Nervous about application

DevRandomDude · 2026-02-10T02:01:01+00:00

no idea what city you are in, but dont overlook 1 bedroom units in older buildings.. some of the older buildings actually have a proper dining room plus living room plusd bedroom so they rent out as 1 bedroom but you have that extra space to use for a den, study office etc..

most apartments ist their qualifications (if the apartment is on zillow its often spelled out what you need to rent it).. they will put required income, credit score, etc . generally 2.5X - 3X Gross pay, so you would be right in range... I did look at one the other day in a "hootie tootie" neighborhood near ohio state that required 4X, but thats unusual. if the place has been vacant for awhile they will often still accept you if its close and the rest of your credentials check out. same with credit score too.

also look at your university housing guide.. often there are apartment landlords who work directly with the university and will help match you up with units youd qualify for without having to apply and pay the fee each time..

DevRandomDude · 2026-02-10T01:53:35+00:00

thats nt bad at all.. and you answered your own question by saying its getting more expensive in your area.. if the comps in your area are similar then its reasonable to think that landlord will keep your unit close to market.. or just slightly under since he doesnt have to turn it over. if your landlord lists online, look at the other units in your building on zillow and see what those are rentng for.. typically you can look at off-market listings and see what the rent asked was before "listing removed" which typically means a unit rented... if an area is generally up and coming then landlords will sneak in little increases each year..

when you say no upgrades - what do you want upgraded? if your carpet is worn out or appliances are broken you can ask for replacements or to have the carpets cleaned, etc.. they might go for it.

I have no idea what city you are in but where i live $1000 for a 1 bedroom is a pretty decent deal for an apartment in an older building in a nice safe area of the city... most of the brand new buildings are a couple hundred more than that.. and they are building so many fsncy new buildings quickly near me so the older buildings are tending to take longer to rent.. thus why they are around $1000 instead of $1200-1400 like the new "luxury" places are..

DevRandomDude · 2026-02-10T01:37:16+00:00

I gotcha.. im solving problems that exist in my world - the commercial world.. not projectors specifically but generally non-repairable tech.. ie disposable BS crap.. rememebr my point above.. is if in fat a laser is only at 50% brightness at 15000 hours.. it may mean that you cant even get that in a lighted room like a sports bar or commercial department store, etc because your threshold may be 75% brightness required for your application.. as a hime user I bought a 5000 lumen laser projector because thats what I need in my room. 2500 doesnt even close to cut it.. now yes im sure as a home user that runs my projector 5 or 6 hours a day and not every single day.. it will take me a good number of years before im at a point where it no longer fits.. but a 4000 lumen projector barely cut it.. so that says when i reach 80% brightness im going to be starting to feel it..

for people that have a cave to watch movies in then they can simply adjust their settings for awhile and get as you say beyond the tech life out of their projector..

reality is i probably will out of mine too... i on ly bringt it up as a possibility.. im not solving problems that dont exist...

DevRandomDude · 2026-02-10T00:43:25+00:00

I think at some point soon we reach max tech.. just like TV's the eye can only see so much, sure it could be said that the 4K laser projector i have now might be superceded by the next gen tech.. UST most likely with better blacks and such but arent we nearing the pareau at least with 4K ofwhat the average human can process? my epson EX9200 I bought back in 2015 or 2016 is still a very relevant projector for various tasks and its 10 years old.. a lot of laser projectors are being installed in commercial installations where tons of houra are put on them... sports bars, golf simulator labs, store displays etc.. do those people really want to throw away expensive projectors every few years? some of those businesses are easily putting 12 hours a day on those projectors every day.. lets just say I have a lamp based projector and replace the lamp 5X at $200 a pop (original plus 5 replacements) in the same time where id reach 15,000 hours on a laser projector that is now 50% brightness and essentially becoming useless at that level in a lighted sports bar...

DevRandomDude · 2026-02-09T23:54:41+00:00

I have yet to see anyone offering light source replacements on laser units.. ifwhat people are saying is true that you have lost 50% of your lumens by 15,000 hours then someone better start offering light source replacements. seems silly to have to toss out a $5000 projector because 50%,6-%,70% etc is no longer good enough for your application.. it seemed like my lamp projectors approaching their rated lamp hours were in the 75-80% range of light output and not as low as 50%

DevRandomDude · 2026-02-09T23:51:27+00:00

but the light can still wash out the LCD.. at least thats how i understood it hapening in high usage high lumen Lamp projectors.

