How to APARTMENT HUNT like a PRO.
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- Опубликовано: 17 май 2024
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00:00 - Intro
1:19 - Tips for renters AND owners
2:11 - They will let you die.
3:42 - Don't overlook this!!
5:37 - NEGOTIATING your rent!
7:57 - Rent TRAPS
9:27 - The BIGGEST mistake people make.
11:00 - What will ACTUALLY make you happy
12:00 - If you work from home
12:35 - My brother's new home
14:48 - Design PROs & CONs
17:24 - What are they selling you...?
19:36 - Reviewing your APARTMENTS!!
21:58 - Apartment #2
23:40 - Apartment #3
25:10 - Apartment #4
26:50 - Apartment #5
27:46 - MY EDITOR!!!!
28:56 - Apartment Hunt Advice!
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Please note that I am not a professional, in fact I am the literal opposite. I am just a plebeian out here loose on the streets. Things that I am NOT: a builder, trainer, craftsman, therapist, nutritionist, physical therapist, medical professional or anything else. All projects seen on my channel must be completed at your own risk and responsibility. Please see your own professional or counselor for professional support. Do your research and be safe!
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Please tell me you didn't just actually post your address on this?
@@theodoreroosevelt7224 haha i have seen a lot of comments worried about this. No that is not my address! If you look at the map shown, that is a neighborhood in CHICAGO - not DC. There's a small disclaimer on screen that this is not my personal location, but I appreciate looking out!
Im gonna scroll through your channel, but do you have any packing and/or decluttering advice? (ADHD friendly) I'm moving and this video was really helpful for figuring out where to go, but would love any advice in the moving process to get there. :)
What in the actual is......TILLY?
*When you say someone died in your bed, do you mean literally or performance-wise?* Though I'm not sure which one is worse.
Do I need to find a new place to live? No. Did I still watch this video in its entirety? Yes.
For the first time in my entire 75 years I am moving into a space I chose by myself, for myself. The last house I lived in was chosen by my daughter who was adjusting to a new country, a non existent dad, a mother food banking, working 60+ hours a week. She also chose my next spot as I had emergency surgery and she was convinced that I needed assisted living but compromised by moving me to an independent living place that was filled with people in their 80’s and up. No diversity, lots of religion.
I haven’t told her I’m moving to a 55+ building with a wonderful view of the Mississippi and city skyline. In United laundry, walk in tub, 2 bedrooms, loads of storage, side by side fridge with an ice maker, good dining area. 5 year lease. Library, music room, sauna, loads of shared public areas. Great neighborhood, garage. Loads of new windows, great all round space. Can wait till June 1!
Congratulations on your new HOME to be! :)
Enjoy this new chapter and move in your life! ❤ My next move will be of my own choice to any town, any house and be so freeing. We always got a house in a town near my ex’s work (yes, even in one of the most remotest parts of the world too). Weather was in the 30s-40s C all year. My ex bought a block of land and waited a week to tell me and then in another move he would have bought a house that I and the kids hadn’t seen or heard of but it had already sold.
Congratulations! I was 53 when I picked out my 1st place without a command or a committee. SO restful, empowering, inspiring, cozy, safe, cheerful! Wishing you many years of JOY!
So happy for you! Congratulations 🥂
Congratulations!
Good for you for getting a place for younger “old”people!!!
Hell yes to brother’s apartment makeover!!!
Seconded!!!
Thirdified
Fourthed 🤗
Just accept everybody wants this!
Useless fact for y'all: re: the parquet flooring pattern in a V pattern... if the ends of the wooden v's are cut at 90° it's herringbone. If the ends of the v's are cut at 45° then it's called chevron or french chevron. I am a severe geek.
Here in France we call the chevron pattern "point de hongrie" :)
I like learning these little factoids.
Bless you and your knowledge
And we love it. Thanks!
That is not a useless fact, it is a very good description for someone learning about wood floor installation or to know what they are talking about in polite conversation.
The way I clicked with urgency😂😂❤
Same
lol, same!!
I'm calling the realtor in the morning!
lol same
Same 😂
That purple is the best color you've ever worn!
Right? I LOVE IT ON HER
Once she had sth. green like her eyes. It was bomb!
The way your icon is the same color
Doh Ty!
and the glass she's holding matches!
re: camera exposure, which I am only commenting on because you asked! Since you're in front of a window there's a lot more light on you than the back of the room, so the camera is (correctly) exposing to show you instead of blowing you out to show the background. Various solutions - you can force the camera to expose brighter or darker than it "thinks" it should by setting exposure compensation higher or lower (I'm not familiar with the layout of the M50 but it should be easily google-able). If you want to actually even out the scene you'd either decrease the light on you by closing the curtains/whatever (camera should boost exposure to compensate) or add light to the background somehow. OR sit closer to your background so the amount of light hitting you and whatever's behind you is similar. Light falloff is exponential so what looks like similar lighting to our eyes is actually very different on camera. For what it's worth I think the scene looks fine as is though, the darkness of the background brings more attention to you. It's all personal preference! Love your videos 💛
Came here to say this!
