Apartments, bills paid or not?

[LowMan]

Well I have 10 days to clear out, and I ment to post this sooner but things came up. So far in my life I've been roomates with people owning houses. I'm now considering renting an apt on my own, but not sure bout the extras that come with it. I could get an all billls paid 500 a month place, or a 350 + bills place. Since I've never had to deal with water/elect etc. I'm not sure what a better deal would be. Should I stick with the roomate thing and go to roomate.com, or should I decide between the bills included/excluded (and which) option?

I've been looking them all over, and have an eye on a few places. However I have only a short time left because of my indecision. I might spend a week living in my car cuz of it lol. The major reason for my indecision is the fact that I have no idea what utilities cost. sure I've had to deliver the bills for them. But for an apt on my own, instead of a whole family home payment... well they're totaly diffrent I would expect. For expamle, with my father we were paying 40 bucks a month for water alone. This place I'm at now sucks up 120 a month. Maybe it's just the diffrence of being in a small town/big town. (both places within a mile of eachother, but the place I'm in now is Fort Worth instead of the small town for odd reasons).

Meh to get to the point, for a guy lookin to move into a place quick what should I do? Direct my attention towards a apt bills paid, apt non bills paid, roomate/apt, roomate/house? Time is a factor, which I usualy wouldn't consider.

[Marsha]

well i think the price difference between included and not included are pretty much a wash once its figured out. In typical apartments you dont normally pay water you usually only pay electric or gas depending on what the appliances use. In my experience electric is typically more expensive than gas. so the $150 differnce is only paying either the elec or gas. You would still have to add on phone and cable/internet. As for roomate or not that is personal preference. Can you afford it without the roomate? or you just looking for less expenses? It may take some time to find a roomate and with your time restraints you may not be able to find a roomate in enough time. As for the difference in the water bills you have seen other things might be factored into it. In one place i lived the garage removal was added on the water bill in my current water bill it is just water. As for what utilities cost down there i have no clue so i cant help you there. with the climate difference i would assume you use airconditioning more than you would need to use heat. Here it is about equal. Airconditioning only is run by electric. Usually most apartment building are all electric (elec heat, air, water heater, stove).

[Widow]

I would go with bills paid if you plan on living there for an extended period of time. Electricity can run anywhere from $60 to $120 around here if you are conservative and the ac is in good condition. Water should run you about $30 on the high side.

Once I added that all up, you may be better off with a cheaper apartment and paying your utilities on your own. Its really a wash if you live on your own and don't overuse the water and electric. Bills payed is better if you have a tendency to use it in excess.

[Jay]

I agree with widow , an apartment with bills included is your best bet. If roomie i would still try to find apartment, little smaller but cheaper.

[LowMan]

Thanks for the info... hmm only water I would use would be for showers and the gallon of tea I make everyday. Elec shouldn't be to bad considering the only electronic device I own is my PC at the moment. This (http://www.rent.com/rentals/texas/dallas-fort-worth-and-vicinity/fort-worth/10536/?sp=1&searchrank=1) is the place I'm lookin at right now. Cheap and close to work, I think I'll give them a call tommrow. I'm still gonna be checking into roomates though, just in case.

[Allerun]

As for the difference in the water bills you have seen other things might be factored into it. In one place i lived the garage removal was added on the water bill in my current water bill it is just water.

You had to pay your municipal water service garage removal? Did you not like your garage?

[Marsha]

:p:p @ Allerun - it was supposed to say garbage. you try typing with one hand while feeding a baby!

hmmm damn looked at the apartment thats damned cheap !

here your lucky to touch a 1 bedroom apartment for $750 and thats just basic apartment no utilities included. that add says the units have dishwashers and fireplaces and laundry room with washer/dryer hookups. here that would run you $1000+ per month =/

[LowMan]

Well called em up, apparnetly it's $399 instead of $350 a month. First month rent/app fee/deposit is $199 total for the first month if I sign a 12 month lease. I'm going tommrow to check the place out before I sign anything. Turns out the Library is next door, which will be awsome. They mentioned something about felonies, but hopefully they ment felony convictions. Looks like I'm gonna have to break down and finaly get a cell phone. Metro PCS here I come.

[LowMan]

Well holy crap I've had the worst 2 days in a row ever. Well in attempting to hire me, I got fired. My supervisor and floor manager were so pleased with my work that they went to the HR department to attempt to hire me. They already knew bout my background, but when HR found out they said to terminate my temp work there immediatly. So my temp agency is sending me back to the hell hole that is motorolla, oh joy. Also today I was kicked out of where I was staying, because I was stupid and had a smoke on the property when I was feeling down. No biggie there, I knew I had to be out a week from now, but leaving on bad terms like that... with people I consider close friends was hard. I'm gonna miss the dogs and the little newborn pretty bad, but at least my close friend victor let me in.

I'm gonna be living on his couch for awhile. He's gonna get me on his Verizon plan and get me a free phone and a contract for 25 bucks a month, which he can do from where he works. He moves out on the 23rd of oct. and has invited me to join him if I havn't found a place to stay (fell back on the roomate plan and found some 400 a month all bills paid, wish me luck there) then. So for the moment I'm kinda in limbo, but I have the net so I can keep in contact, and once I get the phone I'll let everyone know the #.

Aside form all that things are alright. I have some money saved up for food and gas ans such (and a big trash bag full of food I brought over). The Cowboys are kickin ass, so in yo face Neo! BTW, Widow/Barry are ya'll planing on watching the Cowboys>Bears game this weekend? If so mind if I drop by? My buddy Victor isn't much of a football fan.

[Jay]

well it's good to hear you have a place to stay. Work hard and you'll make it through!!!!

[Widow]

I will be at my parents house on Sunday. Couldn't tell you what Berry is doing.

[Smurf]

Sunday Ill be around for at least part of the day ive got tickets to the ranger game but i dont know what time the game is. I will be watching that game for sure though, If you wanna drop by that would be fine with me.