I don't want to have to deal with roaches and other critters! (Memphis: apartment, rental)

[JCleveland2]

Ok, I actually got the job...the first job in Memphis that I applied for. My total income will be a little over $2500 per month but I have student loans and I would like a new car. so.... I am looking to pay as little as I can for a 2 bedroom rental (apartment or house).

Thing is, I have not had to deal with any roaches or bugs in Arkansas... or Florida (when I was there)

How bad does this get in Memphis and where should I live to avoid these bothersome critters?

[CSD610]

Make sure the landlord is constant with the pest control and you do realize you can bring in a few critters yourself right?
Roaches can ride home with you in your grocery bag, fleas can be carried in from the yard, ticks fall from the trees.

I know there are bugs in Arkansas and Florida and there are roaches as well as many other pests, you apparently were lucky that the pest control was constant and you had clean neighbors.

[eastmemphisguy]

Just a tip. Don't go too cheap on the housing. In this town we have a lot of cheap properties that are nothing but bad news. Scummy neighbors are even worse than roaches. At least you can spray the bugs away.

[Blutbad]

Is a 2 bedroom rental an absolute must? If so, you may be hard pressed to find housing that is both affordable and pest-free. Like eastmemphisguy has said, you'll want to be careful about going too cheap when it comes to choosing where to live.

In most cases, outright avoiding pests in a rental seems to require a combination of finding a property manager who prioritizes pest control and sheer luck in finding neighbors who keep their places clean. I have only ever lived in one apartment building that was completely devoid of pests, and that was a high rise here in Memphis. I was on the 20th floor, which must be higher than most bugs and rodents care to venture.

[jabogitlu]

Hard to say. I lived in a carriage house amongst swanky houses in the Evergreen neighborhood and had a roach issue. In my little tiny one-bedroom house in Cooper-Young's southeast side, I had absolutely NO bug problems of any kind.

[CristenS]

$2500 a month to pay for rent, a new car, and student loans isn't much. Especially if you want a 2 bedroom apartment - those could be $1000 at least anywhere you go. A house would be more like $1500. As others said, in Memphis "cheap" means unsafe and/or run-down. If I were you, I'd get a small one-bedroom in a better location, instead of a 2 bedroom that would inevitably be in a worse location or falling apart.

As for the bugs, it is what it is anywhere you go in the world. You can have a great nice home but still find bugs once in a while. Unless you live in a slum, the apartment shouldn't be roach infested. Seeing one once in a while isn't a big deal though.

[JCleveland2]

Thanks for your reply

[JCleveland2]

Thanks for your reply

Originally Posted by CSD610

Make sure the landlord is constant with the pest control and you do realize you can bring in a few critters yourself right?
Roaches can ride home with you in your grocery bag, fleas can be carried in from the yard, ticks fall from the trees.

I know there are bugs in Arkansas and Florida and there are roaches as well as many other pests, you apparently were lucky that the pest control was constant and you had clean neighbors.

[JCleveland2]

Okay. I guess you are right about scummy neighbors. It should be my priority.

Originally Posted by eastmemphisguy

Just a tip. Don't go too cheap on the housing. In this town we have a lot of cheap properties that are nothing but bad news. Scummy neighbors are even worse than roaches. At least you can spray the bugs away.

[JCleveland2]

20th floor, wow. Yeah I think you were just so far off the ground that pests were not an issue. lol

A 2 bedroom is just something I wanted. I don't have kids or anything.

Originally Posted by memphjayhawk

Is a 2 bedroom rental an absolute must? If so, you may be hard pressed to find housing that is both affordable and pest-free. Like eastmemphisguy has said, you'll want to be careful about going too cheap when it comes to choosing where to live.

In most cases, outright avoiding pests in a rental seems to require a combination of finding a property manager who prioritizes pest control and sheer luck in finding neighbors who keep their places clean. I have only ever lived in one apartment building that was completely devoid of pests, and that was a high rise here in Memphis. I was on the 20th floor, which must be higher than most bugs and rodents care to venture.