June 22, 2009
On moving
Somehow, time seems to have gotten away from me. Last post, 8th April? Two months? Has it really been so long?
In my defense, it's been a busy time. Lots to do at work, and also lots of rental apartment hunting, followed by moving, followed by sorting out the infrastructure in the new place. On the subject of moving ....
I'm somewhat wary of drawing attention to my previous diatribe on London Estate Agents, as this year I realised I was cheerfully giving out an email address that led them straight to an incentive to screw up my move (london_estate_agents_are_scum@andrewsavory.com? estate_agents_die_die_die@andrewsavory.com?). But some parts of the recent experience I had just beg to be documented. Next year I'll have to register estateagentsaretotallywonderfulandterrificallyspecial.com, or some abbreviation thereof. Suggestions welcomed.
Last year, I saw an awful lot of properties as I narrowed down the area to live in and the exact requirements. Typically, three or four places a night. This year, I was lucky if I saw three or four places a week. The market is very strange at the moment - everyone currently renting seems to be staying put, and there's very few new properties coming on to the rental market as buy-to-let sales collapse almost as fast as the banks' profits. Sadly, any drop in prices due to the recession seems to be as frequently offset by the rise in prices due to lack of supply.
Anyway, from the ones that we did see, some highlights include:
- A "balcony" that was actually a strip of fenced-off roof accessed through a window. It was a new property, and the agent said "they forgot to put doors instead of a window". More likely, they failed to get planning permission, since they "forgot" the doors on two flats side-by-side.
- A property being refurbished that had a bathroom "retiled to a high standard", that came replete with wall-to-wall mould (presumably lovingly regrown in record time after the tiling?)
- My personal favourite estate agent, who when questioned about the large amount of black fur on the floor, swore there were no previous tenants with pets.
- The same agent, when questioned about the large damp patch and water stains in one corner of the ceiling and down one wall, guaranteed there were no problems with the roof and no leaks.
- The property with "rear garden" that was actually astroturf.
- The elegant, space-saving, "kitchen in a corridor" - is it a kitchidor or a corrichen?
- The flat viewed twice, each viewing a month apart (in case it was judged too harshly first time), that was missing a patio door to the balcony both times it was viewed, and the agent that could not guarantee the door would be fitted before a move-in date a few weeks later. When I say missing - this brand new fourth-floor apartment on a windy street had a piece of plywood propped up against it.
- The minimalist art student pad that consisted of a bed, a bar, and unopened packets of condoms all over the floor.
- The property that we put an offer on, only to find that another agent had already let it out.
- The property with the heating cranked to maximum and no visible thermometer (despite three people searching until we had to leave lest we suffer from heat exhaustion)
Anyway. New place found, after much stress, and some more colourful stories of London Agents to discuss over beers.
