This weekend Kara and I found the perfect house. Two bedrooms, two baths. Completely remodeled from the baseboards up. Two-car garage. Nice-sized yard. Brilliant area (in the Heights ... Kara's mecca). The only hiccup might have been the rent (turned out it wasn't).
So we were excited. We could hardly sleep that night, thinking about all the things we would do in that place. Kara had practically decorated it, and I had already figured out the perfect setup for the garage (it was to be my Fortress of Solitude). We figured out all the hard stuff, and we were set to meet with our future landlord Monday at 6:30p.m.
Let's call him Mr. Moore.
He seemed like a pretty good guy. Clearly British ("But I got here as soon as I could," he quipped). And he made a point of telling us that he wanted to rent to a couple he really liked. He liked us, he said. We were his kind of peeps.
So Kara and I hop in the car yesterday and head for the house. We're going to sign us some papers and get this kitten purring! My signing hand is all a-tingle and I'm ready to get my garage in order.
I call the confirm that he'll be there.
"I have some bad news," he said. "I had another couple come by yesterday and offer me the full rent. They could also move in next week."
Admittedly, Kara and I had asked for a slight reduction in the rent (I'm a bargainer ... what can I say?) and we had said we had to give 30 days notice to our apartment manager (reasonable, isn't it?). But Mr. Moore had told us he'd hold the place for us, no problem. "I won't even entertain other offers," he had said with a smile, "until we settle on whether or not you want the place."
I pointed this out to Mr. Moore. "I'm really sorry," he said. "But this is business for me, and I have to think about what's best for that business."
Fine. Finefinefine. We didn't want your stinkin' ol' house anyway, ya Limey.
Ok, that's a total lie ... we SO wanted that house. But hey, we can deal. We can live with it. We won't be living with it in the perfect house, but at least we still have our crappy apartment.
Anyway, the moral of the story is, "Kick over the FOR RENT sign before you leave."
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8 comments:
Dang, that $uck$!! Sounded like a match made in heaven! But wait didn't Mr. Moore say he would hold it for you? Maybe you shoulda' "offered" him something? Maybe?
That was my first thought, but dang ... it was ONE DAY. And a national holiday to boot! Who knew?
Also, we had to check the figures to see if we could afford it so we weren't prepared to offer anything right then and there anyway. Maybe next time.
Big British meanie.
Hopefully you'll come across another house that you guys will love...you don't believe in love @ first sight, do ya'?
Perhaps it was a good thing that you found out that your perspective land lord was a greedy lying pig before you actually signed a lease with him.
In typical Kevin style, you tried to cheap out, and it stung you. Next time, when told what the rent is, say "Okay!"
Matt - My thoughts exactly! I told Kara that we're better off having him shaft us before signing a lease. It's cold comfort, but I'm fine with it.
Bob - You, of all people, are telling me to take the first offer? No wonder I always get better deals at the flea market. Kevin's hard and fast rule - no bargain, no sale.
Besides, you ain't foolin' me ... you NEVER pay full price on anything!
Asshole.
But really? You don't want a landlord like that. He's the kind of guy who suddenly sells the house just after you move in or decides that he wants to change the rent price 2 weeks after you're settled.
Still, you should totally go put dog poop in his mailbox. It'll make you feel better.
"Are you trying to tell the men and women of the jury, Mr. Tumlinson, that you don't have a special label on your blog specifically for items tagged 'suspicious house fire'?"
"Damn you, Google cache!"
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