Navan House

We've now been settled into our new abode for about a week and the verdict is in. I've gotten two thumbs up from my wife and a plethora of dolphin chirps from RJ. I did well this time.

As with my last experience securing Irish housing, this one was fraught with many stumbling blocks. Having been through the experience once already though, I was much better prepared to take on the challenge.

Our home-for-a-month has 4 bedrooms, has a garden in back (see picture below), and is well decorated. On top of that, it is actually cheaper than my apartment on the North side of Dublin (I still have to pay rent there, too). However, it is a 30-40 minute drive to work in the morning. I can't complain, though. At home, my commute is one hour each way. I'vegotten spoiled the last few months with my Dublin apartment being a 5-minute walk to work.


So now I get to see my family for 7 weeks straight. What a concept! I love getting home and spending time with Beth and RJ. We put RJ to bed a little later because the sun sets at 10pm. He doesn't like to go to bed when it's still light out (yet he has no problem sleeping-in in the morning).

Mostly, I'm glad that this time I got the dwelling space right. My apartment isn't a good fit for a family of three (or two even). I guess there's hope for me yet.

Outside the Signal

It's been a hectic week getting the family settled in our temporary abode for the next month. We've rented a flat (townhouse in American lingo) about a half hour northwest of Dublin. So far, so good. Beth is much happier with this choice than my choice regarding apartments. Granted, I still have the apartment, too, but use it mostlly as a place to keep my work clothes. I drive in, park the car in my apartment parking space, change into my suit, then walk over to the hotel where I'm working.

Unfortunately, I'm outside of the wireless signals that I'm accustomed to and thus may not have much time over the next month to update. I'll try to keep up to speed by doing 3-4 blogs a week. We bought Beth a wireless internet connection (and local cell phone) on a pay-as-you-go basis and should be able to write the blogs up on my computer, then post them from hers. Or I might write them up at night, then post them from work first thing in the morning. Either way, it's not as easy for me to post as it was before.

This past weekend RJ and I had a Daddy-Son Day and drove up to Kingscourt (County Cavan). I forgot my camera, so you get no pictures. It is a nice little town that has a Nature Preserve nearby. The Nature Preserve is beautiful, but it was not made for strollers and 17-month olds. Lots of hills and rocky paths. I did get some good exercise pushing the stroller up steep grade paths, but RJ didn't get as much exercise as I did. The paths were narrow and careened into a river valley below. I thought it best not to let him run loose. The few places where RJ could get out and run around were still hilly. He's mastered running down hill, but not up hill. So, no matter where I parked the stroller, as he ran we kept getting further away from it.

Irish Hospitality

Since my apartment in Ireland is unacceptable to my wife (it is small and falling apart), I've been hunting for a place for us to stay when she comes over in a couple of weeks. I had found a place up in Navan that seemed pretty decent, but the people who were renting it out seemed a little dodgy. So I went up to Navan to get everything straightened out.

I have spent a couple of weekends looking and finally settled on the place earlier this week. I called up one of the ladies that was renting the place (two sisters rent it out) and I agreed on 750 Euro for the month that we'll be staying there. As I was confirming the price and the dates via email, I got a text that it was actually 800 Euro for the month. Dodgy. I didn't see the text until after I'd sent off the email, so I waited to see what the response was be email.

This morning I got an email back from them confirming the 800 Euro and a different address than the one that I saw. Dodgy. So I called them back and she laughed when she realized that she gave the wrong address (her address, not the rental address, which happens to be on the same street). Then I asked about the 800 Euro and it was explained to me that this was the price that I was presented when I saw the place two weeks ago. It could be, but I don't remember. Under the guise of going up to pay the deposit, I decided that I wanted to go up and meet these people, because I wasn't sure that I trusted them. If it still felt dodgy after meeting them, I would have left without paying the deposit.

After meeting the two sisters for half an hour, I decided to pay the deposit. Half an hour later, I was invited over to their other house for tea. Two other sisters joined us there and the hospitality was wonderful. Very nice ladies. It turns out that their family owned all the property that the subdivision was built on, so they have a couple of houses in the subdivision. One of them owns a golf course and offered up a free round of golf. They even offered to lend us their SatNav while we were renting from them. Good people, great hospitality!

How I Love Renting!

