The Great Apartment search

well it has been a few days since we last wrote. We have been busy searching for an apartment. Saturday Tim and I went around to the local buildings to see if there were any available. a 5 month rental on a budget is turning out to be quite the tall order. we called several ads none of which were either willing to do 5 months or just never got back with us after saying they would. Then we just started going into buildings and asking the guard if there were any available. We visited probably about 15 different buildings and heard mei you (no apartments for rent) at most of them. We did meet a real estate agent at one of them though who showed Tim and I 2 apartments. The first was on the 5th floor and a little scary. The second however on the 15th floor was very nice. It has been almost completely redone including new sink, new mattress, new washing machine, new tv ect. It is very nice and I like it alot just a little concerned about the price and the size. It is 11,100nt (382.1USD) per month including the guard fee and would only be 150nt (5.16USD) a month for internet.

Not so great kinda grungy/scary apartment

Not so great kinda grungy/scary apartment

Not so great kinda grungy/scary apartment

Not so great kinda grungy/scary apartment

Not so great kinda grungy/scary apartment

Not so great kinda grungy/scary apartment

When I showed Hannah the pictures of the second apartment with all new furnishings, she immediately loved it. Saturday we went to dinner with Tim and Jamie. Then Tim and I went to go Go Karting with a group from the hall about 20min away but when we got there the track was already closed so we turned around and headed back home. 

The extent of my Go Karting experience 

Today (Sunday) we called the agent who had shown Tim and I the apartment and asked if Hannah and I could come and see it. He said yes but you have to come right now so we hurried and got ready and ran out the door. Once there Hannah again loved the apartment even though it is really small. We told him we would think about it. Then when we got home we looked at a few more online. Tim called Brian to see if there were any openings in his complex. There was one and the agent was available to show it at 8pm so we went to check it out. It was a pretty nice place and huge compared to the other one we were looking at it had a full kitchen 2 bedrooms and tons of storage. I really liked the size and storage aspects of it but it was still kinda old feeling, and just not as comfortable as the other one. Plus while it was probably a better deal it was still more money per month and for her fee. Additionally we wouldn't even know if we got it until the 15th of January so if it fell through we would have to then try to find a place willing to do only 4 months.

For those reasons we decided that we were going to go with the small apartment with all new furnishings. Tim called for us and negotiated like a pro. He was only able to get them to come down 500nt a month but he did get it so that we get to move in tomorrow and not start paying until the first so in the grand scheme of things he got it pretty close to the price he was shooting for. And now the moment you have been waiting for drum roll please....... the apartment we chose:

Front Door and Kitchen

Kitchen and TV in living room

Living room and stairs up to bedroom

New Mattress

Tiny Washing machine

The View From our balcony 

The View From our balcony 

 Well That is it for now we will meet with him tomorrow at 2pm to get the keys and we can move in after that. Busy day tomorrow. Well until we have more or we have internet again which ever comes first...
Love Phil and Hannah