Go West

“Go West,” so the Pet Shop Boys said, and it looks like that’s what I’m officially doing. I’d be lying if I said I was anything less than ecstatic about the living decision I made today. Somehow my mother managed to prevail once again (she must be psychic), and what was her first choice (and my last, initially) is now my place of residence for the next year.

Nestled away in a quiet neighborhood close to Value City (those still exist?), Home Depot, Meijer, and Target is Westbay Club Apartments. They weren’t the largest apartments I looked at, but they allow pets, were extremely cheap, and had free heat (from a boiler) meaning I would only pay electricity. Even though I gave up on the prospect of having a washer and dryer in my apartment like this year, the laundry rooms in each building are on the ground floor–the door across from my own. I’ll take the convenient location as consolation.

My first decision was to live on a second or third floor apartment. As I continued searching, I realized this was probably a terrible idea. Living on a second floor again, I would have someone above and below me at all times. Living on a third floor with only a wall AC unit to cool me, I’d probably boil in the summer. That said, I took the opportunity on my third trip to Westbay to look at some of their “garden level” apartments. I was pretty impressed, even though the floor plans were smaller. What was a “dining room” area was eliminated in lieu of extending the kitchen area (which is TOTALLY fine by me).

But I haven’t gotten to what officially sealed the deal for me. For one, it was nice that the girls in the office felt okay giving me the apartment keys and allowing me to tour the units by myself. It’s surprisingly a much calmer experience when I can explore on my own without someone breathing down my neck.

Before moving to the second point, it’s important to point out that a DTN complex was my second choice. It was going to be $595 a month for the apartment I wanted because they had updated the kitchen with new appliances and counter tops. DTN apparently decides rent on a unit-by-unit basis depending on floor, view, updates, and the like. A normal unit with a vastly outdated kitchen was $545.

And now for what made my decision for me. The girl in the office listed out the available garden level apartments for renting and knew that I had enjoyed the previously toured models because they had newly replaced carpeting and some updated (within the last year) appliances. Well, as it turns out, there was a unit that has the following happening to it within the month before I would be moving in: It already got new carpet, it has new vinyl in the kitchen and bathroom, it’s getting a new fridge AND stove AND dishwasher (the previous ones were avocado green and from the 70s. No joke. I guess why this apartment has been unoccupied for the past year?), it has a new AC unit with a remote, and it’s getting new counter tops. Basically, the apartment I’m going to be moving into is completely new in EVERY single aspect. I’m elated, moreover because the price is still a modest $510 for each month (and no extra rent for my kitten).

Oh, and did I mention I’m moving in July? They have a 13 month lease where the first month is free, so there’s no reason for me to live in Abbott Place for the last month when I can move out early and avoid the rush. :)