RUclipsrs, who just speaks and are not trying to show their interiors, usually just throw vibe lights in the background to solve that. Often neon or cozy warm. So it doesn't seem like anyone really fixes it. But it's probably possible to find an expensive camera, which will just have a higher range of shades between its lightest and its darkest, so it won't need to overexpose her to make the room lighter. I know it's possible for photo cameras and something of that sort also is true for monitors, so video cameras too, probably?
But yeah, her filming already looks good enough.
Wow bless as hell
Good tips. Also, it's worth mentioning that most professionals will light a scene so that the subject is a couple of stops brighter than the background to focus the viewer's attention.
Came here to mention some of the same things as @morganzamboni2225...scene composition is much like interior decorating (at least from what I have learned from you over the year(s) since your first viral video on the subject (thank you).
What do you want to be the focal point of a room, nook, wall etc to be vs what do we want our viewer to focus on in our picture/video?
Lighting...draws the viewer's attention, which some believe is based on survival instincts (shiny equates to water); but I digress. As MG2225 mentioned the power of natural light 'looks' to us as the same amount of light as a room with an overhead light, but we've all noticed how much dust we see on a shelf when we open the curtain on a sunny day. Many of the pictures & videos we view are lit with 2 or even 3 lights. A light off to either the right/left at a 45 degree angle normally to the subject with a strong light & then a 'fill' light off on the opposite side. The Fill light is there to add shadows & depth while the main light is normally elevated & diffused. An inexpensive way to diffuse a light it to throw a pillowcase or other fabric over it & you can even use a house lamp with a good amount of lumens. You wont get great quality balanced lighting from a lot of today's consumer bulbs, but they will do just fine. You can also diffuse the natural light coming through your front window by closing the curtains you have or again...throwing a piece of fabric over the curtain rod...think bed sheet. You will still get a ton of light, but it won't be 'harsh.' Finally, in this long paragraph, you can light your background which will bring it more in (light) level with your foreground subject...you, in this case, because cameras adjust the exposure to bring out the details of what it 'thinks' you want to be the subject which is why when you are in frame it makes you look great & when you are out of frame it brings out the background in Automatic Mode.
Automatic Mode...is what you are shooting in & there is nothing wrong with this setting, but it does take away some control from the user & for folks who are putting together lots of clips it saves hours & hours of work. For a photographer who is taking stills, even a few dozen before a scene change, there are (basically) only 3 settings to play with ISO, Shutter Speed & Aperture hence it makes more sense to learn how to operate your camera in Manual mode, if you are shooting pictures vs. video. BTW: ALL cameras use these three things, but when actual film was placed in a camera the user was locked into the ISO of the film in the camera...now we can adjust ISO electronically.
Scene Composition or thirds...this isn't something you mentioned, but we're this deep into it, so we may as well touch on it. Much like how you arranged the furniture in your parent's basement(?), pictures on your wall & candles on your hearth humans like the subject we are viewing to fit into certain areas of the frame...thirds. You can access this by going into your camera's settings (this may vary slightly depending on your Firmware version) and then over to the wrench menu -> the 4th sub-menu -> Shooting menu -> Grid Display -> 3x3. This will put the grids on the LCD, but not your final product & will help people learn where to place their subject or horizon line. Your subject should be on one of the lines & ideally be at the intersection of two of them whereas a picture/video of a landscape should have the horizon line on the top or bottom 3rd line, but when you are the subject of the scene as you were here, dead on is great. Keeping the rule of 3rds in mind, look at some of the pictures in your books on the table & you will begin to see this right away....but keep in mind professionals break these rules as well, but they know when they can.
Love your work & you have helped me both in how my house is set up as wall as making mental adjustments to how I approach success - Again, Thank you!
EDIT: I mention the rule of 3rds, however once I walked away for a few minutes it dawned on me I should have also stated...you break this rule all the time...please for the love of gawd continue to do so. It is very much an overall part of your style. Camera on the ground in the hall as you walk into the kitchen...attaching it to your shower(?) and shooting down in your made over bathroom etc...It adds to you being honest with your community including out of focus shots, you staring off into space & sharing your personal struggles as well as observations about life.
