Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with apartment and house

Home is where the 'for sale' sign is.

Ziggy500 — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 04:02:48 -0800

My flat has been on the market forever, and nothing has worked out. Advice and encouragement requested. My flat is a studio in a London burb which has been on the market since February (so, not forever exactly, but it feels like it). It is in good condition, in a nice complex, and other flats nearby exactly like it have been sold recently. It's priced realistically (around the same price as the similar flats got sold for). On the minus side, it's a studio flat, and the lease is about 77 years, so not terribly long.

I've had 3 offers for the flat in that time. 2 were later withdrawn by the prospective buyers (they changed their minds). I accepted the 3rd, and we went quite a ways towards exchange and completion before the buyer backed out with no words of explanation, leaving me completely disheartened and a few hundred pounds in legal fees poorer.

I don't know what to do. It is currently still on the market but I'm not having many viewings requested at all. I think that as we get to winter I'm going to have to take it off the market. I don't think it's good for a property to be on the market forever. It is only listed with 1 estate agent.

I like the flat but do not want to live there for ages longer - I need more space. I am feeling extremely discouraged by the thought of being stuck here for months and months. I am looking for practical advice in how to sell it off quickly. But in the absence of that, anecdotes and words of encouragement would be good too!

Cheaper apartment in Denver suburbs Parker, Centennial, or Englewood?

snap_dragon — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 19:18:42 -0800

Have two days next week to find apartment/partial house on small budget in Parker, Centennial, Englewood area of Colorado (outside Denver). 2 adults, $800-850 (before utilities); 1 or 2 bedroom, washer/dryer preferred, quiet and safe....hopefully space for a mini terrier. I am looking at tons of stuff online but trust MeFites input and steeling for the fact that I am probably not going to find much. I am open for a partial house but not sure if Craigslist is safe or trustworthy to look. Any input is appreciated....truly. Excuse any naiviete on my part.

What do I need to know about buying vs renting?

Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 11:56:44 -0800

Teach-Me-About-Renting-Vs-Buying Filter: I'm in my mid-20s and have been in my "grown up job" for about a year now, and it's about time to get my own place. What do I need to know, beyond just comparing rent and mortgage payments? A friend of mine will be back in town this summer to start his job (the offer is already signed and accepted), and we're talking about renting a place together. Given the price of houses and rent (we're talking $80-$115k compared to a median $800 rent) in the suburbs of Milwaukee, it seems like it's worth taking a look at buying.

I know about the NYT calculator, and with our numbers we get a break-even date of 6-8 years down the road.

My questions:
-What other expenses do we need to consider? Is there a way to estimate maintenance and other owner-related costs?
-What exactly does the break-even point mean to us? What does the chart tell us about selling in a few year if our situation changes?
-What am I cluefully ignorant about that I should be asking? What sort of fees are involved with buying a house? Links to things for me to read might be helpful here. I know that 2 people buying a house together has its own special legal and social/relational considerations. I'm not asking about that yet.

Miscellaneous Details
-Neither of us have lived in traditional rental situations before. He's lived in dorms all through school, and I've lived at home except for one year at a school owned townhouse.
-We're both reasonably handy around the house
-Both of our jobs are pretty stable (as much as one can say that). Should anything change in that regard, I could most likely stay put, while he would most likely need to move out of the city, if not the state.
-My gut feeling is biased against renting, so any explanations about the financial pluses of renting could be helpful.

Desperately seeking allhomes.com.au for Adelaide

with the singing green stars as our guide — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 19:41:17 -0800

Does Adelaide have a website like www.allhomes.com.au, which lists all places to rent, regardless of which real estate agent is managing them? My Google-Fu has failed me.

How can I keep my hobbies?

Esefa — Sun, 19 Dec 2010 19:04:34 -0800

I'm looking for a little advice on transitioning from a house to an apartment (specific questions inside) Ive been extremely spoiled for the last 6 years or so by being able to live in a house with a garage. While not a requirement per se, my main hobbies are much less enjoyable without a garage (dirt bikes, working on cars, random wood and metalwork).

Im ready for a change, so its not the end of the world for me to sell my motorcycle and whatnot. My problem is that im not ready to give up maintaining my own vehicles, and I dont see this changing anytime soon.

