As I'm obsessed with dwellings, and reaching the end of my tolerance for group-house living, I have started to look for a new place to live. My own apartment, as it were. I haven't always lived with roommates. Back in the early years of this decade, I shacked up in a 550 square-foot studio apartment that straddled the boundary between Mount Pleasant and Adams Morgan. My rent was $870 a month, which seems like a bargain now, but on my entry level non-profit salary it proved beyond my financial capabilities. I moved out of there and into a room in a group house in Dupont circle for the low-low price of 470 dollars a month. Which rocked, for exactly four months and then the house was sold to developers and I moved to my current location. I've lived in my current group house for almost five years. Throughout that time I've endured a battery of roommate experiences both good and bad. I contemplate leaving now because not a day goes by where I do not yearn for my own space. My roommates are fine as far as people with whom one could share space go. But I long to walk across the threshold of my home and not be confronted with a person expecting me to exchange pleasantries, other people's furniture, or another person's set of dirty pots in the sink (although I have no problem with my own pots being in the sink--for some of my roommates that's a problem as well). And as I spend less and less of my social life hanging out in bars, I want to be able to invite people over for small dinner parties, game nights and viewings of Gossip Girl. While I have on occasion done this at my current place, these small parties are very often interrupted by roommates traipsing through, often very loudly, in a less than mellow sort of manner. Of course, what has always prevented me from moving is the fact that I am completely spoiled by my low rent and close proximity to a major metro line.
Therefore, when I first started to contemplate the idea of moving, I decided I could do it on my own terms, on my own time line. I will move in due time, whenever I find the apartment that speaks softly of home the moment I pass through its front doors. Because of this, I am becoming a semi-expert on the topic of apartment listings on Craig's List. Here are some thoughts.
1.) I understand that the nature of gentrification in DC dictates that neighborhoods that border on the newly desirable, cool neighborhood get lumped in with that neighborhood for the sake of promoting apartments in less than desirable ones. That is why six years ago Logan Circle was still called "Dupont East" and two years ago Petworth was called "Columbia Heights." However, this new practice of claiming that your apartment is in Petworth when actually it's in Fort Totten has to stop. Petworth implies "reasonably distanced walk to Columbia Heights should it be light out and you're feeling brave." Fort Totten does not. Moreover, it has its very own metro station, aptly named "Fort Totten."
2.) No, I do not want to live in your basement apartment for $1300 a month. Especially if, judging from the photos you've posted, it has no windows. I especially don't want to live there if I'd have to adhere to a vegan lifestyle or promise to never smoke in the apartment or within a 50 foot radius of it.
3.) Yes, that's a very nice 1 bedroom apartment listing in Dupont Circle for $900 a month you got there. No, I do not want to take place in your apparent real estate scam. Yes, I do see that you're currently located oversees and searching for a "God Fearing" individual to rent out your alleged apartment. No, I will not send you a cheque for the security deposit in exchange for the alleged keys which you will supposedly mail to me.
4.) If I am looking for an apartment in the District of Columbia and specified that in my search on Craigs List, I do not also want to see listings in Springfield, Vienna, Congress Heights, or any other completely un-interesting location not in the District of Columbia. When I say DC, I mean DC. If I wanted to search in Maryland or Virgnia, I would include that in my search.
5.) I am looking for my own apartment, not one to share. Therefore, it is especially annoying when listings are included in my results that are obviously rooms in group houses. There is a special place on Craigs List to advertise your group house share. I believe it's under the heading of "shares." Counter-intuitive, I know.
6.) Yes, this is a very nice apartment that you're showing me. Under some circumstances, I would love to live here. However, common courtesy requires that I give my landlord and roommates at least two weeks notice of my intent to move, and you want me to move my stuff in right this instant. Since this apartment has been available for quite some time, would it have killed you to list it two weeks ago?
And finally...
7.) Would any of you readers care to weigh in on the subject of Petworth? Rents are still super cheap, but paranoid me is afraid of getting knifed on the way to the metro. Your thoughts?
You should check out princeofpetworth.com to see what life in Petworth would be like. The postings and comments are very informative.
Posted by: dcavocado | June 04, 2008 at 03:39 AM
Oh goodness, spot on about craiglist. I'm in the apartment searching process right now too. Last Saturday, we saw an apartment in "Columbia Heights" that sat on the Maryland border.
I'm intrigued by Petsworth too. And when I say intrigued, I mean suckered in by the low prices and pretty houses. But the two people I'm moving in with have vetoed ....
Posted by: Elizabeth | June 04, 2008 at 04:57 AM
Congress Heights IS in DC, not Virginia or Maryland.
Posted by: nitpick | June 04, 2008 at 05:54 AM
i live in petworth, not far from the petworth/columbia heights border and west of georgia ave....honestly, things depend on the street...and then there's the metro...i've never had a problem, but i've heard stories of muggings and what not...that's the bad...the good is that, at least on my street, it's quiet and the street is great...tree-lined and everything...and i'm close enough to walk to all of the columbia heights development, but far enough away that i don't have to deal with the traffic, noise, etc that comes with it
Posted by: thoughts | June 04, 2008 at 06:31 AM
I lived in Petworth years ago, moved to NYC and back again to live in Columbia Heights. Now I'm back in Petworth. Personally, I think it's a little safer than CH. I lived on the east side of the metro, near Irving in CH, and now I'm 5 blocks up from the Petworth metro. I used to hear gunshots constantly in CH, but haven't heard one since I moved a few months ago.
