I might as well start this post with the story of the course of me finding rooms in Petaling Jaya. I woke up in an early Sunday, took a bus to KL with BF, watched Avatar in Pavilion, had lunch in Pepper Lunch in Pavilion as well, and head off to Taman Paramount LRT to meet my cousin straightaway. There's this one guy I called a few days ago before I headed over to KL. The room was still available, and I had actually booked a time to view the house, and I had double confirmed with him through email telling him that I will go on Sunday. This is important because the house is walking distance from my campus. But on Sunday, we called him an hour before we reached and all he said was "NO MORE!! NO MORE!!". WTH?? I thought that he might at least have the courtesy to implement the First Come First Serve basis (I know la I never even pay for the deposit he definitely going to rent out the room to whoever reaches before me.) But I told him that I will pay the deposit ON SPOT if I like the room. Anyway it's not his fault la. Business are done like this isn't it? Good deals are always hot. But I still felt that even if he waited for me, and even I decided not to rent his place, he definitely can have other students to rent his place as the new intake is approaching. HUH!
Okay, that is just the beginning of the story. Hence that NO MORE NO MORE guy rented out the room, we just have to start from zero again (I actually planned to view the room first and rent it and then I can go home.) Simon drove us and show me where is my campus. It's not as old as I imagined, and it's opposite a very nice and pretty building full of bars and restaurants (there goes my pocket money). Old Town White Coffee, Nando's, Station 1, etc. etc. is just opposite the campus!!!! Then he drove me to the nearest housing area and we start searching for Rooms to Let advertisement. Luckily for us, those owners were kindly enough to stick a paper on their gates with their phone numbers and we don't have to knock one by one asking is there any rooms for rent. Save a lot of our time as we divided the jobs. Christine and Simon will call the left row meanwhile me and BF will call the right row. This is only when the exciting part starts ;)
Story 1
This is the first house we stopped at and it is the nearest to the campus because it's at the end of the slope. One aunt, age around 50 to 60 answers our call, and came out to greet us. She looks normal to me, on the first impression. The first question she asked is who is going to rent the room. I raised my hand and she explained she only rent to girls. Okay, understood. And then she added: I have one rule in my house. Boys cannot enter this house. If you need anyone to come to repair things or anything, you must inform me first. Okay, understood. When we actually stepped into the porch, I mean me and Christine, she locked the gate and left Simon and BF outside!! I almost laugh out, I know I won't be staying here but I still followed her to the staircase anyway. She actually make a door at the porch for people to go upstairs, and it is chain-locked. The chain is not the normal size chain I used on my dogs. It's 2 to 3 times bigger! We stare at each other and keeps quiet. She showed us the room, a master bedroom with two very old tables in the middle of the room. We talked awhile and we politely excuse ourselves by telling her we will call her later. We hurried to the car and Christine said "This is the kind of old lady who will suddenly quietly goes into your room after 12 pm, and asked you to switch off the lights and sleep". Wuahahahaha..sounds very scary to me.
Story 2
After the weird aunty, we proceed to another house. This time it was a young man who greeted us. The first question we asked was how many boys and girls are staying in the house (of course la need to ensure my safety. Okay I know the aunty house is alot safer because boys cannot enter the house :P). He seems to understand what we worried about, and told us that he is actually staying with his wife (Duh, did we asked that?). Okay, understood. Once we stepped inside the house, I felt that I am stepping inside a store room. There's a full set of drum in the living room, a set of old sofas which is full with things, cupboards and aquariums everywhere in the corner of the house which is also full with things. How can a husband and wife, staying in a house can stands all the rubbish? I just can't imagine their life is just in the small room they rented. Eat, sleeps. shits also in the room only (maybe my definition of husband and wife is like my dad and my mom. hahaha). He told us that only the master bedroom is for rent, and the rent is RM380 for 1 people, and RM420 for 2 people (So far, this is the most expensive room compared to others we had surveyed). He is one kind of arrogant guy from the way he speaks. This is what he told us "I know the rent is a bit high, but as you know the intake date is approaching and many are dying to rent a room in this area. You can move in first, and then get someone from your class to move in and share the rent with you. If you can't find anyone, then I guess there's some problem with your attitude". Wtf? Since you don't care whether I rent your room or not why be bothered to serve us? Just sit inside the house and let the students come in and beg you to rent the room to them la. Am I just too lucky to meet so many "interesting" people in one hour?
Story 3
This story is almost the same as Story 2, but this time it is a woman. A young lady. The impression she gave me when I enter the house is that we had bothered her evening nap. She looks sleepy and talks with no energy. The house is as messy as the house in Story 2, and yes she lives with her husband. We went upstair to see the room, and was surprised that the doorknob is spoiled. Totally spoiled like there is a hole as big as my punch size and the wooden door don't know is because being chopped off or eaten by termites. The rent is normal rate includes water and electricity bill. I asked whether can she fixed the door for me. She said they are very busy, and they could buy the knob for me but I need to replace it myself. What the heck? And I guess she saw my reaction, and she just added "I think this room is not suitable for you". Nemind. Again I asked whether got Internet connection or not. She repeat no facilities included and added "I think this room is not suitable for you". NEMIND! Then I went downstair, and saw there are 2 fridges in the kitchen and water heater in the bathroom. Again I asked can I use it and she reply "No, I think this room is not suitable for you". Walao eh!! Like this do business one meh??
Story 4
This house is the most decent house among the houses I visited. It's mosaic-ed and clean. The owner is a woman, staying with her secondary school daughter. Cannot speak Mandarin, but fluent in English and Canto. The room is still occupied by the previous tenant, and the rent is the normal rate, including water and electricity bill. It's much more nicer compared to the previous 3 house. But, when I asked, is there any washing machine she answered "Got la but you have to pay for extra electricity bill la". Okay. I looked around the kitchen, there's a water filter and a hot water machine which I can use. Means no need boil water already. Well, the story for this house is kinda short because this woman is not as fussy as the other 3 tenants.
Conclusion
After the 4 houses, I discussed with those who came with me which one to rent. Obviously I only have 2 choices, the young lady with the spoil door knob and the woman with washing machine. Christine actually prefers the young lady because she is direct and would not hide her emotions and I will have less problems in the future. I personally feels that the house with washing machine is too high on the slope and it's kinda tiring for me to walk up and down the slope. Lazy me. And so I decided to rent the young lady's room, but when I called she told me that the room had already been rent out! What? We was like away for less than 30 minutes and it's rented out!
What to do, we went back to the house on the hill. This time, she was nicer than usual. I actually negotiated the amount I needed to pay for the waching machine. At first she said RM 2o, but then I manage to reduce it to RM 1o since I told her I won't be around the house for the whole week. Then she offered me to use the bathroom downstair because there's a water heater! Thank god. So, I paid the deposit, and she is kindly enough to ask me to pay only half month of the rent because I moved in on the mid of the month! Yay!! Oh ya, she also said I can watch Astro together with her if I want to but I cannot on it myself.
Well, I guess that concludes the story of my course in finding rooms in PJ. Somehow rather I feel the peoples here are more calculative than those I met in Bukit Jalil. Maybe this is just my perceptions. Maybe all these will change when I am used to them. Maybe? Well.. I guess. Till then..wait for my next post!
xoxo,
esineDenise <3
esineDenise <3
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