Notes on our Rental Search in Charlottesville
Friday, November 7 we took Sara Ellen to the Altman’s and joined them for dinner before heading to Richmond. We stayed overnight with Tim’s mother and then had a shorter drive west to Charlottesville.
Saturday, November 8 we had four viewings scheduled at properties for rent. Each was unique from the others.
9:30 – St. Charles Ave. A little brick house for rent by owner. Very unassuming outside at a decent price in a nice quiet area not far from Martha Jefferson Hospital. No overhead lights in bedrooms or in living room. Some lights don’t work in basement. Bedrooms quite small with tiny closets. Just enough room for a king size bed, nothing else. $975 a month, no utilities included. Full fenced yard, chain link fence on hill. Back deck wraps to side door, has stairs to front. Large basement, lots of storage, but no washer/dryer. Newly renovated – windows/floors/paint. Fireplace. Near new subdivision/homes. Street parking in front. Stairs to gate. 3rd bedroom/office opens to kitchen and hall. Attic basically unavailable. Nicely redone inside but too small for us, no spark.
10:30 – Garden Ct. Pink stucco (?) and brick front 2-floor townhome community off Hydraulic Rd. No traffic light, we’re told it’s only hard at 5:15-5:45. Very cute, clean. Circled around small “club house” and fenced pool. Open grassy “dog” area. Walled/gated patios. Parking right in front. Near many business, grocery, etc. on 29. House # on outer wall and house wall with lamp by each. Lampposts near fenced garbage. No garbage pick up cost. Renters take recycling away personally. Sidewalks. Skylights, lots of light. Fenced in small back yard and deck. Large upstairs rooms both with full bath. Downstairs 1/2 bath. New appliances all available in kitchen. Meticulous realtor takes care of home. Community cares for terrace patio & outside area. Partially floored attic with wobbly stairs. Nice closets/storage. 1100 *plus* water and electric. A bit more than we wanted, but so nice! Friendly, intelligent young couple looking to sub-let until July when lease is up.
11:30 Whitney Ct. Stand-alone home a bit up 29 near NDIC, popular for military families but farther north than we want. Realtor cares for property. Small yard, back and front open. Inside and outside storage. No washer/dryer. 1/2 bath downstairs.Whole inside smelled of waste. Cabinets and appliances older, found a toothbrush inside cabinet. Separate living and dining rooms. 3 bedrooms with reasonable closets. linen closet. 1 full bath opens to master bed and hall. Unflushed toilet in long, unattractive bath stunk up the whole house! 945 – trash, water, electric extra. Fresh carpet and paint. Light fixtures in ceiling. Attic pull-down ladder, no floor. All rooms but entry, kitchen baths & stairs carpeted.
Lunch at Chick-Fil-A. Drove through Pen Park/River Run community. Found 3 places for rent, called respective owner and realtors for information and photos. None have own yard, but have grassy area nearby. Pen Park in “walking distance”. We’re told the traffic gets really slow. All are immediately available. Found one United Methodist Church, couple Baptist and a couple of unknown denomination. Library east of 29 from Garden Ct.
2:00 Hessian Hill at Barracks Rd and Georgetown. Your average apartment. Some renovations. Decent, but small kitchen. Area carpeting. Not really room for a king size bed. Scuffs in many walls. Nothing special.
I think it was a very successful trip. Our first research trip only included viewings at one, disappointing managed complex and lots of driving around. It feels right being there. I think my prayers will be answered to find something that suits us soon. I’m so grateful!
Good things happen to good people, so you guys should be all set
I’ll keep hoping that you’ll find a great apartment, good luck with the search and with the journey that is ahead of you!
Thank you, Eirik! We’re heading down to Charlottesville on Sunday to sign a lease!
Good luck with the lease! Having just moved ourselves we now remember, quite vividly, how frustrating looking at places can be! But from Tim’s comment it sounds like you have found a place that you liked, so congratulations!
When are you planning to move in? Joe and I will be in Virginia for Christmas; we’d love to see you if you’re there already … and if not we’ll catch you next time we’re back from exile.
If all goes well, we’ll take on the rent Dec 1st. We’re not sure of our move-in date, obviously, we will spend Christmas in our own home!!! I’d LOVE to see you!
Yay! Best of luck and a beautiful drive down for your little family this Sunday! So exciting! Can you tell us, which one won your hearts? Also -PICTURES! haha You must have before and after shots haha
All will be revealed in due time, namely when it’s official, and we have rights to the place.
Bwah ha ha “All in due time” haha awesome! (I actually LOLed at that HA! – because I imagined you saying it in a Disney villain sort of way, like you were wringing your hands and making an evil squinty face when you said /wrote it haha!) OK, well you have me on pins and needles, I can’t wait for everything to fall into place and for pictures to be posted, it is all so exciting! YAY!