Today, it was discovered that somebody took a shit behind the bushes in front of our office.
Trashy.As.Hell.
No picture to go along with this post. You're welcome!
Friday, April 15, 2011
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Listen, listen, listen.
Listen here, and listen good:
It is so important to ask the right questions, but it is even more important to listen to the answers you're given.
Want pets in your apartment? Is it extremely important to you to have your furry little companion? Is it a dealbreaker? You might want to ask this first and foremost, and then don't glaze over the fact that the property has a zero tolerance no pet policy and make yourself believe that what we actually meant is go ahead, have five dogs in your apartment.
Overall, as Michelle said in a previous post, this is not your property. You are renting it from the owners. You are a renter. Therefore, it might be in your best interest to take the time to listen to the rules of the contract you are signing.
Case in point- Recently, we had a tenant who asked us about having a dog. We said no. It says on the lease contract, no pets! You will get a fine! What happens? We find out she has not one dog, but two dogs. We give her a violation. She comes in and says that he thought the fine was "just a deposit" for having a pet. See? This tenant glazed over what was said multiple times and heard only what she wanted to hear.
I personally love it when the tenant tries to blame the Mama and Papa Bear up in the office for something they do. They try to pull the- "Well, Marie said I could have a dog!" or the "But Michelle said I could pay my rent in three weeks without a late fee!"
Honestly, we have excellent communication between the two of us. We know everything that happens on this property, even if we weren't the ones who personally dealt with it. Also, there is no way we could conveniently forget that pets are by no means allowed and tell you, the tenant, that SURE! Have a couple animals. Why not farm some chickens in there too? Just as long as we get some farm fresh eggs every week, it's cool.
I think not.
So, dedicated readers, here's the thing: Don't hear what you want to hear, and when you do, don't be immature and try to pit the people in the office against each other. They don't believe you, and you will be the only one looking like a moron.
It is so important to ask the right questions, but it is even more important to listen to the answers you're given.
Chicks, man.
Want pets in your apartment? Is it extremely important to you to have your furry little companion? Is it a dealbreaker? You might want to ask this first and foremost, and then don't glaze over the fact that the property has a zero tolerance no pet policy and make yourself believe that what we actually meant is go ahead, have five dogs in your apartment.
Overall, as Michelle said in a previous post, this is not your property. You are renting it from the owners. You are a renter. Therefore, it might be in your best interest to take the time to listen to the rules of the contract you are signing.
Case in point- Recently, we had a tenant who asked us about having a dog. We said no. It says on the lease contract, no pets! You will get a fine! What happens? We find out she has not one dog, but two dogs. We give her a violation. She comes in and says that he thought the fine was "just a deposit" for having a pet. See? This tenant glazed over what was said multiple times and heard only what she wanted to hear.
I personally love it when the tenant tries to blame the Mama and Papa Bear up in the office for something they do. They try to pull the- "Well, Marie said I could have a dog!" or the "But Michelle said I could pay my rent in three weeks without a late fee!"
Honestly, we have excellent communication between the two of us. We know everything that happens on this property, even if we weren't the ones who personally dealt with it. Also, there is no way we could conveniently forget that pets are by no means allowed and tell you, the tenant, that SURE! Have a couple animals. Why not farm some chickens in there too? Just as long as we get some farm fresh eggs every week, it's cool.
I think not.
So, dedicated readers, here's the thing: Don't hear what you want to hear, and when you do, don't be immature and try to pit the people in the office against each other. They don't believe you, and you will be the only one looking like a moron.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Michelle's Leasing Lesson of the Day
Ever since I was a little girl, my Mother always told me "You get what you pay for." As a little girl, I never understood these words. Now, they ring true to me more than ever.
If you go into apartment searching looking for a cheap place, you will find it. As long as you keep into consideration you will not be living in the Hamptons or staying at the Ritz, this shouldn't be a problem.
I can't tell you how many tenants I have dealt with that move in knowing they're getting "the best deal out there" and then are not willing to live with the flaws of making that choice.
