As a serial renter (I’ve been renting apartments, duplexes and houses since I started college in 2003), I feel like nearly every place I’ve lived in has something that makes me go hmmm.
- Who would ever paint a wall that color (and why won’t they let me paint over it if I promise to paint it back)?
- Why does the washing machine have to hook up to the kitchen sink to work? (Seriously!)
- Isn’t it time to replace the dishwasher that never seems to clean anything?
Well, my friends, the home we just moved into is no different. It’s definitely the nicest place I’ve ever rented (yay!), but there are three big things that make me go hmmm.
1. The color of the walls in the guest room.
Pretty sure this one doesn’t need an explanation. 
2. This random ledge with a gas hookup.
The homeowners had a decorative little stove thingy hooked up there that we thought they’d be leaving when they moved out, but they took it and we’re left with a totally random elevated ledge with a gas hookup. Any recommendations as to what we should put there?
3. Absentee washer and dryer.
I’m really heated about this one, but I’ll keep my venting limited on the blog otherwise I might start dropping f-bombs.
When Ryan and I toured the house, there was a washer and dryer in the laundry room. No where in the advertisement for the house did it say “no washer and dryer” or “washer and dryer hookup.” No where. Our lease didn’t say that the tenants were responsible for providing their own washer and dryer and we didn’t know that this would be our responsibility until Ryan picked up with keys to the place (after we submitted our deposit!) on Friday.
I was ready to send a flaming bag of Sadie’s doodie to our realtor when, after calling him to ask what the heck was going on, he said “a washer and dryer is a ‘furnishing’ not an ‘appliance’” and they didn’t have to disclose that they would be taking the washer and dryer to us.
Um, what? Pretty sure that a washer/dryer does not equal a couch, sir.
And on that note, let’s move along to lunch… also known as something I prepared using an “appliance” not a “furnishing.” (Can you sense the bitterness? 
)
Lunch
Today’s lunch was a delicious chocolate peanut butter smoothie… with a touch of almond flavah!
In the mix:
- 1 c. almond milk
- 1 scoop Optimum Nutrition chocolate casein protein powder (casein = extra thick!)
- 1 c. frozen strawberries
- 1 1/2 tbsp. cocoa powder
- 1 tbsp. peanut butter
- 1 tsp. almond extract
- 1 large handful fresh spinach
Enjoyed with a spoon out of my favorite Anthropologie mug.
I have a feeling I’m going to be blending up another smoothie around 4 p.m. to fuel me through our big move this evening. Watch out, furniture! I’m going to own you!
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If the lease doesn’t specify that the washer and dryer are provided, they can take them. You can get a low end model for pretty cheap – and even cheaper if used.
i know and that’s why we’re totally screwed. just because the realtor SAID they would be there when we moved it, we assumed they would be… but since the lease didn’t specify that, we’re effed. my argument was that the lease also didn’t say that the FRIDGE would be included and that’s when he said that a fridge is an appliance and a washer/dryer is a furnishing. blehhh.
Where I come from, if a place is advertised as fully or partly furnished it ALWAYS, ALWAYS includes a fridge, washer and dryer. A white good is a white good, you’re not supposed to change it depending on what you feel like at the time. I would be peeved too 🙂
WHOA! I am so sorry 🙁 That bites!
Craigslist usually has pretty good deals on things like that, so I would check that out!
On the bright side, I LOVE a good smoothie for lunch, and yours looks fantastic!!
I had the same issue when I moved into my house! I would definitely go the used route. Look up scratch and dent stores in your area. These stores take all of the machines that get a bit banged up during shipping. Many are brand new! When I went a lot of them were only dented on the back part that would be against the wall.
Oooh! That would get my goat too!! All the places I’ve ever rented have mentioned whether there was a washer/dryer included or not.
I would warn you to be REALLY careful with these landlords because it sounds like they are not very straightforward and you could end up in a world of hurt if they decide to sell/ you move out. Just speaking from experience, but I hope for the best for you!
ME TOO! the a-hole realtor was like “have you EVER rented before?” i was like “yes, you numbnuts and they ALWAYS make it clear when a washer/dryer isn’t included.”
It sounds like the realtor was shady. If you have more problems with him/her, it’s always appropriate to contact the company they work for & voice your concern.
If you deal directly with the landlords & they agree to you making ANY changes, PLEASE make sure you get it in writing. If you have it in writing, covers your ass so much better than a oral agreement.
Best of luck!!!
Unfortunately it is just part of Florida real estate laws that washer/dryers are a furnishing so the realtor is (unfortunately) just doing his/her job. Can you tell I just finished my Real Estate licensing class? lol
I agree with Meg about being careful with these Landlords. You should look into your states or countys policy on renting and evicting and such just in case they try to pull a fast one on you. I know where I live in Florida that once you are given an eviction notice, as long as you are recieving mail for that residence you have 3 months to move out, this way they cant evict you and expect you to leave within a few days.
