Friday the contracts arrived, and I got asked to drop off the deposit. I rang about the deposit bond I was arranging, but the lady I'd been dealing with was off, and so was her mobile that she'd left in case I rang... Later that afternoon, I got the call back, and we arranged that Monday she'd call me at work so we could go through the bond application, and the solicitor might be able to exchange on the fax confirmation, or at worst the thing would arrive the following day.
This morning, I heard nothing until the solicitor rang, all concerned that I was using a deposit bond instead of paying the deposit. I was sure I'd told them I'd be doing it, because I intend to use the First Home Owners Grant as part of my 5%, but it wasn't in their notes, so apparently I didn't. That meant they had to go back to the other solicitor and get the OK for the bond. Wasn't sure how much that would hold them up, but it got sorted before lunch and I filled out the application for the 10% bond they insisted on, instead of the 5 I thought I'd already negotiated. Oh well. Another $250 odd gone. Money's running like water at this stage... Not much you can do, because if I raise the money myself I'll be dipping into credit to cover the amount of the grant, and that'll end up costing more.
So, with all that organised today, the contracts are probably being exchanged tomorrow, once the bond arrives at the solicitor. Learning heaps about all the things they never mention you should think about. Am also having fun going through magazines for decorating ideas (even though himself thinks I should wait until I'm in there. Heck, I'm having FUN, so why not do it now!?! It's not as though I'll be able to do anything about any of them for a few years anyway!)
Next step, once I get the settlement date I'm going to go to the rental tribunal and ask them about ruling on letting me stay where I am until then, so I don't have to find another place for only 3 or 4 weeks. After 6 years, and having been told (by phone) that I'm being kicked out because I took them to the tribunal when they did wrong by me last time they put the rent up (for new readers, they sent notice to a street address that gets stuff stolen from it regularly, and then didn't follow up for 6 months until there was a big backlog I suddenly had to pay. The kicker is, all this time they were sending their newsletter to the PO box I'd given them because of the problem) I don't think I'm asking too much - especially since there's not anybody else lined up to come in. I've been told that if I just don't hand the keys in, it'll take 3 weeks for a tribunal hearing which will give me the time I need, but I want to do it above board.
At home, sorting through my stuff with the "Getting things done" method from the book I got, I'm really starting to see daylight. The piles of paper did cover the lounge, I'm down to less than a quarter of that and it should be done entirely and up to date within the week, even with me back at work full time. The packing's also progressing nicely and I've got so many boxes all over the place that it's a bit of an obstacle course now!!! Hey, maybe I should use that and try to negotiate it at speed for my weight loss...
At work, it looks like someone finally got on my side and has kicked up enough of a fuss that I'm going to get a decent size monitor on a rental basis until the requested one comes through, which they say is March 10. Read, probably at least a couple weeks after that, but I can FINALLY be productive again in the meantime!!! I'm working with a lovely lady who started today, who'll be a big help on catching things up, and the doctor will be watching over my picking up the PC work again, to make sure I don't end up back on the painkillers. With my normal work being 100% computer based, it might take a little bit to get back up to it, considering I've been straining my eyes struggling to keep working on a too small screen since early November, but I'm just glad I'm going to be able to get back in harness.
Anyway, in a nutshell things are starting to look up, and it's going to be interesting where things go from here...
Crystal
Monday, 13 February 2006
Monday, 6 February 2006
Where did the week go???
I was sure I'd posted something this last week, but suppose it has been pretty hectic. I blinked. Sorry.
I've been through the contract - it was held up for most of the week waiting for the owners to check when they'd be able to move into their retirement trust. Saturday I found out not this month. The real estate agent is bound and determined not to let me stay a day after the 28th February, and if contracts exchange this week, it won't be for another 6 that I get to shift, so it looks as though I'm going to be floating for about 3 or 4 weeks, depending when the exchange happens.
