Today I received a call from our property manager. Lucky us, potential renters wanted to look at our house again and bring the in-laws along. I got the call one hour before they showed up. I was expecting a moving inspector to show up and do a room by room analysis before packers arrive tomorrow. Can you really tell potential renters NOT to come by? Nope. Not when you really don't want to carry a mortgage for a home you're not living in.
Before the renters arrived, the property manager wanted to 'discuss' a few things with me. FYI- I didn't want to meet these people. I honestly think it's best not to meet renters or buyers because I don't want to field a ton of questions or have them put me on the spot about anything.
First, the PM and I discuss cleaning costs and carpet cleaning. I agree to these things because I like a clean house and I expect the renters to pay for carpet cleaning when they leave, otherwise it comes out of their deposit. Fair right? Come into a clean house, leave a clean house. These costs amount to approximately $250. So, next the PM tells me that they are interested in my refrigerator. Would we be willing to leave it behind. Umm, no. PM then asked if we'd be willing to kick in a couple hundred for a new fridge? Umm, let me think...no. Because really you can't buy a fridge for $200, not one like ours anyway. And, who does it belong to if they have to kick in some of their money also? Why do I want to give away $200 just because they like my fridge? Next the PM says the renter's wife told him she called and spoke with my husband about the house. Liar liar pants on fire, no you didn't! And why lie about something so stupid?
Okay, I'm already slightly annoyed by the time they show up. But I decide to keep my cool and just try my best to avoid them...while feeding Alice and trying to get her to nap. So in reality my butt was planted in the rocker and they bombarded me with questions. How long have you lived here? Why are you moving? How much is your electric bill? We pay $170 for our house and yours can't be much more than that. (Are you serious? Remember seeing the pool? It ain't cheap running that thing. Our bill is almost double yours.) Does the intercom work? Oh, it's probably just a wiring issue...I can fix that. (I'm thinking, great if you break it, you fix it.) Is that a wood burning fireplace? Gas or propane fireplace? (Are you deaf? I said gas TWO times.) How much does that cost? Are you in the military? Your husband is going to medical school huh? What did he do before? My head was about to explode by this point and the PM took over finally. And at this point the inspector showed up and patiently waited in the foyer while these people came at me like cobras. Instead of answering all the monetary questions I told them I didn't know offhand and would have my husband call the PM with the details. Apparently I needed to hold up a sign that said, "Stop asking so many damn questions. I'm not getting into details with you people. You scare me. I'm afraid if you rented my house you would call me ALL THE TIME". Instead of 'getting it' and realizing that I refused to discuss things that they should discuss with the PM that we're paying to do a job, the asshole smirked at me like I was one of those women who deal with babies and not finances. That just did it for me.
Now we're holding steady with NOT negotiating. No fridge comes with our house. Buy your own. No, you can't try your hand at dealing with our lawn. You will pay a higher rent so we can pay a professional NOT to kill our lawn. Nope, you're also not going to attempt to get the 'mix' right on the pool. Again, you can pay more so we don't get calls about the mint julep mix you have grown in the pool for Labor Day weekend.
Goodness, I sound angry. I just don't like the landlord role. I'm not nice. I'd rather sell the house and not deal with people. That's why we hired a PM. The economy just sucks. Plus I have a bad feeling about these people. Ever get that feeling? I'm terrified they will rent my house and call all the time with questions or just want to pay less because something broke for a day and they think I should pro rate their rent. I attract weirdness. I used to attract some strange guys (not my husband of course, although he's wierd in a good way) and now I think I might attract wierd renters.
