Vonnegut loved dogs AND Iowa City, right?
April 16, 2012 4:20 PM Subscribe
Asking for my sister: she is moving to Iowa City for graduate school and taking our large dog with her. She is having a really hard time finding places that accept pets of any kind, let alone big dogs. Any recommendations?
The dog in question is a six year-old, neutered shepherd mix. He is crate-trained and housebroken and, generally, very well-behaved. He barks a little when someone is at the door, but mostly he's quiet. He gets lots of exercise now and will continue to do so next year. We've never had any trouble with him destroying anything or barking incessantly while we're gone.
I know it's early, but my sister and I are both planners, so we're starting to look at what's available now and seeing a lot of listings that won't even consider pets. She is open to living in Coralville, but would like to be in Iowa City. She would like to live by herself, either in a one-bedroom or an efficiency. She's going to move at the end of July, so she needs a place around then.
Does anyone have any recommendations for property management companies in Iowa City that will work with her? Or knowledge of kind and understanding landlords? Or tips on how to to convince landlords to consider your pet? Or a place to rent to her? We are in Austin right now, so she can't really get up there to check it out and meet with people in person (although I have encouraged that).
Thanks so much!
The dog in question is a six year-old, neutered shepherd mix. He is crate-trained and housebroken and, generally, very well-behaved. He barks a little when someone is at the door, but mostly he's quiet. He gets lots of exercise now and will continue to do so next year. We've never had any trouble with him destroying anything or barking incessantly while we're gone.
I know it's early, but my sister and I are both planners, so we're starting to look at what's available now and seeing a lot of listings that won't even consider pets. She is open to living in Coralville, but would like to be in Iowa City. She would like to live by herself, either in a one-bedroom or an efficiency. She's going to move at the end of July, so she needs a place around then.
Does anyone have any recommendations for property management companies in Iowa City that will work with her? Or knowledge of kind and understanding landlords? Or tips on how to to convince landlords to consider your pet? Or a place to rent to her? We are in Austin right now, so she can't really get up there to check it out and meet with people in person (although I have encouraged that).
Thanks so much!
She should bring a picture of the dog (preferably one with the dog looking calm, small, and inoffensive) with her when she looks for a rental. Having found rentals many times for me and my dog(s), it's much easier to rent a small house from whoever owns the place than it is to find an apartment for which the management company will accept pets.
posted by DrGail at 4:44 PM on April 16, 2012
posted by DrGail at 4:44 PM on April 16, 2012
Have you spoken to any of the listings contacts? Or are you just going by what you've seen in print?
For years I moved house with pets, not even considering the listings that said 'No pets'. After years of this, someone said, 'Give them a call, tell them what you have, and ask.' I found that in many cases the agents/landlords were actually okay with pets when I asked. Totally opened up my housing opportunities.
posted by paleyellowwithorange at 4:47 PM on April 16, 2012 [1 favorite]
For years I moved house with pets, not even considering the listings that said 'No pets'. After years of this, someone said, 'Give them a call, tell them what you have, and ask.' I found that in many cases the agents/landlords were actually okay with pets when I asked. Totally opened up my housing opportunities.
posted by paleyellowwithorange at 4:47 PM on April 16, 2012 [1 favorite]
Has she looked at craigslist? I'm not sure of her budget but I just did a search in Iowa City and ticked the "dogs" and "has image" boxes and lots of places came up. She could also look under the "rooms and shares" section - there will often be houses on there where the owner is renting out the entire basement or top floor or something, with minimal shared amenities, making it essentially like living alone. It's often cheaper than renting a whole apartment as well.
posted by triggerfinger at 5:16 PM on April 16, 2012
posted by triggerfinger at 5:16 PM on April 16, 2012
Also she should contact the program where she'll be a student; the secretary or someone can forward an email to the grad listserve for her. She might be able to find a house share situation that way, or at least get advice from current students with dogs.
posted by désoeuvrée at 8:01 PM on April 16, 2012
posted by désoeuvrée at 8:01 PM on April 16, 2012
I know that she wants to stay in Iowa City but the smaller towns around Iowa City will have plenty of places that allow pets. Personally, I would rather be in West Liberty than Coralville.
posted by Foam Pants at 11:31 PM on April 16, 2012
posted by Foam Pants at 11:31 PM on April 16, 2012
The problem is, the apartment/property management companies in Iowa City are all a bunch of crooks. The largest two companies are actually the same company that have been artificially driving up the prices and gouging students for years and years – this company was also fabricating thousands upon thousands of dollars of charges against tenants for damages and repairs that weren't even there when the tenants moved out. I know this because I took pictures of my place before I moved out and compared them to what they had. It was ridiculous.
