procrastination

[jaeclectic]

I managed to be so busy, crazed, tired, et cetera over the past couple of weeks that I slipped all the way up to the deadline for renewing my lease. I did go see a couple of places last weekend and the weekend before, so I have a little data to work from, but I hadn't yet gotten back to the property management person to dicker about the rent increase.

Mind you, the lease is not actually up until the end of July, they just have this rule that they want the leases renewed 2 months in advance -- and they only do year leases, never switch to month-to-month. Very convenient for them, extremely inconvenient for the tenants. So on one level I don't feel bad about pressing the limits of their arbitrary system, but I do feel like I've put myself one-down in the negotiation process by not being more on top of things. And, you know, I can't quite get over having that "oh no I'm late!" reaction.

Bottom line: Even if they refuse to negotiate, I'll probably just stay here, simply because moving right now on top of everything else would be kind of masochistic. It's not that I won't be able to pay the rent, I just feel like I ought to be saving more -- and that this place, cool as it is, also has some drawbacks -- and really isn't worth what they're charging for it.

Anyway, just now sent an email asking if the increase is negotiable. I didn't state a specific figure that I was willing to pay, but I did point out that while the property management guy had said "the owners want a rent increase around 3%", the actual dollar amount of the increase was 4%. So, we shall see. At least I've tried...


Update: just got a call from the property mgmt guy. He offered a slight reduction in the increase (that sounds rather oxymoronic, but you know what I mean). Of course, I should have been prepared with some dollar amount in mind, and of course I wasn't because I just didn't really want to be having the conversation at all, and am no good at dickering anyway, and procrastination applies to thinking about things as well as concrete actions.

Anyway, I told him I'd think about it. But in truth, unless something dramatic happens between now and Tuesday (when they require an answer), I'll just take it. And try to spin it positively in my own mind, that at least I negotiated that tiny, itsy-bitsy bit.

And then I'll have a year to think about what I really want to do next. But I don't think it will be staying here.

Addendum: Talking to this guy really makes me cranky. It's like insta-grouchy. Now trying to shake off mood and get back to enjoying my rather aimless Saturday.

Comments

[angel-boi.livejournal.com]

And, you know, I can't quite get over having that "oh no I'm late!" reaction.

*snicker* good luck!

[bulieb.livejournal.com]

Don't stress yourself out about not moving. I did the same thing last year (and also had to sign up for another full year, no month to month -- so uncivilized). I was annoyed with myself at the time but now that I'm actually moving I realize that there was no way I could have pulled it off last year. It's a massive pain in the ass to move. With a new job and accompanying stress/getting settled in you'd probably make yourself crazy with moving on top of it. Think of it this way: if you had REALLY wanted to move, you would have done it, right? If you put it off it was because you only sort of wanted to move. ;) I mean, you obviously REALLY wanted a new job, and so you made that happen -- that's much harder than moving. Plus -- your place is soooo cool.

[jafitz.livejournal.com]

Yeah, the timing is such that I'm better off just staying put -- and I definitely had mixed feelings about the idea of leaving this place -- and I haven't been here long enough to forget exactly how much work it is to move and get settled again. I know I could pull it off, the question is why I would want to inflict that on myself right now (and then maybe end up doing the same again next year, since there are so many variables that I can't quite predict right now). So it's all for the best. And I can spend the next year or so thinking deep thoughts about where I really want to live, whether I should try to buy, etc.

[jafitz.livejournal.com]

Are you laughing at me, or with me? ;)

(Thanks for the good wishes, in any case :)