Living in a 'Vintage' Apartment?

Sort of a rant/question for you.............long story short, I paid to be in a 'historic' neighborhood as it was definitely the safest/most convenient for me + I only had 1 day to find an apartment as it's the only time I had. There is no central AC, no garbage disposal, no dishwasher, bad water pressure and it was built in like the 50's. This has been the worst experience in my life and I've hated living here after the first week. I'm only paying about $200 more a month at my new place (different city) but it is 200 sqft larger, built in 2008, full clubhouse with gym, pool table, huge pool and jacuzzi, etc, etc.


My question is have any of you guys ever stayed in an older apartment (without normal 2011 amenities) because of the location/price? Did any of you actually enjoy the vintage 'appeal' of it? I would never do this again no matter how much I saved.

Originally Posted by dmash

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My question is have any of you guys ever stayed in an older apartment (without normal 2011 amenities) because of the location/price? Did any of you actually enjoy the vintage 'appeal' of it? I would never do this again no matter how much I saved.
I much prefer the ambiance of older places - hardwood floors, plaster, high beam ceilings, French doors, Archways. I can understand why A/C would be an issue where you live, considering the humidity. If you live within 7 miles of the coast in LA you almost never have to run air conditioning. My ex GF and I used to live in a place much like this (sans dishwasher and washer/dryer).
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Your problem is no f'kin AC in Florida's summer right now!! I can't imagine. Can you get a window unit and hang in your bedroom for the heat of summer til fall? Sure! For a single college kid I thoroughly enjoyed my experience at that time living on the top 2nd floor of my 8 unit building built in the 60s. I really enjoyed my place because the smaller living/dining room combo had vault wood panel ceilings, half sphere hanging lamps, huge windows across the entire wall in bedrooms/living room, full panel closets, wood floors. Was cheap with 2nd roommate in separate room. Best addition I didn't know until I got there was a full attic we'd enjoy pleasant smoking after nights drinking. It had oddities of squeeky floors, bad/old countertops, slightly dirty from years of use. Landlord tried to keep them up some. I lived right across from campus, so getting to all those "amenities" you're describing were at the recreation center anyway across the street. Well, not pool tables. Those were in the bars just outside campus. I severely disliked those fancy new huge apartment complexes that try to cater with all amenities and gouge student on cost. Why do you need treadmills, huge pools and gym when that's already included in your tuition and fees at your uni? My tips: I didn't have a dishwasher or garbage disposal either. This meant quick washing dishes/cleaning up as soon as I was done with my meal. It is the easiest way to stay on top of things and keeping your kitchen from becoming a disgusting heap. Do some easy/cheap decorating ideas to personalize your place and liven up the place. Work with the structure and oddities of the old apartment when you do this stuff. Your apartment may have been basically cleaned, but if previous students lived there try to clean/care for it better than you got it. Removing toilet stains, polishing corroded brass cabinet pulls, cleaning chrome on the sink, cleaning grout between the tiles, wiping down dirty cabinets ect. Taking some elbow grease to do these steps make the place look less dingy and more like it's been well cared with some history to it. I don't know the layout/ condition of your place, but I hope this helps in starting to appreciate living in a place that isn't exactly cookie-cutter construction of recent times.

Oh, clarification.......no CENTRAL AC....I DO have a window unit.

I cook all my meals (a lot of chicken) so the garbage disposal/no dishwasher is such a killer for me. I also eat around 6-7 meals a day that's why it's such a nuisance to me.

Hopefully I'm past all that ****. I need at least in-unit laundry.

Originally Posted by dmash

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Oh, clarification.......no CENTRAL AC....I DO have a window unit.

I cook all my meals (a lot of chicken) so the garbage disposal/no dishwasher is such a killer for me. I also eat around 6-7 meals a day that's why it's such a nuisance to me.
I have a dishwasher but never used it, was raised to wash my dishes in the sink so I still do. Don't have a garbage disposal unit either. The central AC is pretty important though but I could probably live without it if it was a must. The $200 extra at that newer complex may be worth it if anything for the social aspect with the pool and gym, I'd imagine the girls are plentiful there. 7 meals a day, bulking or an athlete?

Originally Posted by dmash

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Oh, clarification.......no CENTRAL AC....I DO have a window unit.

I cook all my meals (a lot of chicken) so the garbage disposal/no dishwasher is such a killer for me. I also eat around 6-7 meals a day that's why it's such a nuisance to me.

LMAO

Originally Posted by dmash

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Sort of a rant/question for you.............long story short, I paid to be in a 'historic' neighborhood as it was definitely the safest/most convenient for me + I only had 1 day to find an apartment as it's the only time I had. There is no central AC, no garbage disposal, no dishwasher, bad water pressure and it was built in like the 50's..

1950s? I was offered a house built in 1650 a while back.

Originally Posted by inq89

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7 meals a day, bulking or an athlete?

Just athletic.........like to remain around 8% BF year round.

i have none of those amenities right now but i'm in asia. plus mine was built in the 90's and it still haz none of those LOL! i dun even really know how to use a garbage disposal. i just throw my garbage out every night.

I live in a building built in 1927. NO A/C, no dishwasher, no garbage disposal, weird windoy thingy for ventilation in bathroom. Anyway, I installed two window unit A/Cs and hand wash my dishes. I don't mind it.

I love how apartments built in the 50's/60's are described here as "vintage"

I've NEVER lived in an apt with a dishwasher, washer/dryer, central air, garbage disposal, etc. How am I still alive?

I definitely prefer it. I lived in a building from the 20's in Raleigh that i really loved, and in a 9 story place built in the 40's in Orlando that had the most incredible view. The oldest place I've lived was a house in Blacksburg, VA in college built in the 1860's I believe. The place was great, but my room was in the uninsulated single room second floor (the attic) and I'd wake up seeing my breath a few months of the year. Even with old appliances, drafts, and painfully small closets, I'd prefer to live in an older place. The newer places I've lived in felt soulless, and sort of sterile.

Originally Posted by willpower

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If you live within 7 miles of the coast in LA you almost never have to run air conditioning.

lolwut