Move to a larger/nicer but higher rent apartment due to work from home?
September 8, 2020 4:28 PM Subscribe
My partner and I are working from home for the foreseeable future. We currently live in an apartment we’ve never loved, but it is serviceable and the rent is low for our area. Now that we’re home almost all the time, should we move to an apartment that is larger and nicer, but with higher (yet still in our budget) rent?
Some context: My partner and I (no kids) live in a high cost-of-living area of the U.S., where we have rented the same apartment for the past four years. We are both fortunate to have jobs and to be working remotely for the foreseeable future. The layout of our current apartment isn’t the best for two people working from home. It could definitely be worse, but we think we’d enjoy being in an apartment where we could each have designated office spaces with a little more physical separation. My work often requires deep concentration, while my partner’s work requires lots of Zoom meetings, which partner often leads or has a large role in facilitating. Similarly, it would be nice to have more delineation between work space vs. living space. We are also interested in an overall aesthetic upgrade from our current unit.
We just toured an apartment that we liked a lot. But, we are hesitating because: 1) The rent is higher than what we currently pay, despite being within our budget, and 2) Our long-term plan is to move out of the region once the pandemic is over. If things return to normal in a year or so, we’d probably look to move out of state. It would be nice to avoid the hassle and expense of moving again in 10-12 months, assuming the pandemic is over by then. (For reasons I won’t get into here, we aren’t able to move out of the region right now despite being able to work from home, but are hopeful we can do so post-pandemic.)
Here are some more details about our current apartment and the apartment we are considering:
Current Apartment
Should we move to the new apartment? Has anyone else here moved to a larger/nicer but more expensive place because of COVID/work from home? If so, are you glad you did?
Some context: My partner and I (no kids) live in a high cost-of-living area of the U.S., where we have rented the same apartment for the past four years. We are both fortunate to have jobs and to be working remotely for the foreseeable future. The layout of our current apartment isn’t the best for two people working from home. It could definitely be worse, but we think we’d enjoy being in an apartment where we could each have designated office spaces with a little more physical separation. My work often requires deep concentration, while my partner’s work requires lots of Zoom meetings, which partner often leads or has a large role in facilitating. Similarly, it would be nice to have more delineation between work space vs. living space. We are also interested in an overall aesthetic upgrade from our current unit.
We just toured an apartment that we liked a lot. But, we are hesitating because: 1) The rent is higher than what we currently pay, despite being within our budget, and 2) Our long-term plan is to move out of the region once the pandemic is over. If things return to normal in a year or so, we’d probably look to move out of state. It would be nice to avoid the hassle and expense of moving again in 10-12 months, assuming the pandemic is over by then. (For reasons I won’t get into here, we aren’t able to move out of the region right now despite being able to work from home, but are hopeful we can do so post-pandemic.)
Here are some more details about our current apartment and the apartment we are considering:
Current Apartment
- Rent is definitely on the low end for our area.
- Rent includes all utilities except internet.
- Landlord has not raised the rent in the four years we’ve lived here.
- Everything in the apartment is serviceable—the appliances work, it’s quiet enough to sleep soundly at night, good water pressure in the shower, etc.
- Landlord promptly fixes things that are broken or in disrepair, but rarely initiates upgrades. Partially as a result…
- …we have never liked the aesthetics. Several things around the apartment could really use an upgrade, despite not being technically broken. For example, much of the apartment has old wall to wall carpeting in non-neutral colors. There are noticeable stains and areas of wear in the carpet (we’ve tried to cover the carpet with areas rugs as best we can). A couple tiles in the bathroom have been held in place with tape since we moved in. The ceilings are very low throughout, and some parts of the ceiling are angled/slanted, which makes the ceiling even lower in some places.
- If we stay here, we don’t have to deal with the hassle and expense of moving.
- Short commutes (~10-15 minutes) in the unlikely event we have to go back to the office.
- Month-to-month lease.
- Monthly rent is $450 more than what we pay now. Assuming no changes in employment status, my partner and I are confident we can pay the additional rent without straining our budget. In fact, the $450 is a little more than the monthly payment on the car we just paid off, so we could easily direct those funds to rent instead. At the same time, this is $450 less per month we can put into savings.
- No utilities included.
- Potential landlord has already alluded to potentially raising the rent at the end of the first year’s lease.
