From Bad to Worse
Why, oh why, do I allow myself to be let down?
Yesterday morning I was practically giddy with anticipation over a condo I was scheduled to see at noon. It was in the heart of Davis Square, close to the subway, shops, and restaurants. It was recently remodeled, it was the top floor. Who could ask for more?
I arrived at the property with the broker and we climbed the steps to the doorway. Everything looked good. Inside the mailbox was a key – just as the seller’s broker said there would be (he wasn’t going to be there to show us the property….a bad first sign, looking back).
We entered the common hall/lobby and it looked almost like the photo said it would (it felt smaller in person and the paint and carpet didn’t look as great – but it was “nice”). We climbed the stairs to the second floor landing. There was a beautiful new door for the 2nd floor unit and the 3rd floor unit (the unit I was to see) was a hollow core door painted white (poorly). We kept trying the key but it wouldn’t work. Frustrated, my broker called the owner’s broker and found out that the idiot forgot (actually, he said he didn’t realize) that we wanted to view the top floor unit. He didn’t leave a key for that unit since it was occupied.
So, since the first two floors were vacant, we thought we’d check those out to see what the finishes were like (assuming the top floor would be similar).
Ew.
The building used to have forced hot air heat. But the ducts weren’t built into the wall…they were in the corner of the room against the wall. When the owner “renovated” the building, he added baseboard heat…but left the useless ductwork in place. In the kitchen, he kept this old FAKE dark wood paneling half way up the wall and installed light colored wood cabinets in front of them. The bathroom had exposed pipes (instead of having them behind the wall). The closet doors had peeling wood (and didn’t close/open easiliy since the building had apparently settled and were uneven).
Being nosey, we decided to go out the back door and climb up to the third floor via the new “deck” built in back. We figured we’d look in the window to get an idea. The deck (though obviously newly constructed by the color of the wood) was COVERED in bird shit. Upon reaching the top floor, the roof shingles under the ceiling of the deck (hard to explain…it’s a very poor design) was also covered in bird shit and it appeaered that birds could go under the roof of the building.
Needless to say, I was horribly disappointed. Upon leaving the property, we noticed that the roof was rotting on one side of the building. Basically, the guy who bought the property and converted it to condos replaced the kitchen counters and appliances and called it “newly renovated.”
It wasn’t a renovation. It was a cheap asshole trying to make a quick buck and pass it off to person like me who is now beginning to realize that he’ll never afford anything “nice.”
Well, screw you Mr. Slumlord.
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I’ve got a lovely 2 bedroom house, hardwood floors downstairs, huge upstairs bedroom the size of 2 rooms, totally new/updated kitchen (with more counter top & cabinets-drawers that seems possible (and very expensive at that) and bath, replacement windows, many closets, wall taken out so house is very open, large painted basement, 3 season porch, deck, attached garage, large driveway, front & back yards, side garden, hedges, bushes – could be yours for mid $200,000s. Interested? Oh, it’s past 495, but see what you could get?
You go, Snarl. I went through a similar predicament with last year’s renting debacle. Decided it was not worth it to jump into an inappropriate pit and instead chose to stick it out here where there is at least a yard and a fireplace and a bathtub and windows which open and a proper stove… It’s sickening, innit?
I feel your pain… I do.
Hmm — That doesn’t sound so good. Too bad, too, because Davis is nice. There is some building that is being converted on Highland Street — Maybe it was once a Masonic Lodge? I am not sure it will be condos, but think it is likely. It’s a pretty cool space, if that is what it turns out to be. Something to keep in mind.
Also, I was thinking if Somerville is about to get another T line, now would be the time to buy there. Once that’s done (2008 according to Metro), I imagine people will start moving there in droves.
When we were talking about Key West on Sunday, I may have not mentioned that slumlords abound there. Renovated, my ass. I think it’s obscene that some people think it’s fine to slather a coat or two of cheap paint on some partially rotted wood and call it ‘renovated’ while bending you over for an ass-pounding like you’ve never had it. I know how it feels, so all I can say is hang in there. Something better always comes along.