Red Flag???

[Deleted]

I am at home now waiting for the movers (they just called to say they are an hour away) and the owner of the buillding I am moving into just called me.

Backstory :

He owns the building, he has his restaurant on the ground floor, and 2 apartments on each floor, so 4 apartments all together.

I was going to rent the apartment above the restaurant that faces main street. He just called me with a preposition; his sister is currently living above the apartment I am going to move into.

His sister want to swap with us, so she moves into my apartment and I move into hers on the third floor. He is saying that her apartment is larger and also nicer and wanted to know if we wanted to come see it now and make a decision.

I explained to him that I was in Poughkeepsie waiting on the movers and we would not be travelling to Oneonta till after the movers left and we were done cleaning our apartment; so well into this evening. He said that was ok, to just call him.

My wife had to go in to work so haven't passed it by her yet but a few alarms/red flag:
- His sister has a daughter (I met them, I am guessing 5-7 years old); why would you want to move into a smaller apartment that is not as nice?
- I am scheduled to move in tomorrow... will she have time to move from her apartment into mine and clean it?

When we first saw the apartment, he was honest and up front about his sister living upstairs with her daughter and she might make noises, etc. And that the tenant that was there had some issues with it since he worked nights and slept during the day. My wife and I both said it wouldn't be a problem since we would both be working during the day.

So the other side is I am thinking they would prefer for her to live on top of the restaurant this way they would not have to worry about her daughter running/disturbing the tenants downstairs.

But why today? Why now? They could have just showed us her apartment with the understanding that she would be moved to the second floor and we would be taking hers.

mmmmm.... and going up an extra flight of stairs lol! Yes I did mention before I was lazy.

He did say while the apartment was nicer/bigger; he wouldn't charge us more in rent. But I already called NYSEG to pu the electricty/gas under our name and Cable company coming tuesday to put in internet/cable. I guess those are easy fixes.

But the movers are expecting to go to the second floor, not third. Not sure how happy they would be about this (old building so no elevators).

[Works4me]

Did youask him any of your questions - can you?

Personally I prefer to be on the top floor with no one above me.

[Deleted]

you will want the top floor - especially with a kid running around.

[Deleted]

But I have a dog that loves to play fetch.

Also I was thinking with the second floor being on top of a restaurant, I can have friends over late and not worry about the neighbors downstairs or upstairs for that matter.

[Works4me]

I'd still go for the top floor. I would also call him back and ask why now? I would also ask about cleaning/moving etc. Certainly does throw a monkey wrench in things.

[Deleted]

May 31, 2012 11:34:59 GMT -5 Works4me said:

I'd still go for the top floor. I would also call him back and ask why now? I would also ask about cleaning/moving etc. Certainly does throw a monkey wrench in things.

OK. Movers are here

Waiting for my wife to call me and we will add him to the call.

Thanks guys and will keep you posted.

[8 Bit WWBG]

I know upstate NY gets a lot of snow, but the top floor could be a sauna in the summer.

Above a restaurant? I guess either way you will get smells. Is the building rock solid? I would imagine that you'd hear clanking and washing and appliances late into the night. You also might hear prep work being done early in the morning. Deliveries also come early in the morning so that could suck.

I agree that on the surface, it appears the sister is getting an inferior apartment, so whats in it for her? The LL isn't going to get higher rent either so there must be another factor.

Perhaps all will be revealed when you see the apartment. I agree also that your movers will deserve an extra large tip if they have to do extra stairs!

What kind of restaurant is it?

[Deleted]

I am feeling so guilty right now, 3/4 of my apartment is all packed up / loaded and I did not have to lift a finger.... And damn those guys are fast and efficient. I can get used to this

WBBG that is my question also, what is in it for her? Smaller apartment, not as nice... Why would she want it?

My wife is ok with considering it, so my MIL and I are going to see it tonight and decide.

So far I am still trying to figure out why? Besides maybe being on top of her brother restaurant ( so no worries about noise) and maybe less stairs to climb... I can't see it yet.

I don't think he would be offering me a nicer/bigger apartment out of the kindness of his heart.

[swamp]

He doesn't want to move his sister, the kid, and all their crap up another level, and his sister doesn't want to lug a kid up to the third floor. I don't blame her.

[Deleted]

May 31, 2012 13:22:55 GMT -5 swamp said:

He doesn't want to move his sister, the kid, and all their crap up another level, and his sister doesn't want to lug a kid up to the third floor. I don't blame her.

They are already living on the third floor so if we say yes he would have to move them to re second floor tonight! My movers are schedule to arrive at 9 am so she would need to be out by there.

Also yes 2nd floor is more accessible than third but would you move into an apartment that is not as nice and smaller for that?

[swamp]

May 31, 2012 13:40:04 GMT -5 TheHaitian said:

May 31, 2012 13:22:55 GMT -5 swamp said:

He doesn't want to move his sister, the kid, and all their crap up another level, and his sister doesn't want to lug a kid up to the third floor. I don't blame her.

They are already living on the third floor so if we say yes he would have to move them to re second floor tonight! My movers are schedule to arrive at 9 am so she would need to be out by there.

Also yes 2nd floor is more accessible than third but would you move into an apartment that is not as nice and smaller for that?

Ahh, gotcha.

You're rigth, he's pulling something over on you.

But I would move down a floor to a slightly smaller apt if I was living with a kid.

[Deleted]

And I am skeptical about the "bigger"
Statement. Her apartment is right above mine, so I would think exact same layout.

