How to Find an Apartment (from across the country)
May 6, 2008
I think I’m supposed to be looking on Craigslist right now for apartments, but I’m experiencing a bit of information overload. I know we’re not the first people to have to find an apartment from across the country, but it sure is a difficult process. We are hoping to try and find a place in the Berkeley area (which also includes Emeryville, Oakland, Alameda, etc.) this weekend when we’re out there for my job interview. But it seems to be a very daunting task.
As I mentioned in a previous post, we don’t want to find a place that’s where all the other white, middle-class folk live. I’m not interested in finding a gated, apartment complex, or living in a homogeneous neighborhood. I want to be able to live with and learn from people of other backgrounds and life-experiences. But, we also know that we want to live somewhere that’s safe. Safe. What exactly does “safe” mean? I guess, at first, I think I want to be in a place that seems “safe” enough to walk Sadie around the block late at night. “Safe” enough that we can feel fine about coming home late at night and walking from the car (wherever we have to park it) to our home. But, my friend Charlie twittered a good question to me re: the idea of a neighborhood as “safe.” He wrote (or tweeted): “Depends on your definition of ’safe.’ After all the suburbs can be dangerous to our souls, right?”
So, all good things to think about. So far we have four appointments at apartments/duplexes for this weekend, assuming they are still available. Right now, I have a favorite but don’t want to get my hopes up too high. If anyone has done this before - gotten an apartment through Craigslist - any advice would be very much appreciated. If we could find a place this weekend - that would be ideal - but we also don’t want to be pressured into any place.
Tags: Apartments, Craigslist, Housing
Posted in 
Adam Walker Cleaveland: I am a 28 year old 
May 6th, 2008 at 11:23 pm
Cleave, don’t get an apt on Craig’s list unless you see pictures. seriously. unless you are feeling adventurous and forgiving.
May 6th, 2008 at 11:27 pm
Adam,
Blessings on you this weekend! I was just out there last weekend. I was more overwhelmed than I expected to be. I had lots of appts for apts that ended up in being in areas I didn’t feel “safe” (for various reasons) living in. Helpful hint, look at a few… take a break, do something fun (enjoy the beautiful area) and go back to others. I ended up signing a lease for an apartment that is run by a company (Archstone) that I recognized their name. I have a bit of renter’s remorse… Did I do the right thing? Is it the right one? Although I don’t want to move again once we are out there… I realize that I only signed a 12 month lease and we CAN move again once we are out there if we need to…
Good luck!
LeAnn
May 7th, 2008 at 12:17 am
Adam,
I just secured an apartment in Louisville with Craig’s List. I used CL to find local realtors and then looked at website featuring the local neighborhoods and crime statistics. I also called local businesses to see how they sounded over the phone. The last one maybe a bit weird, but I figured that the local businesses would serve as a good reflection of the neighborhood I was looking at. I hope that helps.
Palabra, Ryan
May 7th, 2008 at 12:35 am
Adam,
Not to worry about a homogeneous, sterile neighborhood anywhere in the East Bay let alone Berkeley. Wherever you go you’ll find variety and diversity around every corner. My partner and I on the other hand live out in the ‘burbs about 20 minutes from Berkeley which would be unbearable were it not for being a short drive to the ethnicity, spice and color of B-Town. There really are some wonderful areas all around the area and in reading the Craig’s list review and knowing the area I’d judge it to be a very honest take on the area being described. Honestly Adam, if it’s affordable I’ll be surprised if the apartment and it’s neighborhood isn’t a great match for you. I’m eager to hear how your weekend goes…wish I wasn’t off visiting my mom in the Pacific Northwest because I would have been glad to have met you and taken you around.
May 7th, 2008 at 12:47 pm
the reason there are “unsafe” places is because we the white church have pulled ourselves out of them. whether guys like me and you subscribe to the reasons others pulled out, we perpetuate it by staying out…
May 7th, 2008 at 1:55 pm
We’ve moved across the country 3 times and found an apartment online each time. Maybe we just got lucky, but all we did was find out as much as we could, and make a best guess. Its always worked out.
One thing you can do is ask for a shorter initial lease, or even rent month-to-month. You can live anywhere for 3 months and if you hate it you can move.
May 7th, 2008 at 5:17 pm
We found the house we’re currently renting in Houston on Craigslist - AND my wife found her job at a Performing Arts Supply Co. on Craigslist. Both are really great. The sofa she got from a guy on Craigslist before we got married… notsogreat…
May 7th, 2008 at 6:01 pm
Hey Adam,
Have you called a real estate agency? We’re doing the craig’s list search and also working with a realtor. Our plan is to spend a day doing showings with the realtor, a day on our own, and hopefully sign a lease at the end of the weekend. Other friends did this recently and spoke highly of that approach.
The realtor’s services are free, and could be helpful as they know the lay of the land.
All best as you transition!
May 7th, 2008 at 9:00 pm
Oooo, fancy schmancy place compared to CRW! Good luck…
May 8th, 2008 at 1:42 am
Adam:
You don’t really have to worry about things like gated apartment complexes with the white folks… I’ve never seen anything like it. And if it exists, you probably couldn’t (or wouldn’t want to) afford it.
As far as Craigslist help… like anything else, do your best to see it before you buy it. kickin’ the tires is a good thing.
May 8th, 2008 at 9:14 am
Adam,
We rented an apartment from Craigslist last year when we were taking a call.
Three things I did and learned from that experience:
1) Some counties have a crime-map system (at least Charlotte did) where you can see recent crime reports.
2) Find a forum (i.e. city-data) where you can ask about the neighborhood.
3) Look carefully at the photos, as we ended up renting a sweet condo–however it had 12 foot walls with 18 foot ceilings. Not the most conducive one bedroom with a 6month old whose cries would bounce off the concrete walls and cool urban brick walls.
May 8th, 2008 at 9:15 am
PS-rich, not sure if you meant it to sound this way, but “the reason there are “unsafe” places is because we the white church have pulled ourselves out of them.”
So the only safe place is where white people worship?
May 8th, 2008 at 9:38 am
Adam,
You are going to love the bay area. It is my favorite place in the country. My wife and I visit there once a year in the fall (coordinated around a Raiders game!). So much to do and see.
enjoy! maybe I’ll see you in the fall.
May 8th, 2008 at 2:23 pm
Hi Adam,
I fear highway noise will be brutal in that location. Also, the neighborhood is dominated by the only patch of giant big box stores in the entire east bay. I think you’d probably like central or south berkeley or north oakland much better.
The earlier commenter is right — in the inner east bay, there really are no gated complexes or super un-diverse areas. Except for the million dollar homes in Piedmont and the Oakland/Berkeley hills. ‘
When do you arrive? We’re delayed in our web project, and may want to sound you out about it again.
Good luck!
May 9th, 2008 at 8:54 am
Hi Adam
Bruce Reyes-Chow’s wife, Robin Pugh, is a real estate agent in SF - she may have some good sources for you. Good luck!