- Otherwise, we had an overall positive impression of the landlord. They really seemed to care about keeping the unit in good condition and plan to make some repairs/upgrades before the new tenants move in.
- The apartment is larger, more modern, and more updated than our current place. Everything just looked so much nicer! There is enough space for us to spread out into separate “office” rooms and maintain a work-free living room area. High ceilings, large kitchen, good lighting/lots of windows.
- Overall, we feel excited about the idea of living in the new apartment and could see ourselves waking up every day and enjoying the space. But then I second guess myself and wonder if this feeling will fade and we will just regret spending more money.
- Commutes would be about the same as they are now in the unlikely event we had to go back to the office. (Slightly shorter commute for me; slightly longer commute for my partner).
- Would have to deal with the hassle and expense of moving (and potentially moving again in 10-12 months or so if things are back to pre-COVID status by then and we decide to move out of state).
- One-year lease.
Should we move to the new apartment? Has anyone else here moved to a larger/nicer but more expensive place because of COVID/work from home? If so, are you glad you did?
What percent of your current rent is $450, approximately?
posted by ClaireBear at 4:42 PM on September 8, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by ClaireBear at 4:42 PM on September 8, 2020 [1 favorite]
We just moved last month solely for additional office space. While the smaller apartment was tolerable, having a dedicated office space and nicer surroundings in general did wonders for our mental health.
With the new apartment you would be paying utilities on top of the monthly rent increase - are you counting your utilities in the $450 or would you be adding additional cost on top of the rent increase?
posted by daikaisho at 4:43 PM on September 8, 2020 [8 favorites]
With the new apartment you would be paying utilities on top of the monthly rent increase - are you counting your utilities in the $450 or would you be adding additional cost on top of the rent increase?
posted by daikaisho at 4:43 PM on September 8, 2020 [8 favorites]
It sounds like you have a good relationship with your current landlord. This is gold. Offer to pay for some upgrades - new carpet, or tile repair - and bank the rest. Save the extra $450 a month, your future self will love you for it.
posted by niicholas at 4:47 PM on September 8, 2020 [16 favorites]
posted by niicholas at 4:47 PM on September 8, 2020 [16 favorites]
- make it do or do without
- hedonic treadmill
posted by aniola at 4:50 PM on September 8, 2020 [4 favorites]
- hedonic treadmill
posted by aniola at 4:50 PM on September 8, 2020 [4 favorites]
Is there a reason these two apartments are the only options?
posted by mskyle at 4:51 PM on September 8, 2020 [3 favorites]
posted by mskyle at 4:51 PM on September 8, 2020 [3 favorites]
We did this earlier this spring and it was excellent for mental health, but very difficult logistically (and hard on our bodies, because we were doing a socially distanced move). Also, we were escaping a toxic landlord and bigoted small town. Must admit that the rent increase has had an impact on our savings. Sounds like you have a pretty good setup, overall. 2nding what Rock 'em Sock 'em says about making improvements to the affordable place.
posted by Miss T.Horn at 4:51 PM on September 8, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by Miss T.Horn at 4:51 PM on September 8, 2020 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: In response to some of the questions that have come up so far:
Same neighborhood?
Just about. The new place is a 10 minute drive away in a very similar neighborhood.
What percent of your current rent is $450, approximately?
Approximately 30%.
Are you counting your utilities in the $450 or would you be adding additional cost on top of the rent increase?
Utilities would be additional, on top of the $450 rent increase.
posted by oiseau at 4:52 PM on September 8, 2020
Same neighborhood?
Just about. The new place is a 10 minute drive away in a very similar neighborhood.
What percent of your current rent is $450, approximately?
Approximately 30%.
Are you counting your utilities in the $450 or would you be adding additional cost on top of the rent increase?
Utilities would be additional, on top of the $450 rent increase.
posted by oiseau at 4:52 PM on September 8, 2020
I would be tempted to do it. But as another possibility, try posting on Craigslist/Nextdoor to find someone with a backyard studio in your neighborhood that you could potentially rent as an office. In my area people are renting out apts/rooms for that purpose (I think they might have been Airbnbs in the past).
posted by pinochiette at 4:58 PM on September 8, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by pinochiette at 4:58 PM on September 8, 2020 [1 favorite]
I'd stay put.