Not.

Freaking water pump for the water heater keeps going off every 10 seconds - it's loud and annoying. The front panel falls off the dishwasher that the landlord just installed every time you open it. The freaking handles on just about every door are at risk of falling off when you open them. One toilet doesn't work.

Last Saturday he said he'd have somebody come over Monday or Tuesday. Nobody has come. I don't have time for this crap.

I've talked to a couple of the other expatriates that are over here. They're having similar issues. One guy has a toilet seat that's not even attached to his toilet. For the walk through the landlord just had it setting on top of the toilet. Another guy had the hot water break the second day he was in the apartment.

I'm a little upset with the support that I got from my company when trying to find an apartment. I haven't rented an apartment this millennium - I'm a little out of practice. A little help would have been nice.

Looks like I'll be calling the landlord again.

Nothing Like A Cold Shower To Get You Over Jet Lag

I learned an important lesson today about my new apartment: There are two switches on the heating controls - one for the heating and one for the water heater. I turned both of them off prior to my trip home for the weekend thinking that I was turning only the heat off.

My plane landed at 8am local time and I got back to my apartment at about 9am (yeah, I'm pretty close to the airport). Wanting to wash the travel off before going to work, I prepped a shower. Low and behold, nothing came out of the nozzle but cold water. Damn.

I was faced with a choice - go to work stinking like I'd been sitting in a plane for eight hours or brave the cold water and wash up. Ok, maybe "brave" isn't the right word. Perhaps I should say "I endured the lack of hot water" as there wasn't anything brave about it.

Needless to say, I hopped in the cold shower and took one of the quickest showers I've taken in my life. How's that for being green? I reduced the water output and I didn't waste any natural gas in the effort. Perhaps I should have a cold shower every day.

Screw that. I like my nice long, hot showers.

Not Fitting In . . .

I've been living in my Dublin apartment now for about a week. One thing that has struck me is - not necessarily how small the apartment is - but how narrow and low some of the fixtures are.

The en suite (that's posh irish for a tiny master bathroom) has a few quirks to it that just don't fit me. The shower for instance . . .

I'll confess that I've put on a little weight being on an expense account for the last four months (10 lbs or 4.5 kilos or three quarter stone), but trying to get into this shower has me sucking my admittedly ample gut in.

Also the sink basin hits me just above the knees and when I look in the mirror, I can't see anything above my chin. If decided to shave only what I saw in the mirror, I may end up looking like General Ambrose Burnside. At least the mirror I can fix. I'm getting the hammer!

Lastly, the spacing on these double decker buses - not made for people over 5'6". I once took a seat on a bus which ended up getting very crowded. When somebody sat down next me and made me squish toward the window, I thought my kneecaps were going to fuse with the seat in front of me. I have since learned where the American sized seats are on the bus: Just behind the staircase on the upper deck and the center seat in the very back row (let the legs stretch as far down the aisle as you like).

I suppose that I am the visitor here. I need to keep sucking in my gut and pulling my knees into my chest if I'm going to fit in around here.

The Humble Abode

I missed a day of blogging . . . oh what shall I do. Sorry for that, I was moving into my new apartment! Yaaay! Oops . . . I forgot to get internet access setup.

A day later, here I am with internet access and back at blogging. I thought I'd make this post a simple picture post, but not without a little background. The apartment I got is a bit smaller than I wanted, but I don't mind because it's less that I have to clean (see what being married for six years does to you?). It's the right size for me, but it might get a little tight when Beth is over. It's definitely less space than we're accustomed to. So without any further adieu, I present to you my apartment:

More Apartment Fun

The last two days have found me back out apartment hunting. I saw one yesterday that I liked, but it was ground level. It was an excellent apartment, but it was in the back of the complex, was on the ground floor and had a door that opened to the outside.

I wouldn't have minded the door opening to the outside, but they didn't have an alarm system. Though gun control in Ireland is quite strict and you really don't have to worry about guns, consensus is that theft is an issue. I didn't feel quite comfortable with it.

On to apartment number 2. This one was a three bedroom apartment, well decorated, south facing and on the 5th floor. It was very nice, but it was over the corporate allowance that I'd agreed to. I made an offer at my allowance level. They countered to a point that was 100 Euro over my allowance. I said I'd think about it. Thinking about it entailed me talking to Beth and having her remind me that I continually remind her that we shouldn't be spending money we don't need to. That was the end of that.

