Apartment/Condo Living?

NvrSummer · July 24, 2008, 08:02:27 AM

Anyone here live in a condo/apartment with either no garage or a shared garage?

My girl and I are looking to buy a place, and it seems that's the best deal out there, as we can be right close to downtown Denver and still get over 1000 SF in a historic building. Pretty cool.

My only reservation is, what do I do without my own garage? I have my Duc, a KTM, and a ton of camping stuff, including a pop-up which would have to go. The camping stuff and tools can go in a secured basement storage, but the bikes are up in the air. We'd get one parking spot in a twelve spot garage, but I couldn't fit my truck in it, so my girlfriend would park there and maybe we could squeeze a bike behind her car. I'd be left to street parking in my F150, which I think sounds like a pregnant dog.

So anyhow, I'm not asking you guys to solve my too much crap problem, but how do you guys that live in these kind of places survive? Does it totally suck to not have your own private garage? Bonus is plenty of

within steps of the front door.

SacDuc · July 24, 2008, 08:18:22 AM

Quote from: NvrSummer on July 24, 2008, 08:02:27 AM
Anyone here live in a condo/apartment with either no garage or a shared garage?

My girl and I are looking to buy a place, and it seems that's the best deal out there, as we can be right close to downtown Denver and still get over 1000 SF in a historic building. Pretty cool.

My only reservation is, what do I do without my own garage? I have my Duc, a KTM, and a ton of camping stuff, including a pop-up which would have to go. The camping stuff and tools can go in a secured basement storage, but the bikes are up in the air. We'd get one parking spot in a twelve spot garage, but I couldn't fit my truck in it, so my girlfriend would park there and maybe we could squeeze a bike behind her car. I'd be left to street parking in my F150, which I think sounds like a pregnant dog.

So anyhow, I'm not asking you guys to solve my too much crap problem, but how do you guys that live in these kind of places survive? Does it totally suck to not have your own private garage? Bonus is plenty of within steps of the front door.

More important question: Are you married? If not, have you had a lawyer draw up a contract stipulating what happens to the condo (and any profit, and who has right of occupancy, etc.) should the relationship dissolve?

If you are married, try to determine if the change in lifestyle is worth the having your home. If this is a "starter home" and you will be looking to trade up in a few years I say get rid of a few of the toys, get into the housing market (now is a good time) and start saving some money so you are ready to buy a place with a ~~toy chest~~ garage.

Cheers.

sac

Bick · July 24, 2008, 08:29:53 AM

One bike sharing the parking space is not a big deal. At least it is convenient.

For the rest of the stuff that you do not use every day like your camping gear, get a self storage unit close by. Denver has a ton of them, almost as easy to find as a Starbucks.

Fox · July 24, 2008, 08:34:39 AM

I lived in a high rise on the Wilshire Corridor in LA for about four years which I did not have a garage. It was a pain in the ass. For a year I had to park one car on the street (which was not too bad) and I never had a place to wash a car or work on a car/moto. Getting groceries in to the place is a pain not to mention loading up the car to go camping. That being said, I loved living in that environment. I probably wont have that sort of living experience again. It was a lot of fun, but I'm very happy to have a garage now. Also, you might be able to "rent" a parking spot from one of your neighbors if they don't use it or would be willing to park on the street in exchange for $.

NvrSummer · July 24, 2008, 08:52:18 AM

Good advice...

No, not married, but will be engaged soon. We've been together for a very long time, so I'm not too worried about the relationship ending. That said, I do think it would be a good idea to have a contingency plan in case that happens.

The particular one I'm looking at is a low rise. 12 units, and ours would be ground floor with a back door right out in to a nice courtyard. Also about 5 blocks from a large park. Which brings up another point. I have a 100 lb lab. I don't mind walking him a few times a day, but how cruel is it to take away his yard?

This is about the only time in life I could like in a place like this, which pushes me to do it. I figure I can have the suburban life with a big garage anytime.

Fox, I lived off Wilshire and 26th in Santa Monica for a few months. That was a blast!

somegirl · July 24, 2008, 09:06:53 AM

We just moved from an apartment with no garage (carport spot) to a different apartment with a one-car garage.
I either did a car + bike in the spot, or else 2 bikes.

It was ok for doing small amounts of work, like chain care, washing the bike (out of a bucket), changing the exhaust. Nobody complained.
It was a pain not having a place to keep tools handy, or not feeling I could leave something as a work in progress, and not having any outlets available.

One of the major reasons for the move was for the garage.

As far as dogs, my two whippets have been totally fine with apartment living, but they are definitely much more couch potatoes than a lab.
Do you have a dog park or somewhere else you can let your lab run around a few times a week?

SacDuc · July 24, 2008, 09:23:40 AM

Quote from: NvrSummer on July 24, 2008, 08:52:18 AM
Good advice...

No, not married, but will be engaged soon. We've been together for a very long time, so I'm not too worried about the relationship ending. That said, I do think it would be a good idea to have a contingency plan in case that happens.

Cool. Congrats. I think moving + engagement/wedding planning + home ownership + dog + motorcycles will be the perfect test for determining whether or not your marriage will last. Perhaps you could both make career changes, have her mother live with you and buy a cat just to be sure.