I wanted to make a separate comment for a pro tip for NYC specifically. It might be true elsewhere ofc, but I'm speaking from my own experience here. There are A LOT of rentals you'll never know about if you stick to the known sources. If you have the time, walk around the neighborhoods in which you're looking and keep an eye out for signs indicating available units. A lot of older building owners don't bother listing units because we have such an aggressive rental market they get scooped up super fast. I have found multiple apartments that weren't listed anywhere by walking around and calling the number on the sign outside the main entrance.
Yes! I find this to be true in a lot of places. They aren't tech savvy and/or they don't want a horde of random people applying.
I rented from a private owner--an older lady that seemed really nice. I lived there about a month, and I was in the shower one day when she came walking into my bathroom! She had let herself in to "see if I was settled in." I screamed at her to get out, told her I was moving immediately and got a locksmith the next day to change the locks. Luckily, there was an apartment available in a building right across the street, so I moved there, and my friends helped me just carry my stuff across. Anyway, I'd rather rent from a rental company. Like Caroline said, they generally don't care about you. Private owners can be questionable, butt into your life and care too much.
Oh my gosh that is kind of horrifying
YUP. I was subletting a room in a shared house that happened to be empty during the period I was renting. The owner of the row house came and stayed with me in the house for several days. They "asked" me if it was okay to do, but really it was more like telling me it was going to happen. So uncomfortable and not what I signed up for at all.
Glad that my private owners lived out of state and had a property manager that never, ever showed up unannounced, and everything was done through appointments. They cared but were never intruding.
I thought the same, where I live there's no rental company or stuff like that (we have only real estate agents) so you mostly rent from privates, but finding one mentally stable is a very hard. I myself had experiences with landlords coming into my house, but they did it when I was out so they could spy on me.
for me place with "chicken cage" balkony would be the one to pick as. I have cats, it's a. safety thing I'd have to install myself if it was not there
so: LIFESTYLE YES ;)
I immediately thought how I could spam pots with herbs on that thing 😄
Yes!! Love that as an example of the personal fit
Yes!!!🎉 my first though on that balcony was that my cats would LOVE it
I's recommend finding out what construction may be occuring near your apartment during the course of your lease. My apartment announced in August (I moved in in July) that they'd be building a seven-story building directly outside my window. I had told the folks touring me that I was moving to be able to look out at trees while south-facing and have more quiet, the two things my last apt. was lacking. Now, I look out onto cranes and listen to construction beeping 7AM-5PM most days while working from home :,) So, lesson learned!
Bless you!
I had a similar issue except instead of construction, it was having an apartment that was one of the closest overlooking the community pool and people would be out there at 10am and I'd be rudely woken up by kids yelling their heads off (when we agreed to rent, we didn't realize it was on the side of the building facing the pool). As 1) I'm very sensitive to noise and 2) don't work until closer to the afternoon, it was bad, especially as I also worked from home. I made sure the next places I rented at were as quiet as a cemetery. Hell, I'd take having a cemetery outside my windows now that I think about it, at least they'd be quiet neighbors 🙃
I find it amazing that someone who veers towards depression & anxiety (as she has in the past), can have so much LIGHT & JOY that subconsciously radiates from within. My wish for you Caroline, is that one day you truly SEE and FEEL , what the rest of us see coming from you.
Haven't watched all of this yet, but wanted to stick this comment in - if the listing mentions something that should be REALLY basic, like that the place is clean or has no bugs, don't go there! Even saying it means that that topic has been an issue in the past, and might be an issue again in the future, vs something you can just take for granted. Keep your standards high, y'all!
But unless there are huge holes where bugs come in and it's not livable, cleanliness and pest control are the tenant's domain ...?
I'm 16 years old and living in the house that my grandma and granddad designed, and that my granddad built himself before he died. My grandma is heavily considering downsizing and selling their house over the next few years, and I've been panicking about never finding a home that feels like this one. While I'm not at that stage of finding a new place yet, this video makes me feel better and more prepared about when I have to move out
Omg I was so concerned when you showed the google maps screenshot, but then I saw your caption about it not being your real location. 😂
"HEY BABAY GURL" instantly knew this was the video for me ❤😂
It just felt correct ❤
something to note as well is to look into your local rental laws. In Ontario for houses/apartments built before Nov 2018 there is a legal limit on how much they can increase rent by every year, and new builds can rasie the rent once annually with not limit!!! You'll see a lot of new builds with low prices for the first year, go up significantly after year one in an attept to fill them up faster. Being aware of your local landlord/tenancy laws goes a long way!
i just moved into the CUTEST, most spacious studio by myself after DECADES of living with roommates (all have been wonderful!), i have my first outdoor space, little window boxes on the outsides of my windows for plants (that my private landlord paid me to plant!), in my favorite neighborhood, negotiated my rent down $50 bucks less a month, which will make a nice difference at the end of the year, and i couldn't be happier in my own lil place!!
