Flat Hunting Sydney style

Going to go back a step and do the story of how we got our apartment/ flat, place. Its all a bit backwards but until now never had time to sit down and write anything.
Basically we had heard many horror stories about renting in Sydney. Demand is high and so competition is fierce and rents are scary. We had set ourselves a cap and went looking for things in or under that price in the areas we liked. Quite often flats are open for viewing from say 2pm - 2:15pm on a Tuesday - and if you are late forget it.
After we had ruled out Glebe we made a list of Mosman places and set of on a Saturday morning to see the one that were available. The first looked great on the net but really wasn't all that when we got there. We drudged back up the hill and went to find our second place - which was right down the other end of Raglan Road near the ferry. It was a nice old place with a lovely sun room of the main bedroom but it had a really pokey back yard and it was shared as well. We sort of held it in reserve in our head - which can be dangerous cos if someone offers then it will go no messing about here. We had though seen another one we fancied, right down at the point almost hanging in the water - it was really cool, but the access was awful and no viewings had been scheduled (we were just snooping in the garden!). So that was Saturday done in . No success.
The following Tuesday Keith went off to view some on his own. I was coming up in the afternoon to meet him to view an AMAZING looking place at Chinaman's Beach (very high end posh) well out of our price range but it looked so good on the net we had to go see it. We met just outside and the view was amazing, right over the sea, boats, sand, glistening waves, we had managed to get a sneak first peak at it - or so we thought. A few mins later some borish yank turned up "are you here for the viewing? you are to wait downstairs". We both just looked at each other - thinking we ere the only people to see it - and then another couple turned up. We were a bit miffed, but never mind we headed in. What a bloody disappointment. The view was amazing but that was it - the balcony was tiny, so was the kitchen and the living/ dining area was just one big lump of space.
So we decided to go back and out in an application for the one Keith had seen - bit of a gamble but I trusted his judgement. We got together all the paperwork and sent it over - we were assured a decision that evening.....next morning we heard that someone had gazumped us (if that's what you call it) and had gone straight to the owner - what a tosser. So we were back to square one. But here is were we struck lucky. Because all our paperwork was up to date and very positive the agent said she would be happy to have us as tenants and so we could have the pick of her stock. She had two places, not even on the market yet to how us - score!
For the last time we headed over to Mosman to go flat hunting. first stop Mosman street and a lovely bright flat with a nice gas (shock !) kitchen and balcony. Very positive. Then he said she had another super new one to show us, so we headed up to Prince Albert Street and saw this place, and we both said "Yes!" perfect, but there was one more so we headed up there just in case it was a little gem.
It was an open viewing so there was about 15 other interested parties and it was vile. It was dark, small, dirty, there was junk everywhere and to top it all off there was dog poo on the carpet! Eeeew. We made a sharp exit and hung around outside, ready to swoop on the agent and grab flat number 2. We headed straight up to her office and signed the paperwork. That night the flat was ours - how lucky was that.
So hear I sit - after a trip to Target today on my new bean bag lounger watching the tv we got yesterday at our spree at Rhodes shopping centre (did IKEA and Bunnings warehouse too). So now we have a table and chairs in the kitchen, beanbags, tv and dvd in the lounge and flowers on the balcony. I just thank god I have somewhere to sit now!