Fair Rent? (Wicker Park) (Winchester: parking, pay, near)

[j33]

Rent sounds pretty good to me (I've been living in the area for over six years). Get those plastic kits to cover the windows in the winter.

On a personal note, I love dishwashers, but it has never been a 'make it or break it' part of what I look for in an apartment.

[coldwine]

Oh, dishwashers... Of all the stupid mistakes I've made while renting (and I've made every last one) that was the dumbest. I lived in a very old home on the southside for a semester, and never had to use the damn thing. When I finally did, one night after a party, it flooded my entire floor. I think I cried, it was so bad.

And did you know that many dishwasher deteregents are strikingly similar to peroxide? It literally ate the carpeting and bleached the wood.

So, my advice: if it's an older building that's suspiciously cheap, for the love of god get the thing fixed before you use it. Oftentimes, "washers" of any kind in older buildings haven't been updated, so you end up with machinery from earlier times that you can't even find parts for.

[aragx6]

I'm clearly late to this discussion, but figured my two cents might still be useful.

It's the parking spots that make that place a good deal. Otherwise I'd call it overpriced. But honestly, unless they're garage spots, the difference between that and street parking with a permit (like some streets in the neighborhood are) is pretty minimal.

Maybe my situation can help: I am a stone's throw from six corners (so a slightly better location, if only for the distance to the el) in a 1 bed + office on the 2nd floor of the coach house that's got a very vintage feel and almost no counter space in the kitchen and no parking spot but a dishwasher and a w/d and we pay $1200.

You just have to decide what's really important to you. Do you want the 3rd bedroom? How important are those parking spots? If you'd rather have other amenities -- like the dw, keep looking.

There is almost no way you'll find a place for $1200 with a w/d in unit though -- that was a very unexpected luxury at our place that is essentially unheard of that price point.

[UnderTheLiveOaks]

Originally Posted by aragx6

It's the parking spots that make that place a good deal. Otherwise I'd call it overpriced. But honestly, unless they're garage spots, the difference between that and street parking with a permit (like some streets in the neighborhood are) is pretty minimal.

My thoughts, too. If you drive a lot, this is a huge incentive.

OP: Will you have roommates?

[pbrb]

Yeah, I'll have 1 roommate.

[Jesse69]

Originally Posted by aragx6

There is almost no way you'll find a place for $1200 with a w/d in unit though -- that was a very unexpected luxury at our place that is essentially unheard of that price point.

My rent - $0 on a 3 story house for my 9 bmx, 7 road, 2 mtn, 1 single speed fixie bikes! No dryer, but washer and ultra efficient HVAC. Plus I get permit parking in front and I can always park my car or minivan in front of my house because of this!

My next door neighbors rent $1000 for a basement and $2100 for the 1st & 2nd floors.

[enator]

I'm looking at a 3 bed 1 bath apt that's pretty big (around 1300-1500 sq feet), located on Wolcott a few blocks north of division, with parking, dishwasher, and washer/dryer in unit. Central AC not sure what type of heat, but I think it's gas forced since I didn't notice any radiators. The 3rd bed is small so we'll prob use it as a den or office. It's in pretty good shape. Bigger and a little nicer than most I've looked at, but not a gut rehab or anything. It's $1500/mo, parking included. The person showing it to me said it's a pretty good deal for the area (I know wicker park, but haven't rented a new place for a while). The place I live in now is $1175 near north/ashland it's a 3 bedroom 1 bath, about same size just diff layout, not as nice, and w/o parking or dishwasher.

Is this really a good deal? Don't want to get ripped off.

[Avengerfire]

You are going to be for some huge heating bills if heat is not included.

[JohnCU]

I would call that an decent deal, if it's really that big.

[enator]

Ouch, heat isn't included. The windows looked newer, but I guess it is a pretty big place. I only had one real big heating bill at current place, and it was because our thermostat broke and the heater ran on full blast nonstop until we figured it out.

Think it will really be that big of a deal?