Day 15 of house hunting. This is not going well.

"This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja:" (hkt00) 09/14/2020 at 17:55 • Filed to: Fuck this province.

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We’ve looked at around a dozen places in our price range . All but 2 were so bad I wouldn’t even send a dog there to die. U nlivable garbage. Found 2 that were decent . One said they would email us the application, didn’t, didn’t respond to our follow-up, then changed the ad to “rented”... The other was looking good until we sent in the application which they rejected because we have a cat. Would have saved a bunch of time had they mentioned that they wouldn’t allow pets in their ad.

This may become an issue as 99% of the available properties do not allow pets. The ones that do are so bad even a pack of angry dogs couldn’t make them any worse. I’ve had the cat for over 10 years, longer than my wife and I have been together. He’s not going anywhere, unless it’s with us. My stress level is rising though.

Got a bunch of stuff boxed up at least, so there’s that I guess. 45 days until everything goes in storage and we end up in a hotel. Or something.

FML

WasGTIthenGTOthenNOVAnowbacktoGTI > This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja: 09/14/2020 at 18:01

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I’m surprised you’re having trouble with a cat. Everywhere I’ve ever worked allows pets. Most have breed and weight restrictions on dogs, but not cats. A lot of Condos won’t allow pets, which isn’t super surprising thanks to HOAs.

Have you tried looking for a leasing agent that works at a brokerage? When I worked for a brokerage, our leasing devision was free to clients since we got paid out by the apartment complexes directly for finding tenants.

What type of price range are you looking in, and in what region?

CompactLuxuryFan > This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja: 09/14/2020 at 18:01

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45 days is pretty ample lead time for renting I think! Your property isn’t on the market yet, don’t despair!

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja: 09/14/2020 at 18:05

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that sucks man. Where in Metro Van are you looking? I can keep my eyes/ears peeled.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja: 09/14/2020 at 18:16

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Can you just stay where you are now and renew?

Svend > This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja: 09/14/2020 at 18:17

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Hang in there. Finding a house to rent can be a stressful nightmare, but keep your eyes peeled as sometimes great properties are just listed on a local level and don’t get the attention and exposure of bigger letting agents.

Ask your friends to keep an eye out for properties in their area (that you like) (the area, that is, but that also goes for how much you like that friend to want to live closer to them . Lol).

This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja: > WasGTIthenGTOthenNOVAnowbacktoGTI 09/14/2020 at 18:21

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The no pets thing seems to be the latest trend. 1 in 100 allow them, or at least don’t explicitly disallow them in their listing. I guess the market is such that they can find someone to rent to regardless of their stipulations. Not surprising considering how many people are living on the street. Beggars can’t be choosers after all.

Looking for a 2 bedroom for $1200-1400 or thereabouts. Even the most garbage apartment buildings here in town want closer to $1500 and I wouldn’t want to spend any appreciable amount of time in those buildings, so we’re sadly looking at a bunch of basement suites for the most part. People here build mansions then sub-divide the crap out of them so this shouldn’t be that difficult, or so I would have thought. Here we are though.

Haven't tried a leasing agent, but I might just give it a shot.

This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja: > CompactLuxuryFan 09/14/2020 at 18:23

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That’s the hope. I was keeping my fingers crossed to take possession of someplace by the 15th of this month , but that’s apparently not in the cards. With any luck the next few weeks will be fruitful, but we shall see

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 09/14/2020 at 18:28

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He got evicted 

This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja: > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever 09/14/2020 at 18:31

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I’d love to get out of Surrey but prices being what they are most of the offerings within comfortable reach are here. An ywhere though, Burnaby, Coquitlam, Van. Not that picky, my wife can drive to work in Burnaby if push comes to shove.

We looked at a place in East Van last week. Neighborhood was actually super nice but the house we were looking at was an absolute knock-down. Literally rotten to the core. I’m surprised it’s still standing and the neighbors haven’t forced them to knock it down and rebuild it.

I rented an entire 3 bedroom rancher with a 2 car garage for $1250 in 2010. I should have thrown my roommate out and stayed there... Though it was a pile as well. Now I can't even get a closet in a pile for that cost. Yeesh. Times is tough.

This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja: > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 09/14/2020 at 18:33

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Not an option unfortunately

https://oppositelock.kinja.com/lets-blow-the-roof-off-of-this-place-1844920938

This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja: > Svend 09/14/2020 at 18:35

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Gonna hang in there and keep my eyes peeled. M y wife and I have been scouring Craigslist and Facebook and anywhere else that might have local listings. Hopefully it will all pan out. Wife is getting super anxious though.

WasGTIthenGTOthenNOVAnowbacktoGTI > This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja: 09/14/2020 at 18:39

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What city do you live in? Here in MN, there’s basically nothing an apartment can do legally if the resident has paperwork showing the animal as being an emotional support.

For my business, I meet with a housing lawyer about once a year and it’s always the same story, it would cost a bazillion dollars to fight all the lawsuits if they decided to not allow emotional support animals.

If you do a leasing agent, ask them up front about costs. Some brokerages charge clients , others do not.

