The Bunny in Rose ([info]dagas_isa) wrote in [info]seattle,
@ 2008-08-09 12:07:00
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Moving woes!
I need help, or at least enough snark to make this all funny again. I'm sure someone can provide one or the other.

So my fiancee and I moved up to Seattle from Illinois, just a few days ago. Gas for the trip wiped most of our savings. And while we did search for a place back when we were still in the prairie, we either got no reply, or no one wanted to see us till our living fleshbags were already here. He's already got a job, and once I get settled into a place I can get some student loan money coming in. Problem is, his credit is kind of screwed up, and I don't have credit at all. We can pull first and last month's on a place, but we don't have access to a cosigner. Our families are all back east, don't have e-mail, and have basicially said, "we don't want to get tangled in this". So getting a relative to cosign is on the impossible side.

Right now, we're living out of a motel on Shoreline, and it'd be really nice to get out. So...
Does anyone know of any places that might take us without a cosigner, even if we have iffy credit? We can pay first and last month's rent, easy.
Are there any good miracle workers in the Seattle areas?
Any other suggestions that don't require the use of a time machine?

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[info]wishihadariver
2008-08-09 07:09 pm UTC (link)
do you have rental references?

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[info]dagas_isa
2008-08-09 07:15 pm UTC (link)
Yes, yes we do. We lived in the same place for about two years back east.

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[info]morganmac
2008-08-09 07:20 pm UTC (link)
Why not look for a summer/August sub-lease probably somewhere near the U-District? There's always a ton of unfilled sub-leases during the summer.

Buy yourselves some time to find jobs, get student loan checks sorted out and get the heck out of the hotel.

It's temporary but it might be just what you need.

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[info]alexjon
2008-08-09 07:27 pm UTC (link)
A college town has subleases in the summer?!

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[info]morganmac
2008-08-09 07:28 pm UTC (link)
It would appear.

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[info]azraelisa
2008-08-09 07:33 pm UTC (link)
Overlook At Magnolia

Reasonably priced, beautiful and very safe neighborhood, close to downtown, close to lots o' bus lines, close to several grocery stores and the magnolia village, close to a great walking park (Discovery) and a nice community.

My fiancee and I moved out here 6 months ago from Denver and had the same problem. No one would rent to us sight unseen and we both have horrible credit, especially me but I had great rental history. This place is used to that, was friendly, worked with us, and as long as you've never been evicted they'll likely take you.

We love it here, we got a (2 bed) 1 bed +den, 1,100 sqft for $1185/month. The leasing center has a sauna, hottub, small fitness area and free DVD rentals that get exchanged for new options each month.

Downside, they still have single pane windows, i.e. high city light bills.

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[info]_asphodel_
2008-08-09 07:48 pm UTC (link)
That's probably where we'll end up when we get there- so very soon!!
L- do you get any sort of referal bonus or prize?

Back to packing.....

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[info]azraelisa
2008-08-09 08:35 pm UTC (link)
You know, I'm not sure but no worries anyway. I just love this place, it's perfect for newcomers and has a lot of good options. Everyone here is friendly. So I always highly recommend it. Good luck on the journey!

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[info]dagas_isa
2008-08-09 07:51 pm UTC (link)
That looks like a really good place, actually.

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[info]azraelisa
2008-08-09 08:37 pm UTC (link)
I like it quite a bit. It's not great if your into a loud, nightlife sort of scene since the area is mostly families. It's a great area nonetheless, and we haven't had any problems at all.

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[info]dagas_isa
2008-08-09 09:41 pm UTC (link)
I'm looking for their pet policy now. Do you happen to know if they allow pets, and what kind of fees they charge?

We've got three cats, btw.

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[info]rosebranch
2008-08-09 10:02 pm UTC (link)
From their Amenities page:

Pet Restrictions: $200 pet fee, $200 pet deposit, per pet. Two pet per apartment limit.

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[info]dagas_isa
2008-08-09 10:06 pm UTC (link)
Doh! Don't know how I missed that.

I guess we can smoosh two of them together into one megacat.

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[info]rosebranch
2008-08-10 09:03 pm UTC (link)
Megacat! Haha.

I've never heard of a pet-number limit (though to be fair, I have only one cat, so it's easier to find housing), but every apartment building is different. Good luck in your search!

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[info]dagas_isa
2008-08-10 11:14 pm UTC (link)
Really, the places we've looked at, it doesn't seem like a solid thing. One of them just brushed it off. Another just looked at us and said, "You have two cats. If you have a third one, I don't know about it."

And two of them are practically one cat anyway.