My (first) question - Im sure im not the only one wanting to work on my bike and truck but minus a garage, so what do you do? Find an abandoned parking lot for minor work?

When I was in the military we had a place on base that had shop stalls and lifts that you could rent by the hour and either bring your own tools or rent theirs. Does a civilian version of this exist?

Second question - Where can I go to do simple woodworking projects? Again, the base had a shop for this too (I never used it but I assume its the same setup as the auto shop). Does this exist off base? Im just looking for a place that has a table saw, some vices and some drills, nothing too complex.

insure my rental?

three bear minimum — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 15:46:34 -0800

Renter's insurance in DC: How do I do this? I live in a house in DC-proper with three other people. We're all on the lease and it's all on the up-and-up. We're looking to get renter's insurance and are a bit confused on what we need, since not a single one of us has every done this before. Can you walk me through it?

So far, we've called around a bit and found that policies only allow 2 people on each plan, so we can't get a single plan for the house (i.e. all four of us). Would it be in our best interest to get two different plans from a single provider? Or are there providers that allow four people on the same plan?

Also, does anyone have any recommendations for insurance companies that do renter's insurance? This question has answers that suggested Safeco and Erie, but that was two years ago and tangential to the actual question. Are those still good? Does it actually matter?

Will this insurance actually cover my possessions if they get damaged/stolen (computers, bicycles)? Is there anything else that I need to know about this?

Should I avoid signing a year-long lease in DC? Can I?

catquas — Sun, 10 Oct 2010 14:08:24 -0800

Should I avoid signing a year-long lease for a room in a group house or shared apartment? Is it reasonable to hold out for month-to-month rent, or will I end up with slim pickings? (I am looking in the DC area) I am moving to the DC area and looking for rooms with housemates or apartment mates. It seems pretty risky to sign a year-long lease with roommates who I don't know and I have no experience living with. Also, I am very sensitive to noise, both during the day (if I am trying to read or something) and the night (trying to sleep). Finally, even if the roommates and noise are not a problem, it still seems that a year is a rather long commitment to make to any place.

I am finding some nice-looking places on craigslist (I am especially looking in the Capitol Hill, Clarendon, and Cleveland Park areas), but most of them seem to require year-long leases. If I focus on month-to-month options it seems I will have very few places to choose from, and maybe higher rents too. What should I do here? If I sign a year-long lease and I need to move, will it be hard to find someone to take it over?

Side question: How long should I expect a thorough housing hunt to take?

(I previously asked a question about where I should live in the DC area)

Home is Where the Hear... oh forget it.

thatbrunette — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 21:55:46 -0800

I'm getting mired in this bog of things falling through. Can I get a little mefi love (and advice?) Context: I am finally at a point in my life where I can settle in (so to speak), get a place that I don't plan to leave for a long while, and turn an apartment in Portland, OR into a real home. I'm talking art on the walls, actual for-real plants (as long as I don't kill them), dinners with friends and neighbours... a HOME.

I work in the NW, and so have been apartment hunting for nearly 3 months in that area.

Currently: I am sharing a one bedroom with someone I don't really know but mostly get along with. Cheap rent. Not my place, so no inviting people over, etc.

Situation 1: Found a darling little one bedroom, a few blocks from where I work. Fell madly in love, but when they found out I had just started my full time job, they demanded a cosigner. I am a.) an orphan, b.) have a significant other but wouldn't cosign with them (I don't think they'd meet the rental criteria anyway). So that apartment was left behind, and I kept searching.

Situation 2. Flash forward through no less than a dozen other apartment walkthroughs, every one a disappointment.

Situation 2. Was shown a perfect corner one bedroom nearby the first apartment. Fell in love again, worked out a time to come back and fill out an application. Was called on that day (today) and told that someone else had expressed interest in the apartment, and since they had lived in the building for 4 years previously, the landlord felt he owed it to them to rent to them.

I just feel so tired, and emotionally drained. I know it sounds so melodramatic to be heartbroken over these apartments, but I have been on my own for a long time, and have always always longed for a place I could make my own. The thought of starting the search yet again is just exhausting.