This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja: > WasGTIthenGTOthenNOVAnowbacktoGTI 09/14/2020 at 18:48

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Surrey BC. Half of these landlords don’t even follow the rules as it is so I’m not sure paperwork would get us in the door . Illegally built suites, fix nothing, demand the world. I’d probably be better off just not saying anything and move in with the cat then see how far they’re willing to press the issue.  

If I  had a dollar for every ad I’ve seen saying “girls only” or “P unjabi preferred” I’d have enough to cover the security deposit. Rules only apply to the have-nots it seems.

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja: 09/14/2020 at 18:55

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There’s always Chilliwack lol

jminer > This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja: 09/14/2020 at 19:02

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Good luck!

This is my worst nightmare too, we’re about to sell our house and move 2000 miles to rent somewhere.  I’ve not rented a place in 15 years...

This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja: > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever 09/14/2020 at 19:02

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Lol, at least I’d still have many Surrey-like stories to tell. The fuel costs would kill us though. I f I’m driving that far I’d probably miss the exit and, ahem, not realize it until Calgary.

onlytwowheels > This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja: 09/14/2020 at 19:04

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Have you tried Zumper?

https://www.zumper.com/apartments-for-rent/surrey-bc/cat-friendly?property-categories=house

Svend > This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja: 09/14/2020 at 19:04

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Do you have a news agents (sorry, newspaper shop, etc...) or community centre or community notice board you could look at? 

WasGTIthenGTOthenNOVAnowbacktoGTI > This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja: 09/14/2020 at 19:04

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Ah. Yikes.

This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja: > jminer 09/14/2020 at 19:06

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Thanks, and to you as well.

If only I could convince my wife to move to the east coast. I could buy a place cash. Instead we’ll stay here and go bankrupt  paying someone elses mortgage. Such is life I guess.

This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja: > onlytwowheels 09/14/2020 at 19:09

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I'd never heard of them but will have a look. Thanks for the heads up!

barnie > This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja: 09/14/2020 at 19:13

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Go to the n earest boatyard and look at boats. Power or sail. Lot of ‘em for sale and can be had cheap. Marina life is good for most folks. And no grass to mow! You won’t get any money out of it but it’ll be different.

Also, look at college rental boards. If you’re young and don’t mind some noise, these can be cheap and easy. 

jminer > This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja: 09/14/2020 at 19:15

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There is something to be said about high cost areas though and the options that a high population density place offers . I live in one of the cheapest places in the US (rural missouri) and am moving to one of the highest cost (SF Bay Area). We’re just not happy here anymore, doesn’t matter how cheap it is.

This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja: > Svend 09/14/2020 at 19:17

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Possible but I'm not certain. May check around, though l suspect that Craigslist has taken the place of bulletin boards for the most part.

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja: 09/14/2020 at 19:29

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“Punjabi preferred”

#Surreylife

This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja: > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever 09/14/2020 at 19:34

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Had a guy try and sweeten the deal by throwing in c able. He says: “It’s not basic cable either , we get all of the Punjabi channels. You can learn Punjabi! Hahaha”

*wipes a tear* ah, good times. We have fun.

Oh and w hen I say throw in I mean for an extra $100/mo. *Wipes another tear*

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja: 09/14/2020 at 19:46

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Ahhh, I see. Retaliation for not letting them break the law.

bison78 > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 09/14/2020 at 21:09

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Are you going to wait until the son *doesn’t* move in and then sue/complain?

If you can raise the funds, this would be a great time to buy. Interest rates at historic low levels. I do realize that buying is not an option for many people (I have two rental houses, so I rely on people not being able to buy in order to keep the rent coming in).

This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja: > bison78 09/14/2020 at 21:24

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If the son doesn’t move in they pay me 1 full years worth of rent, and a long time family friend lives in the unit across the hall so I’ll know.

The thing is though a year or two ago they threw out the tenant who lives in the basement suite of the home the landlord actually lives in s o their son could clean up his act there. Item #1 on the eviction notice says the landlord must act in good faith and this is anything but, however my wife doesn't want to fight it in arbitration, she just wants to leave. Given the chance though I'll legally bury the guy.

This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja: > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 09/14/2020 at 21:28

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Exactly. 100%. Over $65/mo.

Though they’ll bring in far more than that once their basement suite is empty and their kid moves here. They’ll probably charge double what I’m paying to live in their dungeon, if not more.

MiniGTI - now with XJ6 > This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja: 09/15/2020 at 00:03

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I get the impression Chicago must be one of the cheaper big cities, certainly less than either coast. 

This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja: > MiniGTI - now with XJ6 09/15/2020 at 00:25

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Probably, middle of the country and all. And kinda gutter  from what I hear.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja: 09/15/2020 at 01:34

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Renting with pets is the worst. I did it once and got a decent place that was quite expensive, but my cat had to go live with my parents when I moved to my following place because it was impossible to find one and I didn’t have a pet again until I got married . It’s ridiculous, because they can’t discriminate against kids, but they can against well-behaved pets.

MiniGTI - now with XJ6 > This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja: 09/15/2020 at 08:11

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Eh it just looks bad on the news, I like it pretty well. Best part is we’re still on COVID traffic; I can drive downtown at rush hour almost delay free.