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

Maybe she's tired of hauling the kid up 3 flights of stairs. Maybe she's tired of hauling groceries up. Maybe the landlord is cutting her a break on the smaller apartment because she can't afford the one she's in now.

There are a dozen of reasons why they'd be moving. Wait until your wife sees the apartment to determine what you'll do. You do know that that's another flight of stairs. Heat rises, so it'll cost more to cool down. But you get rid of the noise.

[Peace Of Mind]

May 31, 2012 11:24:15 GMT -5 @moneyjenny82 said:

you will want the top floor - especially with a kid running around.

I concur! It sounds like a blessing unless it's too hot up there. Double check that out before you answer or make that a stipulation.

[bean29]

I do think that upper apts are generally larger than lower apts. I think b/c the space that is devoted to the rise of the staircase is not needed in the top floor. That said I don't think you are talking about a lot of extra square footage.

I don't know if I would want to live on the 3rd floor w/o elevator. Your groceries have to be carried up 3 flights. Yuck. We used to have a bi-level and the kitchen was upstairs. We had a great view to compensate though.

[Deleted]

I would be skeptical as well.

[Deleted]

I would be skeptical as well.

[Deleted]

I would be skeptical as well.

[Deleted]

Archie's doubly skeptical.

[Deleted]

Archie's doubly skeptical.

Even worse, he's triply skeptical.

I agree with him though.

[greenstone]

I would climb the stairs to the 3rd floor at least 3-4 times tonight. The extra space may not compensate for the extra stairs. That could get old really fast.

If the sister has been living in the apt for a while with a kid, there may be some cosmetic work need to be done. Is it nicer now or just has the potential to be nicer?

You mentioned the sister moving and cleaning in short amount of time, I think the cleaning may also be an issue. If it isn't move in ready you could negotiate $$ off you first months rent if you have to do extra cleaning when you move in.

[Deleted]

May 31, 2012 14:17:51 GMT -5 ArchietheDragon said:

I would be skeptical as well.

I am; I am of the school of thought if it sounds too good to be true than it is.

Bigger/nicer apartment for the same price as the other one. I am just thinking something just got to give

[8 Bit WWBG]

...:::"I would climb the stairs to the 3rd floor at least 3-4 times tonight. The extra space may not compensate for the extra stairs. That could get old really fast.":::...

Or, it'll keep his caboose in tip top shape.

[8 Bit WWBG]

...:::"Maybe the landlord is cutting her a break on the smaller apartment because she can't afford the one she's in now.":::...

I considered this, but it seems like the amount of money the LL gets in either case is the same. The only exception would be if she is going to start paying less, and he figures he can raise cawiau's rent and justify it that he gave him a bigger place.

[Deleted]

May 31, 2012 15:23:14 GMT -5 8 Bit WWBG said:

...:::"Maybe the landlord is cutting her a break on the smaller apartment because she can't afford the one she's in now.":::...

I considered this, but it seems like the amount of money the LL gets in either case is the same. The only exception would be if she is going to start paying less, and he figures he can raise cawiau's rent and justify it that he gave him a bigger place.

My rent is going to stay the same : $750/month.
That was one of is major selling points... I get a bigger/nicer place and my rent stay the same.

[8 Bit WWBG]

...:::"That was one of is major selling points... I get a bigger/nicer place and my rent stay the same.":::...

Bigger and nicer is very relative. He may think that 15% more square footage, and slightly newer paint and carpet is "bigger and nicer". You and your wife already think that a lack of granite/stainless/hardwood means a

[Deleted]

I'd worry about two issues. One is the cleaning. I don't think it can be cleaned to your wife's and your satisfaction in that short a time frame. I mean, the moving truck is already loaded. Don't they usually paint between tenants?

Second, the moving truck is already loaded. No, I'm not repeating myself. You have probably already figured out where everything is supposed to be unloaded. Don't take for granted that the third floor is exactly the same as the first.

[justme]

Maybe the landlord has listened to his sister bitching about having to walk up to the third floor for long enough that all he gets out of them switching is shutting his sister up. Or maybe she's impulsive or clueless and just realized the apartment with less stairs is open and asked him last minute to switch and because she's his sister he has to ask?

[GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl]

May 31, 2012 15:43:49 GMT -5 justme said:

Maybe the landlord has listened to his sister bitching about having to walk up to the third floor for long enough that all he gets out of them switching is shutting his sister up. Or maybe she's impulsive or clueless and just realized the apartment with less stairs is open and asked him last minute to switch and because she's his sister he has to ask?

Or maybe there is something wrong with the 3rd floor apartment and his sister went ballistic when she found out he wasn't finally moving her out of it down to the 2nd floor and now he's backtracking and trying to make sis happy without losing his new tenant.

(I'm in the "too good to be true" club -- card-carrying member, too! ;D)

[justme]

May 31, 2012 15:53:48 GMT -5 GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl said:

May 31, 2012 15:43:49 GMT -5 justme said:

Maybe the landlord has listened to his sister bitching about having to walk up to the third floor for long enough that all he gets out of them switching is shutting his sister up. Or maybe she's impulsive or clueless and just realized the apartment with less stairs is open and asked him last minute to switch and because she's his sister he has to ask?

Or maybe there is something wrong with the 3rd floor apartment and his sister went ballistic when she found out he wasn't finally moving her out of it down to the 2nd floor and now he's backtracking and trying to make sis happy without losing his new tenant.

(I'm in the "too good to be true" club -- card-carrying member, too! ;D)

True. It could still be nefarious. I just think that "what's in it for him" could very well be that the sister card was pulled and since she lives above where he works it'd be hard to avoid her. If the card was pulled, the question is still what for.