~Friday, September 21, 2007

Home is in the backseat of my SUV

The agency who runs my building had set aside another apartment for me to move into. Only whereas my loft was centrally located by both the parking garage and the amenities, the new apartment was located on the other side of the grounds, requiring two elevators and walking across the garage to reach. It was 50 square feet (4.6 m2) larger, but something about it—most likely its location—made me apathetic towards it. I told her I needed a couple of hours to think about it.

When I came to her that afternoon (all the while missing work and using my personal time to handle my leak) to tell her that I would take the place, I found out that someone else had rented it out. It was rented out the same day they offered it to me and the there were no more available apartments.

I got to work and openly weeped. My apartment building told me they couldn't fix my leak, nor could they move me elsewhere. My lease was terminated and I had to find a new place to live. After just sitting and crying at my desk, management told me to take the afternoon off as well, presumably to look for new places to live. But I just went home and cried.

I spent the next week looking for a new home during which I encountered an attempted mugging (needless to say, I chose not to rent there. Sidenote: it's probably preferable to not rent from a place that offers discounted rates for low-income tenants.) I saw another place that wanted an additional $20 a month for pet rent to allow my dog to live with me. That wouldn't have been so preposterous had the loft not been entirely constructed of concrete. Concrete walls, floors, ceiling. Besides feeling like a cold prison cell with one kick-ass city view, I asked the leasing agent exactly what damage my dog could do to a loft made entirely out of concrete that warranted an additional $20 a month. I ended my week by screaming at a different leasing agent, who had only worked there for 2 weeks, about false advertising.

Instead of pulling my SUV into my building's parking garage, I left it out along the street and entered my leasing office. None of the managers were there, but I didn't mind. I wasn't there to argue. I plopped down on the overstuffed sofa and explained my situation in detail to the agent on duty.

"I'm at the end of my rope here," I explained, completely defeated. "It's so stressful to know your living situation is undecided. I don't have a home."

"Why don't you just demand one of the larger apartments?" she asked.

I looked up, stunned. "What?"

"The manager messed up by renting out your new apartment. There are no more of your size apartments available for at least three months, but we have openings in the larger one-bedrooms. Don't tell her I told you this, but if you put up a fight, she'll give you the larger apartment. I've seen people get all sorts of free stuff since I worked here. I know she'll do it."

"So show me what you have available to move into right now."

15 comments:

Drama Queen said...

Glad that girl helped you out before she gets fired ;-)

Anonymous said...

Blimey Sarah that sounds awful...am glad that she tipped you off though and I hope its going ok. x

Paige Jennifer said...

Ah, the rainbow! Finally the fucking rainbow to this catastrophe! I love when life turns out this way.

Single Girl said...

Okay, so hurry up and tell us what happens. These cliffhangers are really not good for me. . . This is why I stopped watching soap operas, I can't handle cliff hangers!! J/K!

Lpeg said...

beautiful! - bummer you had such a crappy week first though...
My landlords put the house up for sale, so i'll be out of a home when it finally sells!

anna said...

yay! i knew they'd take care of you!
(sometimes you have to make them)

congrats on your new larger apartment!

J said...

You know when I started reading this I thought about how you should stand your ground. They are the ones that messed up, they should be kissing your butt! I really hope this works out for you!

Sask Mom said...

I'm a little surprised that they said they wouldn't fix it. Would they rent it out to somebody else without telling the new people that it leaks? Very odd. I hope everything turns out okay. Nobody wants you to be homeless!

Soup said...

That girl is a diamond if this works. Get her a bottle of wine.

AmyB said...

Damn, how did you refrain from hugging that girl?! I'm so happy she said something, and hope she is right so you can find your new home SOON. Good luck!

Lil Bit said...

Oh, bless that girl.... now THAT is customer service! There needs to be TONSSSSSS more folks out there who look out for us like that --- it's only a matter of putting oneself in the other's shoes, that's all.
Be sure and write her a good review for her boss or something equally as nice in return. =)

Hope you get the bigger, badder, more spacious apt and it kicks ASS!

*hugs8

M said...

excellent!!! It's complete ridiculous that they could terminate your lease just like that anyway - it's not like the leak was your fault!

Anonymous said...

Never heard from the loser but guess who's got a date with Mystery Man #1 Thursday night?!

dont eat the token said...

This sounds like the sun breaking through on a rainy day. I hope the end of your horrendous week ended in a champagne toast!!!

Kennethwongsf said...

You poor thing! I hope the new (bigger) apartment makes up for the frustrating experience.

 

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