I'd say safety-wise, they're at least equal. Petworth has more space and is more residential, while CH is closer to bars and such. And I'm happier not living in a basement apartment! Stay away from the underground, it's lame.
Posted by: Erica | June 04, 2008 at 08:55 AM
I will just go ahead and admit this up front - I could probably never live in Petworth. I'm far too much of a nervous-nelly. However, if I did decide to move there, I think I would budget more for cabs; on nights that I wanted to be out late, I would opt instead for a cab than taking the train, especially if it meant not having to walk alone.
I am dating a guy now who lives in Petworth and he really likes it and seems to agree w/the one of the other commentors; it all depends on the street.
Posted by: Ryane | June 05, 2008 at 04:47 AM
i think the entire petworth area is filled with wannabe chumps trying too hard to be gangsta. half of them wouldn't survive with all that game playing east of the river or here in northeast.
Posted by: sonny | June 05, 2008 at 05:20 PM
I hate how expensive apartments are in this city! I live in an efficiency on the Hill which is rather cheap for the city, but it has its drawbacks as well, like any other place. I also get frustrated when I look on CL and I see listings for Herndon! Why would I want to live out there?! Awful.
There are one bedrooms in my building though, if you do decide that Petworth isn't for you...
Posted by: Lexi | June 06, 2008 at 10:28 AM
Before signing a lease, I'd go at various times of the day (and night), observe how much street activity there is, and what kind, and see what sort of cars are parked along the street. The better the cars, the better the block, usually.
Or you could come live in my building!
Posted by: Shannon | June 06, 2008 at 10:42 AM
Have you tried sublet.com?
Just wondering how it compares with CL.
Good luck on your search!
Posted by: QOR | June 06, 2008 at 02:31 PM
Stumbled across this looking for DC bloggers as I'm moving there next month (from Los Angeles).
Yeah... I'm moving in with two friends, also located far out of the area (FL). We're going to DC for 4 days to try and find and sign for a place in early July. Apartment-hunting from across the country is driving me insane. Knowing I will only have 4 days to suss out the place and make a decision is even worse.
Umm, if you happen across any 3 bedrooms, walking distance to the metro and in a relatively safe area, let me know? :)
We're hoping for $2,600 a month or less-ish. Yeah.
Also: thoughts on Silver Spring?
Posted by: Sharon | June 08, 2008 at 05:49 PM
Stumbled across this looking for DC bloggers as I'm moving there next month (from Los Angeles).
Yeah... I'm moving in with two friends, also located far out of the area (FL). We're going to DC for 4 days to try and find and sign for a place in early July. Apartment-hunting from across the country is driving me insane. Knowing I will only have 4 days to suss out the place and make a decision is even worse.
Umm, if you happen across any 3 bedrooms, walking distance to the metro and in a relatively safe area, let me know? :)
We're hoping for $2,600 a month or less-ish. Yeah.
Also: thoughts on Silver Spring?
Posted by: Sharon | June 08, 2008 at 05:50 PM
Stumbled across this looking for DC bloggers as I'm moving there next month (from Los Angeles).
Yeah... I'm moving in with two friends, also located far out of the area (FL). We're going to DC for 4 days to try and find and sign for a place in early July. Apartment-hunting from across the country is driving me insane. Knowing I will only have 4 days to suss out the place and make a decision is even worse.
Umm, if you happen across any 3 bedrooms, walking distance to the metro and in a relatively safe area, let me know? :)
We're hoping for $2,600 a month or less-ish. Yeah.
Also: thoughts on Silver Spring?
Posted by: Sharon | June 08, 2008 at 05:52 PM
Oh, lawd! Apartment hunting sucks. Best of luck on that. :)
Posted by: Zandria | June 15, 2008 at 04:02 PM
What I find frustrating is the number of ads placed on websites like apartments.com, rent.com, etc, that aren't actually available. Seems the landlords pay to have their property permanently listed, even if they have no vacancy. Craigslist is the only place I've found where I can be sure the ad is for a place that is actually available. And I would prefer to be in a building rather and without a landlord living right above me. Are there any other resources? I'm relocating from Chicago, and here we have a free weekly paper that has great listings, and free apartment search service companies.
Posted by: Stacey | July 13, 2008 at 03:28 PM
I have lived in Petworth for the past two summers, I was housesitting; I found living there fantastic! I never had a problem or felt afraid to venture out at night even though I am a single woman. I lved the fact that it was walking distance to Columbia Heights and all of the great shopping. I have been been trying to find something affordable there or in Columbia Heights ever since. There does not seem to be anything affordable.
Posted by: Vicki | March 08, 2009 at 08:18 AM
Hunting apartment is not very hard at all. Many sites now are offering very good apartment listings.
-Sam
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It's as if the need for "extraordinary" searching skills is important, I say. You gotta put in a lot of factors in choosing your apartment. Do you want it in the heart of the metro? Near the metro line? To yourself only? Hmm, there are bunches more. But as soon as you find the perfect apartment that really works for you, then it's worth it.
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