Dear Reader,
I've been going through my blog archives looking for something describing how I chose my present apartment, but I have been unable to find anything. I apologize if I'm repeating myself, but I started Immeasurably More so I could tell stories like this, so tell it I will, even if it is telling it again.
Those of you who visited me in Boston may remember my old apartment. It had bright yellow walls which I liked, but which some of my friends found objectionable. Regardless of their thoughts about the walls, they would all agree that it was cramped, sufficient for a single person, but definitely not for guests. Therefore, one of my primary goals when I moved to the UK was to find an apartment which was big enough for entertaining, for overnight guests and the occasional party. God and I had some serious conversations about this topic.
In an effort at fiscal responsibility, I set myself a budget and made an appointment with a local estate agent. He scheduled four different properties for me to view and emailed me links to the online photos. Of course the one I liked best was the most expensive one - and one well outside my budget. But it was the first property on the agent's list, so I dutifully went along to see it.
When we walked in the door, there was light streaming in the through the skylight. The living/dining room was big enough for a dinner or a party. More than one person could stand comfortably in the kitchen. There were two bedrooms. And all the time we were looking around, the agent was chattering away. (He never stopped talking.) And what he said was that the landlord had held the apartment for 4 weeks for a couple who didn't take it, and they would reduce the rent by 200 pds. if I could move in quickly. The discount put the apartment exactly at my budget limit!
Of course, it seemed unwise to say yes immediately, so I went around to see the other apartments. One was too far out of town and didn't have a full oven. Several had bedrooms so small the closet doors couldn't be opened or shut because the beds were in the way. One had pairs of mens black underpants hanging along all the radiators. They were all comparable in price or more expensive than the first place.
I took a deep breath and made a decision. I would take the apartment with the sky light and the built in closets! But by then someone else had already spoken for it, and the agent began negotiating on my behalf. If I would take a 150 pd. reduction instead of 200 pds, maybe the landlord would chose me and my agent over the other couple's agency. (There was a bit of an agency war going on.) It was over my budget, but I've never liked sleeping with my closet doors open, so I agreed. And it worked! I got my finances in order, signed the lease and moved in a week after I had first seen the place.
Since then, I've had guests and dinners and a party and my apartment has been on the top of my "Things I'm Grateful to God for" list. But I've been worried. The apartment is worth more than I'm paying for it, and the lease gives the landlord the right to a 10% rent increase at the end of the lease period. I don't want to move again, but 110% would require a serious reassessment of my current spending habits. I've been praying that the landlord would recognize the difficult financial times and leave my rent alone!
And I found out today that they have. I received notice that I can renew my lease for another year at my current rent.
Hooray, hooray for God and the good things He does for us!
Joyfully yours,
LeAn
I've been going through my blog archives looking for something describing how I chose my present apartment, but I have been unable to find anything. I apologize if I'm repeating myself, but I started Immeasurably More so I could tell stories like this, so tell it I will, even if it is telling it again.
Those of you who visited me in Boston may remember my old apartment. It had bright yellow walls which I liked, but which some of my friends found objectionable. Regardless of their thoughts about the walls, they would all agree that it was cramped, sufficient for a single person, but definitely not for guests. Therefore, one of my primary goals when I moved to the UK was to find an apartment which was big enough for entertaining, for overnight guests and the occasional party. God and I had some serious conversations about this topic.
In an effort at fiscal responsibility, I set myself a budget and made an appointment with a local estate agent. He scheduled four different properties for me to view and emailed me links to the online photos. Of course the one I liked best was the most expensive one - and one well outside my budget. But it was the first property on the agent's list, so I dutifully went along to see it.
When we walked in the door, there was light streaming in the through the skylight. The living/dining room was big enough for a dinner or a party. More than one person could stand comfortably in the kitchen. There were two bedrooms. And all the time we were looking around, the agent was chattering away. (He never stopped talking.) And what he said was that the landlord had held the apartment for 4 weeks for a couple who didn't take it, and they would reduce the rent by 200 pds. if I could move in quickly. The discount put the apartment exactly at my budget limit!
Of course, it seemed unwise to say yes immediately, so I went around to see the other apartments. One was too far out of town and didn't have a full oven. Several had bedrooms so small the closet doors couldn't be opened or shut because the beds were in the way. One had pairs of mens black underpants hanging along all the radiators. They were all comparable in price or more expensive than the first place.
I took a deep breath and made a decision. I would take the apartment with the sky light and the built in closets! But by then someone else had already spoken for it, and the agent began negotiating on my behalf. If I would take a 150 pd. reduction instead of 200 pds, maybe the landlord would chose me and my agent over the other couple's agency. (There was a bit of an agency war going on.) It was over my budget, but I've never liked sleeping with my closet doors open, so I agreed. And it worked! I got my finances in order, signed the lease and moved in a week after I had first seen the place.
Since then, I've had guests and dinners and a party and my apartment has been on the top of my "Things I'm Grateful to God for" list. But I've been worried. The apartment is worth more than I'm paying for it, and the lease gives the landlord the right to a 10% rent increase at the end of the lease period. I don't want to move again, but 110% would require a serious reassessment of my current spending habits. I've been praying that the landlord would recognize the difficult financial times and leave my rent alone!
And I found out today that they have. I received notice that I can renew my lease for another year at my current rent.
Hooray, hooray for God and the good things He does for us!
Joyfully yours,
LeAn
And what a nice birthday present - happy to hear your good news and looking forward to using that spare bedroom!
ReplyDeleteso I'm a little behind on the times...but yeah...I wouldn't want to move out of that apartment either...maybe I'll get to come use the spare room again! Stacie
ReplyDelete