“We want to work with you and respect your rights as a renter,” he said, reaching into his pocket for a business card.
Wait, let’s rewind this story about twenty minutes.
(Rewind)
My phone rings.
“Hey man, Q and I didn’t think you’d be up this early,” he says. I sit up in my bed. “Oh no man, I’ve been up for a little while,” I say. I look at the clock. 9:39 AM. Two minutes after my snooze alarm sounded.
Wait, that’s a bit too far into the past. You have important things to do, so let’s fast forward this story.
(Fast Forward)
The song ends and I can now hear what sounds like a step squad practicing downstairs on the hard wood floors in my new row house. I brush it aside. My roommate must have a few guests over for brunch.
When the first head looks into my room and says, “Oh, just looking,” I respond with a warm smile and a casual, “No problem.” The man was in his late 30′s and clearly didn’t know where to find the bathroom. It happens to the best of us, even the navigationally gifted. When a pair of grey haired women walk by my room, look in, and then continue on their way without a word, I justify their odd behavior as the beginnings of senility. I can’t imagine how two old white women, a man in his late 30′s, and my roommate are related, or why they’re here for brunch, so I thoughtlessly continue working on my music.
And then I see a steady stream of people walk past my room towards the back of the row house, my roommate’s room. I decide to investigate. But I can‘t enter the hall. It is full of people I’ve never seen glancing at various features of the house. All the quirky and jerky head movements are indicative of a serious cognitive malfunction, but then I notice they are all very well dressed. The kind of clothing I can’t afford. When I realize these people aren’t exactly the Monday morning brunching type, I go downstairs, find my roommate, and try to ascertain what the hell is going on. I find the ringleader and quickly understand.
“We want to work with you and respect your rights as a renter,” he said, reaching into his pocket for a business card. Oh, so this isn’t a brunch? It is a group of realtors touring a crumbling row house to ascertain its value because the owner is thinking of selling? Right? Ok.
Out of curiosity I counted the gaggle of well dressed realtors. Twenty one. The ringleader of realtors, as shocked as my roommate and I over our landlord’s disregard for his tenants, was very professional and understanding about the whole situation. I can’t say the same thing about our landlord – douchebag. I hope DC slams him with taxes. And perhaps DC can even send an email before the taxman shows up at his door unannounced.
(This entire incident was odd, absurd, and deliciously entertaining. But only upon reflection do I now realize the behavior demonstrated by my landlord was blatantly rude, unprofessional, and abysmal. What if I had an overnight guest? Decided to arrange bed in breakfast? Or sultry indulgences?)
My roommate also blogged about the incident over here…
I once had a landlord who would send prospective renters trooping through my apartment at all hours, with zero notice.
I hung a whip and a blindfold onto my bed to give them something to think about.
When I was looking at houses to buy there was one that the renters kept padlocked, at all times. Home or not. They were attempting to keep the house from selling. Needless to say, I never even say the inside of the house, but the outside was super cute.
Wow. That is outrageous. I would be furious.
I had a landlord once that was trying to sell the house and would do the same thing. I changed the alarm code on him and he had to deal with the cops when they showed up. He never did it again (and hated me forever, but that was ok, I was about to move anyway and the house was about to be sold)
Um. That’s against the law. A landlord has to inform you 24 hours before entering your apartment. It’s the rental laws here in SD. Check yours out.
No freakin’ way! I can’t believe that your landlord a) just let you move in when he/she was obviously already thinking about selling; and b) didn’t tell you in advance that they would be coming by! (Especially that many people at once!)
Wow. Just wow.
I guess that might be kind of interesting the FIRST time it happens, but it’s totally unacceptable behavior on the part of your landlord unless there is a clause in the lease where you’ve given him permission. Otherwise it’s pretty rude and should not happen again.
Shannon – you think I can borrow that whip for a few months?
Dutchess – seriously! … that is a brilliant idea. Combo lock or key lock?
Titania – Ok, I’m beginning to think this actually a common practice. You know, the ability of the landlord to inspire outrage.
k8 – DC’s laws are very favorable to renters. I’ll look into this for future reference.
Zandria – I knew about (a)… but I couldn’t pass up the chance to live with a bunch of awesome people. But (b)… there is a special word for that kind of disregard.
Cyndy – Welcome. And right on. A simple courtesy email would have been more than acceptable.
and so many more “what if’s” – what if you were a nudist? what if you left some illegal semi-automatic rifles or a crack pipe on the kitchen table? what if you had an attach dog? what if you were a vampire who must not be woken during saylight hours?
the nerve!
Seriously! LOL What if you had a whole drug house going on. THAT would be funny. Ok, maybe only on shows like “Weeds” but still.
I probably would have started telling them about the rattling chains in the night and children dressed in white dresses that watch you sleep. Nothing freaks people out like ancient evil.
Talk about complete and utter disregard. Damn. Hopefully whoever purchases your place won’t kick you out. That would most certainly suck.
Unacceptable and probably illegal. Renters are people, too.
Wow.
If you run around nakey during realtor visits, it really increases the property value.
Charlotte – somehow I doubt you have problems with impetuous realtors!
Twinkie – my sales would increase
Racquel – yeah, got old school on their ass!
MinD – Yes, that is an understatement.
f.B. – Definitely. And I like to think we are something more than mere renters.
t2ed – I’ll have to ask Shannon about that whip.
I was going to say……should have given them a show. haha