Great video! I've realised I'd rather pay quite a bit more than ever live in a basement flat again. No amount of money saved was worth the hit to my mental health.. Also, be wary of private landlords too bc some of them seem incapable of understanding that once they rent out the unit they can no longer enter at will!
Me, a 30-year old man watching this. Caroline: Hey baby girl! I don't even mind it lol.
"I'm trying to raise some cynics out there" - that's why I love your videos.
It’s all I know
Girl, I kept thinking you were saying "real tea" and not "realty" and I was invested....but it's all good! I learned a lot from this video! Your way of talking about hard things is so comforting.
I kind of wish I was saying real tea now 😢
Love this video!! So agree that the first month free is a trap. Do the math. Also, big apt. buildings w/ the fancy lobby, and not so great apt drive me nuts! I don't give a crap about a fancy lobby. I don't LIVE in the damn lobby! Also: ask about all the extra charges: parking fee, pet deposit and monthly pet rent, trash fee, "convenience" fees, admin fees, internet/cable fees if mandatory, cost of laundry machines, etc. They DO NOT put these things online, on purpose. Make a list of your must haves (non-negotiable) vs. wants. Good luck out there!
Of course you covered this! Amenities Ashmitities!
It’s such a trap! They’ll do anything to get u in
FYI - the net in the “chicken cage” one is because the previous owners must’ve had an indoor cat - very common to have that net to protect your cat in Eastern Europe (the posting was from a Chech Republic website)
Or small children....
Agreed. My brother had it installed to keep pigeons away from shi**ng on their balcony though 😂
I bought my house 7 years ago, so this video doesn't apply to me. But you best believe I still watched the whole thing. Love ya, Caroline!
I really like how much you hype up other (unsponsored haha) people and brands on this channel :) The honesty and the unfettered support is so refreshing and lovely to see :)
Aw that means so much. I loveee supporting the people who deserve it!
Let’s goooo. I’m locked in to my current home for a hot minute but when class is in session, I attend.
Same - been renting the same place for 13 years and will stay till the landlady dies (and maybe after that if her family lets us stay) but good to know.
Sound advice. Keep in mind any rental space can be a dream home if you are moving with flexible, quality furnishings - when youre renting shit happens and sometimes you gotta go - ive had to move a lot due to landlord selling, job changes etc but it always feels like home to sleep in the same bed, use the same dishes and so on ❤
The "ship-monastery" apartment is in Portugal. Only 30 km from where I live. 😃
Funny I was wondering which part of Europe she was looking at. My dad Loved Portugal, he was a sea captain.
I believe that it is!
You know you’re turning out great content when even a current homeowner with no prospects of renting in the near future clicks on this video with urgency
Same
Just a warning about windows that face south. I live in a south facing townhome that bakes in the sun all summer long. Our electric bill is $800 during the summer, solely from running our old central a/c all day and night. Our windows are old and have lost the insulating gas between the panes so they're essentially useless. I keep the blinds closed anyway otherwise it makes it about 20° hotter upstairs.
Sometimes south facing windows are overrated. We only have a view of the sky and the townhomes behind us. There used to be a big old oak tree that gave us shade but they cut it down during this fall so I'm sure our bill will be even worse this year.
That’s crazy that they cut down that tree, that definetly helps with shading
never thought of this!
I would rather face West. I love early light.❤❤❤
Yes! Caroline is in the DC area (I am too) and there's tree's EVERYWHERE so south facing is really nice cuz you get some bright dapples but definitely wouldn't recommend it in the desert or in a treeless place
Completely agree. I have a beautiful view, very sunny, but I'm in the Bay Area, so most apartments don't have AC. When it's 68 outside and the sun is beating on my apartment, it gets into the 80s.
Just another thing to consider that I didn't know about. Especially older buildings with no insulation.
I'm going to be moving soon and this really helped me realize I need a yard with a fence. Thinking back all the places I was happiest and healthiest at that's the one thing they had in common: the ability to be outside and unobserved. That said I'm definitely going to be checking out the neighborhoods and looking for the ones with actual children playing outside instead of just a bunch of empty playgrounds.
One other tip for negotiating is that you can use it to get the landlord to add something to the apartment that you want. So if they won't give you a reduction in rent, you can ask them if instead, they'll buy something for the apartment. I've had a new air conditioning unit, new mattresses in both bedrooms, a water purifier, and a new TV in my time.
