Thanks, Perna. I was going to have both places for a month (the month of Sept.) I thought it was either that, or have no overlap. No I'm questioning my assumption. Maybe I can do a half a month overlap? That would mean asking one property owner to let me rent for one partial month. I wonder if they ever let you do that. I guess you never know 'till you ask.

I wonder how people manage to move out of one place and into another in one day. Like - does the landlord at the new place give them the key one day early? I've always done a full month overlap. I like to return the old apartment really well cleaned up. Hard to clean with my stuff still in it. I'm wondering if it would be expensive to have the old place professionally cleaned. (It's getting so landlords don't want to give you your deposit back, unless the place is left looking like it was professionally cleaned. I think they are starting to want you to practically clean the walls.) Arthritis is making me not so good at things I used to think nothing of, like cleaning ovens.

On the subject of apartment condition, the new place I'm looking at has been renovated, which is nice, but has a few warts. Like, the finish on the tub is badly damaged. There are marks where the last tenant had strips pasted in the tub. When I complained, the manager said she might have it re-glased for me. Will that make it like new? Also, the fridge is a bit beat up and slightly funky smelling, which turns me off. I'm wondering how I might negotiate for a newer fridge. My past 3 apartments all had real nice, like new big fridges. It's hard to trade down.