Friday, January 27, 2006
Disclosure - when? how far to go?
I believe in full disclosure when I am renting an apartment in the building. If someone asks me about noise I say Yes there is a certain amount of noise from above and then I add that is why we require 75% coverage by padding and carpet of the hardwood floors. Usually I will provide this information even if not asked.
If the apartment is facing the south then I tell them that storms track in from the south and it can sometimes get intense when you are on the sixth floor. If the windows are not tightly closed then water is going to come in. Very infrequently even if the window is tightly closed a little water may leak in.
I think disclosure is important besides being the ethical thing to do it preempts problems down the road. I know one person moved out because of noise. He claimed that the previous manager had said there is no noise coming from above.
But how far should disclosure go?
Lets take some hypothetical examples:
Should I mention that somebody was murdered in this apartment?
Should I say that there was a fire in this apartment?
I know if someone asks me a direct question I will truthfully answer but if they do not ask am I obligated to provide the information.
An incident happened today when for the second consecutive day the circuit breaker for an apartment was tripped. They had been using a hair dryer on a 20-amp circuit with a microwave and refrigerator on at the same time. I am certain I told them about the 20-amp circuit before they moved in but I am not sure if I discussed the implications.
If the apartment is facing the south then I tell them that storms track in from the south and it can sometimes get intense when you are on the sixth floor. If the windows are not tightly closed then water is going to come in. Very infrequently even if the window is tightly closed a little water may leak in.
I think disclosure is important besides being the ethical thing to do it preempts problems down the road. I know one person moved out because of noise. He claimed that the previous manager had said there is no noise coming from above.
But how far should disclosure go?
Lets take some hypothetical examples:
Should I mention that somebody was murdered in this apartment?
Should I say that there was a fire in this apartment?
I know if someone asks me a direct question I will truthfully answer but if they do not ask am I obligated to provide the information.
An incident happened today when for the second consecutive day the circuit breaker for an apartment was tripped. They had been using a hair dryer on a 20-amp circuit with a microwave and refrigerator on at the same time. I am certain I told them about the 20-amp circuit before they moved in but I am not sure if I discussed the implications.
Monday, January 23, 2006
Monday Mornings
Every Monday morning I clean the lobby, hallways and stairs of the building. I sweep the lobby of debris blown in by the wind or deposited by tenants as they come and go. The carpeted stairs are vacuumed, the carpet along the hallways are vacuumed. When I started this job two and half years I started this routine. The owner of the building always knows where to find me every Monday morning from eight to ten. Tenants tell me they find it comforting and reassuring to have me keep this regular rite on a Monday.
When I was first hired the owner asked me if I wanted to hire a cleaning service to do this job. I said no let me try it out for the first three months and then I can decide if I want someone else to do it. I found it useful to establish a relationship with the building.; It makes sure that at least once a week I check out the building. I go up on to the roof. I go to every hallway. I go to every landing on the fire escape. I know what is going on.
So this morning I was out early cleaning.
When I was first hired the owner asked me if I wanted to hire a cleaning service to do this job. I said no let me try it out for the first three months and then I can decide if I want someone else to do it. I found it useful to establish a relationship with the building.; It makes sure that at least once a week I check out the building. I go up on to the roof. I go to every hallway. I go to every landing on the fire escape. I know what is going on.
So this morning I was out early cleaning.
