Why is it so hard to find a place on Craigslist? (Chicago: apartments, income)

[weizilla]

I graduating soon and moving to Chicago next month for a new job so I've been looking for a place to stay. I've been looking for a shared room on craigstlist because it's my first time in the city and I want some roommates to hang out with. For the last month, I've been e-mailing every lincoln park and lakeview craigslist ad but as of right now, I'm only seeing 2-3 places when I visit Chicago next week to look at apartments. I'm a pretty laid back guy and I don't smoke, do drugs or own any pets and I even put that I'll be away for July and that I'd still pay rent for that month, however, I hardly get any replies back.

Is there something I'm doing wrong with my approach? This is the e-mail that I've been sending out to people:

Hello,

I am interested in renting out the room in your craigslist ad.

I am a 22 year old male who recently graduated and will be moving to Chicago in mid June so I'm looking for a place starting June 1. I will be working full time starting the end of June so I'll have a steady income for paying rent and utilities. I will also be gone for all of July for new job training (I'll still pay my share of rent) so you'll get the place to yourself for a whole month!

I am a laid back and clean person and would gladly help out with my share of the chores, groceries, dishes...etc,. I prefer to go out on the weekends and have quiet nights during the week but if you're down for a midweek happy hour, I'd gladly join you. I do not do any drugs, smoke or own any pets but I love cats. Assuming that I have any free time outside of work, I like to go to the gym, take martial arts classes, ski (if there is skiing in this area) or just hang around and watch movies, tv shows or read. This is my first time in Chicago so I would like to meet new people and see the city. I would also like us to be friends (not necessarily best friends but definitely not two strangers who just live together).

Right now, I am living in upstate New York but I will be visiting Chicago at the end of this week (Sat May 10 to Wed May 14) to look for apartments. If you're interested, send me an e-mail this week and we can set up a time for me to meet you and see your apartment.

Hope to hear from you soon,
Wei

Just in case I don't find anything, I've made appointments with The Homestead Group and Chicago Apartment Finders for a 1 bedroom in the area (is $900/month too high?). I was looking forward to meeting and living with some cool roommates in Chicago but it looks like I'll be living alone.

[Gtownoe]

If you don't mind living alone you should try Apartment People. I used craigslist 2 and had 3 apointments when I went to the city. I didn't like any of them and so I resorted to using Apartment People.

I ended up taking the 1st place they showed me (A nice 1 bd in Wrigleyville close to the El).

[aragx6]

It doesn't seem like you're doing anything wrong... in fact you sound like a pleasant fellow and were I seeking a roommate I'd certainly be inclined to rent to you based solely on your e-mail.

[jessiegirl_98]

How much are you looking to pay in rent? Also check out roommates.com

[Avengerfire]

Try the Chicago Reader too.

[weizilla]

Originally Posted by Avengerfire

Try the Chicago Reader too.

I tried chicago reader but I couldn't figure out who to contact to see the apartment

Originally Posted by jessiegirl_98

How much are you looking to pay in rent? Also check out roommates.com

I'm looking between 500 and 800 w/o utilities for a shared room. I think the people at the homestead group said 1 bedrooms start at 900 in lincoln park. I don't have a feel at all for how the apartment quality scales w/ the prices in Chicago so I'm just sort of guessing at what I can live with.

[Avengerfire]

Originally Posted by weizilla

I tried chicago reader but I couldn't figure out who to contact to see the apartment



I'm looking between 500 and 800 w/o utilities for a shared room. I think the people at the homestead group said 1 bedrooms start at 900 in lincoln park. I don't have a feel at all for how the apartment quality scales w/ the prices in Chicago so I'm just sort of guessing at what I can live with.

Well there are places in LP for 900 but usually they are really small. If you can deal with that go for it. You can also go to other areas around the Red or Brown Line and pay 900 and the place will be much bigger and nicer.

[sharkylittleton]

Maybe my roomate and I got lucky off of craigslist? We saw atleast five 2 bedroom apartments in Wicker Park over a month long period and found one we liked for 1550. Most of the landlords were just normal people who own the building.

[jessiegirl_98]

Originally Posted by weizilla

I tried chicago reader but I couldn't figure out who to contact to see the apartment



I'm looking between 500 and 800 w/o utilities for a shared room. I think the people at the homestead group said 1 bedrooms start at 900 in lincoln park. I don't have a feel at all for how the apartment quality scales w/ the prices in Chicago so I'm just sort of guessing at what I can live with.

If you don't need Lincoln Park, you can definitly find a studio in your price range for that amount!

[87vertgt]

I am running into the same problem...I think these people are overwhelmed maybe???