RANT: Old Apartment Complex Woes

 I admit it, I've been slacking off for about a 100 years when it comes to paying attention to my surroundings. I was more or less content with where I have been living because I lived here, and I didn't pay that much attention to the world(s) around me. I didn't think about what it could be like to live in a better or nice place because I was just more or less comfortable with my home and the area it is situated in; why rock the boat? Well, today, after going apartment hunting, I am willing and prepared to set the pencil to paper and draw out the pros and cons of living where I am living and the pros and cons about where I will be moving. Albeit, I don't have an exact location, but I can still do the this vs. that thing(s) because they are all about the same. I'll make sure to point out the various differences between the various new complexes as well.  Here we go.

    I usually start out with a list of what I call "Things I Won't Miss" and then I go through the actual Pro/Con list.  I use bullet points and such, so let's see if I can do that here on the blog as well.

THINGS I WILL NOT MISS ABOUT THE OLD COMPLEX:

Lazy maintenance personnel who simply won't get work orders completed.Putting in work orders and waiting weeks before they are even acknowledged.A manager who though she is really kind, and nice, has been allowing really bad people in the complex and those of us who have been here for years have to remind her of the actual leasing rights of existing tenants and how she is NOT allowed to move people into our complex with criminal records or if they don't have regular work or on pensionsGoose poop all over the sidewalks People who don't pick up their dog's poop on the grass and the sidewalks.The dirty leasing office with torn up furniture and the TV blasting.The washing machines and dryers that won't work properly.Appliances that don't work properly and won't be repaired or replaced.The ugly old torn up counters and cabinets in the kitchen.Doors that are old, off track or hanging to allow wind to come in and A/C to leave.The maintenance men using our hallways for their makeshift storage (from time to time)Storage closets without locks and anyone can steal our things (and they have)Lawns that aren't kept up and when someone mows they leave the grass loose.No sink disposals.No washers and dryers in the units.No fitness center.No covered parking.Landlord allowing others to park in our assigned parking spots.Several gates on patios are broken and/or replaced with wooden cheap gates.Outside windows, doors, eases, and framework falling apart and not repaired properly.Water spigots that don't work. The pool not being opened until THEY decide it needs to be. (Last year it was July)Old carpet that should have been replaced when we moved in 7 years ago, but it wasn't.Closet rod hanging down and I can't fix it, but they used a piece of twine to fix it rather than doing it correctly. Sure, it works, it holds my clothes, but it's not done correctly, and that's very typical of these apartments.The fireplace hasn't been swept in 3 years so I can't use it.Old satellite dishes that are just hanging out that don't work and need to be pitched.They allowed the electric company to literally PAINT arrows on the sidewalks without making them remove the paint 3 years on now. We've had to put up with striped sidewalks when it could have been done differently.Leaning patio brick walls that were not set correctly, and could hurt people. There are only two, but they need to be fixed.Allowing tenants to hang their clothes out (I know that sounds petty, but it's annoying and it's an eye sore. We're not in Scotland. I understand it's acceptable there, but it is NOT acceptable here and it makes the entire complex seem cheap and lowly. I really do understand that people may prefer to hang their clothes, but they can do so after dark and take their laundry in before 8:00 a.m.Allowing dogs and tenants to make noise after 10 p.m. and before 6:00 a.m. which are the LEGAL quiet hours of our city.  Even the trash collector comes at 5:00 a.m. on Wednesday and we've complained about it for years. They have an option to have him come at 6:00 a.m. but they get a $15.00 cheaper rate if he comes early, so they do it.  NOT thrilled.Lately we've seen homeless people hanging out and needles on the premises. We're supposed to have a level of security and they were also supposed to have a security patrol, but that went away several years ago.  Maintenance won't even pick up the trash left behind! We have to do so, and it doesn't do us any good to complain about it. We're told it's not their job...really? Whose job exactly would it be?The maintenance painted big Xs on the parking lot to let folks know that guests can park there, but no one knows what that means so we look like morons with big Xs painted on the parking lots. Other places have neat little stenciled painted words like GUEST or the number of our units so that others don't park where they are not supposed to park. Such a simple fix.Trash in the pond....not every day, and not a tremendous amount, but it's there and they don't clean it out. If one our great tenants didn't do it, it would not be done.    No doorbell!  The complex removed or doorbells and now we have no idea when our friends are downstairs or if the mailman needs a signature. We've had packages refused due to it.Being locked out of my unit (4 apartments in one building) because another tenant is anal about locking the front door even when he can see me standing outside with my dog.
