Off to work to repair apartments which arises a question

[Bobtoad777]

Why do we when we live in an apartment or any rental unit from someoneelse treat it with such disrespect. For example the place I am working on now:


1 Bedroom, Full Bath, Living room, and Kitchen and dining Room. all with hardwood floors.

The tenant moved out after only 6 months wh have had to replace and repair over 3/4 of the hardwood floor due to water damage. We had to replace the bathtub, cause it was like he took a sledge hammer to it. There was at least 3 holes in gyproc in every room. Three windows were busted from the inside out.The glass in the oven part of the stove was busted out. The Washer machine was brand new a week before they moved in has huge dings in it and the agitator is cracked from top to bottom. That is just the major things tere is all the painting to be done once the repairs are made, and the varnishing the floor.

Why do we treat place we rent from with such disrespect, The more and more I do this sort of work, I find people have very little respect for things that are not theres. Was i Brought up wrong belieing that we are to respect everyones elses property and to treat it as well as our own?

 

[Guest]

Todd, I'm afraid I won't be able to help you on that one dear, for I have no idea. Any apt. I've ever lived in I've treated well. (I want that damn security deposit back when I leave a place! lol)

~Tiggs~
http://www.freebackgrounds.com/kit12.gif

 

[Ambrosious]

One of my favorite authors, Robert A. Heinlein once wrote that the decline of every society began with a decline in manners. Be it the way people treat public restrooms, or in the way they treat rental property, this shows a lack of respect for fellow humans and a total lack of manners. I also have rented in the past and always kept the inside and outside looking neat. When it looks horrible, it is a reflection of me, not the apartment complex.

I also wonder if there will be any responses where someone will admit to this type of behaviour or will they all be "Not me, I ALWAYS keep the place in good repair."

 

[CelestialBody]

 

[Bobtoad777]

thank you for the insights you have confirmed what was in the back of my mind.

As for those of you who leave place in good condition, on behalf of the maintenence men and restorers like myself, I thank you.

 

[R Nitelight]

If everyone left their apartments in good condition, wouldn't you be out of work?

 

[Ambrosious]

If everyone left their apartments in good condition, wouldn't you be out of work?

Now that's a good point. Everyone! Go destroy an apartment. Not your own of course.

 

[Bobtoad777]

i don't want them in perfect condition but I dont want to have to work for a month to repair a 4-6 room apartment. it would be nice to be able to go in touch up paint on the mopboard and doorframes and windows. clean the stoves and fridge and washer and dryers. shamppo the rug, sanitize the bathroom and be done in two-four days days to move unto another apartment.

 

[Weird Harold]

Why do we treat place we rent from with such disrespect, The more and more I do this sort of work, I find people have very little respect for things that are not theres. Was i Brought up wrong believing that we are to respect everyones elses property and to treat it as well as our own?

No, you weren't brought up wrong.

The damage you describe could be the result of a clumsy or absent minded tenant rather than malicious damage. I don't think the damage was a deliberate effort to damage others property. (I know one couple who were so pissed at their landlord that they deliberatley trashed the apartment when they left. The damage they did was far beyond what you described.)

I do think that the tenant(s) had a temper that was only barely controlled if at all. What you describe is typical of that caused by "temper tantrums" or "domestic disputes." The apartment was just an innocent bystander caught up in the tenants fights.

You didn't say where the holes in the wallboard were. If they were "doorknob holes" it might be the fault of a cheap landlord who didn't replace the stops, rather than intent on the part of the tenant. (A tenant who doesn't replace the door bumpers on his own, or at least notify the landlord they're missing is just as much at fault there.)

Having made excuses for thousands of tenants, I must say that people should take pride in where they live, whether they own or rent. There is a big difference between "fair wear and tear" over a long occupancy and major repairs after six months tenancy.

 

[Bobtoad777]

Why do we treat place we rent from with such disrespect, The more and more I do this sort of work, I find people have very little respect for things that are not theres. Was i Brought up wrong believing that we are to respect everyones elses property and to treat it as well as our own?

No, you weren't brought up wrong.

The damage you describe could be the result of a clumsy or absent minded tenant rather than malicious damage. I don't think the damage was a deliberate effort to damage others property. (I know one couple who were so pissed at their landlord that they deliberatley trashed the apartment when they left. The damage they did was far beyond what you described.)

I do think that the tenant(s) had a temper that was only barely controlled if at all. What you describe is typical of that caused by "temper tantrums" or "domestic disputes." The apartment was just an innocent bystander caught up in the tenants fights.

