Viewing Rentals
Monday 17th August

It's 11am. I'm sitting in the car which is parked in the car park of a place on Wilmslow Road which I'm viewing to rent. It's halfway between Withington and Didsbury above a vet. Across the road is a used car sales business. The location is on the main bus route to the city meaning I'll be able to go out using public transport. Where I live at the moment housesitting a relatives' house is too far out to use the bus.

It's now 11:05am. I get out of the car and stand at the front of the property. Watching the goings on on Wilmslow Road and thinking how to promote my book better. I then consider how whether it's a waste of money renting here. Maybe I'm better housesitting at a relatives house, without the hassle of broken down appliances, problem neighbours, landlords. Ok I don't have my own place but does it really matter? I can just go out more instead. I could rent hotel rooms near the city for the odd night so I don't have to drive. Especially during the recession hotel rooms cost less.

At 11:15pm I go to the car. Put on the handsfree kit and call Lettsrent in Fallowfield.
Ring ring.
Paul: "Hello. This is Paul."
Me: "I had a viewing at 11am. Is anyone coming?"
Paul: "I only just got back in the office. I had trouble taking my BMW for a service. Do you want me to come or not?"
Me: "Ok."
Paul: "I can be there in 10 minutes."

Paul thinks that because he's showing people round he's better than them and they can wait. The only plus side is while I'm standing here I came up with a good idea to promote my book.

11:30am Paul arrives in a Renault people carrier. He notices I'm dressed smart and the kind of person he wants renting the place. He changes his tune.
Paul: "I'm very sorry. I had to drop off my BMW for a service. Then my satnav sent me to the BMW Mini garage. After that they couldn't get me a taxi back. I asked for a courtesy car. We had lots of viewings this morning and………"
Me: "Yeah yeah"
I don't want excuses. Show me the place.

Room 1 is small. I notice a second doorway.
Me: "Where does that door go?"
Paul: "The boiler is behind there."
Me: "The boiler for the whole building?"
Paul: "Yes. But boilers are made to run quiet nowadays I think."

Room 2
I go inside and there's a strange smell. I notice the gas mains. The whole room smells lightly of gas.
Me: "Is that the gas mains for the building?"
Paul: "Yes. It will be covered up when the place is refurbished though."

Room 3
Paul knocks on the door, then opens it with his big bunch of keys for all the properties he lets.
Paul: "There's someone still living here. They're due to move out on the 5th September."
Room 3 is a large room. It's the kind of room I'd like to rent to have a place near the city.

I leave and go to my car in the car park. It's a decent room but Paul could be too much of a wiseguy to rent off. He seems all talk, an excuse maker, who knows what he'll be like when a contract is signed.

I drive out of Manchester to Altrincham.

Later I speak to Jackson who has Paul as his landlord. Jackson says it took 3 months to fix his broken cooker and they tried to make him pay the previous person's telephone bill.

Even though. The place is low cost, it's in a good location and is a nice room. I'll consider it.


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