Case-In-Point: Marie and I had a tenant move in to the complex last summer who had never seen the actual apartment until the day he moved in. He was from California and had done all of his applying through e-mail and over the phone. Marie had sent him a floor plan with exact square footage, along with pictures of the apartment. The day he comes into sign his lease, he brings his Mother with him. After he signs the lease, the college student and his Mother go and look at the apartment he's moving into. You can only guess what happens next. All of a sudden it doesn't "fit his needs." They don't like where the electrical outlets are placed so they want them moved around (side note: electrical outlets cannot be moved around), the closets are way too small so they want the closet extended (side note: we can't extended anything in an apartment), and one of the bedroom's was smaller than the other (side note: he had already seen the floor plan).
So here we have a tenant (and his Mother) who are really upset their apartment isn't up to their par when they chose to go with the good deal, they chose not to look at the apartment ahead of time, and they chose to physically sign a 12-Month Lease before seeing anything. There were also minor bumps and bruises to the apartment (a few drops of paint on the tile, scratch on the kitchen cuboard, etc) These things happen when you choose to go with a good deal. It doesn't mean the apartment is bad, it just means it's not PERFECT.
I can assure you, we have absolutely NO sympathy for someone who doesn't listen or someone who doesn't look at their options before they move into the complex. Especially because we now have your money and signature and literally don't need anything else from you until rent is due on the 1st. We will GLADLY listen to reasonable requests but just to let you know, you are RENTING. You do not OWN THE PLACE.
So last words of advice: before you drop money on an apartment or house, look at it first.
Michelle
If you go into apartment searching looking for a cheap place, you will find it. As long as you keep into consideration you will not be living in the Hamptons or staying at the Ritz, this shouldn't be a problem.
I can't tell you how many tenants I have dealt with that move in knowing they're getting "the best deal out there" and then are not willing to live with the flaws of making that choice.
Case-In-Point: Marie and I had a tenant move in to the complex last summer who had never seen the actual apartment until the day he moved in. He was from California and had done all of his applying through e-mail and over the phone. Marie had sent him a floor plan with exact square footage, along with pictures of the apartment. The day he comes into sign his lease, he brings his Mother with him. After he signs the lease, the college student and his Mother go and look at the apartment he's moving into. You can only guess what happens next. All of a sudden it doesn't "fit his needs." They don't like where the electrical outlets are placed so they want them moved around (side note: electrical outlets cannot be moved around), the closets are way too small so they want the closet extended (side note: we can't extended anything in an apartment), and one of the bedroom's was smaller than the other (side note: he had already seen the floor plan).
So here we have a tenant (and his Mother) who are really upset their apartment isn't up to their par when they chose to go with the good deal, they chose not to look at the apartment ahead of time, and they chose to physically sign a 12-Month Lease before seeing anything. There were also minor bumps and bruises to the apartment (a few drops of paint on the tile, scratch on the kitchen cuboard, etc) These things happen when you choose to go with a good deal. It doesn't mean the apartment is bad, it just means it's not PERFECT.
I can assure you, we have absolutely NO sympathy for someone who doesn't listen or someone who doesn't look at their options before they move into the complex. Especially because we now have your money and signature and literally don't need anything else from you until rent is due on the 1st. We will GLADLY listen to reasonable requests but just to let you know, you are RENTING. You do not OWN THE PLACE.
So last words of advice: before you drop money on an apartment or house, look at it first.
Attack of the arrogant, know-it-all nerds.
Leasing Agent's Pet Peeve Of The Day:
Rudeness. Why oh why oh why oh why do some people feel the need to be rude to a complete stranger who they want to rent from? Granted, this is the type of person who tends to be rude to everybody anyway because they were bullied in elementary school and forever feel like they have to prove themselves. However, do you really, really think that if you are extremely rude to the person that you are relying on to do the best they can so you have a place to live, they will do their best to help you out?
Nope. Not going to happen. If you don't have respect for me, there will be zero respect for you. Bottom of the barrel, back of the line, end of the list.
Case in point- Extreme dorky girl needs to move in with her equally as dorky, arrogant, jerk of a husband. We find out that they're a match made in heaven, as she's an arrogant jerk as well.
Michelle and I have a saying- there is nothing worse than a nerd who is so socially incapable that they think they're the shit, and will condescend accordingly.