This bit about your potential new landlord:
"They really seemed to care about keeping the unit in good condition and plan to make some repairs/upgrades before the new tenants move in.
Plus this bit:
Potential landlord has already alluded to potentially raising the rent at the end of the first year’s lease.
remind me a lot of landlords who view the tenants as an unpleasant necessity occupying their investment. The last dude I had like that assumed any maintenance request - even routine stuff - was because we'd broken/mistreated/stolen fixtures and features and did everything in his power to make us pay for them. He was a colossal shit and we had to move ASAP.
A good relationship with a solid landlord who is prompt and attentive is way more valuable to me personally than taking a punt on a new guy with a good chance to be a malignant force in your life.
I'd take that $450 a week (plus what you'd be spending on utilities) and use it to improve where you currently are. Your good landlord may well be amenable to dealing with the crappy carpet and damaged tiles if you ask, especially if you offer to chip in for the bigger expenses.
posted by Jilder at 5:15 PM on September 8, 2020 [17 favorites]
This bit about your potential new landlord:
"They really seemed to care about keeping the unit in good condition and plan to make some repairs/upgrades before the new tenants move in.
Plus this bit:
Potential landlord has already alluded to potentially raising the rent at the end of the first year’s lease.
remind me a lot of landlords who view the tenants as an unpleasant necessity occupying their investment. The last dude I had like that assumed any maintenance request - even routine stuff - was because we'd broken/mistreated/stolen fixtures and features and did everything in his power to make us pay for them. He was a colossal shit and we had to move ASAP.
A good relationship with a solid landlord who is prompt and attentive is way more valuable to me personally than taking a punt on a new guy with a good chance to be a malignant force in your life.
I'd take that $450 a week (plus what you'd be spending on utilities) and use it to improve where you currently are. Your good landlord may well be amenable to dealing with the crappy carpet and damaged tiles if you ask, especially if you offer to chip in for the bigger expenses.
posted by Jilder at 5:15 PM on September 8, 2020 [17 favorites]
The apartment you toured isn’t the right place for you — if it was, you would be moving forward without hesitation. Your current apartment doesn’t sound great either. I think the perfect place is still out there. When you see it you’ll know.
posted by kate blank at 6:02 PM on September 8, 2020 [8 favorites]
posted by kate blank at 6:02 PM on September 8, 2020 [8 favorites]
I would keep looking for a new apartment and be at peace w/ paying more. Your apartment is where you spend your time for like what? 99% of your hours these days? It is absolutely worth making your work hours less miserable and your non-work hours better.
It does sound like there are potentially drawbacks with this particular apartment -- in a time when people are not making rent, this landlord is out of touch. I think you'll likely be able to get a better deal. Look at 2 more apartments, and if this new place is the best of the bunch (and is still available), then know you've done your due diligence, explored your options, and are making a reasonable choice.
posted by ellerhodes at 6:04 PM on September 8, 2020 [5 favorites]
It does sound like there are potentially drawbacks with this particular apartment -- in a time when people are not making rent, this landlord is out of touch. I think you'll likely be able to get a better deal. Look at 2 more apartments, and if this new place is the best of the bunch (and is still available), then know you've done your due diligence, explored your options, and are making a reasonable choice.
posted by ellerhodes at 6:04 PM on September 8, 2020 [5 favorites]
I feel like I could have written a lot of this question, and we are currently considering moving somewhere bigger/better suited to our new lifestyle. However, it seems like in your head you have 2 options: stay where you are or move to this particular apartment. I wonder if there's a third option: somewhere else. Perhaps think about what you needed when you moved to current place, which you no longer need because of your new lifestyle - can you find somewhere that's not quite such a hike in your rent by e.g. moving to a neighbourhood that is cheaper but less of a good commute to your previous workplaces? I also agree with others who have concerns about the vibes from the new landlord.
posted by Cheese Monster at 6:20 PM on September 8, 2020 [3 favorites]
posted by Cheese Monster at 6:20 PM on September 8, 2020 [3 favorites]
There's so many good things about your current apartment that may be awful in the new one and you just don't know about them yet. I'd be really cautious about moving somewhere that costs so much more (utilities can be expensive!) that may end up being worse than where you are now, especially if you'll be moving again in a year. I'd figure out what you would have spent on moving expenses, and put that towards improving your current space, and how you are able to work in that space in particular. What about getting the kind of desks that close up so that all your office stuff is hidden when not in use? They make them small enough that you may even be able to put one of them in a different room so the two of you can get a little distance from each other. Painting can also really freshen up a home, and is a lot less work than moving.
