How to Decode Chicago Apartment Listings

Finding a decent apartment in the Chicago area can be tough-the best ones often go within hours of being listed. Those of us trolling the Reader and Craigslist for the leftovers can save a lot of trouble and trips across town by learning how to decode key words in the apartment classifieds. Here are some key terms you should know when seeking your dream apartment in Chicago.

Cozy

When an apartment listing says "cozy," it really means small. If square footage is important to you, let the minimalists have these places.

Garden Unit

Despite the name, a garden unit unfortunately does not come with exotic plants or a courtyard view. "Garden" is a euphemism for a basement apartment, or an apartment halfway below ground. Your windows will be at ground level, placed higher on your walls than normal windows, and might be smaller or fewer in number than you would expect from a different kind of apartment..

Some people love these apartments because they come much cheaper than their above ground counterparts in the same building. They would make ideal places for people allergic to the sun or third shift workers.

Walk-up

This means exactly what it sounds like: this apartment is in a building with no elevator. Walk-ups are extremely common in Chicago, so if the listing mentions the "walk up," the apartment is usually on a high second or third floor.

These apartments usually get a lot of light, and you don't have to hear a ton of people walking over your head all the time. You will have to carry your groceries up several flights of stairs, though, and get things like furniture delivered by big burly people. These apartments are great for the young and healthy, but not so great for older folks or people with health concerns.

Gut Rehab

This means that the apartment is located in an older building and has recently been completely renovated. Expect all new appliances and fixtures. Unfortunately, an apartment listing doesn't usually mention what's been left out. Many gut rehabs will look gorgeous on the inside but still need some work on the outside. Or, some of the details may have gone missing. During my latest apartment search, I saw quite a few gut rehabs that had things like granite countertops but no window screens.

Often, the building owner will preserve and refinish the original wood trim and hardwood floors that Chicago apartments are know for. Keep in mind that a gut rehab will most likely be very clean, but will also be lacking some of its original vintage charm.

Vintage Building

If an apartment is advertised as vintage, expect to see older fixtures and an apartment that may not be as slick looking as a gut rehab. On the other hand, vintage apartments tend to have odd quirks like funny-shaped closets and old fashioned radiators. These apartments usually have a lot of character, and a good one is quite a find.

Pets Negotiable

Don't bother to respond to this listing is you have three cats or a pit bull. By "pets negotiable," the listing really means you might be able to get away with keeping a goldfish here. Or, your cat may be welcome if you're willing to put away a hefty pet deposit.

Section 8 Welcome

What this means is that people receiving government money for housing may apply for this apartment. In Chicago, an apartment listed as "Section 8 welcome" will not be in one of the cooler or fancier neighborhoods.

Some landlords in the neighborhoods farther away from downtown or in less safe neighborhoods welcome Section 8 tenants because the government sends the rent check, not the renter. It's a guaranteed (and easy) way to collect rent on time every month. If you meet the income requirements on your own, you are also welcome to apply. You just might be living with folks who have less money than you do.

Near Neighborhood X

In Chicago, an apartment advertised as "near Ukrainian Village" or "Ukrainian Village area" is NOT in Ukrainian Village. If it was, it would be a much more promising-sounding listing.

Along the same lines, if a listing says, "within walking distance," you need to try walking it to be sure. (That can mean five blocks or two and a half miles.) And "just ten minutes to downtown" really means anywhere from twenty to forty-five minutes depending on traffic, train delays, or how long you have to wait for that second bus to arrive. Never trust an approximate area, measure of distance, or length of time until you do a test run of the commute.

Near Bus X, Y, and Z

When an apartment listing advertises its proximity to bus routes but makes no mention of the train, it means there is no convenient El stop nearby. If there was, that would take precedence in the ad. Most folks in Chicago prefer the train because it is faster and generally less gross than the bus.

On-site Building Engineer, On-site Maintenance, or On-site Property Manager

If you furnace breaks in the middle of the night, good news! The person who will fix it (or arrange for it to get fixed) lives in your building. In Chicago, many landlords live far away from their properties, or buildings are run by large and somewhat anonymous management companies. An on-site building engineer means that you have a go-to person who knows you and will take care of any problems you may have.