. Awesome! Very excited for you guys.
Can I just reiterate the fact that you are the ultimate shopper? Doing something gutsy like that wouldn't even occur to most people. Like me.
And I just clicked on your ads.
You mean I've been reading all this time and you don't have granite countertops? Seriously, what was I thinking? That's like, my number one qualification for reading someone's blog.
just joined the granite countertop club myself on accident. our leasing agent gave us a cheaper apartment that was accidentally WAY awesomer than our former one. now we are LOADED!
How exciting! Pictures would be great!
Hope all goes well and the way you want it to! XOXO
Aw, you should know that people would read your blog if you lived in a cardboard box... or a mansion shaped like a cardboard box.
I hated Chicago-area housing prices. Like living above a millionaire's 100 year-old garage for $1200/month? Please.
It's so refreshing to have space--a few more rooms to move around in. You can justify it by saving in TP costs.
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