Oh good grief, seriously?!!?!

IrishDreamer · July 2011

Okay,

SOOOOO, today is a clusterf*ck of a day, and I doubt I will get anything other than subbilling done today.

BF asked me to look into what our rent for our apartment would be if we went month-to-month.

I emailed our leasing agent, and she finally got back to me. She said $595 is the current market rate, and that month-to-month would be $20 more than that. Which would put rent at $615. I emailed back that that wasn't bad at all, and I would let her know, seeing as how that was our rent currently since we had originally signed a 6-month lease. She then emailed me back saying that no, since we signed a 6-month lease the market rate would be $615, and then add the $20 on top of that.

I am beyond pissed. There is no way in sh!t that I am paying almost $700 (internet has to be included as part of their package.. they have a monopoly on it or some BS) for a ONE bedroom apartment!! My apartment is small - and honestly, is one of the nicer ones in the area, but good grief, Charlie Brown.

Am I wrong in thinking this is shysty sh!t? At this point, I'm ready to move back in with BF's mom and dad and say the hell with it... UGH!

CCO2012 · July 2011

I pay $650 a month for our 2 bedroom... There is no way I would pay more than $600 a month for a one bedroom!

loves2shop4shoes · July 2011

Lol....FI and I pay $1200/month for our one bedroom...

swhite2012 · July 2011

That sound pretty good to me...lol. We were just recently up for lease renewal. We have been paying 750 per month and they are asking 880 for next year!!! For a 700 sq ft one bedroom. With no utilities or cable/internet included. It pisses me off, but I really love our place so we are sucking it up, and going to have to pinch some pennies. So 635 a month sounds pretty good to me

I guess it's all about perspective. Sorry you have to deal with it though. I hate renting and all the drama that it brings about.

CASK85 · July 2011

It seems shitty. . .

Your rent now is $615? Will ~$75/month more break the bank for you guys? If so, I'd say look for a different place.

I used to pay $880 a month for a studio. . . . so it could be worse :-P Of course that is the joy of living in a big city.

IrishDreamer · July 2011

For the 1 bedroom it is normally $595 - but since we signed a six month lease, they said that we would be charged $20 extra, which was fine and we understood, at least I did. (We own several rental properties at work, and so i figured going into it it would be a little more).

I just can't see spending $700 when that is almost half of my mom's mortgage payment on her 4 bedroom house.... No way!

AudgiePodge · July 2011

I guess it all depends oh the cost of living where you live. When ExH and I first got married, we had a one bedroom apartment for $975 a month. It wasn't too bad for the area.

kaitlynmichelle · July 2011

BF and I pay $850 a month for our basement, one bedroom apartment. That does include internet, cable, heat and water. The condition of the apartment is not great.

IrishDreamer · July 2011

Holy sh!t guys!! I don't know if I could ever pay that much for a one bedroom!!

It's not even the money really, it's more that they are being screwy with the pricing. First telling me one thing, then saying another - i don't like that shady stuff.

Shoes...I think I would die...

Cschiano, yeah - i suppose that's the benefit of living in a smaller city ...I shall count my blessings in that aspect.

bethsmiles · July 2011

I pay about $1000 a month for my one bedroom apartment. So $700 sounds fantastic to me.

csousa1 · July 2011

BF and I pay $850 for a 2-bedroom with nothing included. That is CHEAP for MA.

But that really isn't the point. The point is that she told you one thing, and when you verified it and she saw a loophole to charge you more, she did. That is certainly sheisty, and I would call her on it.

Beads921 · July 2011

In this area, $700 will get you a crappy 1 bedroom (not including internet or utilities). A decent 1 bedroom is around $800 or more. I'd be stoked to get good housing for less than $700/month.

Honestly, I don't think the price difference is that significant - $75 or so. If you're tight for cash, OK, but otherwise, I'd probably suck it up.

IrishDreamer · July 2011

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_oh-good-grief-seriously?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:136Discussion:b7712864-514d-4cbe-8ad2-fec0da3eaaa9Post:cf510e0d-cfdf-4636-a059-89c3f94a1d23">Re: Oh good grief, seriously?!!?!</a>:
[QUOTE]BF and I pay $850 for a 2-bedroom with nothing included. That is CHEAP for MA. But that really isn't the point. The point is that she told you one thing, and when you verified it and she saw a loophole to charge you more, she did. That is certainly sheisty, and I would call her on it.
Posted by csousa1[/QUOTE]

Yep - that's what I'm saying!

I've got a message in to the manager and am waiting for a call back, but he doesn't really like me, so we shall see lol... I'm just fed up with people today.

Swazzle · July 2011

I pay $1200 a month for a 1 bedroom apartment as well, no utilities included... I would jump at $700 or even $1000, but in my area that's not possible unless I want to fear for my life on a daily basis.

ETA That's really odd to me that your rent would go up almost $100 just to go month to month. Maybe she was just confused??