My vote is: buy the place but make sure you have long discussions about what will be changing when you do. Good luck, mang.

sac

DaniD · July 24, 2008, 10:00:10 AM

Just to throw my $.02 out there...I bought a house with my boyfriend a little over a year ago. We had been dating for about two years and already living together before we bought the house. Whenever I talked to people about us buying a place together, all I heard was, "that's not smart", "what if you split up?", "I wouldn't do that"... etc...It drove me crazy!! Now we are engaged and everything is fine and I'm so happy we bought when we did.

My point is, do whatever you want to and don't let anyone freak you out with thoughts about all the bad shit that could potentially happen. If you buy the place and end up breaking up, deal with it then. It's not the end of the world and it will all work out eventually.

Bick · July 24, 2008, 10:28:05 AM

And each and every one of the 2,648 members of the DMF are here to pitch in $10 each for the engagement ring.

Stella · July 24, 2008, 10:46:40 AM

Here's my experience:

I went from a 1300 sq ft house/half acre with 2-1/2 stall garage (I totally miss that garage!!!). In other words: lots of stuff. I'm now in a high rise in Denver. Super cool and fun and convenient but I gave up A LOT. Which was also kind of cleansing. I kept my huge Toro snow blower, all my camping stuff - you get the idea. Things I didn't want to buy again. Garden hoses? Gone. Dozens of sets of bed sheets for the guest beds? Gone. I have two end-to-end parking spaces that came with my unit and one storage unit about 2' x 6' That sucker is piled high with the remaining stuff. About 10' feet high. I got really creative with that storage unit and lock my roadie to the door of it. Mtn. bike is now on my balcony. In another life, I'm going to be a packaging engineer.

I've never had a problem with my monster or anything in storage getting tampered with (yet). There are many other people who have motorcycles and big dogs at this place. No problem. You adapt. The biggest pain is realizing you've forgotten something by the time you get to your car and you have to go back upstairs and they've shut down one of the two elevators for whatever reason and have to wait.

You're more then welcome to stop by any time to see what I've done (in the condo as well as in "my" garage & storage areas) if that would help. Just send me a PM. I've had some of the other local crazy duc people over once in a while too. My avatar is a picture taken from my balcony with my iPhone. Great views!

Quote from: Bick on July 24, 2008, 10:28:05 AM
And each and every one of the 2,648 members of the DMF are here to pitch in $10 each for the engagement ring.

Oh and Bicks? He's been over - 4th of July fireworks - but FELL ASLEEP on the sofa ! His poor, poor girlfriend....

Bick · July 24, 2008, 11:00:14 AM

Hey now, I was awake for the fireworks!

It had been a very long and busy day. And it is a VERY, VERY COMFY couch.

Anyone passing through town, I highly recommend staying at Casa de Stella.

Stella · July 24, 2008, 11:03:11 AM

Quote from: Bick on July 24, 2008, 11:00:14 AM
Hey now, I was awake for the fireworks!

It had been a very long and busy day. And it is a VERY, VERY COMFY couch.

Anyone passing through town, I highly recommend staying at Casa de Stella.

Awake maybe for the fireworks at your place with the Judster! But you were clearly asleep. Just glad you didn't fall into the abyss of the couch. My poor dad could hardly get out of it....

Sorry NvrSummer. Done w/the threadjack ! (Aren't we Bicks?)

ZLTFUL · July 24, 2008, 11:46:57 AM

Wait...I had to stay at Randy's dump when Casa De Stella was available??!!

Just kidding, I really dig Randy's pad.

To the OP, go for it. You will be ground level and into the courtyard so ifthere is ever any doubt, then you can roll your bikes inside and park em in the dining room. Who actually uses their dining room anyway.
I am in the process of trying to find a loft condo downtown here and parking is the least of my worries. My primary is finding a shiny new pad that I am not embarassed to show my friends. Well that and great spot to display my Duc as a showcase piece.

The rest of the stuff will all fall into place if this is the right pad for you guys.
And remind me to buy you guys a round the next time I am in Denver!

NvrSummer · July 24, 2008, 11:53:25 AM

That's great Stella, thanks! Is your place west of town? Kind of looks that way from the pic, but it's hard to tell. The place we're looking at is at 11th and Emerson, so I'd finally be able to make some Gov's nights! And Bick, I assume you'll be pitchin the first 10 in??

I accept beer payment as well.

Seriously, I'm not asking for advice on whether it's a good idea or not (edit: it meaning moving w/ the girl), I'm passed that. Now I just need to figure out what to do with all my shit!! I'd really love to get the whole urban thing out of the way, it's something I've always wanted to do. Unfortunatly, my truck, my bikes, my camping gear, blah blah blah, are making it tough. I don't want to get three weeks in and be miserable. I've always said I would never live anywhere without a garage, and here I am thinking about it!

Le Pirate · July 24, 2008, 12:11:28 PM

I lived in an apt. for a while. It wasn't too bad.

the storage unit is your friend. For 50 bucks a month I had a garage to work on my bikes, a place to keep all my crap, and...even though they said I wasn't supposed to....secure parking for my car when I didn't need it for a couple weeks at a time. And it was all within walking distance (or pedaling...whatever)

I'm sure in Denver it might be a little bit more expensive than 50 a month, but well worth it...you'd be able to keep your one of your bikes (I'd assume the other would split the parking space with the car) and your pop-up...and have a place where your tools can stay that is safe and secure.

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Apartment/Condo Living?