Have to move

[Brenda]

It wasn't that long ago when we faced this similar dilemma. We moved from a horrible neighbourhood to where we are now and it just isn't working out for us - we as a family are doing well, but the landlord is less than appropriate (comes into our home whenever he pleases - whether we're home or not, he's dodging bill collectors - we get them in the mail here all the time, surprised us today with an open house when we were told it was supposed to be next week). Just not a happy situation. The stress from it all is out of this world.

God has a plan for us - Please pray that we'll find suitable arrangements befre the snow flies and that it won't "rock the boat" too much.

Brenda

[Brooke]

I'll be praying for your family....for housing and for the boat's stability while being rocked again :wink: .

[becky]

Oh, Brenda, does your post bring back bad memories.
My mom had rented a farmhouse for 21 years. She was an immaculate housekeeper, handled things without bothering the landlord. One day there's a guy outside taking pictures. We called the landlord, and here the house had been put up for sale. Mom left right away, but I stayed one more year. I had to tolerate buyers coming in, making comments. A couple, who eventually bought the farm, came every weekend to see it, would look in the windows and stayed for four hours at a time. It was a giant interruption.
These landlords... some are real scum.
You do know that you can demand 24 hours notice before someone looks at the house? You're on nightshift, right? So was I at the time.
You can also get extensions to stay there, if you have to. Found all this out first hand, my friend.
Another thing about when my mom moved- she rented another house from the creeps who wronged her the first time. They would drive past there on their way to the senior swim class they attended, and they would actually go into mom's house using their extra key- to use her bathroom!!! The man would actually leave the seat up. What gall.

[Brooke]

Wow, Brenda...I'm speechless....and as my mom says, "that don't happen often!" :o

[Brenda]

I was so wound for sound when he came to the house the other day and told us about the open house the next day! I was in the midst of opening boxes from the last move (we hadn't unpacked everything waiting to see what was going to happen, but there is a family here who lost absolutely everything they owned when their house burned to the ground last week, so I was cheerfully going throught the stuff we don't use anymore to see what I could send along to these people to help them in a tough time). Boxes were everywhere and I didn't kill myself yesterday trying to put them away - I'm all done with that game.

When the real estate agent showed up, she looked somewhat surprsed that we were still home and asked if we knew about the open house (I don't think she expected the answer she got, but none the less, she was told about the misinformation we got and didn't insist that we leave - which was a good thing because I had no plans on leaving yesterday - I was in a desperate stubborn streak at the time).

So while we're here, I'm changing all the locks and I will find a way to secure the basement door so that our landlord can't walk in at will. If we were going to stay I would even have a security system installed - something that rings LOUD and long when it is set and someone comes in anyway. It's kind of mean spirited in a way, but very frustrating on our end. We have a lot of stuff here - some of which we really can't afford to replace if someone decided to pick up and walk away with it. And the bottom line is that I shouldn't have to worry about who is going to use a jacknife to enter my home while we are out (I may pursue that one with the police or the rentalsman).

What is even more disturbing (to me anyway) - God please forgive me for saying this is this is a man who claims to be a Christian - his behaviours are not that of someone who is walking with the Lord - we had been warned by many people prior to moving in here that he "hides behind his religion" - We gave him the benefit of the doubt and I still want to believe that he is a decent person, but it gets harder and harder each day (especailly when the bills he's running from keep piling up in our mail box). I packed them all up in a LARGE brown envelope one day (about the fourth time he appeared on the door step to collect his mail) but this time I put a change of address form from the post office in the envelope - thought he might get the blunt hint - guess not. Now when there is a phone number from the sender (or even a name) I call them and give them a new address. I'm sure he loves me for it (NOT) but oh well! That or I'll either return to sender or throw it all in the garbage (which might be what he wants).

I don't work nights all the time, but when I do that's a concern to me - when I lay down for sleep am I going to wake up to him staring at me or what? Mom was upset about the same thing. I think the solution there is to have all the locks changed. Maybe the people who looked at the house yesterday won't like it enought to buy it and maybe we won't have to move, but I don't like the way the landlord operates and I would sooner get out of this mess altogether.

My ears are fine tuned to hearing God's will in this,
Brenda

[abcTammy]

Oh, I hope and pray you find a new home soon. Your safety and sanity will be worth the effort.
Tammy

[KrisRV]

Bremda, I hope and pray you and your family find the right home for you all before the snow flys. I use to be a apartment manger in Wisconsin for a few years and by state law the owner or anyone couldn't come into the house with 24 hour notice. I would check with a lawyer before I rent somelthing else. You can usually call a lawyer and they will tell you right on the phone with no charge. I would check that out. I think he is breaking some laws and there not good. I wish you all best luck.