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 6:21 PM on September 8, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 6:21 PM on September 8, 2020 [2 favorites]
Obviously consider the realities of doing this in your area, but I know in my city there are lots of coworking spaces that are individual offices. To get out of the house every once in a while it might be worth it while still saving money.
posted by raccoon409 at 6:32 PM on September 8, 2020 [4 favorites]
posted by raccoon409 at 6:32 PM on September 8, 2020 [4 favorites]
Don’t forget to factor in the cost of moving when you are calculating cost at the new place. Moving is really expensive.
posted by sevensnowflakes at 6:54 PM on September 8, 2020 [6 favorites]
posted by sevensnowflakes at 6:54 PM on September 8, 2020 [6 favorites]
I think the rent increase plus utilities makes this not ideal financially, and I think your gut agrees, but I also think it depends on what percentage of your income the new rent would take. However, and this is a BIG HOWEVER, do not underestimate how much your living space can effect your mental health, especially right now. You're probably spending more time in your apartment than you ever have before. Your work and life space are all smushed together as are you and your partner. You likely aren't spending as much money on restaurants/movies/travel/fun in general. There's so much you can't control right now, but if you have the ability to control your living space and make it as comfortable, functional, and joyful as possible, that feels like an investment in mental health and happiness to me.
My spouse and I just spent some money we weren't pumped to spend turning our spare bedroom into a proper office and furnishing a little reading nook in the corner of our bedroom. It has made such an enormous difference! We're less cranky, less stir-crazy, and more productive. If you were already not thrilled with your apartment, I wouldn't be surprised if it's wearing on you by this point in the pandemic.
In a year, if this is all over, a one-year lease will be over too. If you want to move, you can still move. Saving money is of course a very good thing, but it's not the only good thing. Enriching the life you have now is valuable, too, especially in a time as challenging as our current one is when there's no clear end in sight. The new apartment you're considering may not be the right choice for your budget, but that doesn't mean you have to stay put.
posted by mostlymartha at 7:46 PM on September 8, 2020 [4 favorites]
My spouse and I just spent some money we weren't pumped to spend turning our spare bedroom into a proper office and furnishing a little reading nook in the corner of our bedroom. It has made such an enormous difference! We're less cranky, less stir-crazy, and more productive. If you were already not thrilled with your apartment, I wouldn't be surprised if it's wearing on you by this point in the pandemic.
In a year, if this is all over, a one-year lease will be over too. If you want to move, you can still move. Saving money is of course a very good thing, but it's not the only good thing. Enriching the life you have now is valuable, too, especially in a time as challenging as our current one is when there's no clear end in sight. The new apartment you're considering may not be the right choice for your budget, but that doesn't mean you have to stay put.
posted by mostlymartha at 7:46 PM on September 8, 2020 [4 favorites]
Assuming you have an ok amount of savings......
Do it! Move! I just did, and having more space is doing wonders for my mental health. Think of all the cash you’re saving on pre-pandemic expenses anyway, like clothes, going out, the gym - it all adds up. To save more, maybe consider moving out of the city now instead of a year from now.
This hot take goes DOUBLE if you live somewhere that’s getting cold soon. 1 year in a pandemic is a long time, especially when you can’t hang out in the park. This is an investment in your well-being and relationship.
posted by jessca84 at 8:15 PM on September 8, 2020 [4 favorites]
Do it! Move! I just did, and having more space is doing wonders for my mental health. Think of all the cash you’re saving on pre-pandemic expenses anyway, like clothes, going out, the gym - it all adds up. To save more, maybe consider moving out of the city now instead of a year from now.
This hot take goes DOUBLE if you live somewhere that’s getting cold soon. 1 year in a pandemic is a long time, especially when you can’t hang out in the park. This is an investment in your well-being and relationship.
posted by jessca84 at 8:15 PM on September 8, 2020 [4 favorites]
Don't do it.
Things are really volatile right now. Everything will be clearer in a year, when you can think about moving out of state. It won't be that long.
Finishes aren't everything. I've seen a lot of shoddy construction and cheap "upgrades" that look sort of magazine-nice on first pass, but turn out to be crappy materials.
