What was your first apartment like?

Oh the joys of a first apartment - This was one of our biggest concerns when we first moved into the apartment. It got cleaned up a little, but the landlords never did completely fix it like they said they would and Jake and I weren't about to touch it.
@phyrre (2317)
United States
June 11, 2009 4:47pm CST
I always hear about the joys of a first apartment because it seems to me that everyone has that same tiny, bug/rat-infested first apartment (or everyone I've known, at least, basically). I guess that's all anyone can really afford for their first apartment, unless they get lucky. Both of my parents went through that type of apartment, and now Jacob and I live there. We had roaches for a while, but the landlords took care of them, so hopefully they won't be coming back. Caught it at the beginning of the infestation, so that should've done it. Now we've got an ant problem, which is a lot harder to deal with since we don't know where they're coming from, but they seem to be EVERYWHERE. But ants we can deal with--roaches, not so much. So what was your first apartment like? Were you one of the lucky ones with a nice apartment, or did you have the typical first apartment, too?
3 people like this
11 responses
• United States
12 Jun 09
my very first apartment was actually kind of nice.it was what they called a junior one bedroom,and most of the appliances were new as the complex wasn't that old.and most importantly,everything worked.i saw a few roaches,but it was an area where everybody had them no matter what. funny thing is,the more i paid later on for other places,the worse they seemed to get. where i lived in arizona,there's often a problem with roots clogging the sewer,making your tubs and toilets back up. all they can do is cut out the ones there right now,but they couldn't remove any saguaros causing it because they're protected.so every other month it backed up.
• United States
13 Jun 09
i became a master at the quick shut off,i'll tell ya. it made a certain noise when it was getting ready to overflow,so you knew. this other house i lived at,we had "home geckos"..they came in somehow from the outside..not one roach. i was more than happy to let them stay i'm surprised anything would eat them.
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@phyrre (2317)
• United States
12 Jun 09
That roots problem sounds like it's really hard to deal with. I couldn't imagine having to deal with that. Yeah, we don't see roaches that often, either. Found one today, actually, but we hadn't seen any for about two months, so I guess it's ok. Definitely better than seeing them all the time. And most places around here do have them.
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@littleone3 (2063)
12 Jun 09
I was lucky the first place I lived in was a two bedroom flat the only downside was that we were on the third floor and the lift would break down regularly which was a real pain after I had my eldest son as it was not much fun having to carry his pram down three flights of stairs. I loved living there we were across the road from a park and five minuets from the town. You could look out the window and see the squirrels playing in the trees.
@phyrre (2317)
• United States
12 Jun 09
That sounds like a beautiful place to live! certainly not bad for a first apartment. It actually sounds like you did really well for your first apartment. ^_^ Lucky. :P
@ruby1459 (2600)
• United States
12 Jun 09
My first apartment was a studio in New York, It was sooooo tiny but I liked it because there were many windows and very convinience place. The rent was sky high though, but never had problems with bugs or water leaks etc., that you can think of which was good. I only lived there for 2 years and then I shared with my friends at another area in New York. I would say I had a good apartment for the first one, even though it was really tiny! lol
2 people like this
@phyrre (2317)
• United States
12 Jun 09
Yeah, I had a friend that lived in New York, so I know how expensive the rent can get there! For what most people pay in rent in New York, I could afford a house around here. xD
@leyisa (486)
• Canada
12 Jun 09
My first apartment that I got after moving out of my parents home was actually quite decent. My boyfriend (now my husband) and I wanted to live close to Downtown Toronto, Canada without actually being downtown..So we rented this nice apartment in Mid-town and it was close to everything...Landlord was pretty decent. The only major trouble we had with that apartment was a flood that we suddently got in the apartment from the apartment upstairs - this flood occured on the day of the Super Bowl in 2000 and we were having a big party that day so when guest came by, it was pretty funny..
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@phyrre (2317)
• United States
12 Jun 09
Sounds like it must've been a really interesting day, having a flood on Super Bowl! At least it must've made that a rather memorable Super Bowl for you and all your friends...lol.
• United States
12 Jun 09
My first apartment was small but it was the best since it was when i moved out of my parent's home. It had all the conveniences of a normal home. It was also very clean and not rat or bug infested. The thing that made it better was that i moved in with my beautiful, sexy wife. I remember our first night there(not what you ae thinking). All in all i think my first appartment was great.
2 people like this
@phyrre (2317)
• United States
12 Jun 09
Sounds wonderful! I think that's how we're going to feel when Jake and I look back on this apartment, too, after we get our house and move out. :) Or I hope that's how we'll feel anyway. It's not a great place, but it's really not that bad, either.