OK that about covers the things I won't miss.  I mean, there are things that the complex can't control such as airplane noise, hospital traffic, sirens since we live near a hospital, and things like that. I won't miss those either, but everything else could be taken care of by the complex.  And now for the list of things I will be getting when I move.
THINGS I WILL GAIN WHEN I MOVE THAT I DON'T HAVE NOW:
Heavy metal doors with actual bolt locks.A patio with a gate that is appealing to look at and I won't get splinters from it.Washer and Dryer IN MY UNITA fully function and operational fitness center with up to date equipment.A tanning bed if I wanted to use it, but I probably won't.New carpet, new tile, new vinyl, new brick entry, new new new.New appliances.Walk in closet.A shower that doesn't go cold or hot randomly.Central A/C that actually works.French doors.Security patrol from 6P-6A and 24/7 security on-call that is only minutes away.Anonymous complaint hot-line to report noises and/or things you don't want to have to deal with and that is in the contract that you don't have to deal with it.CLEAN areas and CLEAN pool areas and CLEAN dumpster areasThe dumpster pick up is after 8:00 a.m. and twice a week not just once.Dog park.Coffee in the leasing office and a clean leasing office!ONLINE accounts we can use to pay our rent.Renters insurance included in the rent.ONLY cable is allowed, no stupid broken dish satellites. Grills outside for cooking.COVERED parking and assigned parking.Guest parking areas clearly marked.Big open spaces and new windows.Fireplaces that are swept yearly in some units.Locked storage units outside.Clean and nicely lit pathways to walk (some complexes)One complex is literally next to a beautiful park with soccer fields and playground equipment that is really up to date and nice for families. One complex has a pizza delivery call at 6P and 7P and you can get on the list and go to the office to pick up the pizza so the guys don't have to try and locate the units or run up and down the stairs to deliver.  They give a $2 discount if you use that service! Great idea.Friendly and professional leasing agents that aren't lounging around daring you to tell them to work. I mean, I love my people, but enough is enough. They've become far too comfortable to the point of not doing anything we ask.So basically, I'm looking forward to moving to a new place with new appliances, new flooring and cabinets. I'm also looking forward to a clean place that doesn't allow anyone to move in without having full time employment or they are on a pension and are able to pay the expensive rents and deposits. I prefer having older people about, but I understand the management wanting only those who will be able to keep up with the expenses so they're not asking people on fixed incomes to leave if they can't pay the rents. There are retirement places and cheaper places where others can live. I wouldn't want my elderly mom to have to pay the amounts that are being charged. They charge these amounts to keep the complexes safe and free of those who can't otherwise pay.  I think it's a two-edged sword but they do agree to keep the place(s) clean, safe, nice, and up to date. That costs money.    
    Most of the new places have more units than the complex I live in now and they are owned by corporations not privately owned. They have to abide by the Tenant / Landlord Act or be sued. The complex I am in now doesn't bother with such things and like I said, they nearly dare tenants to push the envelope, and if they insist they can find themselves out on the street when their lease is up; which is wrong. These apartments have 2 years waiting periods because they are cheaper and because they don't ask a lot of questions. They don't do background checks and they don't run a credit report. I think it is time I stepped up to a place where I can not only feel more secure, (I don't feel unsafe now) but also a place where I know that every tenant has been vetted.  
    
    It will be different, but it will be nice. I know when the storms come and I don't have to move my car to the parking garage to be away from  hail that will be nice. I know that when I put in a maintenance order online it will be received and given a number and I can track it! I know that when I pay my account I don't have to write a check or run to the bank to get cash and then buy a money order because the manager didn't want to deposit checks for a freaking month! I think things have been really good here for a very long time but they've become overgrown, familiar and comfortable. It's time to shake it up and get what I pay for -- which I guess now I get what I pay for, and that's the problem. I don't pay much!  It may sting a bit, but the benefits outweigh the setbacks. That's for sure. June is coming. 
Photo Credit: Just Grilling Outdoor Living