That landlord sounds sketchy. If you decide to move, calculate with the expectation of a 10% rent increase each year you're there.
Moving is dramatically expensive. If you get movers and a van, it's going to start at $3000. If you do it yourself, you are going to put yourselves through a lot of added stress. There are a lot of ancillary expenses - boxes, wrapping, tape, meals you order out because you just can't. You also have the process of tying up funds in security/first/last and sometimes other deposits and account setups.
Moving is one of the most psychologically disruptive things you can do. Even when it's for a great reason, it's exhausting and a massive project. You don't want to do it twice in as many years. Take it from one who knows.
"$450 a month" is one thing. "5000 a year" sounds pretty different. That's the difference you're talking about - before utilities. Would you turn down a $5000 raise? If you take the advice of others here and decide to make changes to your current home and lifestyle instead, you could figure you have a budget of up to $5000 and still come out ahead. So maybe that's upgrades to your current place, renting a studio, or joining a coworking space.
Make it a practice not to live at the top of your budget, and you'll never have to panic.
posted by Miko at 8:54 PM on September 8, 2020 [6 favorites]
Things are really volatile right now. Everything will be clearer in a year, when you can think about moving out of state. It won't be that long.
Finishes aren't everything. I've seen a lot of shoddy construction and cheap "upgrades" that look sort of magazine-nice on first pass, but turn out to be crappy materials.
That landlord sounds sketchy. If you decide to move, calculate with the expectation of a 10% rent increase each year you're there.
Moving is dramatically expensive. If you get movers and a van, it's going to start at $3000. If you do it yourself, you are going to put yourselves through a lot of added stress. There are a lot of ancillary expenses - boxes, wrapping, tape, meals you order out because you just can't. You also have the process of tying up funds in security/first/last and sometimes other deposits and account setups.
Moving is one of the most psychologically disruptive things you can do. Even when it's for a great reason, it's exhausting and a massive project. You don't want to do it twice in as many years. Take it from one who knows.
"$450 a month" is one thing. "5000 a year" sounds pretty different. That's the difference you're talking about - before utilities. Would you turn down a $5000 raise? If you take the advice of others here and decide to make changes to your current home and lifestyle instead, you could figure you have a budget of up to $5000 and still come out ahead. So maybe that's upgrades to your current place, renting a studio, or joining a coworking space.
Make it a practice not to live at the top of your budget, and you'll never have to panic.
posted by Miko at 8:54 PM on September 8, 2020 [6 favorites]
We're in a similar situation. We're planning on moving. Rents in our area are historically low and for us, paying 30% more in rent to get a 90% bigger apartment is a no-brainer. I wasted a lot of time listening to Internet advice about the hedonic treadmill and living below my means and being grateful that at least my landlord wasn't an axe murderer and my next door neighbor wasn't a WFH carpenter and so on. Now I pay a bunch more in rent but still live below my means and no longer reside in the apartment described in this Onion article. (Seriously, that article was accurate to an uncanny degree.) I appreciate the nicer apartment every single day and my only regret is not having moved to a better place six years earlier than I did. That said, other posters are correct that you should a) make sure you are considering the total cost of moving is within your budget and b) clarify with the landlord their plans for rent increases past the first year.
posted by phoenixy at 9:44 PM on September 8, 2020 [6 favorites]
posted by phoenixy at 9:44 PM on September 8, 2020 [6 favorites]
... Assuming no changes in employment status, my partner and I are confident that we can pay the additional rent without straining our budget ...
Because I work in a field that is not thriving, I may be looking through dishwater-colored glasses. That said: If I were you, I'd be wary of taking on an additional financial commitment at this weird time unless my partner and I were both as safe as houses (so to speak) in terms of our employment.
posted by virago at 3:46 AM on September 9, 2020 [2 favorites]
Because I work in a field that is not thriving, I may be looking through dishwater-colored glasses. That said: If I were you, I'd be wary of taking on an additional financial commitment at this weird time unless my partner and I were both as safe as houses (so to speak) in terms of our employment.
posted by virago at 3:46 AM on September 9, 2020 [2 favorites]
Find out what the utilities will be. In many places you get get estimates from the utility companies.
