New pad
After what seemed like a very long time, but was in fact only two weeks, we've found ourselves a new home!
Last Sunday, Miyu and I spent a few frustrating hours looking at apartments in Gakugeidaigaku, but all the places we went to see were pretty rubbish. Nothing really stood out or there were too many bad points (like no air conditioning, which is just silly if you live in Japan). So, two very grumpy people decided to go back home and drown our sorrows in some cheap wine. We were on the Toyoko line going into Shibuya, when we stopped at Naka-Meguro. Miyu suggested just quickly popping in to the agent by the station which we'd sighned up to a couple of weeks ago, and then walking into Ebisu for some dinner, just so the day wasn't a complete waste.
Well, that turned out to be a moment of inspiration and very good fortune.
As we entered the fudou-san's (estate agent) office, the chap who had been helping us before spotted us and quickly waved us over, looking excited. He quickly finished his bowl of noodles, and rushed over to us. They's just this minute got a new apartment come in, hot off the press which he thought was perfect for us. It was only 10 minutes away, so did we want to go and see it? This guy is so enthusiastic about everything, and he's so damn fast in everything he does (talk, eat, walk, sleep and f***! That's just a guess ; )) Wouldn't know by looking at him - just seems like a ordinary looking late 40s salariman, but oh no! It's Mr Swifty!
He'd already photocopied a map and marked it in red felt tip pen and ushered us out onto the street before we could think about it. As we walked toward the apartment, we joked that maybe he was keen to get home so had sent us out just before closing time (it was now 5.30pm), and as it would take 10 minutes to get there, 10 minutes to look around the place and 10 minutes to walk back, he'd be heading home just as we returned!
Anyway, we got to the building. 4 storeys, red and a huge range of pot plants placed in a very fetching way all up the stairs to the 3rd floor, where we found the door to no. 302 open. We headed in.
It didn't take us long to realize this was it. "Tom, this is it, isn't it?" said Miyu, and I said "YES! We found it. Whoo-hooo!" and then I grabbed Miyu in a bear hug and twirled her around the living area. We were both laughing, but then I had to stop because Miyu thought she'd be sick from the dizziness, and it wouldn't leave a very good impression if we left a pile of sick on the floor of our new apartment!
Size wise it's about 40m2, has a large living/sleeping area, a study/spare room, seperate kitchen (rare in Japanese apartments), bathroom and an intelligent toilet(!) Lots of storage, wooden flooring and for some reason chandeliers for lighting!
We rushed back to the fudou-san, hoping he didn't have a hot date and was already zooming down the street for a bit of slap and tickle. Got back, and he was still there, beaming like a Cheshire cat when we said we'd take it. We then had to fill-in about a hundred forms and a very long contract, sign it with my fingerprint, as I hadn't brought my hanko (personal seal), and then have an approval meeting with the top agent, who was happy with our looks and dependability (although I had to explain exactly what it was I did at the badger college). He seemed happy, so he rang the owner, who quickly said yes after gettign the summary of our interview from the head agent. All within an hour of stepping into the office feeling gloomy and somewhat dejected.
Now we have to get the money together for our deposit, key money (a kind of thank you to the owner, of 2 months rent!) and agent fee (one month rent). Get Miyu's dad to co-sign the contract as a guarantor, and then the place will be ours! Then comes the moving, but that's another story.
Just goes to show really that what ever happens, things can quickly change for the better, so it's always worth trying to find what it is you're looking for. Amen ; )
Last Sunday, Miyu and I spent a few frustrating hours looking at apartments in Gakugeidaigaku, but all the places we went to see were pretty rubbish. Nothing really stood out or there were too many bad points (like no air conditioning, which is just silly if you live in Japan). So, two very grumpy people decided to go back home and drown our sorrows in some cheap wine. We were on the Toyoko line going into Shibuya, when we stopped at Naka-Meguro. Miyu suggested just quickly popping in to the agent by the station which we'd sighned up to a couple of weeks ago, and then walking into Ebisu for some dinner, just so the day wasn't a complete waste.
Well, that turned out to be a moment of inspiration and very good fortune.
As we entered the fudou-san's (estate agent) office, the chap who had been helping us before spotted us and quickly waved us over, looking excited. He quickly finished his bowl of noodles, and rushed over to us. They's just this minute got a new apartment come in, hot off the press which he thought was perfect for us. It was only 10 minutes away, so did we want to go and see it? This guy is so enthusiastic about everything, and he's so damn fast in everything he does (talk, eat, walk, sleep and f***! That's just a guess ; )) Wouldn't know by looking at him - just seems like a ordinary looking late 40s salariman, but oh no! It's Mr Swifty!
He'd already photocopied a map and marked it in red felt tip pen and ushered us out onto the street before we could think about it. As we walked toward the apartment, we joked that maybe he was keen to get home so had sent us out just before closing time (it was now 5.30pm), and as it would take 10 minutes to get there, 10 minutes to look around the place and 10 minutes to walk back, he'd be heading home just as we returned!
Anyway, we got to the building. 4 storeys, red and a huge range of pot plants placed in a very fetching way all up the stairs to the 3rd floor, where we found the door to no. 302 open. We headed in.
It didn't take us long to realize this was it. "Tom, this is it, isn't it?" said Miyu, and I said "YES! We found it. Whoo-hooo!" and then I grabbed Miyu in a bear hug and twirled her around the living area. We were both laughing, but then I had to stop because Miyu thought she'd be sick from the dizziness, and it wouldn't leave a very good impression if we left a pile of sick on the floor of our new apartment!
Size wise it's about 40m2, has a large living/sleeping area, a study/spare room, seperate kitchen (rare in Japanese apartments), bathroom and an intelligent toilet(!) Lots of storage, wooden flooring and for some reason chandeliers for lighting!
We rushed back to the fudou-san, hoping he didn't have a hot date and was already zooming down the street for a bit of slap and tickle. Got back, and he was still there, beaming like a Cheshire cat when we said we'd take it. We then had to fill-in about a hundred forms and a very long contract, sign it with my fingerprint, as I hadn't brought my hanko (personal seal), and then have an approval meeting with the top agent, who was happy with our looks and dependability (although I had to explain exactly what it was I did at the badger college). He seemed happy, so he rang the owner, who quickly said yes after gettign the summary of our interview from the head agent. All within an hour of stepping into the office feeling gloomy and somewhat dejected.
Now we have to get the money together for our deposit, key money (a kind of thank you to the owner, of 2 months rent!) and agent fee (one month rent). Get Miyu's dad to co-sign the contract as a guarantor, and then the place will be ours! Then comes the moving, but that's another story.
Just goes to show really that what ever happens, things can quickly change for the better, so it's always worth trying to find what it is you're looking for. Amen ; )
posted by TOK at 9:30 am
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