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March 13, 2007
Villain in Wonderland
J and I went to see our first apartment yesterday in Revere Beach, one stop in from the end of the blue line and "Wonderland" (only in the most surreal way possible...) We aren't moving until September, but this listing was available then and sounded like gold: hardwood, beach view, 3 bedrooms, a backyard... We took the T out to see it and the further and further we got from the city, the more it became apparent that something was not right. Past the airport things went from scummy to roach-y and by the time that we met "Larry the Landlord" (yes that is actually what he called himself!!) it had all gone to hell. Pretty much everything in the ad was a total lie and he managed to be so disgusting and unprofessional that I wondered who he thought he was fooling. I mean, telling prospective clients about how you lied to your tenants and are not renewing their lease? Doing your LAUNDRY RIGHT IN FRONT OF US??? He also mentioned how his "assistant" likes to take showers in his office when he thinks Larry doesn't know. "Oh, but I know. I always know." That because of the secret web cam you set up in there, slimeball?
And, as we were scurrying away as fast as our little legs could take us, I spied a used condom in the ratty yard that he was so proud of. See you later, Larry the Landlord.
Posted by loyd0008 at March 13, 2007 10:18 AM
Comments
Oh. My. God.
:O
Posted by: bani at March 13, 2007 11:13 AM
Hang in there! I had similar experiences when moving to New York. My first apartment turned out to have bed bugs and a landlord who refused to hire an exterminator. Be persistent, buy a map, and get real familiar with the true boundaries of neighborhoods - it will save you a lot of time running to misrepresented listings
Posted by: Notamermaid at March 15, 2007 08:34 AM
Please - do not live anywhere near Revere Beach. In fact, avoid the entire Blue Line if possible. Sure, it's cheaper out there, but you will certainly get hepatitis from stepping on a needle on that beach that is so lovingly mentioned in the add - I wish that were hyperbole! Jamaica Plain, Cambridge, Somerville - those are the places you want to look!
Posted by: librarianonfire at March 15, 2007 08:15 PM
Oh yes indeed. We learned our lesson big time. I think we are going to stick to Cambridge, though we certainly would not rule out an awesome place in another area. It just helps to put some constraints on it to begin. We talked briefly to a realtor and he suggested that the real hunt will probably start no earlier than July. There are some nice beach spots *somewhere* though, aren't there???
Posted by: villain at March 15, 2007 09:36 PM