How can I push past this, and be reasonable? Tell me stories where you didn't get the place/thing you wanted, and ended up with something better. I'd like to say that I know my perfect little NW Portland apartment is waiting for me, but even I know how ridiculous that sounds. :(

Thailand [Krabi] internet and long term accommodation

simplesharps — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 21:46:36 -0800

I'm planning on taking a working holiday mid april for two months (or longer) in Thailand with a friend. I have a few questions... Last year I spent some time in South East Asia and really enjoyed myself. We both like the sounds of Krabi but neither of us have been there.

Would you recommend Krabi or some place else? We like relaxed, green, away for huge cities but not rural living (need internet & gym). We're only going to stay in one spot for the whole time.

Any recommendations on places to rent? Sharing or separate. An apartment or house would be nice. Middle price range - no idea really how much that would be. Close to a gym would be best.

Who would you recommend for high speed internet? What's the speeds we can expect?

Many thanks!

Best apartment search engines for Toronto?

kate blank — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 18:26:25 -0800

Where can I find a decent one-bedroom apartment in Toronto that is NOT in a basement? I've been looking for an apartment in Toronto for about a month or so. It seems like there are tons of apartments but so many of them are in basements, which is an absolute no-go for me.

Neither Craigslist or Kijiji have an option (that I know of) that can exclude basement apartments from search results. Do you know of any apartment search sites for Toronto that will let me exclude basements? Failing that, got a decent one-bedroom near the subway for $1000 a month or under?

(And yes: I know that viewit.ca has an option to exclude basements, but so far, I haven't found anything good there.)

____ is a privilege, not a right!

sixcolors — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 10:13:59 -0800

What are some LESS obvious things that can disqualify someone from obtaning a job, car, or an apartment? I think it's well known that if someone has a criminal record, they'll have a lot of trouble finding employment. Or, if you get a DUI, your driver's license may be suspended or even revoked. But, I'm sure there's less obvious things that can cut off your access to housing, transportation, and employment.

It almost happened to me a few years ago. My father is one of those people who do not like to put his vehicle documents in his glove department or anywhere else in his car. He fears that if someone steals his car, they may steal his identity also, or the thieves may locate his address and stalk him. When I was younger, I let him talk me into doing same thing. Well, I got into a little fender-bender, and the cop asked me for my vehicle documents. I didn't have them, and the cop told me that was a somewhat serious offense. I asked what could happen. He said, depending on my record, I could lose my driving privileges for a year and have to pay a $1000 fine. We did NOT learn about this in drivers ed!

Fortunately, nothing happened, but it was a wake up call that the possiblity of me losing my driving privileges was a lot easier than I previously thought. As I am transitioning into "adult" life, the fear of me not being able access (or losing access to) transportation, housing, and employment is increasing.

So, what are some less obvious things:

1. That could prevent me from getting a job...or get me fired?
2. That could prevent me from buying a new car, having my license revoked/suspended, or having my car repossesed?
3. That could prevent me from renting out a house or apartment?

Do I want to live in Daddy Day Care?

andoatnp — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 07:56:42 -0800

What sort of agreements should I make or information should I consider before moving into an apartment that would be used as a daycare during the day when my roommate and I aren't around? I have a meeting in two days to potentially sign a lease for me and a friend to move into a 3 bedroom apartment as subletters. The apartment would be rented by young parents with a 1 year old son who live in a different apartment in that apartment building. During the day (from 7:30 to 4:30) they would hire a nanny who would watch that child and 3 other one year-old-children in the apartment in the living room and using one of the bedrooms. Theoretically, this will only be happening on weekdays when me and my roommate will both be out of the apartment at school. We would be able to make use of that third bedroom at night when they aren't around as some extra space.

Has anyone ever done anything like this before? What sort of agreements should we have in writing beforehand to guarantee a smooth year for us? After having four babies in our apartment for the day, when we get home at 5 do you think it would be immediately obvious that our apartment was a day care, or might we not even realize? [Is this an insane idea that we should avoid at all costs, and instead seek housing elsewhere?]

For what it's worth, we are in Israel, but all our previous real estate transactions have been similar to how they would be in America, so any advice that would apply in America would probably be helpful for us. I'm not looking for legal advice so much, as wondering about any agreements we should reach with the parents/subleasers beforehand that we should be sure to include in the lease. This is a slightly complicated situation, so please let me know if anything is unclear and I can clarify.