On to apartment number 3. The third apartment is being let by a very friendly gentleman. It is on the third floor, but is a bit smaller (a smaller two bedroom). However, it's in an excellent apartment block, close to work, decorated well and in good shape. A couple of problems: 1) No Dishwasher, 2) No China, 3) No TV. After talking to the guy, I got him to promise a dishwasher, but I'd still be responsible for China and a TV (forgot to mention the TV thing, Beth, sorry). As for China - I'm fine with paper plates (but then why do I need a dishwasher?) I can probably pick up a used TV pretty cheap.

I made and offer and he accepted. Now I just need to find some China and a TV, make sure he installs the dishwasher, get the contract approved by my company, sign the contract, and move in. It doesn't seem like I've made much progress. But it feels good to have come to an agreement again.

Back to Square 1

Yesterday, I left the cliffhanger as I'd reveal which apartment I finally chose. The answer is that I chose the one closer to the hotel, but I'm moving into neither. Let me 'splain.

I had made an offer on Monday on the apartment closest to the Crowne Plaza Hotel. Here is how the conversation went (they were asking 950 Euro per month):

Me: I'll offer you 875 for the six month lease

Them: Let me check with my manager . . . (a few moments pass) . . . No we're pretty set on 950.

Me: Ok, I can go up to 950 if you give me a 3-month "break-out" clause.

Them: Let me check with my manager . . . (a few more moments pass) . . . Ok, we can do that. When do you want to move in?

Me: How's Thursday?

That's how the initial conversation was left. Ever since then, they've been trying to get me to remove the 3-month breakout clause saying things like, "so long as you give 28 days notice, we'll just take the deposit as the last month's rent." It sounded feasible, but I felt that I need to do some due diligence to validate their claims.

I read through Irish letting laws most of the afternoon. I did find reference to the 28 day notice period, however, I did not find it referenced where I would not be liable for the remainder of the lease if I was to break at 3-months. I also had somebody from my company do a little look into it for me as well. I called them back late this afternoon:

Me: I checked with my company and their recommendation is that I get either the break out clause or your interpretation of the 28-notice added to the contract in writing.

Them: Let me check with my manager . . . (hangs up, then calls me back shortly). Sorry, my manager and the landlord think that a 3-month breakout clause is just like a 3-month lease. The landlord needs a 6 month lease.

Me: Ok, if you remember, I made an initial offer on the apartment at 875 without the break out option. Here's what I'm willing to do: I'll offer 900 a month for the place.

Them: Let me check with my manager . . . (hangs up, then calls me back shortly). Sorry, the landlord can't go below 950. He's got a mortgage to pay.

Me: That's too bad. Have a nice day.

Though at least 10 wittier things to say have come to me since like "900 Euro is greater than zero Euro," or "It's harder to pay the mortgage without a lease." But I was still feeling pretty good because the other apartment still looked to be available.

Alas it was not. Back to square 1.

The Northwood 350

By the time this blog posts, I will have completed my last lap of the Northwood 350. What is the Northwood 350 you ask? It's not a race, but it obviously does involve me doing laps - in this case up and down Northwood Avenue in Santry.

Because there is a catch 22 in regards to housing in Ireland (or any foreign country, I suppose), I've spent the last week and a half walking up to the local convenience store everyday to get cash from the ATM there. The catch 22 is this: To rent an apartment in a foreign country, you need a bank account. To get a bank account, you need an proof of address. The plot thickens.

Dun. Dah. Dah.

Lucky for me, cash is king. To rent the apartment that I'm looking at, I can also pay cash: first months rent and a deposit (equivalent to the last months rent). Two times rent is a significant amount of cash to be carrying around. The local ATM has a limit of 400 Euro. Thus, I've been making serial withdrawals from the ATM of $350 for the last week to be able to rent an apartment. I have thus dubbed the walk to and from the ATM, The Northwood 350.

Last night I stopped by the apartment that I'm going to rent. Today, I'm signing and paying. Next week, I setup a bank account over here so I don't have to walk the Northwood 350 again.

Ooohh the suspense . . . which apartment did I pick? Find out tomorrow in the next episode of The Adventures of HRputer!