Ugh- isnt that the worst?? I have had many situations like that. My curret apartment is like a mocha brown which makes the whole place so dark! I’m learning to live with it but it’s kind of annoying that there really isn’t anything I can do about it.
You can paint it, thats why you pay a deposit, incase there are any changes/damages. You just wont get it back, but they usually never do anyways.
The washer/dryer thing sucks, but I actually like the color on the walls! It’s bold and looking at that color makes me want to do cartwheels.
I kind of like the blue room. Then again my room at home is a color called “orange alert” so loud colors are definitely my thing.
oooh! i want to see pics of your house! do you have photos on your blog that i may have missed?
I don’t think I do. Maybe I’ll take pictures of my dorm once I move in but that definitely won’t be orange alert.
That really stinks! I watch a lot of the HGTV home shows and I feel like they always have to say if they’re not leaving the washer/dryer. So weird.
Julie, you should paint the room if it really bugs you and you plan on being there for a while. You pay a deposit for this very reason, if you make any damages to the house. They are probably going to keep the deposit anyways so I say paint it, I would. Or you could go get a color that you like and purchase the color it already is for when you move out and just paint it without telling them, how are they gonna know anyways?
Ugh what a pain!!! Maybe you could look at it as a personal investment? If you are looking to buy in the future, you’ll likely need a washer/dryer and this way, you’ll already have one!
What douchebags! Sorry to hear you don’t have a washer/dryer. But at this point in your life it’s not a bad idea to buy them since you know you’d take them with you when you eventually decide to buy.
That’s so sneaky of them- I would have dropping F-bombs with every second word so great going on the restraint! On a lighter note, your walls remind me of the smurfs ha ha 🙂
you should’ve seen me last friday. i was LIVID.
The weird ledge would make a perfect spot for your Christmas tree. As the rest of the year? No idea 🙂
That’s one bold looking blue! If you can’t change it, I’d just get some white linens for the guest bed to kind of mute it out a little. At least it’s not the master 🙂
I was going to say that about the tree! I can’t see her having a year-round tree though lol
haha i said the SAME thing! great for christmastime, but for the rest of the year, i’m at a loss.
A stage for karaoke? 🙂
Oh good idea about the christmas tree, the rest of the year I say put sadies toy basket on the ledge to help blend it in and hide the gas hookup.
That’s BRUTAL!!
Try to keep positive though,. You got the house you wanted, you’re back living with your hubby and Sadie… 🙂
…and your smoothies. lol
Bahhh! We had a room in our house that was that exact- “detroit lions/bud light” blue!! Only ours came with boogers, crayon marks, and random punched in holes. AWESOME! I hope you figure out something to do with that room!
That is really unfair and unCOOL of the Realtor…I really dislike when people take advantage of people by being sneaky. Isn’t it so much easier in life AND in business to just be honest and kind to others? ho-hum. at least you have the poo-bombing as a back up..I mean, if you blame it on sadie…who could get mad at that face?!?!?
budlight blue. i love it!
Oh how frustrating!!!
When we rented a townhouse, we also rented a washer/dryer. I think it was for like $25/month? It worked great because they came, set it up, etc and when we moved out, they took them back, which was nice because we couldn’t have stacked washer and dryer at our new house anyways, so I’m glad we didn’t buy some only to have them not work in our new house.
When we were house hunting we had that same washer/dryer conversation — I wish they would just disclose that, yeesh!
As for that random step, maybe make a gigantic pyramid out of PB jars and keep them there?
Ugh that stinks! I’ve been renting for longer than I really want to think about, and I’ve never heard of renters having to bring their own washer/dryer! Its not exactly like it’s something thats easy to move around, ya know?
Wow!!!! Can’t believe that they would just leave out the washer/dryer thing!
Put Sadie’s bed on the ledge! It will be right next to her toys 🙂
If it makes you feel any better, after I moved into my new rental house, the AC broke and I realized that not ONE window in the whole house will open…they have all been painted shut. What is worse is that I asked the realtor to ask the homeowners if they would come fix them, and he said “it was not a cost they were willing to incur at this time” and that I should get a putty knife and get them open myself.
Guess I will pray we don’t have a fire in the meantime.
I actually like that blue–it reminds me almost of a peacock blue. I could imagine a really cool Morroccan themed room, or even a really great yoga area. 🙂
That smoothie looks delicious! I had one for lunch today too but it was bright green and peachy instead of chocolatey. Yours wins I think!