IrishDreamer · July 2011

The money isn't the point - it's more the shady-ness behind what she said, and then when she thought she could get more money out of us, she said something different.

lennonkdc · July 2011

BF and I pay (well, he pays till I am employed again) $675 for a 1100 sq ft two bedroom bottom half of a house with 2 off street parking spots, free washer/dryer, back yard, cable (incld HBO) and internet included. Also our land lady brews her own beer, so we get a 6 pack every month or so. I don;t mean to sound bratty, I only AW this situation for 2 reasons: 1) at our last place our apt neighbor murdered someone; 2) we hunted for about 6-9 weeks on craigs list and tracked down every possible lead for a good place and didn't settle. When we first saw our current place we were in love, but thought that it was out of our price range, but then the LL mentioned the free cable and internet (not mentioned in the ad) and we were sold. I'm not saying that every listing on CL's was a gem (most were far from it) but if you take your time and look, and think out side the box I'm sure you will defiantly find an awesome place.

Also, could you sign another 6 month lease with your current place to keep your rent the same while giving you plenty of time to look for a new place?

AudgiePodge · July 2011

Most places that offer shorter leases less than a year cost more per month. And month-to-month after that depends on the rate you were paying. It is possible that she thought you had a year lease until you mentioned you had a six month lease, so she gave you the correct rate after. While she shouldn't have assumed you had a year lease automatically, she didn't do anything wrong with telling you the correct rate for the month-to-month for the 6 month lease.

Elle1036 · July 2011

Isn't it funny how perceptions of "expensive" rent vary from place to place? I mean, it makes sense, but I still find it funny.

I do hate the way apartment communties nickel and dime their residents, no matter what the "market rent" is.

IrishDreamer · July 2011

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_oh-good-grief-seriously?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:136Discussion:b7712864-514d-4cbe-8ad2-fec0da3eaaa9Post:7499c918-1bc9-4584-b7a3-c0a655dad2a8">Re: Oh good grief, seriously?!!?!</a>:
[QUOTE]BF and I pay (well, he pays till I am employed again) $675 for a 1100 sq ft two bedroom bottom half of a house with 2 off street parking spots, free washer/dryer, back yard, cable (incld HBO) and internet included. Also our land lady brews her own beer, so we get a 6 pack every month or so. I don;t mean to sound bratty, I only AW this situation for 2 reasons: 1) at our last place our apt neighbor murdered someone; 2) we hunted for about 6-9 weeks on craigs list and tracked down every possible lead for a good place and didn't settle. When we first saw our current place we were in love, but thought that it was out of our price range, but then the LL mentioned the free cable and internet (not mentioned in the ad) and we were sold. I'm not saying that every listing on CL's was a gem (most were far from it) but if you take your time and look, and think out side the box I'm sure you will defiantly find an awesome place.<strong> Also, could you sign another 6 month lease with your current place to keep your rent the same while giving you plenty of time to look for a new place?</strong>
Posted by lennonkdc[/QUOTE]

We live in one of the best (safest/cleanest/quiet) apartments in the area. We understand this, and know that for what we are paying - it's not that bad. BF is just tired of dealing with their BS. This isn't the first time they've been shady (telling me they serviced my dryer/washer when clearly they didn't and I had to have them come out three more times), and it's just getting old. They realize they are a decent complex, and exploit that a little bit i think. BF is waiting to hear from the manager, so we shall see...but he has no patience anymore...so he may just say Eff it, and we move back in with his parents...which wouldn't be completely terrible, just...complicated...until we figure out what to do. BF doesn't want to give them any more money.

IrishDreamer · July 2011

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_oh-good-grief-seriously?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:136Discussion:b7712864-514d-4cbe-8ad2-fec0da3eaaa9Post:d1eb66d6-0f4d-4f7c-b727-3fff3441a515">Re: Oh good grief, seriously?!!?!</a>:
[QUOTE]Most places that offer shorter leases less than a year cost more per month. And month-to-month after that depends on the rate you were paying. It is possible that she thought you had a year lease until you mentioned you had a six month lease, so she gave you the correct rate after. While she shouldn't have assumed you had a year lease automatically, she didn't do anything wrong with telling you the correct rate for the month-to-month for the 6 month lease.
Posted by AudgiePodge[/QUOTE]

I thought this too, at first, but she was the one who signed our lease - and she knows me very well. She also never once mentioned that it depends on what rate you signed. She said that it is based on current market rate of $595. Additional $20 to go month to month. That's what made me a little wary of the whole thing. She specified numbers...not generalisations

swhite2012 · July 2011

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_oh-good-grief-seriously?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:136Discussion:b7712864-514d-4cbe-8ad2-fec0da3eaaa9Post:6d100e2a-9cdf-4240-b68d-5847a1b7f3b1">Re: Oh good grief, seriously?!!?!</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Oh good grief, seriously?!!?! : I thought this too, at first, but she was the one who signed our lease - and she knows me very well. She also never once mentioned that it depends on what rate you signed. She said that it is based on current market rate of $595. Additional $20 to go month to month. That's what made me a little wary of the whole thing. She specified numbers...not generalisations
Posted by IrishDreamer[/QUOTE]

