adventures in real estate

SO and I went to a home open today, of one of the units we’d tagged as our next potential purchase.  We were all set; I had the camera, the map, a detailed list of the property’s features.  As usual, SO drove while I navigated.  It’s not far away, probably only took us about five minutes to get there.

Anyhow, when we arrived, we looked at the block of apartments, and looked at each other.  The best description I can give of the exterior is that it kind of looked like this, but in an apartment version.  The building was in what my mother would call, ‘a state of disrepair’, and hadn’t been painted in probably thirty years.  The gardens were comprised mostly of weeds and were badly overgrown.  There were assorted automobile wrecks around the grounds, abandoned kids’ trikes, etc.

We didn’t even bother getting out of the car.  We’ve got one unit which is in a poorly maintained building, and it’s the one property that we regret buying.  This is despite the fact that it pays for itself through the rent we get from it.

What we did do, is drive past the other property we were considering.  As they’re both in the same suburb, it wasn’t far away.  We couldn’t see the inside of the unit, but the outside was well maintained and generally much more appealing.  Also, the surrounding streets were much nicer and better-kept.  So at least we have one viable proposition on our hands.  We’ll be seeing it after work on Monday, so we should know by Tuesday if we’ll put in an offer or not.  Possibly even earlier, if we can get our act together.

I’m still not feeling that flash, health-wise.  I woke up today at 9am, did a few things – then slept from 10:30am until 2pm.  Now, I love my naps, but that’s not a nap.  That’s my body saying, ‘trying to fight this! taking too much out of me! need sleep!!’  SO’s concerned that it’s my depression, but I know it’s not.  I can tell because in my (few) waking hours, I’m thinking clearly, and I’m positive.  I just think it’s taking a pretty heavy toll on my system, that’s all.  Plus, the drugs I’m on (ciprofloxacin) are naaaasty.  Apparently, tendons snap like worn out elastic bands for those people who take it.  Both the pharmacist and the doctor warned me that if I felt any pains at all, particularly around my Achilles tendon, to get to the doctor’s immediately.  So yeah, the drugs are harsh too.

I have managed to do one productive thing today – I’ve ironed seven of SO’s work shirts.  Now I just have to tackle the other twenty.