You
would think that
with all of the
lay-offs, business
closures and what
not happening around
the country, that
the people still
working would have
some sense of
urgency about them
concerning their
jobs. I’m not
finding this to be
true.
In fact, I am
beginning to think
the world is
actually going mad.
Slowly, but surely.
We finally sold our
house, it took
almost two years,
but we did it.
Yesterday I called
the storage place
where I have a
storeroom. I asked
them if a five by
five was the
smallest they had.
They said yes it
was. I asked how
much and they said
it was sixty dollars
a month. I told them
I already had a five
by ten at their
place and it was
only costing me
fifty dollars a
month. They guy
didn’t bat an eye
and said… “Yep,
doesn’t make any
sense does it…but
that’s the rates.” I
believe I will stick
with what I have.
Took my laptop in
for repairs. They
said they could have
it for me in about
four or five days. I
told the folks that
I was going to be
out of town for a
couple of weeks and
for them to take
their time. That was
a big mistake. I
called yesterday to
see if I could pick
it up and they said
… “in a couple of
weeks….we’re running
behind.” Why tell me
four or five days,
when it’s going to
end up being a
month? This will be
the last time I go
to this place.
After you sell a
house, you have to
find someplace to
move. So, I call a
new apartment
complex just down
the road from us.
The lady answers the
phone and I tell her
I am looking for a
two bedroom with two
baths. She says she
has it. I ask her
how much and she
tells me they start
at $1400 a month and
go to $1900 a month.
I ask her how big
these units are. She
tells me again…
“They are two
bedrooms with two
baths.” I tell her I
want to know the
square footage of
the units.
Obviously, two
bedrooms with two
baths in 2,000
square feet is a lot
different than two
bedrooms with two
baths in 600 square
feet. The young lady
didn’t know and
really didn’t seem
to care that I was
asking.
I called another
realtor to ask about
a house for lease.
His company had one
for lease in the
paper, but did not
list the square
footage. I call him
and ask how big the
house is, he tells
me. I tell him it’s
too small. He says
“OK” and hangs up.
Doesn’t take my name
or ask me what size
I was looking for.
All of the realtors
have access to
databases that tell
them where the
houses are, so it
wouldn’t be any big
deal for him to type
in my size and pull
up the listing that
might work. I guess
in today’s economy
he must be making so
much money he
doesn’t need
anymore.
Now when you are
looking for a house
to lease, you do the
same things that you
do when you are
buying one. You
drive around
neighborhoods and
write down phone
numbers of the
houses that have
‘for lease’ signs in
the yard. This is
not rocket science.
Then you call the
agents whose names
are listed on the
signs and you say
something simple
like… “Can I see the
house you have for
lease at 1234 Main
St?” More often then
not, you get
someone’s voice mail
with a message that
‘ they will get back
to you as soon as
they can’. This
usually means about
forty eight hours or
not at all. When
they do return your
calls you have to
listen to a variety
of excuses as to why
they can’t meet with
you anytime soon.
Their excuses range
from…. ‘My son has
tee ball this
afternoon’ to ‘ I
have to get my hair
done’ to “I don’t
know if I have that
listed or not…’
Sometimes I feel as
if I would get more
intelligent answers
if I were asking
about some
television program
such as “24” or
“American Idol” than
something to do with
real life. How do
these people make
any money…..or
better yet…do they?
Some how I don’t
think so.