<div>What I don't get is why the current market rate changed because you currently have a 6 month lease as opposed to 12. I thought current market rate was how much the apartment is worth at that moment. How would your lease length affect that?</div>

IrishDreamer · July 2011

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_oh-good-grief-seriously?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:136Discussion:b7712864-514d-4cbe-8ad2-fec0da3eaaa9Post:1c5e4c2d-5745-4741-96db-530e062bb1ec">Re: Oh good grief, seriously?!!?!</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Oh good grief, seriously?!!?! : What I don't get is why the current market rate changed because you currently have a 6 month lease as opposed to 12. I thought current market rate was how much the apartment is worth at that moment. How would your lease length affect that?
Posted by swhite2012[/QUOTE]

Exactly... I have no friggin idea.

Elle1036 · July 2011

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_oh-good-grief-seriously?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:136Discussion:b7712864-514d-4cbe-8ad2-fec0da3eaaa9Post:1c5e4c2d-5745-4741-96db-530e062bb1ec">Re: Oh good grief, seriously?!!?!</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Oh good grief, seriously?!!?! : What I don't get is why the current market rate changed because you currently have a 6 month lease as opposed to 12. I thought current market rate was how much the apartment is worth at that moment. How would your lease length affect that?
Posted by swhite2012[/QUOTE]

That part actually makes sense. Whenever a tennant moves out of a unit, it costs the landlord a significant amount between the costs of any needed cleaning or repairs and rent lost while the place is vacant. Longer leases are cheaper because they're better, financially, for the owner.

Still, though, I don't feel like month-to-month rent should be different for different tennants.

alanna91 · July 2011

I would take $700/month in a heartbeat. Around here, apartments that cheap are crapolla holes. You have to pay at least $1000 for something decent

BUT that's here in MA with one of the highest cost of living in the country, so I'm not sure how things are in Michigan. If she originally quoted you lower though, tell her that's the offer you'll accept! Put yo' foot down girl!

Also, I definitely loled at your term "shysty sh!t". It definitely seems like it if she's changing the prices like that on you.

lunarsongbird · July 2011

Yeah- Andrew and I were paying $1250 for a 575 st. ft. studio in California. Arg.
Cost of Living is awful.

But you're in a very different place...so I could see $700 being kinda steep.

wink0erin · July 2011

I currently pay $675 for a NIIIICE 2 BR apartment.

Oh how I enjoy the low cost of living here

OP: I think the month to month rent should be the same for each tennant, changing it based on your original lease (12 mo or 6 mo) is BS in my opinion. I don't really understand why it would be different.

kellylove22 · July 2011

Push the manager on that increase, you might get something in return. This year our rent was set to go up $35 a month and bf complained and complained (the place isn't worth the current price, you took too long to make x,y, and z change) and we got $400 off our rent for Aug if we accepted the price increase. As a note, the total yearly price increase is $420 so we'll be paying all of $20 more for the next year.

If there's any barganing chips you can offer (mention that you always pay on time, etc etc) or if you can give them a ballpark of how long you may stay (without committing to anything), it might help you keep the place at the rate you want. Good luck.

peekaboo2011 · July 2011

FI and I used to pay $580 for a ghetto apartment. Seriously, it was section 8 housing.

I looked into an apartment around where we are now, and rent is a lovely $1200 for a piece of crap apartment in the Hood. I don't even want to know what rent IN DC is like.

I'd be throwing a fit if I were you. I'd have marched down to the office right then and there and called her on it. That's bait and switch, and that's illegal.

tafft1 · July 2011

Our rent is $1500 for a 1 bedroom 628 sq foot apartment and pay for all utilities and extra for washer/druyer and our pets..i'd kill for that low of rent lol. We are thankfully moving but it still will be abpit $1150. This place is way overpriced because of all the condos in our area ugh..and yeah it's a gem of a place..just read my yelp review lol.
http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-groves-at-dublin-ranch-dublin

Peaseblossom55 · July 2011

NJ is insanely expensive for rent. I own but the BF pays about $1200 for a one bedroom in central NJ. An ok place. I went to grad school 04'-05' at West Virginia University. My rent on my 1 bedroom apartment was $340 it included no utilities but it was in a decent area. I was so shocked at the rent prices down there. It is interesting how much it variees. I love the show House Hunters and it's so interesting to see how much houses are worth in different areas of the country.

lavenderfields13 · July 2011

This is what makes me want to live somewhere other than MA! Especially Boston- super expensive. I agree with Elle-it's crazy how what's 'expensive' varies so much across the country.

Oh good grief, seriously?!!?!

Re: Oh good grief, seriously?!!?!

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