If you're both secure in your jobs, a 33% rent increase for what sounds like a much larger place would be pretty reasonable, given that you're likely to spend 90+% of your time in the next year or so in it. I've got a separate office at home (I've been 70-100% telecommuting for the past 4 years) and I really like the physical separation of work/personal space. And I've got physical separation from my housemate who is now working from home as well and has to be on the phone a lot.
On the other hand, in my experience, moving tends to chew up about 2 weeks of time in my experience and is stressful, even without covid. If working on top of each other hasn't started strongly affecting your relationship, it's worth just battening down the hatches in your good enough current place and put some of the saved money aside for a nice vacation when it's safe to do so.
posted by Candleman at 6:19 AM on September 9, 2020 [1 favorite]
If you're both secure in your jobs, a 33% rent increase for what sounds like a much larger place would be pretty reasonable, given that you're likely to spend 90+% of your time in the next year or so in it. I've got a separate office at home (I've been 70-100% telecommuting for the past 4 years) and I really like the physical separation of work/personal space. And I've got physical separation from my housemate who is now working from home as well and has to be on the phone a lot.
On the other hand, in my experience, moving tends to chew up about 2 weeks of time in my experience and is stressful, even without covid. If working on top of each other hasn't started strongly affecting your relationship, it's worth just battening down the hatches in your good enough current place and put some of the saved money aside for a nice vacation when it's safe to do so.
posted by Candleman at 6:19 AM on September 9, 2020 [1 favorite]
I've never hired people to move - always got a friend with a van to help, though this was before we had actual furniture - but even then, it's expensive to do.
The difference in purely financial terms is $5500 a year. What else could you do with that money? Would you want to do that more than pay for the extra space?
posted by mippy at 6:50 AM on September 9, 2020
The difference in purely financial terms is $5500 a year. What else could you do with that money? Would you want to do that more than pay for the extra space?
posted by mippy at 6:50 AM on September 9, 2020
I don't have a strong yes or no vote, but I guess if you can afford it and you like the place, go for it. On the other hand, you could save the extra money and have that much more when you are ready to move out of state.
As others have mentioned, utilities will add more to your budget. I pay for electric, cable, internet in my apartment. Also, my rent does increase each year.
You don't mention parking, I assume that is not an issue in either location.
If your jobs are secure, that is great! But I would still make sure you have enough savings to float for a period of time (6 months or so).
Moving is a huge endeavor, if at all possible, I'd hire it out, so that will be another couple of thousand anyway...
good luck!
posted by rhonzo at 8:00 AM on September 9, 2020
As others have mentioned, utilities will add more to your budget. I pay for electric, cable, internet in my apartment. Also, my rent does increase each year.
You don't mention parking, I assume that is not an issue in either location.
If your jobs are secure, that is great! But I would still make sure you have enough savings to float for a period of time (6 months or so).
Moving is a huge endeavor, if at all possible, I'd hire it out, so that will be another couple of thousand anyway...
good luck!
posted by rhonzo at 8:00 AM on September 9, 2020
Consider alternatives to moving:
1. Rent co-working spaces for a few days every month so you can have someplace quiet (and different!) to get away to on a regular basis.
2. Spend $1000 - $1500 to really spruce up your current apartment - get a deep clean, sleek and functional (maybe foldaway?) work furniture, a lovely rug to cover up your ugly carpet, noise-cancelling headphones for you, and lovely candles/scents/fresh indoor plants for an aroma makeover.
3. Spend a weekend at an airbnb every month for a change of scene if you are going crazy at home.
IMO you should only move if you truly loathe and hate your apartment and find it so unbearable that it's messing with your mental health. It doesn't sound like it is! It's just.. blah and dingy, a bit cramped, and very boring right now. These issues can be alleviated and you'll thank yourself a year from now when you see all the money you banked!
posted by MiraK at 8:43 AM on September 9, 2020 [2 favorites]
1. Rent co-working spaces for a few days every month so you can have someplace quiet (and different!) to get away to on a regular basis.
2. Spend $1000 - $1500 to really spruce up your current apartment - get a deep clean, sleek and functional (maybe foldaway?) work furniture, a lovely rug to cover up your ugly carpet, noise-cancelling headphones for you, and lovely candles/scents/fresh indoor plants for an aroma makeover.
