Alright, after living here for around 4 months I feel like it's time to write a review. I'm not…read moregetting anything for this review. When I looked it up on Yelp for the first time I was a bit suspicious it had such high ratings but now I know they're justified.
BACKGROUND - I am a Seattle transplant. Just graduated and just moved here fresh out of college. I wanted to live somewhere affordable, convenient, nice and still close enough to where all the fun stuff was. I looked at Cap Hill and the prices were outrageous. So the I landed on NAMU from an ad on Craigslist.
LOCATION - around 5-10 minute drive from downtown Seattle and downtown Capitol Hill. Close enough for a short bus ride or a cheap Uber pool. If you check on the walk score it's around high 80s and the crime rate for the area is really low. Generally, it's closer to the suburbs. It's quiet at night because of that but occasionally there will be a siren once a week or people yelling once in a blue moon. But generally, really quiet.
CONVENIENCE- I live right next to Safeway and can walk there in under 30 seconds which has saved my life many times. There's also a cute plant shop downstairs if you like plants and a Dominos pizza is opening soon, there's a Vietnamese sandwich place near the Safeway as well. The Safeway is open late which is great. There's also a YMCA a block away if you want to workout nearby!
APT AMENITIES - in terms of amenities it is solid given how much rent you are paying. There's a bike rack, and a nice rooftop. None of my packages have EVER been stolen from the lobby and I've see packages left there for days so everyone in the building respects that. You can pay extra for storage and the laundry machines are on the 2nd and 3rd floor, which TAKE CARD. Generally they are full on the weekends but I haven't had an issue waiting long times for laundry. There's no pool, or lounge, trash chute or gym.
The only things I wish the room had: an oven, a dishwasher (I just do my dishes by hand), and a closet. But I've adjusted. If you need these things to survive, consider that before you move in or if you have a ton of stuff / furniture / clothes because it likely won't fit.
NOISE - Honestly, I'm assuming the insulation is top notch because I've heard my neighbors maybe once.
ROOMS - The apartment was made in 2015 or something. I moved in 2017 and was the second tenant ever! The rooms are small, around 250-300sqft but I have enough room for a full-size bed, a queen size futon, a wardrobe hanger, and a small dining table and a bookshelf and no issues. It's a perfect studio for a single person and more than enough room to be comfy. Note there isn't a closet though so you'll have to make do with a buy your own closet thing. I really appreciate the mini fridge as it is honestly big enough for one person and since I live by Safeway I never really needed too much space anyway. The bathrooms are clean and modern and there's a big window too which is really nice in the mornings.
LANDLADY / MAINTENANCE - This is what prompted me to write this review. The landlady, Sonya, has been nothing but incredible and responsive. She texts back almost immediately and even helped me once when I locked myself out of my room at midnight, and helped me get a package when I accidentally locked it. She's very thoughtful and kind and honestly I never knew how awesome thanks would be to have a great landlady until I met her! She also schedules maintenance once you report a problem to her. The maintenance guy, Mike, lives in the complex and shows up right on time to help fix your issues and is polite and nice.
There was an incident where our hot water heater stopped working for around a day and Sonya immediately notified all the residents on the situation and provided suggestions for other solutions. And she even decorated the front door and lobby with a Christmas tree for the holidays!!
Tldr - This is a great place to live if you're moving to Seattle as a single person. The rooms are "small" but modern, clean, and more than enough space for a studio. The facilities are brand new, and the landlady is awesome. The rent is affordable and I've I'm very happy living here and feel safe.