Any advice or comments about this situation would be a big help before we sign the lease in a couple of days. Thanks!

Oh, you want working windows? Yeah, it's gonna be a while.

eatcake — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 19:08:03 -0800

I moved into an apartment in a Victorian house last Friday and about 5 minutes after I start moving in I realize that the windows are in terrible shape. The wood frames have rotted, some windows don't open, some don't close. At least one had a broken frame like it broke when someone was trying to shit the window. A couple have cracked panes. Probably half of them are missing the locking mechanisms so I can't lock them. When I initially went to view the apartment it was being lived in and the windows were covered with shades or curtains. The landlord made a point of telling me how he had just renovated or restored certain parts of the house (floor, kitchen, bathroom) within the last 3 year. But apparently omitted the part about the windows being complete crap.

Before you start telling me I should have know better or done a more thorough inspection before moving in, please don't, I realize that now and it won't help.

He was out of the country for a couple of weeks, returning yesterday, so I couldn't get a hold of him. I also didn't sign the lease he had emailed me previously in anticipation of doing it when he got back. He emails me today to say he's back and to let him know of any residual issues from the previous tenants. Of course I voiced my concerns about the windows (via email), especially relating to security (apt is on the first floor). And I asked him if he had plans to replace them.

My question is: do I have any legal grounds or a reasonable expectation that certain features of a rental apartment (in this case the windows) be at least operational and not falling apart? What can I say to him if he counters with "well, you should've been more thorough when you came to look at the place"? I'm in Melrose MA if it matters.

I guess I'm looking more for ammo for when I speak with him rather than advice on putting plastic sheeting on the windows for insulation and such.

Thank you.

House vs. apartment. Are the costs of maintaining a house roughly less, the same as, or more than levies on a comparably sized apartment?

lottie — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 20:20:39 -0800

House vs. apartment. Are the costs of maintaining a house roughly less, the same as, or more than levies on a comparably sized apartment? I live in and pay the mortgage on a large Sydney apartment (condo, for the US readers) with quite steep quarterly levies of $1000 which cover the maintenance of security parking, pool, spa, sauna, gym, gardens, and a caretaker who we can call at certain hours of the day to report trouble with any of these "trimmings". All very lovely, but $4000 a year is a lot to pay for facilities I can only occasionally make use of. In addition, the body corporate consistantly threaten to introduce eye-wateringly steep "special levies" from time to time to pay for building maintenance. So much so, that I fear missing an apartment meeting because I might miss the chance to know why we're paying an extra $1000 this quarter or other. It happens from time to time, and I'm scared of it.

I have begun fantasising about selling up and buying a similarly sized free-standing house. Doubtless this house would defnitely not have the pool etc that the apartment has. Indeed, it would not even have secure parking, but I figure it might be cheaper in the long run, and things like paint colours externally would be all my choice.

So, am I kididng myself? Do homeowners spend as much on annual maintenance, above and beyond mortgage etc as apartment owners do? More? Is the apartment saving me money because other people are fussing over the business of running the place, leaving me happily ignorant of the day-to-day demands?

Any thoughts about the relative merits? I know this isn't a simple comparison, but perhaps some of you have weighed up a similar thing.

How can I get rent back from a room I need to leave

Anonymous — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 10:27:20 -0800

Scary roommate situation. I want to leave and I'm trying to figure out if I have any way of getting my money back, which I really need to help me get another room. I moved into a room in a 2BR apartment on the 1st of June with a pair of strangers who are husband and wife. Yesterday (the 4th) I woke up to my roommates having a screaming physical fight which included banging in the hall so much that my own bedroom door popped open. I believe that opening was accidental (rather than purposeful at me) but still it was additionally scary.

After 10 minutes husband left the house still screaming angrily and the wife was sobbing in their room for at least 50 minutes after, real sobbing that didn't stop. She wouldn't respond to me and I didn't know what to do for her.

For me it was clear I should leave and take with me my valuables and things that I care about. So I did that, leaving with my large bags, and spent the day wondering how to leave the room and how to get my rent money back which I really need to find a new place. I have spent the night at a friend's place which is not someplace I can stay more than a night.

