Reason number 39756385 why renting a house blows.


And when I say “blows” I am not thinking about bubbles or dandelions.

Or even that hot guy I saw standing in line at the grocery store the other day. Rawr.

I’m referring more to hairy ballsacks, possibly even diseased ones.

I have a good running list of reasons (39756385 items long, clearly) for this particular brand of Makes You Want To Vomit All Of Your Meals From Ever suckage, but today let’s talk about:

“When Shit Breaks And Doesn’t Get Fixed In A Timely Manner”

When shit breaks and you own your own house, the reason why it sucks is because you have to FIX THAT SHIT YOSELF.  So that means, get off your lazy ass and determine the cause of the problemage and then do something about it.

When shit breaks and you rent, you’re often NOT ALLOWED to fix that shit yoself, nor are you allowed to hire someone else to fix that shit for yoself.  Because, of course, when you signed the lease you did no less than admit that your judegment is not to be trusted, m’kay? And you signed an agreement that says “I am a dummee and cannot fiss thingies goodlike and also I can not has enough smart parts in my head to find any other good peoples to help me fiss thingies eether. ever.”

I swear that’s what the thing said, and normally I wouldn’t sign a document rife with such horrible spelling mistakes, for chrissakes, but if I remember correctly I had diarrhea that day so I was kind of in a hurry to get things wrapped up, because there is really nothing worse than sitting in a realtor’s office with a hot wet ass that ISN’T just a euphemism for how damn sexy you are.

But I digress.

So, basically, we’re not allowed to fix broken things.  Instead we have to call and report them to property management, and they will send someone to the house to fix what’s broken.

Wait, no.  I wrote that incorrectly.

They will THINK ABOUT HOW THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO send someone to the house to fix what’s broken FOR ABOUT A WEEK, but they will not do anything about it.

Then when your husband calls them and says, “Uh, did you get my two messages about how the kitchen light is broken and my wife has already set 4 fires in there trying to cook in the dark because she’s an idiot, and could you please just go fix it before she accidently builds an atom bomb trying to make Mac & Cheese in the dark? I know it sounds improbable, but really, you don’t know her. And it is not at all improbable.  That kitchen light is SO MUCH MORE important than you realize” they will be like, “Huh?”

And then they’ll be like, “Oh, we need approval from the owner since it’s just lightbulbs.”

This is the part of the story where I tell you how I almost threw the phone across the room when John was relaying things to me.  Because I was in the room the day that John called them and left a message, and I heard him saying, “Hi, our kitchen light is broken and we thought it might just be the bulbs, so I went out and bought new ones, but it still won’t turn on, so it’s not the bulbs.  We need someone to come out and have a look at it and fix it.”

And:

1) See that part where he said IT’S NOT THE BULBS? Yeah. I HEARD THAT.
2) John hasn’t been home since October 16th.  I just want to go ahead and point that out.
3) As I type this, the light is STILL BROKEN.

After he set them straight in a much more polite way than I’d ever be capable of, they promised him someone would “be out tomorrow” to have a look at it.

BAHAHAHAHAHA!

“Be out tomorrow” in Property Managementese CLEARLY means “sit around with a thumb up one’s ass.”  Either that or “laugh at your dark kitchening ass while we pretend like we care about you and your broken thingies, when if fact, we so very much do not. Buy a lamp, asshole.”  I’m not sure, but it’s definitely ONE of those.

A WEEK LATER he called again to find out if they would prefer that we:

A) Burn down their building.
B) Set bull weavels loose in their office.
C) Poop in a box and send it to them instead of next month’s rent.
D) Get H1N1 first and then poop in a box and send it to them instead of next month’s rent.

They asked if there was an option E, and while I told John to say, “Yes, All of the above, you sons of bitches,” instead he just asked if they could please come fix the light in the kitchen.

He is such a pussy.

So finally, someone came the next day and looked at the light.