Here's what's going on with your camera. It's adjusting the exposure automatically to properly expose whatever it thinks the subject is. When you're sitting there, you are lit more brightly than the background, so the camera lowers the exposure until you are properly exposed, which leaves the background darker. If you want both yourself and the background to be more evenly exposed, you'll need to add light to the background. You could do that either by turning on ceiling lights and lamps or by getting a light for photo/video shooting and aiming it at the ceiling so it bounces evenly around the room.
Lotsa good tips. We haggled on rent (instead of getting the sink resurfaced) for the place I'm in, owner asked us if we'd do an 18 mo lease & we jumped at it. Now the 18 months is up & she asked if we'd go for another 18 months at the same rate. YES, PLEASE! We're in a safe, convenient central location, walking distance from groceries, coffee, tacos, library. I feel so lucky & blessed!
I would add those super gray LVT wood floors to the list of depression-inducing dealbreakers, personally!
Agreed
Thank God for large rugs. Some people have no other choice but living in a place with the builders grade gray floor special, it is ubiquitous here in my area.
When I was looking for a new apartment in DC I watched your videos doing the same and it really motivated me to keep going on tours until I found something great and got the chance to design my place the way I wanted. At least in downtown DC the new buildings suck, you either want to rent part of a row house or a pre-1975, but newly renovated, place with rent control. Before that I had a private landlord for 8 years that only raised the rent $50, all utilities and internet included. A good private landlord is amazing if you can find one.
Lol when I saw the chicken coop balcony I got really excited because I wouldn't have to deal with cat proofing it. My cats love a balcony but they are insane
Haha I am seeing this comment from all the cat owning subscribers
This video was spot on. After nearly 2 decades of renting (so many places!), I bought a home with my partner last year and the process is a killer. Falling in love with a home and imagining your life there only to not win the bid OR you do win the bid and then the inspection discovers more red flags than you can accommodate... There were tears. There was grief.
However, a realtor friend told us "Houses are like buses, there's always another one coming" and that gave me hope. The home we ended up in checks all the boxes and I'm so happy we hung in there to make it happen.
So much good advice here - just what i would expect from our awesome Caroline! 🥰 70-plus-year-old grandma here & i say - “listen to her!” Golden nuggets of wisdom. Definite red flag if someone is rushing you & putting pressure on you - head for the hills! 🏇🏻
❤❤
downside of renting from private owner is that they could sell the apartment and you would have to move involuntarily
Duuuude we're currently casually looking since our landlord has been raising our rent by offensive amounts lately. We've both been through apartment hunting torture multiple times so we're traumatized/experienced, but I'm always open to new advice and tips, impeccable timing as always 😘
Thank you for talking about the trade off between things, and what we actually care about (people, community) because I don’t think enough people in the US realize this. And I’m tired of people not realizing this!! Having a huge home is not ‘making it’ and you probably don’t need all that space. You just think you do cause of social media. In fact owning a huge home is more time and energy.
I’m so glad! Yeah it’s strange to see people making this choice soooo often and then so often being u happy when they’re isolated just in exchange for square footage. Obv a middle ground is needed. And it’s not a bad call to make, just know the price of it!
a huge home to me just means way more cleaning!! sure, a mansion would be lovely, but would much rather live in a little place with my friends close by
What to do if you live in the perfect apartment, but the old intrusive landlady lives next door and watches every step, complaining when you breathe too much?
We live in a tiny town with no other options to really find another apartment... they have like 2 apartments a year and they are always horrible, small, expensive and far away. Sooo... We love our place, but it's really like living under the control of an old witch.
For reference: We are living in Germany. :)
Lol I’m living in Germany, too and my landlady lives right next to me. She is really nice but she notices everything i do, which makes me really nervous xD also the neighbors are really nosy too. They be standing by the window and check my every move 😂
The gasp that escaped my body when I saw the How to be an Adult in Relationships book on your coffee table. So much great knowledge in that book!!
Everything you said x10!!!
I stare out into a parking lot, but that also means people can look INTO the apartment. My previous space had so much light, I miss it daily. In my next place I desperately need an outdoor space
So many good tips! Windows with light and trees are very important to me. Also one tip from me from when I was a renter (learned while growing up from my parents who rented for years), is to be a good tenant at every place you rent so that your previous landlords are happy to give you good references. Good references are a good negotiation point because private owners really want GOOD renters. Being nice, paying on time and being respectful of both the property and landlord goes a long way for a mutually beneficial relationships - of course there are horrible landlords out there too, so choose them wisely. Thank you Caroline for the helpful video!
That balcony that had the ‘chicken coop’ feeling would actually be great for someone with a pet.