You didn't say where the holes in the wallboard were. If they were "doorknob holes" it might be the fault of a cheap landlord who didn't replace the stops, rather than intent on the part of the tenant. (A tenant who doesn't replace the door bumpers on his own, or at least notify the landlord they're missing is just as much at fault there.)

these were not door knob wholes these where boot holes, fist holes corner of beds, couches tables type holes anywheres from 8 inches of fthe floor to about a foot from the cieling ranging from the size of a fist to about a 2 large round pizza sized whole. BTW. all the door bumpers are firmly in place, in fact that was about the only parts of the wall that wasnt holey. infact from workign with just about every landlord in this town, my current job is with basically what most in the town and what I would call the best landlord in this town. he's a retired army guy and retired baptist pastor so discipline and honest in apartment readiness is in the forefront of every apartment he owns


Having made excuses for thousands of tenants, I must say that people should take pride in where they live, whether they own or rent. There is a big difference between "fair wear and tear" over a long occupancy and major repairs after six months tenancy.
[/B]

 

[NewEnglandBBW]

This makes me crazy too!

Why do we when we live in an apartment or any rental unit from someoneelse treat it with such disrespect

I've spent my whole 34 years in rented housing. As far back as I can remember, my dad was always telling us to be careful not to put big nails in the walls, or bang the walls so as to cause holes, etc...

The place I'm in now was a hell hole when I moved in. When I viewed it, the landlord was apologetic and begged us to use our imagination, because it was going to need some work.(which we offered to do in lieu of paying a security deposit). I too, don't understand what goes through the minds of others. I guess they just don't care.

On a similar note.. I have a roomate who thinks absolutely nothing of disrespecting my things in the house.. She lets food covered dishes sit in her room for weeks, spills coffee on the carpets, and a host of other just plain nasty things that I just can't mention (ok, ok, I'll mention...like using the toilet, not flushing, not washing her hands, then heading for the fridge!! ICK).

I guess some people are just pigs!! Oink Oink!! I hope it gets better for you bobtoad!!

NEBBW

 

[Wizard]

I just have to ask.........................What is a mop board?????????????????????? I don't think we have one............
Our mop is in the closet...................

 

[Bobtoad777]

mop board is the canadian name for that 10 in piece of base molding at the botom of the wall usually like 1 inch think , more muscully that just plane base molding

 

[Wizard]

AAAHHhwwww I was brought up calling them base boards.................I kinda thought thats what they might be.............................So now I know......

 

[Cyan BloodsBane]

Lost in thought

I am thinking that base boards are also universal...Duh typo's... And I am in canada and have done some construction and never heard of a mop board,.....(finish carpentery...) maybe it is a board with a mop attached to it... Who knows

 

[Bobtoad777]

Accroding to BobVilla and this old shack the difference between base molding and mop board is this:

~~Paraphrased~~

Base board is usually 1/4 inch think and about 2-3 inches high and goes around rooms with carpets or rugs

Mop Boards is usually 3/4 to 1 inch thick and abut 10 inches high with a decorative molding on the top. mop boardsusually go around wood floors and other bare floors.

the theoary behing a mop board is that when you mop that your mop will hit the mop board and not the wall paper at the area where the wall meets the floor. wiht 2-3 inch bass molding the mop could easily slap the wall ppare aboe a 2-3 inch hiehgt.

to me its all the same bade board, mopboard its just rim to finish off a room.

 

[Weird Harold]

these were not door knob wholes these were boot holes, fist holes corner of beds, couches tables type holes anywheres from 8 inches of fthe floor to about a foot from the cieling ranging from the size of a fist to about a 2 large round pizza sized whole

In other words Temper-Tantrum holes, or collateral dammage from things thrown at spouses. If it had been otherwise, you wouldn't have been so upset by the damage.

Like NEBBW said, some people are just pigs, and others are just clumsy. NOt a few are stupid as well.

 

[Bobtoad777]

If it had been clumsy ness it would have been nareavle but there is a difference between clumsy and intnetional, usually when your clumsy and its on an outside wall and its getting fol witht he inside vapor barrior beoken you usually tell the landlord/maintenacne person that you need some repairs, you don't let it buil up more and more damage. and the dude was living alone

 

[Merelan]

How did I know the difference before? Woah, scares me as to where I could have picked that bit of information up.

 

[Bobtoad777]

you mean you have heard of this before good I thought maybe BobVilla was pulling a joke on me

 

[Merelan]

Not this time love. But I must also say, I cannot make out whether I respect you for being strong enough to clean up the worst kinds of messes, or think you are a loon for doing it.