Actually, when I rang the agent to ask about why I had to go, she let on that the owner's not moving back at all, but is renovating to re-let at a higher price. Hmm. Can tell he's not seen the state of this market, but anyway. She seemed to enjoy telling me that if I hadn't made such a fuss about the last rent increase, it might be different. The fuss I made was over the fact that they posted the last increase to my letterbox which they KNOW gets stuff stolen from it, hence my PO box - the one they routinely send newsletters to - and then didn't follow up until 4 months later when there was a backlog (it took 4 phone calls where they told me I was behind before they looked into it, despite me insisting I couldn't be because I have an automatic payment set up. Then they found that it started falling behind at the last increase I never knew about. Oh, and this during a period when rental prices FELL, but suddenly I had to cough up a back payment? I even let them out of giving me the full notice period I had the right to, just to compromise and get the matter settled, but for all that they've had it in for me. I have one accident trying to fix something on the blinds that I'm told would normally have broken 3 or 4 in a 6 year period (first one) and ask that they fix it, and lo and behold, the DAY BEFORE CHRISTMAS I'm sent a notice telling me to get out instead. Of course, with Christmas being over a weekend, and all the public holidays, it was the day after my Jan 3 birthday before I got it, but hey, you get that. Happy new year.
The funniest bit is, when I rang them today to see if there was any way I could arrange the extra time, even if it involved upping the rent for those few weeks, I was put on hold. Their corporate jingle came on, which started telling me how they specialise in building relationships with people. Yeah, right! I had a good laugh at that one.
This is turning into a bit of a rant, I know, but I had to let steam off. It's annoying the heck out of me that they are treating me this badly, and forcing me into this impossible position. So, in a nutshell, the contract is waiting for their solicitor, then we arrange exchange. Meanwhile I find a new home for my birds, who the strata apparently don't allow in the building, and pack madly. I'm having fun trying to find storage, too - it's all full right now apparently. Work's still held up on getting my monitor fixed, so I'm not able to do my job there, which adds to the frustration when people come up and ask for stuff I can't do, but there's nothing I can do about that but wait and do as much as I can with pen and paper (amazing how you take a keyboard and screen for granted).
What doesn't kill me, makes me stronger. I keep telling myself that. Two months from now, this will all be just a memory, and what doesn't kill me, makes me stronger. I hope.
I've been through the contract - it was held up for most of the week waiting for the owners to check when they'd be able to move into their retirement trust. Saturday I found out not this month. The real estate agent is bound and determined not to let me stay a day after the 28th February, and if contracts exchange this week, it won't be for another 6 that I get to shift, so it looks as though I'm going to be floating for about 3 or 4 weeks, depending when the exchange happens.
Actually, when I rang the agent to ask about why I had to go, she let on that the owner's not moving back at all, but is renovating to re-let at a higher price. Hmm. Can tell he's not seen the state of this market, but anyway. She seemed to enjoy telling me that if I hadn't made such a fuss about the last rent increase, it might be different. The fuss I made was over the fact that they posted the last increase to my letterbox which they KNOW gets stuff stolen from it, hence my PO box - the one they routinely send newsletters to - and then didn't follow up until 4 months later when there was a backlog (it took 4 phone calls where they told me I was behind before they looked into it, despite me insisting I couldn't be because I have an automatic payment set up. Then they found that it started falling behind at the last increase I never knew about. Oh, and this during a period when rental prices FELL, but suddenly I had to cough up a back payment? I even let them out of giving me the full notice period I had the right to, just to compromise and get the matter settled, but for all that they've had it in for me. I have one accident trying to fix something on the blinds that I'm told would normally have broken 3 or 4 in a 6 year period (first one) and ask that they fix it, and lo and behold, the DAY BEFORE CHRISTMAS I'm sent a notice telling me to get out instead. Of course, with Christmas being over a weekend, and all the public holidays, it was the day after my Jan 3 birthday before I got it, but hey, you get that. Happy new year.
The funniest bit is, when I rang them today to see if there was any way I could arrange the extra time, even if it involved upping the rent for those few weeks, I was put on hold. Their corporate jingle came on, which started telling me how they specialise in building relationships with people. Yeah, right! I had a good laugh at that one.
This is turning into a bit of a rant, I know, but I had to let steam off. It's annoying the heck out of me that they are treating me this badly, and forcing me into this impossible position. So, in a nutshell, the contract is waiting for their solicitor, then we arrange exchange. Meanwhile I find a new home for my birds, who the strata apparently don't allow in the building, and pack madly. I'm having fun trying to find storage, too - it's all full right now apparently. Work's still held up on getting my monitor fixed, so I'm not able to do my job there, which adds to the frustration when people come up and ask for stuff I can't do, but there's nothing I can do about that but wait and do as much as I can with pen and paper (amazing how you take a keyboard and screen for granted).
What doesn't kill me, makes me stronger. I keep telling myself that. Two months from now, this will all be just a memory, and what doesn't kill me, makes me stronger. I hope.
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