Apartment-Hunting in 24 Hours

News officially came in: My mom is moving to the tip of Borneo for the next three years! She recently took a post in Sabah, and is excited about starting new adventures on her own this time. She mentioned to me how thrilled she is to be able to ride horses, climb mountains, comb the beach and just living the boundless life of a single lady. Her new home will be Kota Kinabalu (otherwise known as KK among locals)— a sleepy, coastal capital that accommodates the great Mount Kinabalu. I’m looking out to pay my mom frequent visits and get acquainted with the beautiful state and all its places of glory.

Though her move is just around the corner, my mom had no clue on where to call home. The choices seemed endless online, yet to make decisions without properly viewing the places firsthand would be the biggest risk to take. So last weekend, my sister M and I made a quick trip to the city to accompany our mom with her apartment hunting. Believe it or not, we did everything in the course of a day.

We met our realtor who brought us to a couple of places that she believed might tickle my mom’s fancy. Some of the apartments in the city were perched on top of the hills, offering fantastic view of the green landscape; some were built-in with shopping centers, and some were located right smack in a trendy area surrounded by fabulous eateries. A few others were located at the beaches, Malibu-style. As we made our way to view the potential homes, we found KK to be a sleepy district that has a charming, laidback vibe. A definite, fresh change from the crowded streets of KL!

The first place we viewed stood, in fact, opposite the beaches of Tanjung Aru. My mom could swim in the saltwater right in front of her doorstep! Living here would feel like an everlasting vacation. Most of the expats chose the apartment complex perhaps for that very reason. The unit had a fantastic view seen above: palm trees dancing to the beat of the wind against that sky-blue backdrop. Heaven. Despite all those brownie points, the whole area unfortunately had the ambience of a Havana club in the eighties. I could almost hear the Beach Boys singing “Kokomo” at a distance while everybody else lounge around in lycra shorts and jeri curls. The buildings alone surpassed my age— just imagine the creaking sounds the pipes would make at nights.

We moved on to another apartment complex that was a bit distant from the beach. This time around, the neighborhood sat nearer to the city area and most importantly, my mom’s workplace. At a slightly loftier rental compared to the rest, this apartment unit was huge. It had five bedrooms altogether, a few bathrooms and a newly restored kitchen. The owner had renovated the place with warms down-lights and placed all furniture in mint condition. The view from the balcony showed a quiet, rural neighborhood. We loved the idea of spacious living, but we knew my mom needed a place that’s more humble in size for her to keep up with. The unit’s meant for a big family instead of a singleton. What could she do with all that space?

At this point, the hunting reminded me of my time when I was living alone. The shortcomings of apartment hunting can be daunting and heart-rending. Most apartments might fall short from your wish list, especially if your budget is only a fraction of the pie. And if you do find the most perfect place to stay, it’s all about booking the place in time before others. And the competition between prospective buyers/ tenants can be fierce.

But as all great love stories go, ours came last. Our realtor brought us back to the Tanjung Aru and made a pitstop at this quaint neighborhood that’s surrounded by pine trees. It wasn’t exactly a few feet away from the seaside but a few minutes drive was all it took. The apartment was a tastefully furnished two-bedroom setup with a kitchen island-cum-dining table, something of which my mom had been coveting. The area’s breezy enough for her not to use the air-conditioner or even the fan. The space was also basking in natural sunlight, generating good aura throughout. Just look at this lovely view from the balcony. This place had everything in her checklist. This was it. She was in love.

My mom straightaway negotiated and signed the lease on that very day. We’re glad to know that our mom will spend her days enjoying that cozy walk-up as she begins her new life. The remaining evening had us enjoy the city, the bountiful seafood and long catch-up chats while reveling in our triumph as we ended the search for our mom’s new home. It was one quick hunting game we played, with the least dealbreakers and disappointments. The odds were in our favor.