I can SO relate to weird renting stories! I have issues with our current place (search On Renting on the blog if you like for an example). I would scout some places and see if you can get floor models, always cheaper, usually only have small scratch, and saves you a ton! Or check out Craigslist.
How in the world is a washer/dryer NOT an appliance? He must be lying. At least when you buy one- it’s yours to keep, and take with you to your future homes!
Weird about the ledge! Stick a plant up there and call it a day. Bummer about the washer and dryer. I hate technicalities!
A furnishing? You’ve GOT to be kidding me. I”m pretty sure wherever washer/dryers are sold it’s called the APPLIANCE section of the store. I’d totally go the Sadie bag of poo route. Ridiculous!
That sucks about the washer and dryer. I’d be pissed too. This is why I got out of renting, there are so many loopholes. I’d go ahead and invest in a good washer and dryer, seeing eventually you will be buying a place and you will need this.
Oh that’s shitty!!! I’ve never heard of a w/d being considered a furnishing!!
Have you seen removeable wallpaper? Like this:
http://peelthepaper.myshopify.com (they are on etsy too). Cute stuff!
I’m just still so confused over the washer and dryer being called a furnishing and not an appliance? Ummm, what???????
Um. That might be the most ridiculous crappy excuse I’ve ever heard in my life. How the F does a washer/dryer = a furnishing? It’s not decorative. You don’t sit on/at/in it. Is a dishwasher a furnishing too?
Oh, man Julie. I would’ve thrown ‘bows on that one.
Girl, I am right there with you! We moved into a nice big rental house 2 weeks ago (our first place together actually) and all of the walls in the whole entire house are either lime green or bright blue or some combination of the two! I couldn’t imagine choosing those colors myself. Luckily our landlord is letting us paint.
And we too have no dryer. The landlord left her (very old) washer but we are left to find our own dryer. Although we did ask, and know, about this going in. I’ve currently been doing our laundry at the local laundromat.
Good luck getting settled!
I would definitely be upset about the washer and dryer. That’s so shady. I think Sadie’s dog bed should go on the random step. Then she can be elevated, lol.
1. You should be mad at the previous people who lived there, not your realator (unless he had special knowledge they would be taking it – then let him have it)
2. I think a big palm plant would look nice on the random ledge 🙂
3. I hope you find a cheap washer/dryer. That totally blows and I’m sorry for you!
4. Good luck moving later!!
The first thing I thought when I saw that ledge was that it would be a nice spot for some sort of tall and leafy houseplant- when it’s not Christmastime, of course!
Julie, get a washer a dryer from Craigs List! You can pick them up on the cheap. As far as your ledge…I am envisioning a life-size bronze statue of Sadie blending a peanut butter smoothie. 😛
Oh man, when I rented, I would always ask specifically about the washer and dryer. That’s one of my main criteria.
And I don’t think that blue room is so bad. If you do all white furnishings/bed covers/decoations, it might look pretty hip!
Ok, I think I’ve got this dilemma resolved.
Take that little raised ledge with the gas hookup. Hookup an old-timey gas stove on which you can sit a cauldron of water to boil. Then, hire a wisened washerwoman/man (they still exist, right?) This washerperson will not only be able to take care of the dirty clothes, they’ll have a raised ledge to do it on AND chances are, they’ll be full of pearls of wisdom gleaned from years of observing the human condition in former clients.
And I bet they get hilarious at parties.
HAHA
HA! Very funny Jordan!! We can see that you are a party-person!
Not sure Julie will agree with your idea, as fun as you think it might be. Or you are. Kidding ya!
(Sadie could get into that cauldron. Sadfacehere.)
Use the elevated ledge for your new washing machine! That’ll show ’em! 😉
Now THAT is a dirty trick. I don’t know what it’s like around you, but I did find a washer/dryer (full size!) on craigslist last year when my apartment complex wanted me to pay $25/month just to rent one. I bought them for $200 (cheaper than it would have cost me to rent them) and ended up selling them for a little more than that when I moved out (not to rip someone off, just because I couldn’t remember exactly what I had paid). It’s worth looking. It worked out for me! 🙂
Or, you could put a big mirror on that wall and have a very handy place to hem pants. Or put a karaoke machine beside it and use it as a stage. Or get one of those supremely tacky indoor fountains with naked babies and display it there.
Really, you have so many options…
This sounds like a super shady realtor, not to mention deceptive business practice! At the very least, you should be able to file a complaint against the realtor with the better business bureau in your area or with Florida. I think you should look into where the definition of what a “furnishing” is versus an “appliance.” If you were never informed of that distinction, I think it’s well within your rights to negotiate a reduced rental payment that will account for you having to purchase a washer/dryer. Otherwise, you should check your landlord/tenant law and see if it gives any guidance on this. I wouldn’t take the realtor at his/her word.