What they have is two things from me, $450 deposit check and $485 cash I gave on the 1st of June for first month's rent/utilities. They had not cashed the check, so I stopped payment on that after I left their house yesterday morning. So that is safe. Although I'm afraid that will anger the husband more if he finds out I stopped it.

I already know I was stupid to give them money without a lease. I was desperate for a place to live after my previous place for June cancelled, so I moved in this place without a lease.

After I was safely away from the house I left some upset voicemails on the wife's machine (I don't have husband's number). She left me sad messages saying what happened had nothing to do with me and I should please come back, this is my home. That implies to me that she thinks it's okay what happened. Also I'm scared of the husband now. I dont want to sleep in the same house with him especially with a door that doesn't lock or even really latch strongly (old house, not in good repair).

I don't know best approach to try getting the money back. I am clear that I have no legal claim to the money or proof that I gave them money whatsoever. I want to find a way for them to give me part of the 485 back, and I want ideally to get access to take away the rest of my stuff, but the money is much more important than the stuff left behind which is just my air mattress, lamp and smaller items. Also I don't want to be inside the house with the husband.

Most economical way to make your house smell good?

tanminivan — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 00:44:50 -0800

What's the most economical way to make your house/apartment smell good? My apartment doesn't smell bad, but it doesn't really smell good, either. I've tried a few candles, potpourri, aerosol sprays, and plug-in air fresheners that all work at varying degrees of effectiveness, but they usually don't last long and they're expensive.

I already keep my place fairly clean by vacuuming, cleaning the bathroom, disinfecting countertops, sweeping and mopping often. I try to open the windows as much as possible, as weather permits.

I've searched Ask Me, but most questions seem to be on removing odors, not solely providing pleasant ones. I did find this thread at Yahoo Answers where a few people said simmering some water with cinnamon and/or your favorite scent was a pretty good way to make your house smell good. I haven't tried this, but I'd imagine the smell would fade after several hours (correct me if I'm wrong). I'm looking for something more long-term.

So, has anyone found any other low cost ways of improving odors for a long period of time?

(Also, if it helps, I'd have to say my favorite scent is vanilla.)

I don't want a 1000 pound dresser

stedman15 — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 10:45:22 -0800

I'm moving to a new place and need to know what kinds of simple items I can use to furnish my place and keep it looking neat I've just moved to a new apartment. I'm trying to live a spartan lifestyle, so bulky furniture is out. Still, I have some things that cannot be thrown away and need a place to stay.

Do yoiu have any low cost and nonbulky ideas for storage? I don't have very much closet space either, so these should be solutions that can be put into a room without looking too obstrusive or out of place.

Thanks!

Now that I'm out, she's keeping the cash!

dead_ — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 10:47:28 -0800

My landlord won't give me my deposit back. Is there anything I can do? I'll try and keep this as short as possible.

I had to leave my apartment due to the owner deciding to redevelop the property. The lease was terminated legally, and though I wasn't happy about moving out, things never escalated beyond a few impassioned phone calls to the landlord and owner.

Prior to moving I asked my landlord about inspecting the unit and getting the deposit ($585) back. She told me that the building maintenance man would come by and do a walk-through and that I didn't have to worry about it. I told her that was fine. A week later we chatted on the phone and I asked how it went (as I was not home when the man came by). She told me that everything looked fine, that any problems were just, "normal wear and tear on the apartment." I explained to her that the floors were still a bit dirty, and she responded by saying, "Oh, honey, that's no problem, it's normal wear and tear and we're going to steam clean them anyway."

She asked for my new address and told me she would be sending over the check after I had moved out on the 31st.

Well, an envelope came yesterday, sans check. Instead, there was a letter inside that stated aside from taking my belongings with me, I had not completed all of the tasks on the "moveout checklist," and as such would not be getting my deposit back. This checklist was attached to the initial form that had terminated my lease. She included the list with her letter and wrote that all unchecked items had not been taken care of. She also said she had digital pictures of the entire unit if I had any questions.

Now then. My deposit was for $585, and I know that I did not do that much damage to the apartment. The dirtiest part was the carpet--and I admit that it was indeed dirty. Her maintenance man, however, had come through and gave me the all clear on it. She also had said that it was fine and, in her words, "normal wear and tear." I also know for a fact that other tenants received free steam cleanings of their carpets from her, and I had brought up the quality of the carpet numerous times with her. Not all of the damage to it took place during my lease anyway.

