Landed in Utah, the Rental Search, and Caveats (Provo, Orem: house, lease)

[wmonde]

DISCLAIMER: This can happen anywhere, so beware!

Well, I've been here for almost two weeks now. Every day at lunch and after work I looked for a place to buy or rent. I finally found a suitable apartment on Thursday and hope to move in next week.

One thing I wanted to put out on the board (though my experience was probably an anomaly), is to pay close attention to the neighbors and neighborhood, and to be sure to question and "smell" the apartment if you're looking to rent.

One development in South Provo I pulled up to had hubcaps leaning up against the buildings, discarded oil cans, fast food containers, french fries, and pieces of hot dogs scattered about the parking lot. Although I LOVED the apartment - it had new carpet, drywall, paint, appliances, and fixtures, upon questioning the rep about the neighborhood I found out: it used to be a meth lab. Although the property management company had gone through all the proper renovation and state hazmat removal/certification procedures, and you could not even tell it had been used as such, the surly unfriendly neighbors with beat up cars and dirty windows, with garbage-strewn walkways told the whole story. Being that I will be a female living alone, I decided to pass. Who wants to come home from a lengthy business trip to one's car defaced and bums living in one's apartment?

Later that same day I had an appointment at a central Provo quad unit on Main Street. I walked in and it had new paint and new carpet, but the kitchen appliances looked strangely beat up. Walking through the apartment, I inhaled deeply. It was not just cigarette smoke that was temporarily covered up by the recent coat of paint, it was much more chemical-ish and disturbing-smelling. I asked the rep if the previous renters were drug users. "Yes," he replied. I moved on, discouraged. I do believe it was a former home to meth users.

So while my experience is NOT TYPICAL, and it was only two out of around 35 units that I viewed in American Fork, Pleasant Grove, Orem, Provo, and Springville, please be careful and use your nose! The second unit I viewed that day was a potentially health-threatening poisoned environment...

Well having said all that I want you to know I LOVE IT HERE AND WANT TO STAY FOR A REALLY LONG TIME! The place I wound up renting is owned by a family who really like me and will look after my place when I'm away. I feel really safe and happy. Cheers to you all! -wm

[TDECK]

How much does rent go for in that area of Utah for a place that was used for manufacturing meth?

[wmonde]

By my standards, and it's been a long time since I've rented, the rental prices were pretty reasonable at 650/month for the 3 bed 1 bath (admitted former meth lab) and 550/month for the 2 bed 1 bath unit (tried to cover it with paint). For a "normal" rental of the same, you could expect around the same or a tad more, but spending the time to shop around and give a very good look at the 'hood seem essential. In the areas mentioned the normal move in cost is first month's rent plus a deposit, usually between 60-90% of a month's rent.

Now, this is only my experience and I don't think it's standard - I was just lucky ! Also I was only looking at places that do not have a pool, clubhouse, tennis courts, etc. as these are amenities that hold no value for me. I looked at a LOT of quad units, sections of a home, basement apartments, etc. and concentrated on trying to find one with an owner nearby or (preferably) in the building somewhere as that works best for me

Hope this info was helpful... wm