Would you sign a lease for a carpeted basement apartment within a humid continental region?

I'm looking at a unit that's within my budget (and also the cheapest I have been able to find so far) that meets basically all of my needs. Cat friendly, close to my job, close to outdoor recreation, walkable community but still gives me a parking space. The main issue I have is that it's a carpeted basement/garden unit. I get that carpets are needed so your feet don't freeze in a basement apartment but I am nervous about humidity and potential flooding. I've checked FEMA's floodplain maps and it's not marked as being at risk for flooding but it's not so far away from wetlands (which in a way is a plus as I love the outdoors). I grew up in a house near wetlands and one year we did have a horrendous rainstorm that flooded our (carpeted) basement and made it unusable for a season. The smell is etched into my brain still. I'm in the Boston area (USA) so we get all four seasons and my fear is that I'll sign my lease and then in a month we'll get some torrential autumn rainstorm. Does anyone else have experience with basement apartments in a humid continental region or an area with similar geography? Am I good to go or should I suck it up and pay for a more expensive unit that isn't going to potentially flood.

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u/crochetblankets — 5 hours ago

Mattress recommendations (pre-CPAP!)

I got diagnosed with moderate sleep apnea recently, but I won't be able to get a CPAP until September at the earliest. I'm also moving soon so I'm using this as an opportunity to replace my current 5 year old mattress. I know that a mattress isn't going to effectively treat sleep apnea, I just want to increase my sleep quality as much as possible. Does anyone have recommendations for a good, non-spring mattress? I'd prefer a "mattress in a box" set up for easily moving without elevator access, but if that's not recommended for quality reasons, I'll take a mattress that comes not all smushed up. Options for purchase in the US, please!

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u/crochetblankets — 9 hours ago

IKEA (or similar brand available in the US) couches

Hi all! I'm in the process of moving and I'm hoping to get a new couch (the loveseat I got five years ago from Target needs to be taken out to pasture). I have a plus sized friend who has always avoided sitting in my chairs (...also from Target but I refuse to give them up because they're so comfy). I don't know her exact weight but when I told her my chairs were okay up to 225 pounds she said they weren't for her.

I am considering the Glostad from IKEA, which says it's okay for people up to 242 pounds. Does anyone have experience with a couch like this? Is it okay for multiple people, including plus sized people? (I personally am around 180) Does anyone have recommendations for budget friendly, easy to assemble couches?

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u/crochetblankets — 9 hours ago

Was touring an apartment in Boston MA, USA, asked about pest history (was told no infestations) but saw this guy in the bathroom. Sorry he's no longer with us :(

He's also missing some limbs, sorry if that complicates ID!!

u/crochetblankets — 3 days ago

Is this a red maple sapling or poison ivy? Central Massachusetts, USA.

I did touch it because I thought this was a cute little red maple growing out of a pine Sawyer hole. Whoops!

u/crochetblankets — 20 days ago

Those of you who grew up in Quincy:

When did you realize that literally no other place in these United States do people care about Flag Day?

​

Honestly I think I was in high school when that happened.

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u/crochetblankets — 23 days ago