THE GREAT APARTMENT HUNT 2
Here we are, homeless again, back at the drawing board. Of course I’m exaggerating, because we are still staying in the Lenya & Masha’s house not being kicked out any time soon. In fact, the guys are convincing us to stay but we did already squat there for an entire month and feel a bit like a burden. Also, my mood is largely affected by me not knowing how my health is, and as well by the fact that this whole time of the year is filled with sad events (Sept. 29 is my parent’s wedding anniversary, Sept. 30 is the fourth anniversary of my father’s death, and Oct. 9 is my father’s birth date). Enough of the gloom. The hunt is in effect once again. This story is going to be shorter, however not without it’s own heart-risers.
It is the very last days of September and I finally find it! A $1100 “October only” listing with everything included. Awesome. I call, we go see it, and on that same day give the check to the current occupants of the apartment who have simply found something closer to work, but need to give a one month notice on this place, or potentially lose one month’s rent. We move in couple days later. And you’d think that the story could respectfully end here. Happy ending, la-di-da-di-da...
The very next morning, when Shurik went to work, and I decided to sleep in, I was awaken by three male voices definitely coming from the INSIDE of the apartment. “What is all this stuff?” one said, “I thought there was not supposed to be anybody here!”. Sleepy and in a daze I decided to let these people know that there is someone in the apartment before they go exploring and find my buck-naked ass under a tiny Wallmart sheet (as all of our stuff was very tightly packed in storage, we got some bare essentials in a discount store, only to throw or give away when we leave). “There is somebody here,” I said, “Who are you?” “The owner,” a booming voice answered. Before he had the chance to continue, I decided that this conversation is going to go better if all parties would be facing each other and have clothes on. “Stay in the living room! I’ll be right out.” It took me several minutes to realize the reason I could not see very clearly was because I didn’t have my glasses on, but I threw something on and came out to see what new “adventure” we stepped into this time.
To make a very long and rude, (not on my part), conversation short, this owner - Marc Resnick, has dropped on me the fact that the people who rented us this place for a month did not have the right to do so. That he is personally going to call the police, say that we are trespassing, and will change the locks on the door with the sole purpose of locking us out. Wonderful. Furthermore, while he is telling me all this, in a very calm serial-killer-like voice, which just makes this whole thing all that more intimidating, one of the other guys informs him that the balance that the former tenants owe on this place is over $4000 (!!!) including this month’s rent which is $1250. “OK, here is the situation.” says Marc, “You have obviously been scammed by these people, but I could not care less. I want my money.” “I really don’t think they scammed us or you,” I say, really trying to believe in the goodness of people. After all, what cruel faith would subject us to two Ron Bernsteins in one month? “This is all a big misunderstanding”. As these words left my mouth, I realized that this sentence would probably be THE most common one in the “Gullible for Dummies” book, if such existed. Marc, however, was not as trusting. “You can think whatever you want” he said, “But I want what is mine. I understand that the whole $4000 is not your fault, but I still want this month’s rent from you as it seems you are all settled in. I will also need you to sign a contract stating that you will move out by the end of the month.” Although I knew Marc’s attitude could not be changed, I still said: “Fine, I have the previous tenant’s numbers, so I will call and figure it all out on my own.” Marc laughed. “I’ll tell you what,” he said, “If you get me my $4000 back, I’ll give $1000 out of my own pocket!”
Marc and his posse finally left, and I started frantically making phone calls. First I called Shurik at work to let him know what’s going on, and told him to go to the bank and cancel the checks just in case. But when he went downstairs to his car, it would not start! The warning light that came up two days ago turned out to not be a fluke after all and alternator has finally died. What is it with the bad luck already! Enough! Shurik got a “jump” from somebody at work, drove the car to the shop, and walked 2 miles back to work stopping in the bank along the way. But when he got there, guess what? That branch turned out to be permanently closed as of two days ago! I’m not even going to dignify this with a comment...
In the meantime, I kept calling both numbers left to me by Tzetzo and Elena, the previous tenants. I finally reached Tzetzo, and he turned out to be as surprised as I was! He assured me he is going to take care of the situation that very day and several hours later called me to tell me that as I suspected, Marc and his gang are nothing but rude bullies who need to get their facts straight before they break into a tenant’s apartment. Turns out Marc, has recently changed management companies, but failed to inform his own tenants that the rent now should be sent somewhere else! As for letting us rent the apartment, this arrangement Tzetzo has made with someone in Marc’s office weeks ago, and the only reason Marc showed up at the apartment thinking it was vacant, was because the supper who was also left out of the loop, told him that people at that apartment packed things in to the back of the track and left.