(Technically, they said someone would “be out tomorrow” again and so I got all pissed off because I AM LEARNING THEIR LANGUAGE. But they decided to mix things up to keep me on my toes.  I am on to you, anyway, Property Management.)

On Friday, a nice man came to the house, stood on one of my chairs and looked at the kitchen light fixture.

He told me it was broken.

I almost had a hysterical breakdown at the delivery of this news because I had no idea the kitchen light was broken and I thought frantically, “Holy crap, how am I going to make dinner now, in the dark???”

But really, he said the ballast is fried and that he’d have to remove it and replace it.  Then he took it off the fixture and he left, saying, “If I don’t see you again later today, I’ll see you Monday!”

It’s Wednesday.  I have not seen the friendly Ballast Replacing Fairy yet.

I’mma gonna go into the kitchen later and whip up that atom bomb.

Hope you fuckers liked your lives. Some shit’s ’splodin’ tonight.

****

UPDATE: So after I wrote this, but before I could publish it, the friendly Ballast Replacing Fairy actually showed up, except it was the same guy who came before and told me the ballast was broken, so I was a little bit disappointed.  I was hoping for something with wings and a tutu or at least a glittery wand or a Pegasus waiting for him in backyard while he was inside working.  Regardless, he had a new ballast with him and the knowledge necessary to install it.

Fortunately, while he was working, Braden made sure to point out loudly to me that “that’s not Daddy!” saving me from making the horrible mistake of pestering the poor guy to rub my feet.  Of course, this is nothing new from Braden; he’s always screaming that information at random times, like when I’m on the couch making out with boyfriends, and also sometimes when my pimp comes to collect.

Duh, Braden, DUH.

Oh, but apparently the Ballast Replacing Fairy IS a fireman.  Braden said so.  Which clearly means he needs to be reported to the fire chief for his Fairy Side Gig.  I’m 97% sure that there’s a “No Fairies” rule in the Fireman Job Requirements.  It’s right next to the part that says you have to have really big muscles and the ability to grow masculine patterns of facial hair on command.  I’m not sure whether it’s more or less important than looking sexy while you slide down a big metal pole in a hurry.  Anyway, he’s breaking the rules.

I’m telling.

PS: You’re a bunch of lucky bastards. There’s light in the kitchen now, so I probably won’t be blowing up the earth tonight.

Probably.

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  1. #1 by projectmommy on November 4, 2009 - 4:17 PM

    Excuse me miss, but I am said owner of a hairy diseased ball sack and I DEMAND you take your ENTIRE blog post down. You have offended me and my hairy diseased ball sack by talking about it in such a negative affect.

    ; P

  2. #2 by Sarah on November 4, 2009 - 4:36 PM

    Lol….figures the fairy shows up before publish can be pushed.

    Glad it finally got fixed…but really, feel free to blow things up anyway. Or you can pent up that anger for the NEXT time ;)
    Sarah´s last blog ..What was I so worried about? My ComLuv Profile

  3. #3 by Tarasview on November 4, 2009 - 4:38 PM

    ah yes, the joys of renting. I know it well. I like to think of it as the “we have more money than you and therefore are better than you and therefore can do things whenever the hell we want because you (aka peon) are living in OUR (aka king of the world) house and by the way your inflated rent is paying for us to vacation in Tahiti this year” rule.

    Sucks to be us.
    Tarasview´s last blog ..Wordless Wednesday- H1N1 Day 8 My ComLuv Profile

  4. #4 by Allison on November 4, 2009 - 4:42 PM

    I know exactly what you’re going through, my landlord takes forever fixing stuff around here, and the resident managers can never do their job even if they try…because he never gives them appropriate material. He gets on my butt because my kid puts out a cigarette on the wall (okay, that’s bad, but she got an ear full from me, so it’s not like I’m LETTING her do half the garbage she’s done lately. She also can only sit on the porch when she goes outside talking on the phone), throws stuff in the bushes (her and everyone else, ugh—she got to clean it up!) and we haven’t replaced this one window yet—which will be difficult to replace. But I’m calling people! Gotta do it again tomorrow!

