Ok. Here's where I made some mistakes. I tried.
I was living abroad when I had to find an apartment in Chicago. I had one campus visit and a tour of the surrounding neighborhoods, but other than that, no knowledge of the area.
So, I researched. And I asked other faculty members and friends who live in the area for advice.
I checked out neighborhoods via youtube, google maps, and crime statistics. I figured out the commute routes, tolls, and monthly train and subway fares. I compiled a list of my "must haves" and my "wants." I did my best to see what my monthly paycheck would be.
I tried to find agents to help me, but they kept funneling me to the same properties I had already decided against (a studio with one wall is NOT a one bedroom, and what is the point of walls if they don't go to the ceiling?). So I ended up looking at all the named apartment complexes online and working directly with their leasing agents. This ended up getting me a better deal, as my application fee was put towards my first month's rent.
I really love my apartment and my building, but there is one flaw that is pretty major (I wouldn't have picked this apartment had I known): the proximity to the raised subway. I can hear every train go by. It's not awful. But it's not great either. There will be a future post on how to block outside noise...
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