A month after writing --Have You Ever--rented a place sight unseen. I am still in the apartment with a beautiful view and my studio apartment is still undergoing repairs.
Yesterday the owner told me I should be able to move into it today. It was still a mess, with painters, cleaning ladies and the owner trying to make the swamp look nice.
The fridge is a nasty looking thing with splotches of rust. I asked the owner if she would like it in her house. Oh, no, we are moving that to a different apartment. That's nice move it away but don't get rid of it.
I then told her the cleaning ladies didn't have to make the bed because I wanted to spray it with Lysol before I moved in. That's when I almost threw-up. When I lifted back the sheets there was one of those rotting, moldy, foam pads with so much nasty hair and other things. I dropped it and told her there was no way in hell I would ever sleep on that. Oh, we were going to replace all of that.
Then the cushions for the dinning room chairs all had holes in them. I stuck my finger in one hole and it was so rotten it shredded. Oh, we are getting new covers and pads for the chairs.
Well, today, the day I am to move--no one has arrived and it's not going to happen.
I can't wait to see what it looks like on moving day.
The manager of the apartments told me to get mean and if I didn't like something, tell them I wanted my deposit back. This had worked for the last renter and she ended up with a lovely apartment.
I wonder how mean I can get?
By the way this building is only one year old. It has amazing art work on every wall. Gorgeous Mexican ceramics here and there. I believe I am suppose to just look at the pretties and not see the other nasty stuff.
I guess I'll just have to go to the beach and enjoy my wonderful life, as it is today.

Have You Ever?

Sept. 2010

Have you ever rented an apartment or house sight unseen in a foreign country? Well, I did! Was I thrilled or disappointed??? I’m not sure yet.

I arrived in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico a tourist city that I know quite well. I had rented this apartment after searching Craigslist and seeing how expensive rent had become since my last visit. It looked lovely and had a small pool right out of my front door. The price was right, and the location was okay. It was the swimming pool that sold me on it. I called the realtor, made my deposit and arrived.

I was met by the owner and realtor who told me there was a small problem with my apartment. However, not to worry they would give me a nicer, bigger apartment for the same price. It seems that the apartment that I had rented had a small problem. It now had water running down the walls, yes, running down the walls. Their small problem, is a huge problem. This had been going on for a month, and they rented it anyway. What were they thinking? The entire city has a huge problem with excess rain, and now mold. The elegant apartment they gave me also has a small problem, mold.

Yesterday I was one unhappy woman, today things are brighter. I purchased several cans of Lysol spray, and it at least smells better. When will they have my apartment ready for me???? Oh, maybe in November or December. I have to laugh because otherwise I’d cry. Oh, one other small detail, it is located on a hill that you have to be a mountain goat to climb. I guess I will get in good shape and hope the goats like me. Truthfully, there are goats, tame goats, a block below me.

My lesson of the years is: never rent or buy anything sight unseen.