    But, totally, I know what you’re going through. One reason I want to buy a house (but they won’t let people with scizo credit history buy houses. Even if we pay rent relatively on time..:-|).

    And that’s reason number 1,000,000,000 (ha, my list is LONGER!) I want out of this place! Wish I could rent a house…buying one would be better though….
    Allison´s last blog ..What a nice day, and it’s a Monday? My ComLuv Profile

  5. #5 by Sarah @ TM2TS on November 4, 2009 - 4:47 PM

    You have such a hilarious way of putting things. But I do know how you feel. Our bathroom hasn’t had a working exhaust fan since about 6 months after we moved in … four years ago. And our dishwasher makes dishes dirtier than what they went in.

    Renting an apartment. Renting a house. Same shit, just more space (most of the time).

    Glad someone finally showed up! At least they have the excuse of not having a maintenance person on hand during normal business hours ;)
    Sarah @ TM2TS´s last blog ..Writing Goals My ComLuv Profile

  6. #6 by Michelle Smiles on November 4, 2009 - 5:37 PM

    I have a list of stupid stories involving our management company and this house we are renting. Morons – every single one of them. Let’s start with the time the I made one of their men cry. He called the home office and told on me. I was 9 months pregnant and a little testy but seriously dude, man up. I was just snippy – I didn’t throw knives at you or anything. And the time we got the letter from the HOA that there were too many weeds in our lawn so they sent someone to mow it and then tried to charge us for it. We fought about that one for a month because I was very clear in my 1 email and 2 phone messages that it wasn’t that the weeds were long – they were too plentiful. (Though beautifully manicured if I do say so…). I’ll stop but man oh man why do they have to suck so much?
    Michelle Smiles´s last blog ..On the mend My ComLuv Profile

  7. #7 by WackyMummy on November 4, 2009 - 5:43 PM

    And why I will (hopefully) never rent again.

    Instead, stuff around here never gets done because the landlord is a lazy arse. That’s me. A lazy arse who doesn’t know how to do a single thing around the place.
    WackyMummy´s last blog ..I Blame Pigs In Space My ComLuv Profile

  8. #8 by Lauren @ Hobo Mama on November 4, 2009 - 7:04 PM

    My friend who rented a house had to poop in a bucket for a week because her lazy hippie landlords wouldn’t get someone competent to fix her plumbing and took their sweet time doing a terrible job themselves. FYI, I’m not against hippies, just lazy ones who think pooping in a bucket is a good substitute for proper sewage facilities. We were always fixing things on the sly in our rental, just to avoid these types of issues.
    Lauren @ Hobo Mama´s last blog ..AP Principle #8: Balance and how you can’t do it all, at least not all at once My ComLuv Profile

  9. #9 by kys on November 4, 2009 - 7:07 PM

    I’m glad I read this. Because I bitch about home ownership all the time and how I’m going to sell the house and rent. Now I can go write a sappy gratitude post.
    kys´s last blog ..Wordful Wednesdays: Good Help Is Hard To Find My ComLuv Profile

  10. #10 by Tracy D on November 4, 2009 - 7:13 PM

    My oven door has been broken for 2 years. I can still use the oven though. SO landlord keeps putting off fixing it. There are reasons we stay here, but getting things fixed timely is NOT one of them!
    Tracy D´s last blog ..Awards, A Giveaway and Maintenance Issues My ComLuv Profile

  11. #11 by karin on November 4, 2009 - 8:17 PM

    Loved your post (and the recent prior one)!! I’ve missed reading you and am so happy to see that you’re back. Renting does suck, esp if you have a crappy landlord.

