When I moved from New York to DC, I gave myself two days to find a place to live. This time around, I took a luxurious two and a half -- practically an eternity -- and I'm happy to say that, assuming all goes well with my application (fingers crossed!), I'll be moving into this building next Friday:
The whole process went surprisingly smoothly. The relocation package from Amazon included the services of a rental consultant who did all the legwork in finding the properties and scheduling appointments with the various leasing offices. All I had to do was give her my criteria (walking distance to work, big windows, parking, bike storage, near a Crossfit gym and yoga studio) and then show up.
Of course, a process that runs "surprisingly smoothly" is not the same as a process that runs without its share of irritations. Hunting for a place to live is tedious, annoying work -- not least because the majority of leasing offices are staffed by young people who are good looking and superficially engaging but deficient in attention to detail and common sense. For example, parking is one of the core criteria that I need in a place to live. I told the consultant that I only wanted to see properties that had parking onsite, and it was one of the first things I discussed during my visits. So, when I finally had narrowed my selection down to a single property and began filling out the application form, imagine my surprise when the woman asked me if I would be needing parking and if so when.
"Yes -- as you may recall from every single interaction we've had to date, I will need one parking space as soon as I move in next Friday."
"Oh. Well, the thing is, we don't actually have parking. I mean, we have parking, but there's a waiting list. Until like the middle of June."
Seriously. I'm adding leasing agent to the list of jobs that I'm going to do if this lawyering thing doesn't work out, because if this is the level of talent we're working with at these sorts of properties, then I would be a total rockstar.
But, leasing office staff notwithstanding, I think I've found a good place to live for the next six months while I look for a place to buy. It's in a good neighborhood not far from the waterfront. I'll be within walking distance of the office, a crossfit gym, spinning and yoga studios, the opera house and symphony hall -- and, perhaps most important, I'll be right across the street from the building that I've been stalking since I first saw it back in February:
It's full of beautiful, stylish lofts with giant windos and enough balcony for a fish pond. I have no idea what an ordinary unit would cost (two of the penthouses are on the market for just under $2 million), but I totally want to live there.
Fortunately, on the ground floor of said coveted building is an artisanal cannoli shop:
Given that "Holy Cannoli" is one of Heather's trademark exclamations, I had to stop and try one and have a chat with the owner. Turns out she lives in one of the lofts above and thinks that one of her neighbors might be putting her condo on the market in the next little while. (!!!) So I guess I'll be stopping by often for cannoli and to keep an eye on the real estate. Good thing the cannolo was delicious!
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| I'll be in a one-bedroom corner unit on the 13th floor with high ceilings and views of downtown |
Of course, a process that runs "surprisingly smoothly" is not the same as a process that runs without its share of irritations. Hunting for a place to live is tedious, annoying work -- not least because the majority of leasing offices are staffed by young people who are good looking and superficially engaging but deficient in attention to detail and common sense. For example, parking is one of the core criteria that I need in a place to live. I told the consultant that I only wanted to see properties that had parking onsite, and it was one of the first things I discussed during my visits. So, when I finally had narrowed my selection down to a single property and began filling out the application form, imagine my surprise when the woman asked me if I would be needing parking and if so when.
"Yes -- as you may recall from every single interaction we've had to date, I will need one parking space as soon as I move in next Friday."
"Oh. Well, the thing is, we don't actually have parking. I mean, we have parking, but there's a waiting list. Until like the middle of June."
Seriously. I'm adding leasing agent to the list of jobs that I'm going to do if this lawyering thing doesn't work out, because if this is the level of talent we're working with at these sorts of properties, then I would be a total rockstar.
But, leasing office staff notwithstanding, I think I've found a good place to live for the next six months while I look for a place to buy. It's in a good neighborhood not far from the waterfront. I'll be within walking distance of the office, a crossfit gym, spinning and yoga studios, the opera house and symphony hall -- and, perhaps most important, I'll be right across the street from the building that I've been stalking since I first saw it back in February:
Fortunately, on the ground floor of said coveted building is an artisanal cannoli shop:
Given that "Holy Cannoli" is one of Heather's trademark exclamations, I had to stop and try one and have a chat with the owner. Turns out she lives in one of the lofts above and thinks that one of her neighbors might be putting her condo on the market in the next little while. (!!!) So I guess I'll be stopping by often for cannoli and to keep an eye on the real estate. Good thing the cannolo was delicious!
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| Coconut cannolo |
2 comments:
So when do we get pictures of the interior of the apartment?
I'll post some photos after I move in.
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