Moving to a new rented apartment seemed like it was a simple and straightforward procedure. You merely had to take care of the rent, the documentation, collect the keys and then move in. Nevertheless, as usual, life, in its unique way, was teaching its lessons, and this my rental experience became an unexpected home renovation adventure.
With a two-week delay in processing the paperwork, I was finally handed the keys to my new place. I was thrilled with the packing of all my personal things and the moving truck at the ready. Then the second and very essential time I checked out the flat hit me like a ton of bricks.
On the walls were the stories of the former tenants, and not the nice ones. Their surfaces were covered with marks and stains so that, even if you tried to be very optimistic, you still wouldn't be able to look away from them. But then again that was not all. Basically, the catastrophic event was the bathroom hiding with the plumbing that looked like it was from the ancient times. They had installed pipes so tiny for their water drainage system that I could have compared it to trying to empty my shower sink with a drinking straw.
Though the building looks fine and nice outside, the internal part was screaming out for help. It seemed like the compound had been completely neglected by the passage of time, with everything around in the late stages of both growth and abandonment. The last tenant, in my opinion, was very lazy when it came to maintenance matters.
The situation, which at the beginning was seen as just a move, later on, changed into a mini renovation project. It became a must to repaint the living room, bedrooms, and kitchen. They also added plumbing repairs to the list. The cleaning of the compound made me an unplanned landscaper.
These unplanned expenses were irritating more because they were upgrades to somebody else's property. Every paint and every new pipe made me feel like it was money that should have been used for a permanent home instead of a temporary living space.
The worst part was that these issues were completely hidden from us during the initial viewing. My rent negotiation would have gone in a completely different direction if they were there. It felt as if a small electric shock was sent to me just to remind me that in some cases what looks like a good deal can still have some hidden price tags.
This became the main reason for me to complete my personal building project. In the end, I realized that there was no point in pouring money into the improvement of a rental when I could be investing in my own home.
If anyone is thinking about renting an apartment for living, I will impart to you the wisdom I gathered the hard way: It's not just about looking at the surface. Test the plumbing, look at the walls closely, and think about what is needed to make the space truly livable. The real cost of renting is oftentimes much higher than the monthly payment.
The positive thing in the story is that this ordeal was an absolute signal to take my own building project seriously. Although it might seem like just throwing money into someone else's pocket if I fix up this apartment, I am certain that this will be the last time I make this mistake.
Sometimes the most expensive lessons are the ones we learn the hard way. Nevertheless, they are also the ones etched deep in our memories.
Posted Using INLEO