dictation's Diaryland Diary ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I can't tell you how good it feels... to tear the plastic sheeting from the slatted closets and the doorless entry-ways to my living and dining rooms. to take a day off work and not worry about construction crews hammering and making a mess in here. to soak in a tub surrounded by new tile and fresh (but not smelly paint). to have my apartment back. and even you know know what? I've been looking at apartments and so far they're - smaller - $100-$200 more a month in rent (close to $900) - in need of a good paint job and some fixing up which I am not prepared to do for that much rent thank you very much - carpeted, not hardwood (carpeting sucks, people! It needs cleaning. It's usually a very bad colour. It's usually stained and/or ripped and OLD. Carpet stinks.) - in less convenient locations Any that compare to the place I'm living are well out of my price range. Last summer I refurbished this place with high quality paint I paid for. I spent over $300 on velvet-toned latex because the landlord is too cheap to supply anything but unwashable eggshell, chalk-quality paint. I sanded and verathaned floors. I oiled other floors. I took two weeks off work to get it done and it's beautiful (because I'm one of those silly perfectionists). Now, the bathroom's almost completely redone. I have new tile, new paint, a new sink, new pipes, new plumbing, new faucets. The new pipes are revealing a difference in the water quality. No more grit coming out of the taps. It's in an ideal location. Magnificent forests lie a block west. Shops are a block east. The beach is a 15 minute walk. The express bus to work is 2 blocks from me. The area is very pretty and it's safe. My rent is well below market price. I'm paying $754 for an apartment that is worth $1200. My reasons for wanting to move or thinking I should move had everything to do with - the insane/psychotic/classless/lazy/toothless hag of a building custodian. - the cheesy property owner. Virtually every rental property (unless it's owned by a family and that's hit and miss at best) is owned by impersonal corporations who hire low-class people for peanuts to manage them. DUH. The fear I had of the building custodian has dissipated. He hasn't done squat since I wrote the letter to his boss instructing them to keep him away from my apartment. I threatened to call the cops on him for his stalking behaviour and he's stopped because he knows I will. He's also a landed immigrant. If he gets into trouble with the law he could be deported. I am no longer afraid that the property managers "might do something" to me because I'm suing them. The lawyer only suggested that I move because "I can see you're a person who worries" but even he told me it's unlikely the property owner would attempt any harrassment once the law suit starts. After all, I have a lawyer and what does that imply? That I'm protected. That I have someone to report shit to who can do something about it. I am going to stay here and enjoy the results of my hard work from last summer and my new bathroom and if anyone even tries to ruin my stay here, they'll have to deal with the law. In any case, I have allies in other tenants who are just as fed up with the crap particulars in this building. The lawyer guy upstairs who is suing the company for lost quality of life and two women on other floors who loathe the building custodian for all the reasons I do. I will move when I find a place I can afford to buy. 1:21 p.m. - 2004-03-27 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
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