out of clutter find simplicity July 8, 2008
Posted by deepali in happiness, personal growth, travel.trackback
Lately I’ve been pondering my forthcoming flight from this city, and what that means in more practical terms. Specifically, what I am going to do about the place I live, about my rental property, about all my stuff.
In the past year or so, I’ve decluttered to some extent, but I’ve also picked up some new items. The difference this time is that the new items are essential and thought-out – they weren’t impulse buys to sit in a box for years.
As the pile of stuff dwindles, I find myself with fewer things to worry about. More importantly, I find that I worry about more important things. Without a car, I don’t fret about car repairs. This leaves me more time to spend on interpersonal repairs.
Last year, when I had plumbing issues in the condo, I found that I spent a lot of time dealing with that issue, to the detriment of my work commitments. As someone who always has too much on her plate, this type of distraction can be very devastating.
I would love to sell the condo, but this is not a good time. So for now, I’m hoping to find renters who would do a 2-year lease. I’m willing to lower the price and lose any profit in the hopes of reducing some stress and hassle in my life. I would set up a system whereby they could handle maintenance issues and I would be billed directly (or they could take it out of the rent). In this way, I hope to find a little more simplicity.
Another thing I’ve discovered lately about simplicity is that it means that everything doesn’t need my full attention all the time. I have learned to prioritize, mostly based on deadlines. This means that even though I will want to sell furniture, I don’t need to worry about that immediately. It is freeing to put that at the very bottom of my to-do list.
My life will never be simple, in terms of what I do and what I want to do. But it can be simple in terms of where I focus my attention.
I have to tell you that although renting my condo was easy 90% of the time, the other 10% was hell. When things go wrong, plumbing or whatever, you are ultimately responsible as a landlord. I just could not deal with the fact that my renter was counting on me! If I were living there with the AC broken it would be ok, but knowing that she was paying rent and probably annoyed at me…ugh! I just could not deal! I’m sure that says more about me than about being a landlord, but, either way my place is one the market…
I don’t know if I could handle being a landlord from another city…good luck!
@ Michelle – I feel exactly the same way. I could do with a broken toilet (there are two), but I couldn’t let my tenants put up with that. So then you hire a plumber to do what you could really do yourself… eventually.
@ SavingDiva – Try being a landlord from another country!
My suggestion, fwiw: Hire a property management agency. They’ll handle the 10% of hell, as Michelle called it, in real time and just ask for your approval on things. Also, don’t undercut the rent. Do a one-year lease and tell the tenant, as they near the one-year mark, if they’ll stay another year, you won’t raise the rent. This is the tightest rental mark in the country, so you shouldn’t have a problem finding a tenant. The D.C. area has a 3%-4% vacancy rate, which is way below the national average of 10% or higher in some cities.
I own a townhouse with a little garden and garage and have rented it out mostly hassle-free for nearly 12 years. I do a comprehensive interior paint job every 2 years. As for plumbing and electricity repairs, I established relationships with a plumber and electrician whom I trust. They go out and fix what has to be fixed without me having to inspect anything. Not the problem or the solution.
Hell is selecting a bad tenant who does not pay on time and getting him or them off the premises. Ask for references and check the references. Also act on your gut-feel. And do the selecting timeously and not at the last moment. Meet 8 or 10 couples. This is time well spent.
With a bit of planning you can simplify your life. Do not put off thinking about how to do it. Preventative action will simplify things nicely.
@ Janet – some good advice, thanks! My issue with signing a 1-year lease and then waiting is that DC is so transient. People often can’t stay past a year, so I’d like to get it sorted out ahead of time. But good to know on the vacancy rate! I am making sure that the rent covers the mortgage, etc, and a little leftover for maintenance. I don’t need to make a profit, that can happen later.
@ Albert – And a bad tenant is my worst nightmare! I’ve actually been renting it for the past year and I must have met about 3 dozen people. Some people you get that gut feeling about, you know? I’m glad I didn’t go with the first person who wanted it, because my current tenants are really amazing.
Seems like you found clarity. That’s beautiful. Sometimes, when faced with the simplest of things, you find yourself appreciating life a little more.
I love simplicity. Every summer before heading back for the fall semester I have a trash party where I get rid of old papers, things I have collected, etc…it is an awesome thing to whittle four boxes down to two.
Hmmm…I read your blog regularly and just happen to be moving to DC in October and looking for a place! Keep us all updated on your plans to rent. Maybe one of your trusted readers can become your trusted renter!
Liked your last line of the blog. Good insights.