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Chad’s Apartment

In the middle of us trying to find a house, Chad was trying to find an apartment.  I’m truly not knocking my little town but there are so many trashy, nasty, gross apartments and in the price range Chad was looking .. what he was finding was pathetic!  Some of the places we looked at . . it just almost seems criminal for those landlords to be even offering them for rent.  I had no idea there were so many bad rentals out there.

First Chad went to the apartment complex in town and found out they’re low income rentals.  The rent isn’t subsidized but the owners get a tax break for renting to low income people.  Even with Chad working part-time at Wal-Mart, if that was his only job, he makes too much to live there.  We looked at apartments that smelled like a million cats had used the carpet for a litter box; we looked at apartments that had floors so sloped you felt like you were climbing a mountain; we looked at apartments that were so dirty we all felt like we needed to rush home and take showers; we looked at apartments that had ceilings falling in; we looked at apartments that had inches of mold in the bathroom.  Chad finally decided that the best one was one right on main street, kind of a duplex type — an old house that had been divided into two portions.  The kitchen was terribly crooked (sloping floor).  The stove was old.  It had an old grungy bath tub with no shower but it was within his price range and the carpet didn’t look like it should have been tossed out 20 years ago.  That was all on Wednesday and by the time I was already feeling bad about Chad living in a place like that, and then we got the news about not getting House #1 . . it was a very sad night at our house.

No matter how bad the apartments look, I know that Chad is a college graduate, jobs are hard to find but he could be working a whole lot harder than he’s working to find a better job.  It hurts my heart to think about him living in a real dump but he’s the only one who is going to better his circumstances and as hard as it is . . he may have to live in an undesirable place in order to fully realize the importance of working his tail off to find a better job.

On Thursday morning, a local realtor returned Chad’s call about an apartment he had available.  The guy was fixing to leave to go out of town til Sunday but Chad talked him into showing him the apartment before he left.  It’s only a couple of blocks from our house so I went with him.  We walked in and my knees got a bit weak.  It’s in an old house that’s been divided into three apartments.  The lady who moved out had lived there 6 years.   You could literally eat off the floor!  It was spotless!  Same price (or less) than the apartments we had seen the day before.  It has two bedrooms, 1-1/2 bathrooms and get this  . . it has a Jenn-Air downdraft cooktop!  There’s a basement with a washer/dryer but the best part — he has a basement for when the tornado sirens go off.  It has the cutest windows and window treatments in the family room.  There’s a fantastic screened porch on the back and halfway around one side.  It has central air and heat and the outside unit looks fairly new.  Nicole was with us when we looked at it and I thought she was going to hyperventilate.  I felt like telling the realtor that the price was too low but I managed to control myself.  Many of the apartments wanted a one year lease and this one only required a six month lease.  I’m telling you . . I could live in this apartment.  It is so nice!  It’s a bit dated but as Chad says . . it’s a good dated.  It has character.  It even has a trash compactor.

The realtor was a bit apprehensive about renting it to Chad because he didn’t have a renting history or landlord references so he asked Chad to give some personal references.  Chad gave the county clerk, a friend who owns a prominent appraisal service in town, a member of the Chamber and the contractor who had recently remodeled the realtor’s home.  When the realtor called Chad back, he said “Your references were more than adequate!” and Chad now has himself a fantastic apartment.  I’m guessing there are places in town that cost twice as much that aren’t half as nice. Monday when he begins moving in, I’ll get some pictures.

Leaving Chad here breaks my heart but on the other hand, my heart sings thinking of him planning his meals, cooking on that Jenn-Air downdraft cooktop, having his washer/dryer in the basement . . he’s so excited about it all and that makes it so much easier for me to leave him here.  Aren’t you happy for him too?

 

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. very happy….. Best of Luck to him…. (for some reason I figure he will have lots of quilts to keep him warm)……

  2. Hurray for Chad – and for Chad’s mom! I’m so glad that things seem to be working out. I can only imagine how difficult it is to leave him behind, but knowing he is in a clean, safe apartment will help ease the transition.

    I keep waiting to hear the happy ending to YOUR house saga…

  3. I’m so glad to hear this great news and am looking forward to pictures!

    Things are looking up!

  6. Whew! What a relief, right? I can remember my first “apartment” after college dorm housing. I shared an 8 x 35′ single wide mobile home with a high school girl friend. It was $90 a month (this was a LOONNNGG time ago!) and in an awful run-down trailer park. My mom & dad never saw it or they’d have moved us out!

