The northern winds had already begun blowing in waves of crisp, cool air when I drove to Irving to tour apartments in late September. Although I had grown to love my dwelling over the past year, I never quite warmed up to the constant street noise, the level of neighbor nuisances above me, nor the city of Dallas itself.
I was on the hunt for a new place – one I could walk into and instantaneously feel the comfort of home. One with large windows casting daylight abound every room with an inviting warmth and inspiring appeal, and is tucked away from the noise of a city despite being in the throes of city life.
The market had become volatile in the summer of 2021 with rent prices skyrocketing across the country. I took this into consideration with lowered expectations for my price point. I started my search in Irving thinking it had better bang for a buck.
Unfortunately, it most certainly did not.
Of the six complexes I visited on my first day of touring, there was only one I didn’t hate that offered an exceptional price. I nearly couldn’t believe the other atrocities I saw for so much more money. While this first contender was in Irving, I hesitated to leap on it because something just didn’t quite sit right. I was skeptical about the less-than-ideal size and I didn’t like that there wasn’t much in the area accessible by foot. I also didn’t like to see reviews complaining about the same things, including a mouse problem… Still, what I saw there felt a little bit like that home feeling I wanted and there was a beautiful park across the street.
It remained a contender -the only contender- following into the next week after broadening my online search and yielding pretty much the same overpriced bullshit in neighboring cities. Out of sheer panic, I soon included Dallas in my search. I found a couple of complexes that met my prerequisites and later was guided through two phenomenal tours. One apartment was $200 more and smaller than the other, so I zoned in on the cheaper of the two.
I didn’t think I was going to find anything better than what I saw, so I narrowed in on the apartment in Irving and the one in Dallas. A day of consideration passed but I couldn’t decide. My mom suggested I make a pros and cons list. I still couldn’t decide.
A friend of mine asked me how the search was going. I told him that there are two places I didn’t hate that aren’t extraordinarily expensive, but I was having a hard time choosing. And I followed that up by saying, I’m pretty sure I already know what’s going to happen. I told my friend that the decision will be made for me when one of the units I want is snatched up. Apartment hunting is an impulsive business and I was taking my sweet time.
Of course, my indecisiveness led to just that; Irving was gone the next day.
I considered remaining at my current complex since I was stuck with Dallas, but the unit prices there were outrageous. I didn’t like that place enough to pay an extra $350 per month. I ran one more hopeful online search and chatted with the locator who was helping me, but nothing new of interest popped up. Riddled with anxiety at the thought of losing the last contender and risk paying a lot more money elsewhere, I decided to apply for it.
I was approved the next day and awash with relief. I was not relieved, nor pleased however, with the accelerated process of signing paperwork and transferring utilities in the 2-day window they gave me. I couldn’t get the keys without meeting those conditions and I refused to pay for any nights of rent without the keys. I could have upped the move-in date a few days, but I also refused to pay for the increase in rent for doing that. This was a stressful 2 days and I was angry for being treated like just a dollar sign to the property owners.
If 2022 goes well, my next home will not be an apartment.
That’s right dear readers, I would not have been wasting time and effort looking for an apartment if the miracle from the middle of nowhere hadn’t manifested.
Surprised?! Me, too!
Indeed, I found a new job and the timing was poetic. I received an offer the very day after my last one with the former company. Fate made a move and I accepted. Soon after, the apartment hunt began.
That was over 7 months ago and you know I have a story to share. (7 months later… sorry!)
I picked up the keys to the new place that Friday afternoon and told myself that no matter what the apartment feels like, it’s yours for a year and that’s that. (I wasn’t allowed to see the available unit during the tour.) I went through a doorway with a packed box in hand and rounded the corner to the second flight of stairs where I was greeted by a pigeon hanging out on the light fixture. I said hello to him and went on my way. Atop the third floor I walked towards the entrance of my new home.
I walked in feeling like it was a stranger’s empty home and an incredible meh vibe washed over me as I tried to envision myself and my things in the space. It was similar to the model which I liked, but overall was uninspired. The truth is though, I felt the same upon the first encounter of my other apartment here in Dallas. The pictures made it seem so fabulous but I felt let down when I first walked into the unit. I did eventually come to love and appreciate my old home.
I went downstairs to retrieve another box from the car glancing over at the same pigeon. I then noticed all the pigeon droppings on the floor just inside the doorway.
Upon leaving, I wasn’t convinced I made a good decision. I picked up dinner on the way to the old place and called my dad. I cried a little more than he could handle. The whole of what I saw on the tour did not mimic what I had binded myself to for the next year. He reminded me it’s only a year and you’re going to make it work.
I awoke the next day at 4:30 in the morning to what sounded like a vacuum cleaner. I accidentally left my bedroom window open all night so it was probably an odd noise outside that woke me. I closed the window but couldn’t fall back asleep. My early morning thoughts were plagued over the day before, but I otherwise didn’t mind being up so early. I really like being awake in the dark before the rest of the world starts to stir. I performed my usual ritual of pour-over coffee and Spanish lessons, and as the earliest bits of light started to creep in my window, I began arranging things to pack and take to the new place.