Sometimes you can negotiate with other things! My last apartment had really worn carpet that needed to be redone so any stains my kid left didn’t matter because they knew they were going to replace it after I moved out and I got my full security deposit back.
Super helpful. Sharing with my 20s daughter in NYC :) My mother had a 4-unit building in San Francisco for 20 years. She absolutely didn’t raise rents at all or even less than limits if she had good tenants. She supported their painting cabinets, doing design improvements as you have, etc.
I have not rented since 1997 but any video with Pretty Caroline and her adorable brother Luke with a cameo by the sweet doggie "Koda" gets a thumbs up from me.
Omgosh. Yes. On location and lifestyle. When I moved site unseen to TX I picked an apartment that was in a triangle of walking distance to a dive bar + ice cream + coffee. The Trinity. That was my location strategy.
The most sparkly gem in this video is your observation that we might encounter something wonderful we never dreamed of and thus, never thought to put on the list of wants/needs. As you said, this applies to dating as well as home searches. I'd go so far as to say this nugget can apply to all kinds of things in life! A good reminder to be open to delightful surprises. Thanks for another great video, Caroline. And yes, add me to the list of those who would love to see you work with Luke in his new apartment.
Ones I've got hyperfixed (literally, I have ADHD, this state is basically a kind of hypomania) on the idea that if only I had my own garden and could eat in it, I'd be SO much happier. After some time of FOMOing over this I've decided that suffering with at least something nice is better than just suffering, so I started to eat in random relatively green areas outside. Of course hyperfixation just faded away as always. But the experience actually was fine and I thought that a lot of different places give more novelty and variety, and that caring about the house and a whole actual garden would be too exhausting for me. The fountain thing reminded me of it. Some things are too hard to just imitate though. I still want to live closer to the river because I'm either anxious that I almost don't visit a beach or that I'm wasting time on transportation.
Another great video! On the last and final point of the time crunch with pressure is very real! I work in property management and we do pressure to sell units, HOWEVER, that really is because the unit is hot and there are others that are interested in it as well. Plenty of times people think it's just a sales tactic will come again a week later or the next day to come back and realize someone else had swooped in and submitted their application first before them and were already approved to move in because they acted quicker. Only way to combat this fomo is if it isn't an immediate YES, it is a no. I love the abundance mindset, there will always be a different place that might even be so much better. No one is missing out, I promise🎉
It's like she's reading my heart ❤️ the timing of this upload could not be more perfect! 😁
Caroline, I just want you to know I just finished your sister's new book! I learned about Shakespeare Was a Woman and Other Heresies on your channel and realized that Elizabeth authored the Atlantic essay years ago that I'd loved. I pre-ordered the book, received it three days ago, and just tore through it! Thank you so much for sharing about it here. The book is tremendous, and I plan to reread it immediately and tell my writer friends about it.
Fantastic and actionable advice. It’s non negotiable for me that I have lots of light, that there is some personality to the space (a good personality. Not a drama lama annoying as hell personality), and there HAVE to be trees in my sight line. The one exception to the last criteria was when we lived out west and our apartment had panorama views of the Rocky Mountains. Although … I did miss the trees. I realized if even the splendour and majesty of the Rockies couldn’t satiate my need for trees, they really were a genuine requirement. We’d love to be out in the country but we have kids and I was NOT willing to be a permanent taxi driver or then have to accommodate another vehicle for their jobs and social lives when the time came. We compromised by finding a house with a large tract of land behind us that was not developed. I can look out my window or sit on my deck and it feels pretty darn close to being in a more rural area. We got lucky, but then it was also important to us so we sure did look extra hard. It was between this and a slightly better interior with a better pool. I don’t regret going for the open space behind us.
Literally couldn't have come at a better time - in the middle of an apartment search in DC right now. Thank you! ❤
Caroline woohoo
Storage!!!! Light!!!! Accessibility!!!! Location!!!!
I recently moved to an apartment that was a take it now or cry later, and I did it because, right as you said, it's closer to my community and the places where I love going to, PLUS it's luxurious. The downside I never got to know was that, since I live in the tropic in a very humid and hot city (80-100ºF all year), the apartment is in the 4th floor of a 4-floor building, and so: The sun simply kills all the vibe in it. I didn't think it was gonna be a 880 sq feet oven to bake humans. LMAO.
caroline's videos have me taking rapid notes like i'm in a lecture before the final exam but because i actually *want* to retain the wisdom
I actually really love the caged balcony, you could use it as a lattice & grow pots with star jasmine which smells AMAZING, & your kitties can go outside to birdwatch with you 🥹
Commenting before I finish the video because I already know Caroline is going to fill me with joy and make me feel like I'm gonna be ok
Thanks for being our big sister Caroline! For some reason every video you upload is coincidentally what I need in my life lol
I had to move simply because I needed a space to accomodate my degenerative neurological disorder. I'm almost 35 and I'll be in a wheelchair in about a decade if I'm lucky. I ended up in an assisted living facility. All my neighbors are elderly and friendly. I've been severely limited in my options because of what I need. I wanted an open space with stairs, but I can't walk stairs. I needed to compromise but somehow I ended up in a place I really like. It worked out.