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[info]azraelisa
2008-08-11 03:51 pm UTC (link)
They do allow pets; they're really pretty pet friendly. We have two cats, I think their is a limit but not sure where at. Another downside, the pet fees. HUGE! But, you do get almost all of it back in the end.

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[info]bitterfun
2008-08-09 08:39 pm UTC (link)
I look at those amenities and weep. It's amenities like those that make me question home owning.

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[info]ninjalie
2008-08-09 09:06 pm UTC (link)
A lot of places don't care that much about credit as long as you have references of paying rent on time at past houses you can probably swing something.

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[info]bradleysbrain
2008-08-09 11:27 pm UTC (link)
Let's see, you have no savings, bad credit, no plan before moving, no co-signers, no job, and three cats.

Yeah, you sound like a real dream tenant.

My advice? Use your charm or sleep with the landlord.

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[info]browneyez
2008-08-10 12:19 am UTC (link)
if you can do any better, really, you're set to own a home.

that, in reality, IS why people rent.

(at least, in my reality.....)

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[info]m0rbidm00n
2008-08-10 03:14 am UTC (link)
this made me laugh. i'm glad someone is willing to be honest about it.

speaking of being honest, i'm sick of people moving here and bitching about not being able to find a place to live without moving here first. i've rented two apartments here and one in california without ever seeing them before i got there. you just have to be persistent..

"And while we did search for a place back when we were still in the prairie, we either got no reply, or no one wanted to see us till our living fleshbags were already here."

That is not an excuse. That is your fault. Try harder, please.

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[info]gomezticator
2008-08-10 03:32 am UTC (link)
Yeah. My friend and I moved here sight unseen and were able to get a place, but we also made our interests clear and were willing to do business right away. You have to be willing to immediately throw down a deposit and first/last month's rent. Landlords are not interested in speculation. They want prospective tenants to shove checks in their face and say, "We're ready to move in ASAP, and here's our money." In the point of view of a landlord, who has bills and a mortgage to pay... the former are flakes... the latter are reliable. Something tells me the OP did not properly press the issue and did little more than make idle inquiries. You have to press the issue and show them you're ready to go.

Of course, with the OP's funds all but gone thanks to bad planning (seriously, guys, watch the news: if gas prices go up, it's going to cost more to drive across the country. There is no excuse for not being able to see this coming.), they probably don't have the money for the necessary deposit. Their only hope is to convince someone to let them sublet for a good long while, long enough to rebuild their savings so they can throw down a deposit to rent their own place.

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[info]m0rbidm00n
2008-08-10 04:17 am UTC (link)
yeah, I agree.. I have always called prospective landlords and flat out said "I'm moving here on x day and have money for first, last and deposits, when can I sign a lease?"

My current landlord, who I'm actually good friends with now, told me that he's never rented to anyone that wasn't local before because it's such a pain in the ass, but that because I was so straight to the point about it and willing to shell out the money before I even got here, he decided to give us the place over even a couple of local people interested.

Also, I don't believe much planning was involved if practically all your money was blown on just gas. What was the plan, to show up with $500? I've moved across country three times, sorry if I sound a little flippant at the idea of not being prepared. LOL.

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[info]dagas_isa
2008-08-10 04:54 am UTC (link)
Eh, gas prices are higher, but it was really a combination of things going to shit with the truck and losing a day because of that, plus money that we thought we could get access to being locked in until we get a place.

I've actually got enough to cover first/last/pets/deposit. So it's not like, "Oh, we're going to move with only $500" It's more, "We don't have a cosigner. And WTF do you mean Student Loans don't count?"

Yeah, next time we do this, we're gonna be more realistic.

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[info]retardomantaban
2008-08-10 03:37 pm UTC (link)
no kidding. I've moved to apartments sight unseen and my credit sucks donkey ass (wait is that an oxymoron?). Money talks.

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[info]azraelisa
2008-08-11 03:54 pm UTC (link)
I did it and I am a dream tenant; I have glowing reviews from past landlords. All except for the lack of plan thing, I had it heavily planned.

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I'll opt for...
[info]dustin_00
2008-08-10 02:58 am UTC (link)
SNARK!

Ha ha! I've lived in this house nearly 10 years so I haven't had to move in a long time. On top of that, the value of my house has doubled in that time! Which... um... means my taxes has doubled...

fuck

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[info]yts88
2008-08-10 04:18 am UTC (link)
I moved out here from Chicago as well recently, its not too hard to find a place here. Check craigslist for private rentals or LLCs.

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[info]jaxin
2008-08-10 05:48 pm UTC (link)
Is it really that hard to rent with bad credit? If thats the case, wouldn't there be a lot more homeless people around? Heh.

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