Kris TX :lol:

[Mom2ampm]

I would go crazy thinking this nut might come in at any time. I sure hope things either improve or you're able to find just the right home for you and your family!

[becky]

You can also call the Board of Realators(sp?) to see what your rights are. Don't mention you address, landlord's name or any of that. Keep it real generic and they'll help you out.
That's where I got all my information. As a matter of fact, the people were quite upset at how we were being treated by agents and some buyers.
You can also call the police when you need to. I spoke to the state police when the people who bought our house wouldn't leave- they sat in the lane looking in the windows as they passed by. Those people would have been escorted off the property and followed as they left. State police's words.

[becky]

By the way, don't be bullied by agents, either.
One agent came to our house and he tried to turn the knob to open the door.When I stopped him by opening it, he says 'You're not supposed to be here!'
I explained I was told he'd be there tomorrow, not today.
He had a buyer with him and he says ' Well since we're here already you'll let us in?
This isn't her fault' He was referring to the buyer, making it sound like I was doing her wrong somehow.
That was the last straw, and that's when I made sure what my rights were.
I demanded 24 hours notice,and that meant 24 hours from the phone call, not simply sometime the next day. If that time wasn't convenient, they had to reschedule by my convenience. If something unusual came up, like my son being ill or whatever, I kept the right to refuse to let someone in. I also made it clear to the agent and our landlord that I would call the cops if anyone got overbearing.
I might sound here like I was being rude, but I wasn't. If you've never rented you can't imagine how deceitful some landlords can be. Agents are the same way, some, because they are looking forward to that percentage. The tenant does not matter most times.

[Brenda]

Well, these people are about to see another side of me... I got a message on my answering machine last night(at 8:30) that one of the couples who looked at the house last weekend wants to come back and look again TODAY at 11:45 AM. By my calculations that's not even 24 hours notice! You would think that the landlord would at least call back to make sure I got the message. I could tell him I didn't get a message and he couldn't prove that I did or didn't (but that would be dishonest).

I was so mad when I got the message. I had half a mind to crawl back in to bed as they were coming and tell them that I worked all night (not allowing them to look) but that would be a bold face lie and I can't do it (what an example that wouldn't be for the boys). Our landlord is supposed to be stopping by sometime this morning (got that in the message too last night) and he is going to hear all about how impressed I am (NOT).

I was up early this morning making the house look presentable (it was until Christian emptied every corner in his room - and looks like his dresser and closet too with clothes to be washed :shock: ). Oh well! I'm so disgusted and I don't care anymore.

God wants our family somewhere else for different reasons (the deceptive landlord is probably a big part of it). We're actively looking for something and we have a couple homes to go look at...

Brenda

[becky]

Brenda, you're a better person than I. Your landlord is playing you with this short notice. I would gently tell him you must have no less than exactly 24 hours notice. And you can turn them away at the door. You're the tenant and you have rights.

[Brenda]

I didn't lie... I wouldn't stoop to his level.

When Noah was being assessed the other day by a doctor, I was asked if he was spiteful or vindictive and I said no - he isn't. But I laughed and said "No, that's me sometimes" (doesn't this sound promising).

The agent showed up at 11:45 to tell us that the couple wouldn't be here until 2:00. Oh well. They did show up and they were here before the agent showed up so I gave them our name and phone number and asked them to call us before they did anything with a bid on the house. DH thought I was trying to inhibit a sale. I'm not. If these people want to buy the house (and they are certainly interested), I wish them all the luck in the world, but I don't want to see them get the bad end of the deal.

I told the lady that when the house was originally listed he was asking $85,000 and jacked the price up to $95,000. The house isn't worth either price (they somehow found out that the house was appraised at $71,000 and were planning to bid $80,000 - that's still too much and I told her that). They also discovered today that the septic system is no good for nothing (I'd love to know where they're getting the information - whoever told them this is very accurate) and has to be replaced.

Nasty maybe... I might be struck dead for it, but I don't want to see anyone get the bad end of a deal and to pay what he was originally asking would have done that.

I also made sure the agent has our phone number. I told her that when someone wants to come look at the house in the future, she needs to call us as well as our lanlord and that we require AT LEAST 24 hours notice. I told her that with anything less than 24 hours notice they wouldn't be coming in - no if's, and's or but's about it. I told her that I work shift work and that I also work nights. I told her that I could have been working a night shift last night and if I was I wouldn't have gotten out of bed for anyone - especially not for some strangers to walk through and look at the house. I'm not sure she was happy about that, but that's too bad for them.

