Apartment Sweet Apartment

What does a couple do when they live in a 560 ft. 1 bedroom apartment and they are expecting a little one?

They go apartment hunting of course! (**Sorry--this may get as long as the process itself!)

That is what Cary and I had the joy of doing on Saturday this last weekend. However, this was not the first time we looked into the prospects of the 2 bedroom. The hunting started about 2 months ago, when we took a visit to our apartment complex to inquire about their larger facilities.

We spoke with a very nice lady (shame on me for not getting her name) and she showed us one of the smallest 2 bedroom options (mostly the same floorplan, but with an option of 1 1/2 baths or just 1). She sat us down and talked to us about the monthly rent ($...) and then put us on a waiting list for the first available for us. She also told us that because we are current residents, there shouldn't be a problem with us 'breaking' the current lease and moving into the 2 bedroom without going through the security deposit and all of the other 'fun' stuff...

2 months later, Cary and I had not heard from her or anyone else, so again we went to the complex. The lady this time looked at us perplexed about a waiting list. She searched a book of apartment information and did not find anything. So she had us put our names on a list again, this time with an estimate of $... + $75/month. Again, I did not get her name. Oh, and she said that 4 apartments were opening up on 8/10 (when we went in it was 8/2) and she would call us.

So, Cary went to the complex after work on 8/10 and spoke with a guy. This time we have a name! But he said that the apartments were empty, one on the 1st floor (our 1st option) but they had to get it ready to show, so we were not able to go check it out until 8/13. "So, come in early on Thursday and take a look!"...so, if we are not there early on Thursday, it can be taken away? "No, no! I'll make a note that you want to see it. And the rates are now $... + 100/month" But it was $... when we first inquired, and then $... + $75...is this going to continue? "No problem, we can work out a deal!" Hmmm....

So Cary inquired about it again on Thursday, and they told us that the apartment bathroom had to be re-done, so we couldn't see until Monday. And when Cary inquired about the rising prices, he was told that if we put down a deposit (on an apartment we couldn't see), then it would have frozen the monthly rent at where it was at the time...NOW they tell us???

So on Saturday Cary and I went around Las Colinas checking out potential apartments. Out of the 5 or so we looked at, I did like something about all them, but of course the options were narrowed down by dislikes: 3rd floor only option, tiny kitchen, lingering cigarette or Indian food smell, location...

We discussed the pros and cons for each, and then went back to our apartment complex, which still is the most ideal because of the cost, location, and quietness. This time we spoke with a really nice lady who was assisting for the day because the complex is short-handed (no wonder why I never see the same person twice!). I told her that we were interested in a 2 bedroom, and even though we want a first floor, we wanted to check out the 2nd level just to see if it was workable. She handed us the key and let us go by ourselves to check it out. It was nice to be able to sit down and look at the options without a third body standing over us.

All in all, both of us are still interested in the 1st floor apartment, and Cary will go by the complex today to look at it. My fingers are crossed (and I'm saying prayers) that this will be the right fit for us: no overly pungent food or cigarette smell, and the apartment looks like it is in great shape. Otherwise, we are back at square one. But fortunately, this time we have backups!