It's weeks like this that make me happy I live in an apartment...

[thistlechaser]

Last weekend I noticed a black stain on the chest of my favorite shirt. Grumpy, I scrubbed and scrubbed and successfully got it off. Then I noticed the same color stain on other shirts. And socks/underwear from a different load. And towels/washcloths from a third load.

Checking my washer, I noticed black grease coming out of the little holes that line the inside of the tub. Ugh.

Called the apartment office, they sent a man out, and he ordered me a new washing machine. o.O I used to work for Whirlpool, I was 100% certain this could be fixed, and the washer is only two years old...But hey, if they want to replace it, okay. But I'm going to be without a washer for at least a week.

Then last night, there was no hot water. While we have an emergency repair phone number, I wasn't sure if this counted as an emergency, figured someone else would call, and/or hoped it would be working by morning. Nope. No hot water this morning. I washed my hair in the sink with cold water (brr) and put in a repair order.

I know adults should own houses, but man, I wouldn't be able to sleep at night if I did. What if something broke? What if it was something really expensive? What if the repair guy was awful?

I heard a story about this on NPR, and a line stuck with me. "Home ownership means you'll know the minimum you pay for housing every month [mortgage]. Renting means you know the maximum you'll pay a month." I really like knowing the maximum, the "worst case".

I sure do hope I can take a shower tonight...

Comments

[tersa.livejournal.com]

"Home ownership means you'll know the minimum you pay for housing every month [mortgage]. Renting means you know the maximum you'll pay a month."

Speaking from the other side of it--yeah, I sometimes miss having the ability to dump a problem on someone else's lap, but having stability in my housing cost with the way the housing market has gone crazy is pretty nice. What I'm not paying in insane rent I can put into savings for when something breaks and needs to be fixed.

And if something does break, I have the ability, as the owner, to choose whether or not to fix it.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

True, that's a good point. My rent keeps going up and up (ugh!), and it's getting to a breaking point for me.

Sometimes I think a condo might be a good middle ground for me, since one of the things I really do not want to deal with is yardwork. At all. I don't even want a patch of ground around my mailbox! :P

[tersa.livejournal.com]

That sounds like a good option for you, yeah. :) My dad has loved living in places like that, where he can do what he wants inside but it's SEP to deal with the yardwork.

[twissie.livejournal.com]

I know adults should own houses

They should? This is news to me. I wouldn't know what to do with all the space! It would be such a waste.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that's how I feel too. I rattle around in an apartment -- it's a better size for me personally. But I just feel like a kid here, like I "should" own my own place.

[twissie.livejournal.com]

Christian and I own the flat we live in, it's a small one room flat - we've lived here happily since 2006 (or was it 2005?). Most people are shocked to hear that we live together in such a small space, and even more shocked when they hear how long we've lived here and that we are not interested in a bigger flat or house.

Honestly, I could never picture myself owning a house. Maybe a bigger flat, but only to have a little more space for books and game collections. ;)

There is nothing wrong with renting, though. As long as conditions are good and the rent is fair. The rental market can be hard to navigate, I don't understand why renting is somehow less of an adult experience than buying/owning? Hahaha.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

I don't understand why renting is somehow less of an adult experience than buying/owning?

I suppose it's just my head being wacky. I guess lots of adults rent their whole life!

[ashmedai.livejournal.com]

We prefer to rent. Like you said, if something breaks (and something always does), we can just call the landlord and have it fixed right up. Besides, the rent in the suburbs isn't that expensive, and he hasn't raised the rent since we moved in about fifteen years ago, so there's that.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Wow, that's amazing! Mine goes up every year, usually by a lot ($600-$1,000).

[ashmedai.livejournal.com]

Holy crap! Yeah, in that case I really would consider home ownership and putting what's saved in rent into a savings account for repairs.

[rivulet027.livejournal.com]

I sorta rent, but is more like an own because the owners don't live in town anymore. Had a plumbing problem and was beyond grateful one of the owners was in town to take care of it because the amount of time spent trying to get a plumber was exhausting and I try to sleep during the day since I work nights. So I get what you're saying here. Hope you did have hot water when you got home.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

I do! I'm looking forward to a shower very soon. :)

[changeling72.livejournal.com]

I've got a five-year fixed rate mortgage - so I know what I'm paying for the next three years. It doesn't account for anything else, though. I remember when my parents paid off their mortgage in the early 80s that Dad said that, whatever happened, they would always have a roof over their heads. There's a lot to be said for renting, though. Swings and roundabouts, I guess?

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I can see the draw of a house, but I'd also like to be able to leave this area one day without having to deal with selling something...

Both sides have ups and downs, right.

[changeling72.livejournal.com]

Very much so.

[orangerful.livejournal.com]

Well, it does depend on the house that you buy. We had our home inspected and felt pretty good about most of the appliances and such. They were all recently replaced or at least serviced. :)

But, yeah, if our water goes kerfluey, I'm sure I will be missing apartment life.

But right now I am loving owning our house and not sharing walls with anyone, CRANK UP THE TUNES! LOL :)

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

I should remember that every time I glare at my ceiling. My upstairs neighbor is so loud! Not sharing your walls/floor/ceiling alone almost worth buying, just that itself.

[orangerful.livejournal.com]

At least you don't have any smokers. We had a guy who would smoke in the hallway and it came right into our apartment. UGH! And then there are people leaving trash in the stairwell...also, I was on the top floor and omg carrying groceries suuuuuuuucked. haha.

It is an investment though. I totally freaked out about it for awhile but eventually I was over the apartment thing. Especially after they called the cops when we were playing Rock Band on NEW YEAR'S EVE! I mean, it wasn't even midnight yet! Sheesh.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

One of the good things about California is that smokers aren't permitted to do so in apartment buildings, or X feet within the building. Sometimes I still smell it outside, but at least it doesn't come inside!

Especially after they called the cops when we were playing Rock Band on NEW YEAR'S EVE! I mean, it wasn't even midnight yet! Sheesh.

Wow! Sheesh indeed. I do sleep before midnight, but on New Year's Eve I expect to be woken up!