I also agree with other commenters…you should check out the rental laws for your city and for the State of Florida to check and see if they’re landlord friendly or tenant friendly. Typically, as long as you have a one year lease, the landlords cannot evict you before the one year is up unless you’re damaging the property in some way or you’re not paying your rent. If the jurisdiction is tenant friendly, it would be even harder for the landlord to evict you.
(Sorry, this is a long post, but I’m a lawyer and this just doesn’t sit right with me!)
i really appreciate your comment! we’re in the process of trying to get one month free rent or the yard service paid for or something b/c of this mess. it’s not looking likely, so i really appreciate your suggestion about filing a complaint w/ the BBB.
I think you should also have the realtor write up an addendum to your lease outlining the whole “furniture”/”appliance” conversation and stating that there was not a washer/dryer present when you leased the property. Just in case they have short-term memory when you move out and try to claim your new washer/dryer as being part of the property when you moved in.
No trying to make you paranoid or anything!
I would be fuming too if I were you. Complaining to BBB is a good idea but speaking from experience they are actually powerless to do much. But it goes on record and that’s a good thing.
You may also want to write reviews on different websites such as google, yelp, angies list, service magic etc. That way future renters are aware and he may actually lose some business.
Good luck!
Julie …. let us know if the owner is a realtor, or the family that is renting to you.
Most likely …. a realtor. They can be mean. Moneyhungrybeasts. Ahhhh. I feel for your situation. Wish I could help ya out.
These comments are sweet. You have tons of fans Julie!
The homeowners used a realtor and he is (unfortunately) our main point of contact.
A washer/dryer isn’t necessarily a “furnishing” (idk why the realtor would use that term) but it’s an “improvement” (in real estate lingo) Since it’s removable it isn’t considered a “fixture” so the owners can legally take it since the lease didn’t specify that Julie and Ryan were getting the set. DEFINITELY sucks though 🙁
Sorry to keep commenting but I wanted to add that it is a SERIOUS loophole that they went through and it is definitely a sheisty move leaving it out of the lease (especially since renters and probably MOST people don’t realize to specifically write it in the lease) I just didn’t want to sound insensitive to Julie bc I would be raging too!
I LOVE those anthropoligie mugs. I’ve been getting them for my friends as wedding gifts along with a cute apron for the bride to be. Their aprons are so cute. I’m loving their colorful vases too.
That is so true. California is the worst. You must be specific. Have EVERYTHING clear …. in black and white.
When my mom bought her house there were appliances. We were happy about it. In moving in, the previous owners took them. OHHHH. Maddening. Mom had to purchase everything new. Very pricey after buying the home.
No doubt there are other horror stories all over USA & beyond.
Renter woes are the worst!
In Cali you have to ASSUME that they are taking the washer/dryer. You never get one unless it is *explicitly* stated. Same with a fridge!
That ledge is quite random, isn’t it?? I can definitely understand your 3 Hmmms about this place! Although, it looks really nice from everything else I’ve seen!
That is pretty frustrating! In college, I rented a place that was so small that the fridge was in the living room! My roommates and I sure got a lot of good laughs out of that one 🙂
So, who owns the house now? If the previous (?) owners moved out and took everything, who owns the house now? Someone new and they rented it out right away, or do the people who lived there still own it, but just rent it now? The realtor is just the middleman/woman, right?
When I moved into my house (bought it, though) they were also to take the washer/dryer, but I paid them extra and so they left it. But they are not that expensive. But if you are someone still ‘on the move’ stupid to buy something now.
Sounds like the person your renting from is a little shady…be careful! So sorry to hear you’ve had troubles with your new place 🙁 hope everything works out for the best!!
Ugh how annoying! Good luck with the rest of the moving though 🙂
Ah, I can totally relate. The place we moved into 4 months ago doesn’t have a water filter/dispenser on the fridge. Okay, I know this is so not a big deal in the grand scheme, but after having this luxury for 2 years, it’s so hard to go back to using a Brita! Plus I drink a ton of water! gaaah!!
Enjoy your weekend 🙂
That is really sneaky about the washer/drier. It’s hard to say what to do because if your next step is to buy it would be worth it to shell out the money for a new set. However, if you are only staying there a year and plan on renting again, and your next place has a w/d, you would have two. So sneaky and mean.
As for painting, I’d find out what the laws are in Florida because they can CHARGE you for “damages” that go above your security deposit. My friend had a dog that stained the carpet in her apartment and the carpet cost more than her security deposti and she was forced to pay the difference. Not sure how much it would cost to paint, but you sure don’t want to have to pay for it!