Calista Hill tells PEOPLE she spent her first weeks in the historic building surrounded by empty hallways, and creaking floors

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When Calista Hill unlocked the door to her apartment inside a restored 1850 brownstone, she expected to spend her first few weeks settling into a new home. She didn’t expect to discover she was living in the building before anyone else.

“I was only living in the building alone for a couple weeks before my roommate moved in. Now it’s the two of us!” Hill, 24, tells PEOPLE. “For that reason, I wasn’t too worried being alone, but in an old building like this, you definitely hear creaks and noises throughout the night. I had my spooks here and there.”

The producer recently shared her unusual living situation on TikTok, where viewers were surprised to learn that the beautifully restored brownstone looked fully occupied from the outside but was almost completely empty inside. For a short time, Hill was the building’s only resident before her roommate arrived, making the pair the first tenants to call the historic property home after its extensive renovation.

Finding the apartment happened almost by accident. Hill says her roommate stumbled upon an open house where all eight units were originally listed for sale, but the two struck up a conversation with an investor who was interested in renting one of the condos instead.

“We gave her our contact information, and she reached out the next day to discuss renting the unit to us,” Hill says. “We are renters and do not own the building.”

Today, their apartment remains the only rental in the building, while the other seven units are still on the market. Hill says the property’s previous owner passed away several years ago, after which the brownstone was carefully renovated into eight condominium units.

“The renovations were only recently completed, which is why most of the units are still vacant and on the market,” she explains. “We’ve had prospective buyers touring the building, and we actually met one couple who should be moving in within the next couple of months.”

Because she and her roommate moved in first, Hill says their apartment has unintentionally become something of a test run before the rest of the building fills up.

“Since we were the first tenants, our apartment has essentially been the test run, helping identify any final adjustments needed before more residents move in,” she says.

Despite its age, the building hasn’t been nearly as spooky as many people assume. Instead, Hill says she’s found herself appreciating the craftsmanship that’s been preserved throughout the historic home.

“This brownstone was previously owned by a single owner who passed away a few years ago,” she says. “Afterward, the building underwent a careful renovation under strict historic preservation guidelines. Many of the original details including the fireplaces, woodworking, ornate tile work, and molding were preserved, which is one of my favorite things about living here.”

While the quiet hallways and empty units initially made for an unusual move-in experience, Hill says it’s the building itself that continues to leave the biggest impression. From the carved wooden staircase in the lobby to the restored architectural details throughout, she says the historic property has quickly become a place she genuinely enjoys coming home to.“I’ve only been here for a month so far, so no ghost encounters yet!” Hill says. “But it’s much less eerie than people may assume. It’s honestly just beautiful. I could stand in the lobby and stare at the carved wooden staircase for hours. I have nothing but love for this building.”