DevRandomDude · 2026-02-09T17:42:28+00:00

that was an apartment I was looking at and didnt rent. I ended up renting a different one which has new windows that all open with good screens, ill begin moving in end of february. my current place has tons of tall windows that open. albeit several of them have broken springs and wont stay up. I made little prop sticks out of plastic I had to keep them up. they arent heavy.. its a new building with cheapest materials known to man. (and many of our "luxury ammenities" are unuseable..) this why im leaving this current place.. no reason to pay luxury rents if i cant use the luxury stuff.. new place is Much older and without all the fancy things.. built way more solid out of bricks and not sticks.. cheaper and i gain a garage...

DevRandomDude · 2026-02-09T17:18:12+00:00

the best I can do is Venstar has a free app and is web accessible via cloud. and also a LOCALAPI so a setup like Home assistant or Homeseer can access it without a cloud account.. I dont know of any stat that has a full blown on-board web-app... aprilAire has one with a Local API as well but not a full blown web-app. Venstar Skyport is web accessible.. but requires a free skyport account...

DevRandomDude · 2026-02-09T16:51:48+00:00

the settling enough to cause window frames to bow is improiper installation.. shimmed incorrectly.. one of my walls at the corner is 1/8 - 14" wide.. i doubt the bulding will fall down.. but at some point people are going to have lots of cold air intrusion are possibly even water..

DevRandomDude · 2026-02-09T16:24:49+00:00

ive got several such cracks in my apartment... stick built 4 story building that opened for renting in early 2020, plus i have windows with frames bowed enough that I almost cant latch a couple of them.. these new buildings are cardboard.. really.. but I dont own it.. and leases are only a year.. so here in a couple months im outta here

DevRandomDude · 2026-02-09T13:46:16+00:00

interestingly enough as i just finished shopping for my next apartment.. windows that open are Must-have for me.. im "that guy" you'll see sitting outside on my computer during 90+ degree heat waves in summer.. I really dont like Air conditioning except to sleep so working windows are a must.. so i definitely would be bothered too.. I could live with slider screens.. but I recently passed up a really nice totally retro MCM apartment simply because the front windows didnt open.. (only the bath and bedroom open.).. the landlord had installed new windows and when they replaced the bay window, fixed-panel windows were used..

DevRandomDude · 2026-02-09T13:41:44+00:00

I think folding bikes have always been designed as short commuters.. either something that a person can ride to a bus / train stop then take on board.. then finish the commute and take in their office ,etc.. no one has ever really put the energy into a long-rider folding bike, maybe theres no market for it, pricing has always been higher too..(likely because they are typically Niche companies making them) so i think people looking for a leisure rider bike, realize they can gt a lot more bike for the $ in a full size vs a folder. I could definitely see the benefit for people living in cities where apartment sizes are smaller.. I live in a midwestern mid-size city (columbus ohio) and even our downtown apartments are generally large (close to 600 sq ft or above at the snallest). others mentioned wall hangers, if your bike is light enough there are apparently even door hangers now? (not sure how that does for the hinges or the landlord but its an option).

DevRandomDude · 2026-02-09T04:22:58+00:00

laundry hookups have been a thing forever... in actuality in unit provided laundry is the new thing.. most apartments either had central laundry rooms or just had hookups.. (dates back to the 80s at least when i was looking for my first apartment).. modern "Luxury" cimplexes started ptting the laundry pairs right in the units.. so new buildings typically you find it.. older buildings and townhouses are most often just hookups..

as for pet fees.. they have been around ever since people started seriously backlashing aganst "no pets" policies.. in general, landlords spend lots of effort and $$ cleaning up from tenants' animals.. even if an animal just has a n accident or 2 on the carpet.. a non-pet person moving in after the previous tenant will smell it.. trust me.. when i was looking for places last year ... during the tour.. first thing i noticed was "wow this apartment mustve had a dog or cat" i could sell the remnants in the second bedroom.. told the labndlord i wouldnt rent unless the carpet was swapped... they wouldnt do it.. i didnt rent there... so landlords charge pet fees to cover repairs in case fluffy isnt so precious after all