The rest of the apartment was just fine. There was no damage to walls, appliances or windows. Aside from one broken light fixture (maybe $10), there was literally nothing wrong. I did not leave the apartment sparkling clean, but it was completely empty, vacuumed and wiped down.

As for the moveout checklist she had attached, it contained menial cleaning duties like "wipe down the counters" and "clean out the refrigerator." All of the items were unchecked, even though I had completed nearly 90 percent of them. For example, "mop the kitchen floor" was unchecked, even though I had mopped it. The few items that I actually hadn't completed were along the same lines: "dust the blinds," "clean out the bathtub," and "remove the shower curtain." (Which I might add was there when I rented the apartment to begin with! That's why I left it!)

I am livid about this situation, because I took good care of the apartment, and I feel as though my landlord is simply trying to screw me out of money. She hasn't answered or returned my phone calls yet, and even if she were to get a hold of me, I am unsure what to do! I'm in Nebraska, if that makes any difference.

Is there anything I can do to get my money back? What is the best way to proceed with this? Help!

Finding quiet rental properties

antipasta_explosion — Wed, 04 Jul 2007 20:53:27 -0800

What are some good tips for finding a quiet rental property or apartment? I am an author and work from home a lot, so my work quality of course depends on being able to concentrate at my place of residence. I don't mind normal neighborhood noise and weekend parties, but it gets to be a problem when there's 2 am outdoor drinking on Tuesdays, boom car owners, stereos left on all night, and that kind of thing. I live in Texas, so we're talking about suburban houses for rent and apartment complexes.

Obviously the thing to do is walk past a property at 7 pm on a weekday and visit again on the weekend, to scope things out. In regards to apartments, comments on apartmentratings.com seem to give some perspective, if all the "wonderful community and friendly staff" shilling can be reliably weeded out.

A lot of this is common sense, I'm sure, but I want to have my ducks in a row. Are there any tips or observations you have for picking out a pleasant surrounding to settle down in? Are there any warning flags I should be looking out for? Personal anecdotes and stories are welcomed.

Choosing between size, safety, location in an LA rental.

crabintheocean — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 10:30:46 -0800

Priorities when choosing somewhere to live? Safety? Size? Location? As new parents to be in an expensive city, help us decide what we can give up. As previously discussed my wife and I are moving to Los Angeles in the next couple of months, and trying to make a baby in a similar time frame, and we're trying to narrow down our housing search with a view to my flying out for a week in early September and getting us a place. It's starting to look like we can't afford what we want, and I'd appreciate some advice from anyone who's made a similar decision (not just from LA folks), on what we should prioritize.

We're in our mid twenties and both make around $60,000 right now (with the expectation of more in the next few years, but not a lot more). However, we're determined that one of us stay home with the kid for a couple of years, so I want us to be able to live on $60,000 + small amounts of money I can get from working here and there. I think that means we can just about manage $1800 a month for rent.

Now it gets messy, I really really want to live in Los Feliz, or just south of there in East Hollywood near a metro station. We would also think about Pasadena etc near the gold line. I really don't want to live in a big concrete housing complex (see Northridge/the big one etc) I want to find us a little wooden house. I also think we need two bedrooms (baby, and family who visit from abroad often). It doesn't look like we can get all this for $1800, so what gives?

I'm starting to get a little whiny and discouraged - I don't want to move from one piece of isolated suburbia to another, or condemn my wife to a two hour car commute. I don't want to be crushed to death, or scared of it all the time, and I don't think we can have a baby, plus my family to stay with just one bedroom (I also mostly work from home right now). But unless there's some magic answer I haven't thought about (go into debt? take less time off work?), I need to suck up one of those options, so folks in LA, folks with babies, folks with apartments... I would appreciate your wisdom.

songs about communal living

bollockovnikov — Wed, 16 May 2007 07:36:48 -0800

I have to do a mix tape at work and the subject that I got lumbered with was songs about communal living. Assitance in this matter would be greatly appreciated! Some ideas so far:

