My old real estate agent is claiming $297 in cleaning costs, $132 for general cleaning and $165 for carpet cleaning. Quite reasonable, until you realised I’d paid an end of lease cleaners $345 to do those things the day I moved out!
I moved out on the 4th January remember, and this has only come up as I’d initiated getting my bond (secuiry deposit for the non Aussies) back 10 days ago as they’d done nothing about it.
So I’ve got the cleaner sending me a receipt (I didn’t get one at the time), and the old real estate sending me the end of lease inspection report outlining all their issues with the place so I can go from there.
One of his comments was interesting, he claims he couldn’t see the lines in the carpet from the carpet cleaner, but I saw the guy actually doing the carpets. So it’s the marks they look for, not that they’re actually cleaned?
It’s most likely going to mean I need to pay the old real estate the $297 so I can get my bond back, and then chase the cleaners for compensation or a refund. Seems I might have been better off not getting it cleaned at all and then just paying the agent to have it cleaned by his people. What a waste of money.
Something to note for future reference though, get the real estates preferred cleaner to do the work next time so they’ll be happy with the results.
So that’s money that won’t be going to pay down debt or fund my emergency account this month…
Monday, 11 February 2008
Ongoing Moving Issues
Tuesday, 15 January 2008
I’m Back! So Are My Bills And Debts…
Well I’m all moved in to my new apartment, even though I’m still surrounded by boxes and the week long issues with phone and broadband connections have only just been resolved.
The move cost me an absolute fortune, and I’m glad it’s behind me so I can refocus on eliminating my seemingly ever increasing debt load.
The movers cost twice as much as I expected, pushing the total costs of the move up over the $2500 mark. One of the joys of being single with no family in the city to assist with the moving process. It’s amazing how your friends disappear into the woodwork when the moving word gets mentioned.
Unfortunately, due to lack of emergency funds almost all of this had to go on the credit cards so I've started the New Year more in debt than ever.
That said, I have a shiny new budget in hand, my envelopes at the ready and payday is today, so it’s time to focus on moving my finances to a better location, now I’m all moved myself.
Monday, 31 December 2007
The Move - 4 Days And Counting
I’m moving on Friday the 4th of January, so this years New Years festivities will be cancelled for me this year. I had two offers, one in the Blue Mountains, which would have been lovely, but would have meant virtually a whole day away from home when I need as much time as possible to sort and de-junk this place. I've been procrastinating badly the past few days due to the heat so really need to get stuck into it or I won’t be ready in time.
The other offer was for a party in Double Bay, with great Harbour views for the fireworks, but getting there and back tonight would have been a very costly nightmare, and would have also taken hours, and I’d rather put the money towards paying the movers and cleaners.
Moving is such a costly exercise. Sure you can save costs doing a lot of it yourself, but due to my circumstances I have to pay professionals to do pretty much all of it this time around, and to be honest, at this point I really see it as something I can throw money at to make the hassle go away.
I was expecting some cash at Christmas that didn't eventuate this year, which I shouldn't have counted on but I foolishly did. So the poor card is taking a beating until payday this month (and until I get my bond back from this place), but it has to be done, as I have to be out by the 7th.
Once I’m in the new place on Friday night though, let the frugality and debt reduction recommence in earnest. First thing will be to get my $1000 emergency fund fully restocked plus 10% (a total of $1100) so any future issues can be managed with cash.
I’ll celebrate my own personal New Years on Saturday the 5th, have my first guests over at the new place.