Somebody must have really picked on her for her to be as defensive as she is now. She comes into the office for the first time to pick up an application of residency. Every person over 18 needs one so we can do background checks. It's a basic qualification that every complex you will ever apply to do. We don't have unrealistic expectations here- don't be a criminal, make enough money, and have a history of being a good tenant. That's all we ask!
What a huff she made about filling out an application! Every question she had to write an answer to was accompanied with a face, a whine, a moan, a sigh, a huff, and reluctant writing. She whined, smirked to laugh at us, to condescend! All because she has some fingerprint clearance card. I get it, you can prove you aren't a neighborhood perv (even though she looked like one- squinty eyed adult with braces, socially immature behavior, you get the drill). But we can't tell your credit and landlord record with that. After her half-assed attempt to fill out an application and providing as little information as possible, she finally leaves and we look at her application- we can barely do anything with it. Half of the phone numbers we have to research on the internet.
So, she makes our jobs just that much harder. Add that up with a bitchy attitude and we will do our best to not help you. Want help? Be nice to the helpers.
-Marie
Rudeness. Why oh why oh why oh why do some people feel the need to be rude to a complete stranger who they want to rent from? Granted, this is the type of person who tends to be rude to everybody anyway because they were bullied in elementary school and forever feel like they have to prove themselves. However, do you really, really think that if you are extremely rude to the person that you are relying on to do the best they can so you have a place to live, they will do their best to help you out?
Nope. Not going to happen. If you don't have respect for me, there will be zero respect for you. Bottom of the barrel, back of the line, end of the list.
Case in point- Extreme dorky girl needs to move in with her equally as dorky, arrogant, jerk of a husband. We find out that they're a match made in heaven, as she's an arrogant jerk as well.
Not even cool, funny to laugh at, ironic nerd.
Just plain pitiful, tragic nerd.
Just plain pitiful, tragic nerd.
Michelle and I have a saying- there is nothing worse than a nerd who is so socially incapable that they think they're the shit, and will condescend accordingly.
Somebody must have really picked on her for her to be as defensive as she is now. She comes into the office for the first time to pick up an application of residency. Every person over 18 needs one so we can do background checks. It's a basic qualification that every complex you will ever apply to do. We don't have unrealistic expectations here- don't be a criminal, make enough money, and have a history of being a good tenant. That's all we ask!
What a huff she made about filling out an application! Every question she had to write an answer to was accompanied with a face, a whine, a moan, a sigh, a huff, and reluctant writing. She whined, smirked to laugh at us, to condescend! All because she has some fingerprint clearance card. I get it, you can prove you aren't a neighborhood perv (even though she looked like one- squinty eyed adult with braces, socially immature behavior, you get the drill). But we can't tell your credit and landlord record with that. After her half-assed attempt to fill out an application and providing as little information as possible, she finally leaves and we look at her application- we can barely do anything with it. Half of the phone numbers we have to research on the internet.
So, she makes our jobs just that much harder. Add that up with a bitchy attitude and we will do our best to not help you. Want help? Be nice to the helpers.
-Marie
INTRO
Dear Future or Potential Tenant,
Have you ever wondered why every leasing consultant seems to be in a bad mood? Now, let's ask ourselves a question: Is it possible YOU put him/her there?
This blog will be filled with all of the ins and outs you need to know before renting written by leasing consultants extraordinaire "Marie" and "Michelle."
In this blog you will get to read stories of real experiences by the lovely ladies of this leasing office. These stories are 100% true, although at times we wish they weren't.
Please do yourself a favor and read and learn from this blog before stepping into a leasing office to avoid becoming one of our "stories."
Rent away!
Have you ever wondered why every leasing consultant seems to be in a bad mood? Now, let's ask ourselves a question: Is it possible YOU put him/her there?
This blog will be filled with all of the ins and outs you need to know before renting written by leasing consultants extraordinaire "Marie" and "Michelle."
In this blog you will get to read stories of real experiences by the lovely ladies of this leasing office. These stories are 100% true, although at times we wish they weren't.
Please do yourself a favor and read and learn from this blog before stepping into a leasing office to avoid becoming one of our "stories."
Rent away!
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