Edit to add that the chicken cage thing is probably to keep a cat safe.
Not being depressed in a space is such a huge thing! Which is why after living in a few of these myself, I will never ever choose to live in a basement suite again. Canada loves its basements. I hate em. I've already decided my dream home will not have a basement, or a very small one. As they are often such a waste of square footage, often unfinished so they're always cold, and of course the lack of windows means lack of sunshine so they just feel cold, dark and uninviting. And usually just used for storage then which just leads to hoarding excessive stuff which people tend to forget about! Sorry for this rant about basements but Caroline is so right about choosing spaces that make you happy and these definitely do not😂 On the contrary, my last rental had big beautiful bay windows and wow have I learned how happy sunshine makes me. Windows are key!!!
I totally agree on finding what makes you not-depressed, it makes a huge difference!
For me it's light as well, doesn't have to be South facing, just not completely and only North facing (opposite for people in Australia of course).
But maybe even more important, to me, is tall ceilings.
My last two apartments had lowww ceilings and I felt claustrophobic, like the ceiling was pressing on me.
And even though the rooms weren't small, they always felt small.
So now I live in a tiny apartment (35m2, about 377sqft), but with tallll ceilings and I love it!
It makes the space feel so much bigger!
Can’t wait to see you decorating Luke’s apt.
Especially when you are young and you are living in rather short-time rentals: Try out various living situations, and thus figure out the MUST-HAVEs vs. the DON'Ts. I also loved dorms or dorm-like settings when studying abroad and for my internships, specifically highly recommend the Webster Apartments in NYC for female professionals. They even included half-board when I was there.
Also, your habits will change over time. A small kitchen unit is OK as a student with an on-campus meal plan, but will be unpractical if you are an avid hobby baker.
Last but not least, you do NOT need an extra bedroom for guests or for any just-in-case scenarios, especially when you are on a budget.
wow I love all those yellow floors! what I really hate is the grey ones. Taste is relative!
Much love from Ukraine, Caroline! Always delighted by your new videos. Thank you for your words of wisdom and encouragement. It's so great to see you with your brother: family photo with Coda was so sweet. Hugs.
Me and my fiance recently moved into our apartment and we absolutely love it. It has giant floor to ceiling windows that bring in so much light. We were being picky about location (nearby trails and dogpark) and having a decent size living room. Although apartment searching got rough due to a competitive market (LA area) I would say don't get discouraged! If you see something you like jump on it or else someone else will!
Amazing video. I lived in a Bozzuto apartment in NE DC in 2022. I was so depressed, despite the amenities that made my life much more functional (and I was in a sad north facing studio!). I ended up lasting nine months before I broke my lease and found a job back in NYC. So glad you called out those buildings!
I love your apartment hunting video for the apartment you're in right now!! I had the SAME specificities in figuring out how to not feel depressed LOL! You're amazing :))
Funny how everything to do with realtors, landlords, rental negotiation .... is the exact opposite of the advice I would give here in Australia. Given that no one discounts rent (you are more likely to have to budget to offer more under the table, and then on after), peak periods are all the time, but especially Feb, March, Oct, Nov, Dec. And never trust any landlord - private or realtor, they can and will replace you at will. Know the law, you will need it, and film ever single mark you ever make. I wish long leases existed here. 😢
That being said, I have learned that I need sound, people, and activity around. Quiet streets are not for me. Same as 'grey as a decorating vibe.' Public transit is not optional, nor is a good stove or bathroom. But south facing! Finally, someone who agrees. ❤
One of my favorite topics!!! I'm going on 11 years in my tennent - landlord relationship. I'm so lucky that my rent has been stable and my landlord's mom bakes extra brownies for me on the reg! It helps to be a manic Polish cleaning lady every one in a while. Even though the neighborhood has changed a lot in 10 years, I wouldn't risk abandoning this relationship for some other place. Thanks for covering this topic. Suck on my butt!!! ;p
I once moved literally 9 blocks east, and it was so weird adjusting my lifestyle! It was a busier intersection (better for taking public transit, but louder during commuter traffic) and closer to a huge park (which became a nice respite since I moved there in 2019 and better than the bar a few doors down from my old place), but restaurants and grocery stores that used to be an easy 6-block walk were all now 15+ blocks away, and required going uphill to get home. Still worth the move!