  12. #12 by Karen Bannan on November 4, 2009 - 8:24 PM

    Do they know you have a popular blog? Have you threatened to write about your issues and actually print the management company’s name? Since you had all those other great threats I figured you could throw an extra one in, too. Personally, I liked the getting N1H1 poop in a box thing, but since it sounds like you’ve got enough on your plate, maybe that could be plan B….

  13. #13 by Michelle Smiles on November 4, 2009 - 9:16 PM

    I think the girl who had to poop in a bucket for a week wins.
    Michelle Smiles´s last blog ..On the mend My ComLuv Profile

  14. #14 by terri on November 4, 2009 - 9:21 PM

    Thanks for the great read I had to chuckle at the timing im sitting here at 9:20 pm while the furnace dude is here trying to fix my furnace, third time hes been here since last week i am renting right now while i sell my home its been a while forgot how much it sucks ass!!!

  15. #15 by John Carroll on November 4, 2009 - 9:38 PM

    Well dearest, I am thrilled that the sucky property management FINALLY fixed the kitchen lights. They are truly asshats! Great post, babe!

    Your loving husband,
    The Pussy ;)

  16. #16 by Kelley on November 4, 2009 - 9:48 PM

    Ima singin’ the rental blues with ya babe.

    We signed the lease on this place ON THE CONDITION that a huge mofo of a fence be erected to stop Boo from running into the street naked and making dirt angels in the neighbours driveway.

    They said sure.

    We have been here THREE AND A HALF YEARS and I am still waiting. Every couple of months they send someone around to measure the gates and then nothing…

    Doing my damn head in.

  17. #17 by Suzanne on November 4, 2009 - 10:41 PM

    I think I have the only good landlord on the planet. There’s only one, and I somehow scored him, but he’s up for grabs come March 1st.

    That is all sorts of suckitude from the property management company. I suppose we have to keep the secret that you are harboring explosives in that rental? :P
    Suzanne´s last blog ..Kirby,Take Two My ComLuv Profile

  18. #18 by Summer on November 5, 2009 - 12:02 AM

    As a fellow renter, HELLS TO THE YES!
    Summer´s last blog ..Cloth Diaper Love My ComLuv Profile

  19. #19 by Veronica on November 5, 2009 - 1:23 AM

    That’s okay love, I live far enough away that your atom bomb wouldn’t have worried me. Except for the fact that it would have exploded you.

    And wait, where are our servers located again?

    It’s probably good you didn’t have to explode anything.
    Veronica´s last blog ..Talking about my period. My ComLuv Profile

  20. #20 by Ness @Drovers Run on November 5, 2009 - 3:45 AM

    I hear you. We’ve been renting for a little over two years. We’ve reached the point now, where we 1. call 2. if they don’t respond within a week, we 3. fix shit ourselves 4. send them the bill 5. we threaten to withold this rent until they pay us back.

    Thusfar they’ve always paid us back, or sent someone within a reasonable amount of time…but we have a wall that has a major damp problem, that has not been fixed for the simple reason that it requires a major rebuilding of that room. Luckily it’s an exterior wall, of an addition which we don’t use much, so there’s no imminent threat of ‘damp related’ issues.

    Still. It sucks. Oh and we have a clause that I’m allowed to paint and decorate as I wish, provided the house is returned to a neutral status when we leave, which is okay anyway, since ‘neutral’ walls I’m into. :)
    Ness @Drovers Run´s last blog ..Running and Screaming My ComLuv Profile

  21. #21 by dysfunctional mom on November 5, 2009 - 4:43 AM

    You made me choke on my edamame.
    I’m really glad Braden informed you that the fairy guy wasn’t Daddy before you jumped his bones.

  22. #22 by Carol Anne on November 5, 2009 - 11:22 AM

    >>>He told me it was broken.<<<

    Thank you Captain Obvious. This is the kind of thing that drives me crazy and makes me want to lose my mind at said provider of the already painfully obvious.
    Carol Anne´s last blog ..Wordless Wednesday — Beauty Amid the Rubble My ComLuv Profile

  23. #23 by Miss on November 5, 2009 - 3:45 PM

    Duh, Braden, DUH

    Bestest line evah.

