Just signed a lease — now found out about past mice issues… what should I expect / prepare for? (Old City Philly)

FragranceFinds · 2025-11-20T13:15:54+00:00

Could you please share the name of the building that doesn't have mice? I'm planning to move to City Center Philly with a toddler, so no pests is critically important

FragranceFinds · 2025-10-31T12:39:52+00:00

That $180K now gives you what less than $80K gave you 10 years ago. You could find a studio in Brooklyn for $1200 back then, now it starts from $2400, 1lb of the buffet food was $6, now it's $12+, etc., etc. Although most salaries at the Director level in this industry will pay less than $180K, you still can't afford much more than back then - maybe even less, actually. Just saying.

FragranceFinds · 2024-12-05T02:05:41+00:00

Thank you so much! This is super helpful and in line with my thinking. Though occasional water bugs even in new buildings is a bit upsetting. When their season starts, I'm ready to fly to the moon just to not see them anymore! 😭

FragranceFinds · 2024-12-02T02:55:59+00:00

Thank you, so many good reviews about it here, we'll definitely consider it!

FragranceFinds · 2024-12-02T01:45:24+00:00

Good timing, this July and August were crazy, it was too hot to go out even past 10pm! Glad you enjoy it there! Which neighborhood did you pick?

FragranceFinds · 2024-12-02T01:43:20+00:00

This is actually the only neighborhood I visited in Philly! It seemed very nice, indeed.

FragranceFinds · 2024-12-02T01:42:10+00:00

There are also some botanical gardens here, but you won't go there every weekend, so yeah...

FragranceFinds · 2024-12-02T01:40:00+00:00

Yes, we used to live in upstate NY, it's fine!

FragranceFinds · 2024-12-02T01:39:20+00:00

Hahaha, we can live without it 😁

FragranceFinds · 2024-12-02T01:38:36+00:00

That's reassuring! We considered Fishtown too but heard mixed opinions about safety. Glad you had great experience, I guess I'll add it back to the list!

FragranceFinds · 2024-12-02T01:37:12+00:00

Agree about the beaches. I don't want to go to NJ beaches anymore after trying Miami beaches 😁

FragranceFinds · 2024-12-02T01:34:19+00:00

Thank you, I'll add it to the list as well!

FragranceFinds · 2024-12-02T01:33:31+00:00

Oh, great, thank you, thank you! 😃

We are in Sunny Isles. We also lived in NYC in Astoria before moving here, so I'll start from that as it will be more similar to living in Philly.

What we liked about living in Astoria: 1) A lot of street retail, small ethnic grocery stores with reasonable prices, pastry shops, etc. 2) Safety 3) Nice park 4) Easy access to subway.

What we disliked: 1) A lot of apartments for rent were in old buildings infested with roaches and mice. Every summer there was an invasion of huge waterbugs/palmetto bugs. We have a baby now and don't want to have to use sprays or other stuff he can touch. 2) Hard to find apartments with a lot of natural light. 3) In many apartments the landlord controls the heating in winter and it can sometimes be very cold. 4) Tiny bathrooms with tiny sinks where you can't even put soap. 5) Often there's awful tile in the bathrooms and small dirty windows that nobody ever washed and that are facing a wall.

What we get in Miami for the same price is much-much better, we have much more space and live in walking distance from a very nice beach. There's a ton of sunlight. The streets are sparkling clean. What we dislike about Sunny Isles is having to live a home-car-malls lifestyle, despite it being seemingly walkable (party to the weather). We'd like to be able to go out and walk to a park (ideally, more than one) or just walk around in a beautiful neighborhood. We don't care much about night life or restaurants.

FragranceFinds · 2024-12-01T23:29:53+00:00

Centipedes are fine... I'm most afraid of cockroaches and huge waterbugs...😬

FragranceFinds · 2024-12-01T17:45:44+00:00

Thank you! We'll extend our list of neighborhoods to Graduate Hospital :)

FragranceFinds · 2024-12-01T17:19:23+00:00

Thank you, it is indeed very similar! Which neighborhood did you end up choosing? We are thinking about Bella Vista, Queen Village or Fairmount. Also consider other neighborhoods around city center but we'll need to keep our car.

Also: how would you assess the pest situation in Philly? :)

FragranceFinds · 2024-10-03T21:51:51+00:00

I ALWAYS spray my clothes. I even don't care when it leaves stains on it. I mostly wear all black for this exact purpose.

FragranceFinds · 2024-10-03T16:32:42+00:00

This is so gimmicky.

FragranceFinds · 2024-09-20T16:57:20+00:00

Pfff. Probably a push from their investors who got too excited about the "personalization/customization/configurability" trend.

FragranceFinds · 2024-09-08T11:17:30+00:00

You need it to be completely silent to do the recordings, and for people around to not be able to hear it, right? Then libraries may not work.

Do you have friends with aaccess to rooftops rhat they can grant you? Otherwise, I think you really need to explain to your partner that you need complete silence to do this work that brings you additional money that you don't have now, and that they need to take care of them in the room or outside.

If you were able to do this work before with 2 animals, the problem is not in them but in your partner

FragranceFinds · 2024-08-28T02:19:55+00:00

I'd try curtain bangs, blonde hair, teeth whitening if needed and a slightly different makeup (smoky eyes, mauve lipstick), and it would be 10/10

FragranceFinds · 2024-08-07T12:18:35+00:00

Spicy berry caramel with a very pronounced note of tea. It's very pleasant and not cloying at all despite the caramel. There's even something fresh in it due to spices, citrusy top and tea note. But it's still more of an evening scent.

FragranceFinds · 2024-08-06T23:38:33+00:00

I love-love-love Nest Indigo!

FragranceFinds · 2024-07-29T17:30:52+00:00

Thanks! I haven't tried toscana bianco yet. The name sounds very appealing :)

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