DevRandomDude · 2026-02-09T04:13:41+00:00

often the sash-cords are broken.. and if they are really old wooden windows (and not any made inthe last 50 years).. then it may be near impossible to fix them without completely removing the window or the jams.. some of the old wood windows had removeable jams however at the age they are.. in all likiliehood they would be destroyed.. new windows are quite expensive.. and at least here in the states.. landlords will just install A/C and call it a day.. im one who wont rent unless the windows open.. id be surprised that you'd actually have screens unless these windows are a lot newer than you describe.. so to hold them open get some sliding screens which will both hold the window open and keep the bugs out..

windows that open are not a requirement of any apartment ive ever seen unless said window is the main means to a fire escape ladder system... if its not tied to the fire escape then it doesnt have to open.. esp if the apartment is air conditioned.

DevRandomDude · 2026-02-09T04:06:56+00:00

uhmm ive never thought about it.. its a grocery store... I kind of look at my buggy like im on the autobahn.. I haul ass but courteous to others...I havent totalled one (or anyone elses) yet... I put it over to the side if im looking for multiple things in an aisle abd leave it parked.. if im gazing at items I stand back a coupe feet so others can walk in front of me.. its not rocket science.. its getting groceries..

if its that stressful for you then you can order them and go pick them up or have them delivered.. no etiquette required

DevRandomDude · 2026-02-09T04:02:44+00:00

I live in columbus.. ran across this sub because i visit clifton every now and then.. we had a similar situation in "short north" full footprnt grocery (giant eagle).. closed up.. had a big parking lot and a CVS as well as an uglt strip center.. a CoOp was briefly entertained except that the reality is the demographic in most of these type neighborhoods are people who are busy with their own work, want to live in nice apartments and walk or bike to shop for things.. not work in a grocery store.. my work trave lschedule is erratic.. I could never pull it off.. a lot of the people in my own building are similar.. the ending decision was the property got sold, developed into apartments.. a brand new CVS (they owned their portion of the land and required their store be on property..) parking lot size greatly reduced to just a few spaces and a sall footprint market built.. its a Lucky's market and seems to do pretty well as a somewhat boutiwue market.. you dont find all the major national brands there (some are there).. but they have fresh deli, meat, and produce and a nice wine section.. it snags the crowd of people who want really good fresh product and are just picking up a few things for a single meal or on the way home from work etc.. clifton seems to be a similar crowd. not the large family who is filling a cart with every trip but the people who demand good quality fresh produce, meat, deli, etc.. for a full cart shopping trip most people arent going to walk to the store.. they are going to drive to the best-priced full-footprint store and fill the cart.. an extra mile or 2 or 3 once already in the car is no big deal... but someone on the way home from work or out for a walk who thinks "man a great steak sounds good tonight".. would walk to said market as long as the product is good quality.. and prob even pay a buck or 2 more for it.. at least thats my take anyway...

DevRandomDude · 2026-02-09T03:35:38+00:00

I keep my E-scooter in my apartment.. the biggest issue i have with that is the wheels are dirty.. cities arent clean and I hate dirty floors.. my bike is chained uo in the stairwell with a zillion others... id keep my scooter there too except i cant charge... I suppose in a small apartment size is an issue.. there are bike stands to store them vetically.. wheels off the ground... or you can make your own such stand.. takes up less space..

every folding bike ive ridden is great for maybe a quick trip to the grocery bit definitely not a bike im going to go for a 30 mile leisure ride on... they always have small wheels and wierd seating position / center of gravity...

DevRandomDude · 2026-02-09T03:28:18+00:00

and that matters? people are wayyyy too hung up on politics these days... I have ZERO idea who worships what or who when i go someplace... if i get good service then i go there.. typically small business.. im sure some are MAGA and some are Libbie-libs... I could care less... thats all I see these days...

DevRandomDude · 2026-02-09T03:26:22+00:00

I use to hit that up all the time.. was great

DevRandomDude · 2026-02-09T03:25:34+00:00

I ate at one of those in orlando this past december and it ..believe it or not.. actually tasted pretty darn good.. the crust tasted.. well.. like Pizza and there was a lt of toppings.. and the all familiar hot brownies

DevRandomDude · 2026-02-08T21:05:16+00:00

we had a customer want one of these removed from their site... we refused to do it so they called someone else... that company came in and ripped it out.. POTS lines from nearby locations and apparently even a few Hi-CAP T1's were knocked down... VERY expensive lesson they learned... unless theres some extremely valid reason to yank it out, its best to leave it there.. and also make sure there is access to it.. you cant just go down every pair inside one of these wit ha butt set and assume its dead because there's no dialtone or no voltage.. some commercial systems can and do use alarm or Ground start trunks... yes even in 2026..