Rolling Stones - Gimme Shelter
Our House - Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young
Set The House Ablaze - The Jam
In my room - Beach Boys
Leaf House - Animal Collective
Apartment Song - Do Make Say Think
Burning Down The House - Talking Heads
House of Jealous Lovers - The Rapture
Nice People - Devendra Banhart
It's too Funky in Here - James Brown
Stick Together - Minnie Riperton
Playin' with my Friends - BB King
Welcome to The Machine - Pink Floyd
When I get Home - The Beatles
You Never Give me Your Money - The Beatles
You Won't See me - The Beatles
Love the One You're with - Aretha Franklin
What the F*ck You Want? - Busta Ryhmes
I'm Lost at Home - Devo
Where Have you Been? Medeski, Martin and Wood
Back to the old House - The Smiths
anything by Crowded House

Plus, iTunes searching makes finding 'House' related music a breeze:

Empty House - Air
A House is not a Home - Field Music
A House - Doves
Open House - Duke Ellington
A House is not a Motel - Love
House of Reggae - Burning Spear
House Music - St. Germain
Black Mother F*cka in the House - Prince
Here is the house - Depeche Mode
My Head is my House Unless it Rains - Captain Beefheart

here I dreamt I was an architect

metabrilliant — Sun, 17 Sep 2006 18:08:50 -0800

What would you leave behind in your home for succeeding residents? What do you wish someone else had left for you? When my father and his siblings sold my grandparents' house a few years ago (after they had lived there for fifty years), they left behind several things that they thought the new owners might wish to have: blueprints of the house, old maps and guidebooks to the town, etc. Nothing terribly personal, as they never met the family moving in. I thought this was a really nice idea worth adopting. I've always been the kind of kid who likes to go around exploring all the nooks and crannies of wherever it is I inhabit. Discovering old things people leave behind is a thrill. Anything from old maps and photos to time capsules and secret caches.

So, have ever you ever left something behind for someone you didn't know (whether openly or in secret)? What, if anything, has been left in the places that you've lived? What do you think you'd like to find in a new house?

Also, what other sorts of things can you think of to leave behind? Standard time capsule things such as newspaper clippings are good, but bonus points for more creative suggestions. Artistic photos? Scrapbooks?

Need help convincing my landlord to accept a shortened notice to vacate my apartment.

sjvilla79 — Mon, 21 Nov 2005 22:40:18 -0800

Need help convincing my landlord to accept a shortened notice to vacate my apartment. I forgot to give 28 days notice for plans to vacate my rented apartment and now I need to convince my landlord to accept a shortened notice of two weeks instead. I'm putting this to him in an email that will be sent and interpreted to him via the property's agent and would like to know what tact I should employ with my approach.

History: I've been renting this apartment for almost two years now. Never had any major problems and have been a good tenant. I still feel, though, that this email is really make or break for me. I mean it may end up costing me over $500 if it doesn't work out. Worried!

Anyway, with my email, how do I come across firm, fair and ultimately conscious of the fact that this puts my landlord in an unsatisfactory business position? Yes, I think it's fair to say that I should forget about counting on human emotion to favour my cause (e.g. sympathy and so on). Um, what options do I have left?

Apartment shopping for underpaid, undergrad hipsters?

electric_counterpoint — Wed, 26 Oct 2005 23:05:12 -0800

General advice for college students trying to find their first apartment? My girlfriend and I are moving in together next year. She'll have graduated, I'll be a senior, we're in beautiful Ann Arbor, MI, USA. Oh, complicating matters, she's studying and working an hour away from the city, and I'm in Washington, DC. So theres' that. I'm just looking for general tips. Right now we're just looking around and making calls to set up tours. I trust her to look over the places, since I'm a plane ride away, but it complicates things.

Anything I should know when talking to (potential) landlords?
Bargaining strategies?
Signs of trouble?

What's the best way to keep my apartment clean of dust?

sjvilla79 — Sun, 11 Sep 2005 20:25:03 -0800

What's the best way to keep my apartment clean of dust? For some odd reason my apartment appears to be a massive attractant to dust. I've looked into perhaps buying an air purifier to limit the problem although I'm unsure as to if that's what such a product is used for (plus the good ones seem to cost a bomb). So, short of good old housework and thus more routine cleaning on my behalf (I want to avoid this if possible), how can I keep my apartment dust free? At the moment it's driving me nuts. Within a day I can have a film of dust over any item that's stationary. Help me bust the dust!