3. Spend a weekend at an airbnb every month for a change of scene if you are going crazy at home.
IMO you should only move if you truly loathe and hate your apartment and find it so unbearable that it's messing with your mental health. It doesn't sound like it is! It's just.. blah and dingy, a bit cramped, and very boring right now. These issues can be alleviated and you'll thank yourself a year from now when you see all the money you banked!
posted by MiraK at 8:43 AM on September 9, 2020 [2 favorites]
Moving is dramatically expensive. If you get movers and a van, it's going to start at $3000.
I mean, I'm sure it can be, but moving apartments within a city is definitely not Always this expensive. I've never paid more than $900 for a professional in-city move and that's after tipping generously. Get some free quotes from companies and see what you're dealing with before you decide the moving expenses are too much.
posted by We put our faith in Blast Hardcheese at 8:58 AM on September 9, 2020 [1 favorite]
I mean, I'm sure it can be, but moving apartments within a city is definitely not Always this expensive. I've never paid more than $900 for a professional in-city move and that's after tipping generously. Get some free quotes from companies and see what you're dealing with before you decide the moving expenses are too much.
posted by We put our faith in Blast Hardcheese at 8:58 AM on September 9, 2020 [1 favorite]
If you didn't have plans to move out of the area in a year or so, I'd say absolutely yes to the new apartment, even with the uncertainty about the new landlord and possible rental increases. But given that detail, if I were in your shoes, I would 100% stay put (and I am HUGELY affected by my environment and my living conditions so I am very sympathetic to your reasoning). No, moving a few minutes across town doesn't have to cost several thousand dollars, but it IS costly. Boxes. Packing materials. More boxes. Extra cleaning supplies. Takeout for several nights while your kitchen is out of commission. The inevitable Target runs after you get settled to buy new versions of many small things to fit your new space better (trash cans, better window coverings, another toilet brush for the second bathroom, whatever). It all adds up considerably, no matter how much you try to economize. I wouldn't want to do all that voluntarily if I had another, even bigger move on the horizon.
It also helps me to remember that while no one can predict the future and how Covid will unfold, the 1918 pandemic was over by 1920. I would use this time as an opportunity to seriously bank the money you would have spent on the new apartment to buffer your eventual move. Your current apartment has a LOT of things going for it that are going to make it much easier to jet once you get the pandemic all-clear.
posted by anderjen at 12:42 PM on September 9, 2020 [3 favorites]
It also helps me to remember that while no one can predict the future and how Covid will unfold, the 1918 pandemic was over by 1920. I would use this time as an opportunity to seriously bank the money you would have spent on the new apartment to buffer your eventual move. Your current apartment has a LOT of things going for it that are going to make it much easier to jet once you get the pandemic all-clear.
posted by anderjen at 12:42 PM on September 9, 2020 [3 favorites]
Get some free quotes from companies and see what you're dealing with before you decide the moving expenses are too much.
A fair point, I have never moved within a single city but only moves that were an hour or more apart. But another thing to note about the free quotes is that they are estimates only, and will often come in higher at billing time. Do do the quotes, but tack on another 30% or so. Under the table movers will do it cheapest but there's no insurance, if they lose or damage your stuff it's gone.
posted by Miko at 12:56 PM on September 9, 2020
A fair point, I have never moved within a single city but only moves that were an hour or more apart. But another thing to note about the free quotes is that they are estimates only, and will often come in higher at billing time. Do do the quotes, but tack on another 30% or so. Under the table movers will do it cheapest but there's no insurance, if they lose or damage your stuff it's gone.
posted by Miko at 12:56 PM on September 9, 2020
You're month to month? Take your time, don't rush. Look at some more apartments to see if you can get something cheaper/inclusive of utilities that sparks the same joy.
posted by thirdletter at 11:38 AM on September 10, 2020
posted by thirdletter at 11:38 AM on September 10, 2020
Response by poster: Thanks to everyone who weighed in. We decided to pass on the new apartment and stay put at our current place. It was a tough decision, though!
We're going to take some of the advice here re: dedicating the time/money we would have spent on moving to improving the apartment and looking for some Airbnb's in case we need to get away for a weekend.
posted by oiseau at 4:49 PM on September 10, 2020 [1 favorite]
We're going to take some of the advice here re: dedicating the time/money we would have spent on moving to improving the apartment and looking for some Airbnb's in case we need to get away for a weekend.
posted by oiseau at 4:49 PM on September 10, 2020 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by kevinbelt at 4:32 PM on September 8, 2020