My new $50 key fob didn’t work as I approached the complex gates, but luckily someone was leaving and I snuck inside. The second visit was not as emotional. I must admit that coming into the fall season is a nice time to move. I left the balcony door open to invite in the brisk wind and brought up my boxes.
I then drove over to the leasing office to inquire about the gate fob and alarming amount of pigeon poop around my building.
That’s when I locked my car keys inside the car.
Instantly realizing my mistake with only the new apartment key ring in my hand, I said, “Aw, shit,” aloud and tried opening every door.
Fuck.
I called a nearby friend who had my only spare apartment key and could take me to the old place to retrieve my other car key.
She didn’t answer.
Doublefuck.
I went inside the leasing office to inform management that I just picked up my fob yesterday, but it’s not opening the gate. I then continued to tell the gentleman there working that I also just locked my car keys in my car and, boy, what a morning.
He said, “Ooo, well, I can at least help you with this problem,” and replaced the dead battery in the fob. I mentioned my concerns over the pigeon poop and he said they power wash as often as they can and were working with a pest control company to figure out a humane way to get the pigeons to leave instead of killing them. I can appreciate that. I thanked him and walked away to try my friend again.
She didn’t answer.
I saw a guy in the leasing parking lot about to leave and ran up to his truck and said, “Hi! I have a really strange request but I’ve locked all of my keys in my car and my friend with the spare isn’t answering her phone. By any chance are you travelling in that direction?”
Did I just ask a complete stranger for a lift to my old apartment? Sure did.
He was friendly and apologized for the fact that he had just stopped in the office for something on his way home, here in this complex. I said, “Aww, ok, no problem!” He wished me good luck.
As luck would have it, it was only a mile to my old complex. I figured management could let me in my unit and it’ll just be the trouble of me walking back to my car and having a later lunch. I planned on taking a walk that afternoon anyway, so what did it matter if it was right now?
I tried my friend one more time as I started walking. Nada. I called my dad.
I thought dad could have a laugh over my predicament after just crying to him about the potential mistake I’d made in the apartment selection. My sister answered the phone instead. She said he was busy in the other room and answered for him, aware of my emotional state. I told her what happened and that I kind of felt like crying. She reassured me we’ve all been there; locking ourselves out of our vehicles and proceeded to talk about her worst time. I let her go when I made it to the old complex and promised to be in touch afterwards.
I walked into the lobby where no one was to be found.
A sign posted on one of the desks said management was out giving a tour and would be back soon. I sat in a chair and waited. I texted my friend what was going on since I didn’t leave a voice message when I called. A couple minutes went by and I watched a courier service leave the mailroom. I watched someone enter the building and walk down the hall. Another few minutes later I smiled at a family leaving. Every time I heard voices my head perked up. Minutes later a woman left with her dog.
I looked at my phone and started to tear up. But before any viable moisture could take hold of my eyes, someone with a Dalmatian entered the building. I recognized that dog.
I first saw him as a puppy when I was new to the area. I was out for a walk and passing by the main building when a guy and a Dalmatian pup came outside moving towards the grass. Just a foot shy of it, the puppy peed on the walkway. I approached the cute little guy, bent over and sweetly asked, “You couldn’t make it to the grass?” His owner replied, “At least he made it outside.” We chuckled and went our separate ways. I ran into this guy maybe a couple of months later somewhere else in the neighborhood – again, first recognizing the pup. We chatted then off we went our separate ways again.
Here they were back from a walk. The Dalmatian stopped by an end table where a jar of doggy treats awaited him. The owner spoke to him, gave him a treat and we said hello to each other. I explained what happened that morning and we talked about my leaving the complex and why. After I finished my epic morning tale, he said he was in a similar situation where he just left his job and his lease is soon expiring. We spoke for maybe 10 minutes before the manager arrived back in the lobby. I told her what happened and she gave me a spare key. Before leaving, I asked the guy about his line of work. I knew the company I was joining was still hiring and seeing this as my situation just a few weeks ago, I thought I could keep my ears open for anything that might be a good fit for him. We exchanged numbers and I left to fetch my other car key.
I got into my old apartment, grabbed the spare car key and an extra battery for the car fob, because that would be just my luck, and off I went walking to retrieve the car.
My friend texted back just as I stepped outside. I love my friend unconditionally but felt like that was a moment for a phone call to make sure I was ok. I decided she could wait until after I got the car and instead called my sister for a chat on the way back.
Thank goodness I didn’t pick the apartment in Irving, eh?
Locking my keys in the car was the best thing that could have happened with all the anxiety and uncertainty I felt about the apartment. I sure snapped out of that and felt grateful for the distraction and the story to tell later.
Now it’s May and I’ve been in my new home and with the job for about 7 months and I’m doing ok.
The pigeons are doing ok, too – thriving even, since there’s yet to be a humane remediation for removal.
I tried to pump out this post in December but I have been so incredibly busy. The move, the job, the holidays around the corner from those, visits to Houston, and all the other little things in between that consumed my time made it difficult for me to sit and write. January brought in a different kind of busy and I will definitely tell you all about it… soon. Sooner than 7 months from now!
