I completely feel like my life has been flipped on its head. If you follow my Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, you might have noticed some cryptic posts about moving. My building was bought by new owners who decided to remodel. So it was suggested that we would need to be moved out so they could do it. I asked if I could move out and then back in again to my same unit and they said no. I persisted as did a neighbor downstairs and they finally relented. They wanted me to sign a new lease I told them I wanted to include both pets that I currently had on the lease, as the lease only provided for one pet. The manager told me, “Oh it’s fine, just sign.” To which I responded, “You must be crazy if you think I’m going to sign it without it being in writing that I can have two pets. Your company can turn around and tell me I am in violation of the lease at any time if I do.” That took a little pushing but again, they finally relented. It was at this time I suggested that a fan that vented through the roof in the hallway might be beneficial for the building because hot air and bugs tended to get trapped there. The manager agreed this was a good idea.
Then I told them I would be more than happy to just temporarily take all my belongings and move to my father’s house on the other side of town while they remodeled. They told me that wouldn’t be necessary as one of the other apartments would be vacant and I could move my belongings there, but they didn’t give me a date …until right before they wanted me to move. They told me the other tenant would be vacating on the 4th and I could start moving my things over on the 5th, but they wanted me completely done by the 7th. So I got all my friends and we started packing and moving. However that couple of days it decided to POUR rain, and it didn’t look like I would be done in time. On the 6th I emailed one of the managers to ask if I could have an extra day. He said yes, and I relaxed a little.
But around 7pm on the 7th, when I still wasn’t done (as I expected) I got a phone call from said manager asking me if I was done yet, because the contractors wanted to start moving their tools in. I reminded him he had given me the extra day, which would be the following day. The manager asked me when I would be done, and I told him I wasn’t sure – that I might be able to get the rest of the small items done if I really REALLY rushed, that evening, but I would still have some larger items that I needed to find someone to assist me to move the following day. He then told me he would have his people come and help me move the larger items if I could be out of the apartment first thing in the morning. I ended up finishing up around midnight, just throwing things in the other apartment haphazardly not knowing what it was or where it was going, only to be forced to get up again at 6:30 to meet the guys who he was sending over. None of this experience was pleasant.
Additionally I was told I would have to continue to pay the full rent, when I was just storing my items. When I wrote the rent check I also included a note stating the fact that while I was paying the rent, I thought that was a little ridiculous, as I would not be living on site, and I had OFFERED to store my belongings elsewhere, which I could have done free of charge. I received no response.
I’d been in touch pretty consistently with one of the neighbors, and had stopped by a few times to 1) Check mail, and 2) Look for items I needed because I “packed” in such a hurry. As such I KNEW that construction had not started before the 21st. Finally that same neighbor told me a lot of things were changing – she was actually moving to a different apartment and other people were demanding changes as well. So I wrote an email to the manager asking/stating 1) If I could receive an updated timeline on construction, since I had been told 3-4 weeks, but since they hadn’t started construction until almost 2 weeks after I moved that timeline was clearly off, 2) that I was upset that I was rushed out of the apartment because the contractors wanted to get in and get started right away, when I could have clearly taken a little more time and, 3) If upon return I could switch units because now that the first building in the complex was done, if all the buildings are consistent with that one, the unit I would like to switch to will obviously the nicer unit.
What I got in response was essentially an angry email about how the manager had been trying to meet my every demand, covered for me when I delayed in signing the lease, and how I got him into trouble with my note included with my last rent check. He basically sounded like he was accusing me of trying to get him fired, and that I was being difficult and overly demanding. I’d like to point out that the only thing that was sort of a “whimsical” demand was the switching of the units, and when I had asked I thought I had done so respectfully. Almost everything else I had asked was to legally protect myself, or not just for myself but a suggestion that would be an improvement for the building. I explained this and that I had done my best to be accommodating to their needs while protecting my own interests as well, and that I didn’t deserve the attack. His response to this was to come see him in person. Ugh.
I will acknowledge that part of the problem here is language barrier. It is clear that neither of the two managers speaks English as a first language, and we are clearly having a problem communicating. I think the second problem is that I think this management company must be used to pushing people around and having them submit. But I need to think about myself and what these changes mean for me. I’m hoping for a resolution to the unit switch, but if not I am seriously considering breaking this lease and just saying, “screw it.” If you have any advice I’m more than happy to hear it! :)
So while this has been the major thing, now that I’m more or less situated at my dad’s, it’s just been one thing after another. My dog somehow busted her leg again, which has meant time and money spent at the vet. In addition the dog has decided to get sick, and while the diarrhea has improved, now there is vomiting. I’m pretty sure my cat is trying to murder my dad. And yesterday I ended up in urgent care with crazy throat and ear pain which turned out to be an infection in BOTH ears. GREAT! Bring on the antibiotics…
BUT lest you think I do nothing but complain, my kids who I was coaching for Confirmation got confirmed last Sunday and I couldn’t be more proud. They’re a good bunch of kids, and I’m sad they’re moving on. I also worked a wedding with my Ración peeps which I was regretting having agreed to beforehand, but ended up being really great. SO it’s not all bad!
Just wanted to let you all know what was going on. :) I now return you to your regularly schedule programing.