@ShanaLR (17)
• United States
12 Jun 09
Oh my goodness!!! When I moved to my first apartment, I just knew that I had found a good deal. I soon found out that I was wrong. The apartment was nice in appearance but during the night I would hear trains well into the middle of the night. In addition to that there was a night club right in front of it and on Wednesday nights I could hear the music until about 2:30 or so in the morning. It was crazy. About two months before the lease was up I walked in on a group of teenagers robbing my place. I ended up breaking the lease.
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@phyrre (2317)
• United States
12 Jun 09
Ouch. Living next to a club would definitely not be fun. I can imagine how hectic that could be. And it's a shame that someone was trying to rob you, but at least you caught them. And I can understand you breaking the lease. I would too in that situation!
@ds6413 (2070)
• United States
11 Jun 09
Hello phyrre, my first apartmentI got into when I was in college. It was clean but small. It had one bedroom and the bathroom was really close to the bedroom. It only had a bath tub, no shower.The kitchen was small I could stand in one spot and practically reach anywhere in the kitchen. My rent was $175 a monthand it was within walking to the college campus. It worked out for me when I was there. It was nothing special but was a place to sleep.
2 people like this
@phyrre (2317)
• United States
12 Jun 09
Wow, sounds nice. Ours is $425, but it sounds like ours is bigger than yours. We've got a very large bedroom and living room, but a tiny kitchen and bathroom. :)
• United States
11 Jun 09
I grew up on a farm on a dirt road. We had to watch our water consumption, especially during the summer because we had a shallow well and it would go dry. There were a bunch of repairs that were needed in our house that dad (our resident carpenter) was supposed to fix except he loved working on the farm more. When I got married and my husband and I moved to our first apartment, I was overjoyed. We had city water and lots of it. There were actual handles on the faucets and we didn't have to wake up in the morning feeling like a Popsicle because the furnace needed to be stoked and a new fire started in order to heat the house. We could just turn the dial on the wall (thermostat) and happy, happy, joy, joy ---- we had heat. Oh, and I can't forget the closets. WOW, they actually were large enough to hold our clothes (we didn't own much), since the old farmhouse did not come with a closet in my room. None of this was real expensive, but it sure was nice.
@phyrre (2317)
• United States
12 Jun 09
Wow, sounds like it was a real improvement! I was thankful to move out of my house because we never have heat in the winter and cooling in the summer...but, alas, we don't have that here, either. xD So I know the popsicle feeling all too well...lol.
@prinzcy (32322)
• Malaysia
12 Jun 09
The first time I rented a house was when I was studying in university. We need to stay back to take some short courses during semester break so it's better to rent outside where it's easier to go to the store and such. It wasn't in bad condition but there's other problems. I never knew the was a maniac that love girl panties. Worst, the one that he took was mine ! He hadn't had a chance to take it away since we managed to spot him but I throw the one that he hold away. I felt disgusted! Then, there's a car that park in front of our house and the driver (including a couple of other passengers) stay inside it and watch us in the house. We can see them as the car's mirrors weren't tinted. We did close the door but they kept doing that. It was scary. Luckily nothing else than that happen.
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@phyrre (2317)
• United States
12 Jun 09
That sounds pretty creepy, having someone sit outside your house and watch you. I wouldn't want to be in that situation, that's for sure.
@lelin1123 (15595)
• Puerto Rico
12 Jun 09
My first apartment was beautiful. I shared it with my aunt and then she moved away and I stayed there for about another year or so. It was nicely decorated and cute. I guess from other stories I have heard I was a lucky one.
@phyrre (2317)
• United States
12 Jun 09
Yup, definitely sounds like you were lucky! We didn't have the luxury of moving in with a family member and I can only work part time around college, so that really cuts our earning potential. :-/
• United States
12 Jun 09
I lovedthe first place I lived when i moved out of my parentshouse. I had no bills and 2 jobs,1 of those jobs was at the condos I lived . I got a discount on it becasue I worked there . So it was right next to Greaan Valley Spa anfd Resort in St George Utah .I loved it ....then I move to Houston for what i thought would be a great job , thr job disolved and i moved into the worst apt I have ever lived in - with coack roaches , hardly any furniture and it was in a very bad area of town . Now I have a boyfriend who I love very much andam moving into a gorgouis new apt the end of this month - roght now we are in a so so apt ....there is no parking , but this is houston. My main problem is that they never fixed our teromast when it brook and we owe the elctric comany over grand for only 2 months -- this part is thekicker our atis a 1 bed on bath s o that is how much our electric bill should have been fir 6 months not 2 ...grr
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