A word of advice to all you owners, supers, and property managers: COMMUNICATE.
Tzetzo himself was very apologetic, although this whole ordeal was really not his fault. He even went with us to the office to sign the lease. We will stay here till the end of Oct.
So here you go. No harm, no foul? Is that what they say? My only question probably would be to Marc: So where is my $1000 man?!
It is the very last days of September and I finally find it! A $1100 “October only” listing with everything included. Awesome. I call, we go see it, and on that same day give the check to the current occupants of the apartment who have simply found something closer to work, but need to give a one month notice on this place, or potentially lose one month’s rent. We move in couple days later. And you’d think that the story could respectfully end here. Happy ending, la-di-da-di-da...
The very next morning, when Shurik went to work, and I decided to sleep in, I was awaken by three male voices definitely coming from the INSIDE of the apartment. “What is all this stuff?” one said, “I thought there was not supposed to be anybody here!”. Sleepy and in a daze I decided to let these people know that there is someone in the apartment before they go exploring and find my buck-naked ass under a tiny Wallmart sheet (as all of our stuff was very tightly packed in storage, we got some bare essentials in a discount store, only to throw or give away when we leave). “There is somebody here,” I said, “Who are you?” “The owner,” a booming voice answered. Before he had the chance to continue, I decided that this conversation is going to go better if all parties would be facing each other and have clothes on. “Stay in the living room! I’ll be right out.” It took me several minutes to realize the reason I could not see very clearly was because I didn’t have my glasses on, but I threw something on and came out to see what new “adventure” we stepped into this time.
To make a very long and rude, (not on my part), conversation short, this owner - Marc Resnick, has dropped on me the fact that the people who rented us this place for a month did not have the right to do so. That he is personally going to call the police, say that we are trespassing, and will change the locks on the door with the sole purpose of locking us out. Wonderful. Furthermore, while he is telling me all this, in a very calm serial-killer-like voice, which just makes this whole thing all that more intimidating, one of the other guys informs him that the balance that the former tenants owe on this place is over $4000 (!!!) including this month’s rent which is $1250. “OK, here is the situation.” says Marc, “You have obviously been scammed by these people, but I could not care less. I want my money.” “I really don’t think they scammed us or you,” I say, really trying to believe in the goodness of people. After all, what cruel faith would subject us to two Ron Bernsteins in one month? “This is all a big misunderstanding”. As these words left my mouth, I realized that this sentence would probably be THE most common one in the “Gullible for Dummies” book, if such existed. Marc, however, was not as trusting. “You can think whatever you want” he said, “But I want what is mine. I understand that the whole $4000 is not your fault, but I still want this month’s rent from you as it seems you are all settled in. I will also need you to sign a contract stating that you will move out by the end of the month.” Although I knew Marc’s attitude could not be changed, I still said: “Fine, I have the previous tenant’s numbers, so I will call and figure it all out on my own.” Marc laughed. “I’ll tell you what,” he said, “If you get me my $4000 back, I’ll give $1000 out of my own pocket!”
Marc and his posse finally left, and I started frantically making phone calls. First I called Shurik at work to let him know what’s going on, and told him to go to the bank and cancel the checks just in case. But when he went downstairs to his car, it would not start! The warning light that came up two days ago turned out to not be a fluke after all and alternator has finally died. What is it with the bad luck already! Enough! Shurik got a “jump” from somebody at work, drove the car to the shop, and walked 2 miles back to work stopping in the bank along the way. But when he got there, guess what? That branch turned out to be permanently closed as of two days ago! I’m not even going to dignify this with a comment...
In the meantime, I kept calling both numbers left to me by Tzetzo and Elena, the previous tenants. I finally reached Tzetzo, and he turned out to be as surprised as I was! He assured me he is going to take care of the situation that very day and several hours later called me to tell me that as I suspected, Marc and his gang are nothing but rude bullies who need to get their facts straight before they break into a tenant’s apartment. Turns out Marc, has recently changed management companies, but failed to inform his own tenants that the rent now should be sent somewhere else! As for letting us rent the apartment, this arrangement Tzetzo has made with someone in Marc’s office weeks ago, and the only reason Marc showed up at the apartment thinking it was vacant, was because the supper who was also left out of the loop, told him that people at that apartment packed things in to the back of the track and left.
A word of advice to all you owners, supers, and property managers: COMMUNICATE.
Tzetzo himself was very apologetic, although this whole ordeal was really not his fault. He even went with us to the office to sign the lease. We will stay here till the end of Oct.
So here you go. No harm, no foul? Is that what they say? My only question probably would be to Marc: So where is my $1000 man?!