Now I need to hit my knees and pray for forgiveness...That was nasty on my part and probably not very Christ like (that was the other side of me - very nice other side of me I will say).

Brenda

[becky]

The good thing here is, when you guys go to look at places you'll be kind. I always made sure to thank whoever, every time we saw a house.
Nothing beats the house we looked at that was divided into apartments- the kids in the upstairs apartment had a python loose !!!

[Brenda]

URGENT PRAYER REQUEST

Well, I got that infamous voice mail again tonight... The house is sold! Chester said the people want to move in as soon as possible - he fails to realize that he has to give us at least one months notice.

We did find a home that is large enough for all of us, BUT the couple who own it are firends of ours from church and they don't rent to family or firends. She did say we could buy it (but wouldn't give a price - she said "make me an offer") and the flip side of that is that we may not qualify for a mortgage...

When will it ever end????? Please pray that we would indeed qualify for a mortgage - I don't think they're asking too much for the house - they just want to be rid of it. Not a bad place just a lot of uncertainty - people moving in and out all the time because they don't pay rent on time, etc...
Brenda

[becky]

Brenda, maybe it's different in Canada.
I didn't realize that's where you are .
When we went through this we were told we had to be given 30-90 days, and then we could petition for more time if we needed it.

I know you want away from this place, but you need to do what you need to do.
I'll be praying..

[Brenda]

PRAISE THE LORD

I qualify for a mortgage (without DH's name because his credit is horrible). Anyway, I need to ask his mother to co-sign for one year and then we're sailing!!

Would you pray that she would be receptive to this. I think she will - she has co-signed in the past and she knows the situation we're in right now.

Thank you,
Brenda

(Sorry, I'm so excited right now - I was so upset on the weekend because of the whole situation and now I see light at the end of the tunnel!)

[Brooke]

Whehoo!!!! I'm so glad for you! I've been praying for ya!

[Brenda]

Going to sign the papers today for the mortgage. We made an offer on a house last week and it was accepted. I'm so excited. Dread the idea of another move, but this one is the last one we'll have to do until God tells us to do something different :)

Brenda

[Brenda]

Long story short, we've been getting the run around for a month now from the broker (who I was dumb enough to call about the mortgage) and the closing date we had given will be here and gone (this Tuesday) and we still don't have the mortgage finalized.

We have been looking for an apartment or a house to rent in the meantime becuase I'm about ready to throw the towel in and say forget it - it just isn't worth the turmoil we've been through.

We're pushing our luck and staying where we are for as long as we possibly can, but we soon have to leave (by the way, our landlord lied when he sold the house - it hasn't sold and the couple who was supposed to move in has decided not to for whatever reason).

Brenda

[Brooke]

Just some encouragement (hopefully :D ).....when we bought our first house it took forever for the underwriters to get their stuff done. We had Rural Development and First Time Homebuyers to deal with. We applied in May and closed in July :shock: . We went nuts waiting and almost gave up, too. If you are a bit more patient (and it sounds like you have a bit of extra time) then it might pay off. I'll pray again about this for you! :D

[Brenda]

I can't believe I'm saying it, but I'm at a point where I just don't care anymore. I have finally given it all to God to handle (I think in hind sight I was trying to handle some if not much of it on my own). If it's meant to be, it will happen, if not, God will show us where he wants us to be.

And since giving it to Him, I'm so at ease (like I was last year when I made the decision to home school Andrew after so much turmoil).

Brenda

[Brenda]

After the longest month of my life, I now have the financial commitment papers in my hand!!! And we'll be moving this weekend! I'm so excited

Thank you all for your prayers - God has answered them - wish I would have given it all to Him sooner than I finally did.

Brenda

[Anne]

I am so happy for you, Brenda!!!!! What a wonderful blessing! :D

[Brooke]

I'm so excited, too!!!!!!!! I've been praying for you so much that this just encourages my soul, girl! Thanks for sharing with us!!!!

[Brenda]

WE ARE MOVED AND ALMOST UNPACKED! YIPPEE!!!!!!!

Thank you all for your prayers. God has been so good to us :D

In Him,
Brenda

[blessedmom]

Brenda,
Congratulations on your new home! I'm very excited and happy for you. Have fun unpacking :). God is so good (that's my youngest (3yo) son's favorite song)!