Before You Come to Caltech
Housing
Caltech Housing | Off-Campus Housing | Motels in Pasadena | Furniture and Supplies | Short-Term Storage | Moving Companies | Utilities Services
One of the most important things to consider before you arrive at Caltech is your housing arrangement.
You have two options:
- Caltech housing
- Off-campus housing
The Institute Housing website provides housing information for the Caltech community.
Temporary Caltech housing can be coordinated through Jennifer Palmer at the Caltech Faculty Housing Office.
Off-Campus Housing
The Caltech Postdoc Association (CPA) puts out a weekly newsletter that provides information on available housing, furniture sales, etc. Register online to subscribe to the newsletter. Another web site where members of the Caltech community can buy/sell things is the Caltech Marketplace.http://Places4Students.com Look for listings under Caltech. Often these landlords have a strong relationship with Caltech and can negotiate the rent. The web site is free to you.
MyApartmentMap.com, PadMapper.com, and http://losangeles.craigslist.org (type Housing / apartments housing / Pasadena) are free websites you can look at.
WestsideRentals.com this web site is very comprehensive and usually costs $60 for two months but Caltech gets a 25% discount which equals $45 to.
These web sites include a variety of options ranging from furnished rooms to full houses for rent. Be aware that these places often require more money up front: you have to pay a security deposit (normally between one month and one-and-a-half month’s rent) and the rent for the current month (means you will have to pay at least two months to get started). So speak with the landlords to get the details. Also, most landlords require that your monthly salary be two to two-and-a-half times the monthly rent. For example: if your monthly salary is $3,125, then you would qualify for an apartment that rents for $1,250 to $ 1,560 per month. Others may require the tenant to have a Social Security Number (SSN). If you are willing to commute, you might be able to find cheaper housing in communities farther away.
To see a sample of a lease application.
Please contact Barbara Avouac if you want more information.
Motels in Pasadena
Finally, if you prefer to take your time once arrived, you can stay in a motel around Caltech; some of them offer discount to Caltech fellows.Disclaimer: The information provided in this web site is for general information only. Caltech does not endorse or recommend any of the organizations mentioned on the web site. The information provided is also non-exhaustive. We welcome your comments and suggestions. Please feel free to contact us.
When looking at apartments, make sure to budget in the costs of furniture and supplies, for example linens, cooking supplies and furniture. Several stores near campus provide relatively cheap furniture and online vendors often have good prices.
Shops
Cort
Cort offers a residential furniture rental program.Target Stores
777 East Colorado Blvd, Pasadena
3121 East Colorado Blvd, Pasadena
Target delivers for free if you buy (on line or in the shop) for $50 and moreIkea
600 North San Fernando Blvd, Burbank
Ikea web site has an automatic calculator for deliveriesWal-Mart
1600 South Mountain Ave, Duarte
1950 Auto Center Drive, Glendora
Wal-Mart delivers for free selected items if you buy on line or in the shop (since the selected items change very often, we suggest you to look at their web site before)WorldCostplus
3655 East Colorado Blvd, Pasadena
WorldCostplus delivers for free if you buy on line or in the shop from $50 and abovePottery Barn
Old Town Pasadena, 1 East Colorado Blvd, Pasadena 91105
Call 626 577 1474 to know about conditions of delivery / shippingCrate and Barrel
75 west Colorado Blvd, Pasadena 91105
Call 626 683 8000 to know about conditions of delivery / shippingTips: You can save a lot of money if you visit these shops online and choose the menu “Sales” or “Bargains” or “Clearance” or “Promotions”
Wholesales and Outlets (there are factory shops and sell with a 50 to 70% rebate)
CostCo 2207 West Commonwealth Avenue, Alhambra 91803
Pottery Barn OutletTips: Also, go to Google and type “outlet furniture”; you will be given many others web sites
Thrift Shops
Consider also buying in thrift shops; there are second-hand material shops; some of them propose very good deal on decent furniture and household.ACTS Thrift Shop
1382 Locust Street, Pasadena - Tel: 626-577-4477Salvation Army
56 West Del Mar Blvd, Pasadena 91105 – Tel: 626 577 4649
It’s especially good for furniture and baby / kids’ toys. The good days are Thursdays and Fridays when they get new items in the shop.Huntington Collection: 766 South Fair Oaks, Pasadena. Tel: 626-535-2468
It’s a very good place to find furniture and households. A good day is Thursday as they get new items that day.Goodwill
183 Altadena Drive, 91107 Pasadena
112 East Colorado Blvd, 91105 PasadenaCraigslist is a useful website for finding everything; choose Furniture and Household and you’ll get a lot of choices.
Bargains Los Angeles is the premiere bargain hunting, bargain shopping and samples sales guide to the Los Angeles area.
Yellow Pages Many thrift shops are on Colorado Blvd, between Lake Ave. and Rosemead Blvd.
Other Resources
Caltech Baby Furniture and Household Equipment Loan
The HELP Household Equipment Loan Pool/ Furniture Pool stocks a constantly changing inventory of cribs, strollers, high chairs, baby clothes and other useful items for babies and children, as well as small household items. Borrowers must be affiliated with Caltech, JPL, the Huntington Library or associated Observatories such as Carnegie. In order to fund new equipment purchases, a nominal donation is requested for some items (e.g. cribs $40, electrical appliances $5). Most children's clothes and maternity clothes are free.
The office is located within walking distance of Caltech, on 234 South Catalina Avenue (behind 230 South Catalina, just North of Del Mar Avenue). Please check office hours on their web site.Caltech Toy Library
Members of the toy library pay a small administration fee to participate and may then borrow a variety of toys for up to one month, return them, and check out a new item to take home. The library has a varied collection of all kinds of toys including puzzles, doll houses, ride-on toys, building toys, books and more! The library is a great resource for parents but also for grandparents or those CWC members who may have young visitors. Borrow items from the Toy Library and return them once your guests have gone home.
The Toy Library is located in the same building as the HELP loan pool, and is open at the same time. For donations, which we gladly accept, please call (626) 792-5942.Local newspapers like Penny Saver and Pasadena StarNews for yard and garage sales. They occur when individuals sell their used clothes, furniture, toys and household items in their own yard/garage. You can find great deals through this funny and friendly way.
If you need more information, please contact Barbara AvouacShort Term Storage
The companies in and around Pasadena are:
U-Haul
AAmerican Self Storage
SoCal Self Storage
StoreBox Self Storage
Moving Companies
If you are looking for a moving company, you may check the Caltech procurement web site which lists moving companies that have established contract agreements with Caltech.
Utility Services
The companies providing internet services, telephone, electricity, water and gas in Pasadena are:AT&T provides cell phone, TV, DSL and home phone (land line) services in the San Gabriel Valley.
Verizon is another TV, internet, and phone service provider.
Skype You may consider to use it for your phone calls; it’s a free connection any where in the world as long as you speak from computer to computer; you can also see your correspondent with a webcam.
Pasadena Water and Power or call 626 744 4459, PWP provides water and electricity in Pasadena.
Southern California Edison provides electricity to other cities in Southern California
The Gas Company provides gas service to the majority of Southern CaliforniaCharter Communications provides internet, TV, and telephone services
If you need more information, please contact Barbara Avouac