Alright, my Rock Star sim still lives in his original apartment in Bridgeport. It's the one with the big crane outside, and while I've made it bigger with cheats, it's still pretty cramped inside. Maybe it's all the decor I have scattered around the place (I like my sims' homes looking messy and "lived in") or maybe it's just time to move.
Admittedly, I'm a bit aloof to the idea of moving my sim out of the apartment. I spent an unnecessary amount of time customizing the interior and making it fit his personality.. and I feel like my interior efforts will be going down the metaphorical drain if I move him out.
At the same time, it feels so cramped that it's almost unbearable. Not to mention, my cat is pregnant and kittens are not particularly good in apartment settings.. I already have an idea on what his new house would look like and where (specifically that lot near the edge of Bridgeport, the one with the waterfall). He really isn't the big city type (he's shy and a loner), so I guess being isolated from everyone would make sense. He also came back from Uni, and I want him to start learning more skills again.
Tell me your thoughts! ...because I can't make up my mind.
1. move to some place bigger. If you want to stay in the city but have a mansion I would recommend the 30X40 lot where the fire station was originally placed but has the Flying V coffee house on it if you have Showtime. Just bulldoze the lot and change to residential. Here is one of my mansions on the lot:
2. increase the size of the apartment using "restrictbuildbuyinbuildings off". Also using "buydegug on" you can use public space markers to add to the amenities of the apartment building without increasing the cost of your sim's apartment. You can add laundry facilities, TV rooms, bowling allies, dance clubs, game rooms with pool tables, etc , coffee/tea rooms with bakery goods, hot tub / sauna/ steam rooms, indoor or outdoor pools (space permitting).
Here is an example of laundry and gym facilities in one of Simrealty's apartments in their Simtropolis city:
https://i.imgur.com/MUiEqdy.jpg https://i.imgur.com/qAihqNe.jpg Notice there are 3 elevators. This eliminates the congestion caused by having only one elevator in a highrise.
Here are some of Simrealty apartments that I have edited:
The penthouse level was converted to public area with dance floor, juice bar, pool, hot tub, pool tables, ping/pong tables and bathrooms. https://i.imgur.com/ZVx4LdI.jpg
The apartment is one floor down. https://i.imgur.com/ID6PJ2l.jpg
When the household throws a party the host waits on the top level public area so all guests will congregate there.
This empty apartment can be configured any way the new tenant wants https://i.imgur.com/6NeeMrx.jpg
but the ground floor public area has bathrooms, a video arcade and a coffee bar. https://i.imgur.com/KR5EZES.jpg https://i.imgur.com/ZU080B1.jpg https://i.imgur.com/HwvqFUy.jpg https://i.imgur.com/RDMhq5R.jpg
This apartment was set up for musicians/band members and/or families https://i.imgur.com/dmy2hRA.jpg
with a small gym and bathroom and a "jam" room in the public area on the ground floor. (could have a toddler play room also.) https://i.imgur.com/55eion6.jpg
This 2 level penthouse has bedrooms on the second level of the apartment with a balcony https://i.imgur.com/4uEae9P.jpg
and a terrace on the main level. https://i.imgur.com/f2ao7Zo.jpg
The ground level entry to the building has a public area with bathrooms and ping pong and pool tables on one side and a bowling alley and juice bar on the other side. https://i.imgur.com/zQIdGhr.jpg
Sounds like you already made up your mind, but you feel leaving his current place would be a waste of effort?
I'd say look at it from a different perspective: you spent a lot of time decorating his current place, but moving doesn't necessarily mean you cannot use that apartment for another Sim in the future. Yes, it might need some refurbishing to adapt to the new inhabitant, but that can be a great experience as well! New Sim will have to save up Simoleons and make small changes until it feels his own - you can even move in a Sim with a completely different personality and play that story :)
Go ahead and build his new home, but keep his apartment as a second residence so he can visit it from time to time. He might enjoy having his new place more out of town but still also like the convenience of a place to stay over in the city when he needs to be there. (Yeah, I know Bridgeport isn't actually that big, but we can pretend).