  8. I am happy for him, it is hard to find a low income apartment that is decent and when you find one you better grab it and stay with it as long as you can!!
    I am looking forward to your next installment of where you and Vince will be living.
    Karen

    • It isn’t a low income apartment. He doesn’t qualify and he didn’t know those first apartments were low income or he would not have tried to get one. He did have to get something with fairly cheap rent though!

  10. That is very good news. I know from experience how much it hurts to have your children living somewhere less than satisfactory. Even though you will be leaving him behind, at least you know he is living somewhere clean, safe and comfortable. It must be a weight off your mind.

  12. All these prayers are finally paying off! Thank God Chad was able to find such a great apartment.

  13. I’m thrilled that he has such a sweet place and that you will sleep easier knowing that. I’m still praying that you’ll hear good news soon from Vince.

  14. wonderful news! Good things come to those who wait and God is so good to have provided a place you can feel comfortable about in Chad’s housing. At last things are falling into place for the Laquidara family!

  15. Yes, I am happy for him. He is really going to on his own and be an adult. And he’s going to love it!!! That’s what we want for our kids. I’m really happy for him! And happy for you, cause now you don’t have to feel bad for him living in a dump.

  16. I am as relieved as you are (almost). I know how much it bothered you to leave him there but he found a great place at a great price! (and it has 2 bedrooms). He will be fine momma. Now worry about yourself!

  17. I am so happy for Chad and you. I know how bad some apartments are today. I always wonder how people can live in places that smell.

    I think I want that place. Jenn Air, Family room, Bath and a half, screened in porch etc. I love it and have not seen it.

    At least you know Chad has a nice place to live. Now let’s find Vince and you a house.

  18. OMGosh, Congratulations to Chad. So happy to hear about his new home.

  19. One step ahead with the apartment… now to hear about your house….
    I’m so glad you are back blogging. I was beginning to have a
    Judy L. withdrawal.

  20. Wonderful news!! How perfect! I’m so glad that Chad insisted that y’all be allowed to see it before the realtor left town. Congratulate him for me, will you? I’m sure this is one big sigh of relief for you, Judy. Eve

  22. How wonderful for Chad…and your peace of mind. But, you are so correct when you say that he needs to realize working his tail off is where it’s at. My son graduated from college in 2007. He bounced around from job to job with barely any benefits. Finally this year he got his dream job, working in his field, for the County and with superb benefits. Keep the faith Judy. Sometimes it just takes a little longer for our kids to wake up and smell the coffee!

  24. Yes, indeed, Judy. Good things are happening and Chad’s getting right in the good thing cycle. I’m happy for him.

    My son just moved yesterday and although I have not seen the place yet, I know its a step up or two from the awful neighborhood he was living in. He’s about an hour away from us now and there are positives and negatives to that situation. I was actually thinking today about how he’s making out and how far he is from me. I guess I am not a bad parent after all! 🙂 I will say it is all good since he’s 31 years old. Time has long past to cut the apron strings. (I think they are still there but they are getting thread bare!)

  25. I’m thrilled for Chad that he found such a nice place. Now if you just had a place to land, all would be good.

  26. You will feel so much better leaving knowing Chad is in a good apt. Things are starting to fall in place for all of you

  30. Oh Judy! I got goosebumps! I’ve been so busy lately that I haven’t been reading. I’m thrilled that Chad has found a good apartment. More than anything, I’m glad he’ll have a basement. It sounds wonderful. I live in a house that was built in 1935, so I know about character! LOL

  31. Great news about the apartment. It is a good step in the right direction.
    My son also worked at some uninspiring jobs. But at least he knew what he DID NOT want to do for a living, like working at Wendy’s, at a gas station, at a Christmas tree farm and for the catering department at the Hilton. He is now married, graduated from college and has a fine job with the biggest sportswear marketer in the world.
    It will happen to Chad too, he just needs to find his own way.

  32. I am so happy for Chad and just as happy for you. I know this is going to help your heart to know that he is going to be living in a nice, clean place – with a BASEMENT too! WOW….so wonderful!

    sao in Midlothian, VA

  34. Judy I am absolutely thrilled for Chad. After all the bad places you all looked at this is a blessing in disguise. Clean and Safety who could ask for more 🙂

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