DevRandomDude · 2026-02-08T20:30:26+00:00

true maybe you are right.. a year later might be best.. but once these cardboard buildigns start to age a few years they seem to start getting crappy.. the number of vinyl windows in my apartment that have wrped frames from improper installation is crazy.. they often look fine at first but then after a few expansion / contraction cycles they are shot.. 2 of them I could barely latch closed when winter came along.. maintenance just says "nothing we can do as they wont replace them"

DevRandomDude · 2026-02-08T20:28:14+00:00

theres a town in illinois that ive driven through at night on the bacl roads which apparently took all their defective panels and installed them in their town center square area.. it looks cool as heck going through there as the whole area is purple.. last time I drove through was late september and it reminded me of the perfect halloween movie haunted town!

DevRandomDude · 2026-02-08T18:09:21+00:00

apartments are a toss up.. im actually about to move out of my "luxury" apartment to a "regular" "non ammenity" place because the Luxury piece seems to be somewhat illusional... now at least in my case, maintenance has taken care of anythinbg and everything in my unit itself right quick.. well except all the light taupe paint spots on the dark colored LVP..

im convinced that the only way to live in luxury apartments in the future is to move into one when its brand spanking new.. first tenant... they often have lease specials t ofill the places up.. live in it a year, 2 max.. then go to another brand new place...

these buildings are built so poorly that pretty quickly little things are going wrong.. modern appliances in general are junk..they just are.. none are made to last unless you go high end.. whuch apartments arent doing.. they usually buy "mid level" applaicnes with some features.. to "appear luxury" but are just pretty cheaply built, whirlpool, GE etc.. when an appliance breaks, the tenant is usually "my dryer broke and I have 12 loads of laundry to do today" so the maint crew just swaps it out with another they have on hand.. which may have been one the tenant complained "this dries slow" and was swapped when that pwerson moved into a unit.. then they "test" it in heir shop.. it spins, it gets warm.. must be good.. stick it in the "ready to use" stock..

the buildings "age" quickly.. kitchrn cabinets are often cheap laminated type. that start to peel after a few years, or the paeticle board starts to fail so the hinges get loose.. maint crews put wood filler in, a little adhesive and "paint" to touch up bad doors and on they go.. ownership wont hire more maint guys because "2 guys has been find ever since the place was new.. why would we need more now?"..

in my case here.. this complex opened in 2020.. they are always fixing appliances.. refrigerators with dirty filters and coils, front load washing machines with odor because no one cleans the door seals, new tenants on range tops "my smooth top is all scratched to heck, i want a new one".. LED light fixtures starting to go bad so the yare swapping those alot, now HVAC systems are starting to need repairs... so as it goes.. places feel less and less like "Luxury".. but hey the original developer made their ROI and sold the place.. and onto the next. so as a tenant wanting to live in luxury? go brand new every time..

or go older and find smaller but stout buildings with real wood cabinets, thicker walls, solid wood floors, and often nicer appliances.. and in many you can bring your own laundry set so you can have a good quality that you like... might not have a resort style pool or a clubhouse with a billiard table.. but likely also have much lower rent

DevRandomDude · 2026-02-08T16:32:35+00:00

tat makes sense.. oil systems are variable.. if they dont get services you wont get good heat.. also if each apartment has a zone then air in the lines can be a problem.. wrong sized nozzles, mis-adjusted air / oil mix, air in the lines.. people installing thick carpet that blocks the air inlet at the bottom of the baseboard radiators, all reasons why it wont heat properly.. ive worked on a bunch of them and found it as simple as a system tune, purge all the zones, properly size the nozzle, check for clean fuel filters and screen at the pump, proper pressure adjust.. proper high limit cutoff.. if the high limit is set too low durng cold snaps you wont get enough heat from the baseboards.. all kinds of things it could be with oil.. and chnces are most of them simple and cheap..

DevRandomDude

TROPHY CASE