    I remember renting. Oh it sucked horribly. Thik 8 months pregnant, hair full of shampoo (as I readied myself for a doctors appointment) and Oh look at that, the water is off. “Oops we forgot to tell you” Tell it to my greasy hair bitch.
    Miss´s last blog ..Wordless Wednesday – A Sunday in Flushing My ComLuv Profile

  24. #24 by Jennifer S^N on November 5, 2009 - 5:12 PM

    Awesome Post and if I ever win the lottery…one of my 3 wishes. HEH. I’m buying you a house so you’ll only have your husband to blame for the shit that never gets fixed.

    ps. Has anyone ever told you how sarcastic you are? ;)

  25. #25 by Jeanette on November 6, 2009 - 6:24 AM

    That’s exactly why we bought a house. Now I just get to moan at DH!
    LOL at Braden
    Jeanette´s last blog ..Snakes and Dragons My ComLuv Profile

  26. #26 by Amo on November 6, 2009 - 6:29 AM

    I had a great comment, but then read John’s comment and totally lost mine for laughing at his. “Love, The Pussy”.

    bwahahahahahaha
    Amo´s last blog ..Filed under: Only Happens to Amo My ComLuv Profile

  27. #27 by Domestic Extraordinaire on November 6, 2009 - 7:12 AM

    so glad I don’t have to deal with property mgt companies anymore. I remember when we rented our house in FL & the drain rusted out in the tub, flooding the entire master and linen closet. I called them to come out to fix it, they weren’t sure if they could get anyone out there until the following week & actually suggested I that whore bathe the children until they did. I threatened to call the base to have them reported-not that they were associated with the base, but if they base had to step in enough times they would be on the ‘black ball list’ in a big navy town.

    Someone was there the next day. Too bad they don’t have something like that for musicians families. Glad you have a new light-hopefully nothing breaks for a while.
    Domestic Extraordinaire´s last blog ..You Capture-At the Park with A Nephew Edition My ComLuv Profile

  28. #28 by Jenni on November 6, 2009 - 8:12 AM

    I gave you an award over at my blog today! Congratulations!

    http://sincerelyjenni.blogspot.com/2009/11/i-can-feel-love.html

  29. #29 by Athena on November 6, 2009 - 8:59 AM

    roflmao – I so needed that laugh.

    Cause see, when I need to complain about what’s messed up in my rental home, I have to do it in *sob* french.

    And my French is so bad, that when I try to say, “please tell me how to turn off the secret, runs in the dark of the night when I am sleeping and unaware, irrigation system because we had a *gasp* six hundred dollar water bill this month.” What actually comes out is something to the effect of “We love you and your perfect house and your irrigation system is brilliant. Really – because we are made of money and there is an endless supply of potable water on this planet” sigh.

    x~a

    ps: glad you got the light fixed – mac and cheese is way better than atomic bomb. :)
    Athena´s last blog ..Lake Geneva My ComLuv Profile

  30. #30 by lceel on November 6, 2009 - 9:05 AM

    You wanna tell me what “bull weavels” are?
    lceel´s last blog ..Friday Haiku – Season of Change My ComLuv Profile

  31. #31 by Lagunatic on November 9, 2009 - 4:25 PM

    I think you’ve got a Lifetime Movie on your hands; Rocky and Boll Weevil – the story of a Fairy Fireman and the bug who loved him.
    Lagunatic´s last blog ..I hope he’s not lactose intolerant My ComLuv Profile

  32. #32 by Tammy on November 15, 2009 - 8:45 AM

    That was funny shit. Glad your light is fixed. You are WAY more patient than I would have been. I’d've been on the phone daily making a nuisance of myself!
    Tammy´s last blog ..A Teenager And His Cell Phone My ComLuv Profile

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