Is it normal?

stoneybrook · July 2010

Is it normal to rent an apartment in PS or most other areas in NYC and move in to a filthy mess? When I say "filthy mess" I mean a 3 hour bathroom scrub session just for starters.

xlizellx · July 2010

depends on what you're paying. my first place didn't have a bathroom floor, had a mold-filled medicine cabinet, didn't have a working shower and had no glass in the window in the bathroom (just a hole where glass should be -- meaning a grand entrance for pigeons.)

I redid that bathroom with new tile, floors, appliances, windows, etc. and still saved over $3000 that year living there.

but usually it's not like that.

opossumqueen · July 2010

You might want to take pictures before you clean or fix much. It's always good to document this kind of stuff for various reasons.

whynot_31 · July 2010

OpossumQueen wrote: You might want to take pictures before you clean or fix much. It's always good to document this kind of stuff for various reasons.

if nothing else, the pictures will allow you to leave it filthy when you leave.

booklaw · July 2010

Not much of a welcome to Brooklyn... but we welcome you to Brooklynian.

We have occasional get-togethers, often involving alcohol, bicycles, or both (bad idea, I know!).

Different people show up for the different events. Some never do... attendance is not required.

armchair_warrior · July 2010

normally people clean it before they leave and before people rent it. I get a mix bag of tenants. some of them leave the apt very clean others leave a mess. I hate cleaning a mess.

veets · July 2010

Don't dwell on this. Sounds like you are already well in to the mission of makiing this space livable. Just go with how wondrous it will be to live in Brooklyn and become part of this mess of people that make up Brooklynian.

nykittyny · July 2010

Tenants are supposed to leave an apartment "broom clean", which means there is no debris, no furniture, no food in the fridge. It doesn't really mean they have to scrub the tub or disinfect the toilets. If its really gross, and you are paying a high rent, you can call the new LL and ask him to send a cleaning person over.....but it sounds like you already did the work. Enjoy the satisfaction of a bathroom cleaned as only you yourself could do it!

msbrg722 · July 2010

OpossumQueen wrote: You might want to take pictures before you clean or fix much. It's always good to document this kind of stuff for various reasons.

^this.

I took pictures of every room of my last apartment when I moved out (and inside the fridge and the closets). My landlord tried to keep my security deposit (he was an addict, a liar AND an asshole) and those pictures are what got me my $ back when I went to court.

I don't anticipate any problems if/when I leave here (nice, normal landlord), but I took pictures of every room when I moved in (luckily it was very well-cleaned) and I will take pictures again when I move out

eggcream · July 2010

Did you see before you rented? Did you contact landlord and or real estate agent?
I would do both to have it documented ( along with pictures) that the apt. is a pig sty.

landlord · July 2010

I always hire a cleaning lady for half a day to give the apartments a good scrub down before renting it. Most tenants do not leave the apartment in the way I rented it to them.

Send pictures to your landlord and ask him if you can hire someone to clean the place and deduct it from the rent....or half of it.

stoneybrook · July 2010

Subject: Thanks

I appreciate the good advice. I pretty much went along the same common sense lines. I took pics before cleaning and I paid a visit to the landlord/owner and property manager.

The meeting was interesting to say the least. Imagine good cop bad cop. That is how they tried to play me but I wasn't having it. I don't appreciate people's attempts to run game on me. I guess since they knew I'm from out of town that made me an easy target. Where you are from has no bearing on your intelligence and their behavior tells me quite a bit about them and how they conduct business.

The good cop recognized I was going to win the intelligence battle handily with the bad cop so to save time he capitulated, offering to send a cleaning person over. Unfortunately they continued game and each of the last two days I called they said "tomorrow" so I cancelled their "effort" and we have been cleaning. I can't allow them to put our lives on hold. Besides, we can't really afford to keep eating out, nor do we desire to every meal.

Taken a step further, as I am cleaning I am astonished that someone could actually live in such filth. You would think that the tennant before us would have kept their home semi-clean, which would allow me to work faster. I want to post the pics but I see I must have them web-accessible in order to do so here. I will post them on a free site or maybe my blog and link them as soon as Time Warner gets off their arse and connects me. We had to cancel our initial appointment because of our late arrival (a whole other story). I am relying solely on my Blackberry atm.

I look forward to meeting some you all at the next bar-crawl or other activity. The move-day story might be entertaining to tell.

Despite all the issues with the move, the nasty-dirty apartment and the landlord BS, so far I like living here in Park Slope Brooklyn. Job resumes Tuesday so I will putting miles on my footwear checking out my new hood. I need to find "my spot". While you're out this holiday weekend, if you see a tall semi-skinny dood wearing a Detroit Tigers hat it might be me. Come say hi if you want. My name is Jared.

Aiight...chill.

wonderroom · July 2010

^ Hey Jared - sucks that they are assholes. I'd hire my own person (I can refer you to my guy who is FABULOUS if you'd like) and tell them since they can't get it together, you are going to do it and deduct it from the rent. Then I'd document the conversation and mail it certified to their office - or bring it to them and have them sign the note.

new2nyc · July 2010

i had to giggle as i read your post. our experience moving into our place (also from out of town) was quite the matchmaker to yours.

Things here dont quite operate the way some would "expect" or "assume". I have learned to release many expectations of my landlord, especially when i had no bathroom ceiling for two weeks and was told the black mold growing was a water stain...

there are times when you will have to remain strong in your wishes and hound your landlord pair (they sound quite entertaining)...and times, like these when you will realize doing it yourself is better, or at least easier in the end. because if the place wasn't in move-in condition for you, chances are this wont be the last problem you'll face...

oh, and humor always helps. keep it light and you'll learn to love this wonderful neighborhood of ours. <3

Is it normal?

Comments

Howdy, Stranger!

Categories