You're not going to find much in downtown Iowa City that accepts pets because all the landlords are self-serving hacks that are there to screw you over.
You'll want to look in Coralville, in West Liberty, on First Ave.
posted by Modica at 6:27 AM on April 17, 2012
You're not going to find much in downtown Iowa City that accepts pets because all the landlords are self-serving hacks that are there to screw you over.
You'll want to look in Coralville, in West Liberty, on First Ave.
posted by Modica at 6:27 AM on April 17, 2012
As people have stated above, not many of the property management places will allow dogs. (We had a really difficult time finding a place that would accept a cat).
A private landlord is likely to be your sister's best bet. Here's the university's off campus housing list. Also, craigslist would be the other source for private landlords.
In terms of convincing a landlord to take the pet. With the cat, I've found it best tell the landlord that the cat also has references (i.e., she has never destroyed a place) and that her vaccinations are current.
Most of the near campus housing goes quickly, so now really is the time to start looking. If you need any neighborhood suggestions, feel free to memail me.
posted by statsgirl at 7:09 AM on April 17, 2012
A private landlord is likely to be your sister's best bet. Here's the university's off campus housing list. Also, craigslist would be the other source for private landlords.
In terms of convincing a landlord to take the pet. With the cat, I've found it best tell the landlord that the cat also has references (i.e., she has never destroyed a place) and that her vaccinations are current.
Most of the near campus housing goes quickly, so now really is the time to start looking. If you need any neighborhood suggestions, feel free to memail me.
posted by statsgirl at 7:09 AM on April 17, 2012
It's good that she's starting to look now! Especially in Iowa City proper, landlords like to have leases settled early in the spring, since the entire town pretty much goes on the August-July lease timetable.
Close to downtown is pretty slim pickings for pet-friendly places, but the further you get from downtown, the easier it will be to find something. As far as I know, there's only one major landlord downtown that allows dogs, and they're pretty expensive.
Coralville will probably be your best bet for pet-friendly and affordable. You might also consider Oxford, Tiffin, Hills, and North Liberty (although NL is almost as expensive as IC). I wouldn't go as far as West Liberty, though. That's quite a drive!
Memail if you have more questions! I'm a townie and love the shit out of this town.
posted by scarykarrey at 8:19 AM on April 17, 2012
Close to downtown is pretty slim pickings for pet-friendly places, but the further you get from downtown, the easier it will be to find something. As far as I know, there's only one major landlord downtown that allows dogs, and they're pretty expensive.
Coralville will probably be your best bet for pet-friendly and affordable. You might also consider Oxford, Tiffin, Hills, and North Liberty (although NL is almost as expensive as IC). I wouldn't go as far as West Liberty, though. That's quite a drive!
Memail if you have more questions! I'm a townie and love the shit out of this town.
posted by scarykarrey at 8:19 AM on April 17, 2012
The closer you get to downtown the worse the prices and pet friendliness get. Maybe instead try just west of town, when I was looking for a place last year there was typically a couple places near Benton St. that allowed pets and was cheaper than downtown.
Craigslist is going to be your best bet here, if there isn't something ideal listed now keep an eye on it and something will turn up. Avoid the bigger property management companies, from what I've heard they'll just plop you in some box in the "student ghetto" and use the dog (or anything else) as an excuse to keep your security deposit.
I'm another Iowa City townie with an open memail if you have questions about the town.
posted by cirrostratus at 9:18 AM on April 17, 2012
Craigslist is going to be your best bet here, if there isn't something ideal listed now keep an eye on it and something will turn up. Avoid the bigger property management companies, from what I've heard they'll just plop you in some box in the "student ghetto" and use the dog (or anything else) as an excuse to keep your security deposit.
I'm another Iowa City townie with an open memail if you have questions about the town.
posted by cirrostratus at 9:18 AM on April 17, 2012
I moved to that area a few years ago with a similar situation--a medium to large sized dog and moving in at the beginning of August. I think your best bet is to avoid management companies and try to go for private landlords. I ended up finding a great condo in North Liberty through Craigslist. North Liberty is a little far from downtown Iowa City, especially if you want to be out late with friends every weekend, but it's a really nice little community.
posted by McPuppington the Third at 11:08 AM on April 18, 2012
posted by McPuppington the Third at 11:08 AM on April 18, 2012
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by brujita at 4:24 PM on April 16, 2012