It never fails that when things break down, stall out, confuse or otherwise throw us off our daily routine, it happens in multiples. This week, it's been: a gas outage in our neighborhood (temps have really dropped, plus we can't cook!), a non-draining dishwasher (not a huge urgent battle except for the puddles of water on the kitchen floor), and unexpected overnight house guests (albeit lovely people). Here's how we dealt:
How To: Deal with Simultaneous Home Surprises
1. Share comfort in numbers. Our gas is out but that's true for our whole neighborhood. Surprises and communal stresses often allow us to meet/chat with neighbors we don't otherwise see. Plus, we're thankful it's not the middle of winter sans heat.
2. If an appliance gives out in your rental, call your landlord immediately and stay on him/her until the problem is dealt with. Pushy is OK. If you own, buy warranties for the big items at home and know where they are! (We have a file folder full of all warranty documents and receipts. Boring, but necessary.)
3. Keep your sense of humor. House guests are all different, and even though your schedule may get thrown off a bit, try to enjoy the time with whomever is the lucky guest. Feel good about helping your guest(s) out. Put yourself in their shoes and remember what it's like to need a place to stay, even if it's last minute.
In general, we find it's all about not giving in to complaining, whining, or spiraling agitation and stress. We're sure many of you have constant surprises at home, too; how do you deal?
Image: Maria Bianco
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lol... the day after my parents left me in my first apartment (still in college- I had a roomie, but she wasn't there yet), the washing machine flooded... everywhere. It was chaos, but funny in hindsight.
Biggest lesson learned: ALWAYS stock LOTS of extra towels!
view CozyLittleCave's profile
Remember whatever it is, it's not terminal. Whenever things get panicky at work I say, "remember people, we're not curing cancer, it's just a marketing campaign" and at home when the f-bomb starts flying over spilled coffee, muddy paw prints, flooding washers, or burst sprinkler pipes, I remind myself, "I did not just get cancer -- this is a small thing."
view kimg924's profile
Our building's gas has been turned off for nearly five months now ... which means cooking on a hot plate or in the micro, as well as heading to the laundromat (because our dryers work with gas). We've also had a leaking oil line being replaced at the same time, and the contaminated soil is being removed. Last year, it was simultaneous steam pipe and sewer pipe repairs. I also lost my job ... just as I had to pay the assessments for these latest repairs!
view Jane's profile
if all else fails, find a nice hotel on Priceline and run away from your problems for a night. Amazing the perspective to be gained after a good night's sleep (I speak from experience--a bad plumbing problem, no chance of a plumber at night, then--a lovely hotel room with room service & in-room movie and everything felt much better in the morning....)
view Charlotte's profile
I second the hotel- when the power went out for the second time in a week in 115 degree heat in Arizona- so we couldn't even run fans, we called the new Hilton that went in recently and asked if we could get a room for the night (it was midnight). After hearing why, and given that the night was already half over, they gave us the room at $50 for the night. We slept in the next morning!
view lz's profile
The parking lot I'm supposed to park in at my rental is under construction. I've gotten 2 tickets..so far..for parking on the street. It's pretty frustrating but oh well my landlord will be paying for my tickets ;)
view youenjoymyself's profile
If the gas is turned off, I will remind myself that I often don't appreciate the things I take for granted. Of course, after a few days of ice-cold showers and sandwiches or sad microwave food, you squeal with delight when a good friend invites you over for a hot bath and homemade potato soup :o)
view doro's profile
Five MONTHS, Jane? I trust you're seeking legal counsel, while witholding a portion of your rent?
view mirandabee's profile
When I moved into my first apartment without roommates, I was thrilled. One day the kitchen flooded and there was half an inch of water on the floor... and I was on the top floor of the building! I used every towel, T-shirt, and cotton blanket I had to sop up the mess, then threw everything in my bathtub to drain. I had to carry down many heavy loads of laundry and my friend (now fiancé!) brought over a towel for my shower and some of his pajamas to sleep in for the night. It's funny to look back now on how hard I worked to clean up that mess... only to have the ceiling cave in from melting snow and flood my apartment all over again a short time later.
view islek's profile
This post has helped me relax somewhat. I moved into a new place mid July and since then the problems have been constant -- brown water, shower essentially floods the basement, strange dripping noises coming from the ceiling, raw sewage leak, bad a.c., and now the kicker is just finding out that everyone who lived there before me left due to the exorbitant heating costs ($500/month for 500 sq ft apartment, off during the day, and not above 60 during the evening!).
I think there should be an Apartment Therapy post on tenants rights and a constructive eviction. Oy vey!
view teawithjam's profile
my washer had called it quits this morning in the middle of washing clothes so that it is full of water and clothes right now, but not running, there is water dripping in from the ceiling, and I am wondering what the third disaster will be. Possibly the flatscreen falling off the wall and taking a chunk of the wall with it. My day is going well...
view calderonlm's profile