It's Raining Apartments - Hallelujah!

Yesterday, to pass time away while I was at the GNIB, I decided to make a call to a letting agent and make a deal on an apartment. This apartment could not be closer to the hotel where my company has our project based. It is literally right across the parking lot. We talked and I didn't get a great deal on the price, but it was within my budget. More importantly, I got a 3-month break clause so that if I need to return home after 3 months, I won't lose my security deposit.

Now, to bring the audience up to date, I had called a lady last Friday to make on offer on her apartment, but she said that she had already let it out. I got a call from her last night at 10pm (I was being anti-social and was already in bed) saying that she couldn't rent to those people. They didn't tell her they had a dog and the apartment complex doesn't allow pets.

So now here's my conundrum. I liked the lady's apartment better than the letting agents'. It's cheaper, but further from the hotel. It's also better furnished and closer to the shops.

The one that's close is a basic apartment, I wasn't thrilled with it. However it is very convenient. And the letting agent would probably be easier to work with than a landlord that is living abroad.

Decisions, decisions, decisions . . .

(By the way, the photo is of the apartment that is next to the hotel)

The Missing Begins

I've noticed that from my previous trips, it's the first weekend away when I really start missing Beth and RJ. The first day on the trip is pretty bad, too, but I soon get too busy with work to notice. When the weekend rolls around, it's not just a business trip anymore, it's extended time away from my family.

I'll be home this Friday, for RJ's first birthday party, but I'm back out the following Monday for three weeks. I haven't quite made it three weeks yet - I was scheduled for three weeks in December, but I came home early. I don't look forward to missing Valentine's Day.

I do look forward to when Beth and RJ can join me over here. I'll be making an offer on an apartment today. It's a 2-bed, 2-bath that is literally right next to the hotel that I'm working at. Some of the other guys moving to Ireland think it's too close, but then they've committed to longer stays than I have. After commuting almost 50 miles each way for the last 3 years, I think a walk-across-the-parking-lot commute would do me well.

Thank you everybody for reading my the blog. Your comments and feedback are welcomed and enjoyed.

Beth and RJ - I love you and I miss you.

P.S. - Trying to find a picture of Beth is like trying to find a picture a vampire. She just doesn't appear on film. So, you'll have to make-do with a picture of RJ. :D

Apartment Toilet

On my first few trips over to Ireland, I kept seeing signs that said "toilet." I started to wonder why people kept advertising their toilets. After awhile, I found it odd that they were all missing the "i" in the word. Then it dawned on me. "To Let" They're advertising that their apartment is To Let.

This is just one of those intricacies between how we speak English (at least in the Midwest states) and how the Irish speak it. I'm looking for apartments to let, not apartments for rent.

No progress on the apartment hunting today. I did get a call from a letting agent asking if I might be interested in viewing an apartment close to the hotel. The letting agent asked me when I was available and I said that I could be there in 10 minutes. He said that he needed to contact the tenant that was there to see when it would be alright if I came by. I haven't heard from him since.

I suppose that I shouldn't assume that everybody is waiting for me to look at their apartments. Yet, it would have been nice if when they contacted me to rent the apartment, they had a couple of times already set for me to choose from. Truth be told, I think that this was the letting agent's trainee that called me. I think he may have just learned something.

The Hunt Begins

I spent most of my day on Monday recovering from jet lag, but managed to sneak out to see a couple of apartments. It was a very disappointing day. The first apartment I saw was way below my standards. Although, what was more disappointing was that it was one of the apartment complexes I had set higher hopes for.

Later in the afternoon, however, my hopes were restored when I saw another apartment in the same complex. It was well decorated with upgraded flooring and well maintained. I doubt that I'll get that one, though. The landlord is looking for a 1-year lease and there were a bunch of other people looking at it while I was there. I wouldn't have much bargaining position.

I've got an appointment to see two other apartments later this week. I've got my hopes set high for a Wednesday evening appointment. That landlord is looking specifically for a 6-month lease.

The one thing that I've noticed as a drawback so far was the lack of TV's in the furnished apartments. I may have to buy more things than I thought while I'm over here. So much to learn about the Irish housing market so little time.

Now it's time to re-engage myself in the project that they're paying me to work on.