I'm only 5 and a half minutes into this video and feel like this is just good life advice in general...."getting brutally honest about what DOES and DOESN'T make you happy".... I'm not even apartment shopping, but I did start a new, shiny job and I'm having mixed feelings about it ...... This advice could be helpful 🤔💗🙏
It’s so hard and takes years! I think this is what people mean when they say they started being so much happier around their 30s. It takes a while to even get comfortable with what u want
10:17 my husband and I bought a house in a subdivision SIMPLY to split our commute. We closed on 3/6/2020. I commuted 4 days before being sent home. Remote work became permanent for me, so now he still has a long commute and we live in a house we struggle to love in a neighborhood that is rife with HOA drama. Considering your lifestyle may be the most important factor!
I love the videos. Been getting some great tips from you . Your chat is top (always makes me laugh), and I love the wee silly voices/ faces you do, PLUUUUUS you’re totally cute too! 😊 sending you much love from Edinburgh !
thank you for being so REAL in this! you are here doing gods workkkk with this advice 💛
This video came at the most perfect time. Among your many abilities, you also mind read.
That apartment with the reddish chevron floors was in Lisbon in the historic Graça neighbourhood! Viewing these apartments on idealista is my favourite hobby, they’re gorgeous 😻
Lol I could immediately tell that was a Lisbon apartment, the one you said looked like a monastery. The floors are wood, but they look like they were varnished darker/redder. The wood trims and frames are pretty old school around here.
Right? 😂
On the topic of your camera: when you step out of the scene, the exposure adjusts to the dark background & brightens it up. However, when sit back in front of it, you're 1.) brighter than the background again simply because you're pale and 2.) significantly brighter still because you're sitting in front of the window light.
Not sure what you use to edit but both Final Cut and Premier have overlays that help balance it out in post but, honestly, it's a nice affect the way you have it. You stand out nicely and the background isn't distracting.
Haven’t watched any of the vid yet… but the this violet/periwinkle number?! Exquisite on you
found my longterm if not forever home during covid and it's such a good feeling when the apartment layout just clicks with the way you live in the flat, great location, lovely features, private owner who you can personally contact. it's the first time ive felt the urge to really nest and make it my home instead of filling the apartment with necessities. just coming home from a long day at work to your cozy safe space is a really blessed feeling.
I love square footage and crown molding…!
Something to consider when looking at places tht don’t have central air or an ac built in make sure there r windows you can put on into and not just sliding glass doors I saw a place where all the windows were sliding doors ick
Literal perfect timing, you’re the best ❤️
Your skin right next to the window is brighter than the rest of your room, so the camera's auto exposure is exposing for your skin and darkening the rest of the room. You'll have to ad light to your room to balance the exposure.
Try puting your camera on manual exposure so at least it wont change as you move in and out of frame.
This is all excellent advice for home buying too, can confirm.
Lifestyle, and features that actually matter to you, FIRST. Then set a budget and bloody well stick to it. Pay the right amount for YOU for what you need.
We live in a 4 bed with two offices, separate living spaces for kids and adults, and hardly any yard, because this is what we need to not kill each other working from home. Walking distance to school, but supermarket is further away because I never buy small amounts of groceries ever.
It blows my mind how many people will pay an extra $100k for a newer house, that's too small for their family or pets, or it's really far away from stuff they need to be close to. Or is too big because they value, I dunno, prestige or something? Dumb decisions imho.
I was about to come after you for posting a map of where you are.
Then I read the caption 😅
Carry on
I want to express my gratitude for the way you make your sponsors shine and I I appreciate you. Your adds are only adds coming to my life. I have adds free RUclips otherwise. But one day I would love to sponsor you bc your way is making me perfect promo video. Love your work.
We bought our house a year and a half ago so this video doesn’t even apply to me but I just love your videos so much, so here I am 😊
Maybe with that one chicken cage balcony you could do some vining plants, they could be just decorative but you could also do ones that would grow food, like vining peas etc.
"He's invited me to Kuwait, if I'm ever passing through" 😂
Sadly I got the feeling that the advice doesn't really apply to a lot of us apartment seekers : tight timeline, tight budget, a professional situation that no owner or renting company wants to hear about, and a very pressured market. I'm far away from being able to choose what color of flooring my place could have...
But that's allright and I love your videos anyways
Same. I live in Sydney, Australia which has massive housing crisis for apartments and this video made me feel even more frustrated with the situation here. Lines of 60+people at apartment viewings, rental increases every year, landlords refusing to maintain their property. Hell, we can't even hang anything on the wall without permission (and they often say no)