CiChi#04 Pt 2 The Cosmic Wāhine guide to living in the Auckland CBD.

Karakia: Make my behaviour the saviour of me. Let me be one with the jungle. Keep my claws sharp so they can tickle the bark of the tree to let the sweet honey sap drip into my mouth. Let my claws dig at the earth and pull up the roots. That my long and strong teeth can tear into and tear apart the tubers. Make my teeth and claws wise and eternal, so they will feed me, all the days of my wild life.

I’m grounded on earth. A Cosmic Wahine, and living in the Auckland CBD. My eternal fires continue to burn, but must be enough to help me learn.

So you know how I told you last time that an apartment inspection was due? Well it happened and again I passed with confidence.

In this CiChi we will cover: Part 2 cleaning and keeping that space above kitchen boards clean. Method of how to approach disappointment, i.e. your property managers don’t want to spend any more money on improvements……

But first up - The Property Damage Report

I omitted to advise, or in my case - I say Guide you - to complete the Property Damage Report when you first move into your apartment. The property manager should send it to you. Completing this document will help to stop disputes when you move out of the apartment.

Note: As the new tenant, you’ll have 5 working days to complete it. Add photos or videos. The report is very self explanatory. And when you’re finished, all you need to do is submit the form. It’s an online process, therefore really simple.

Keep a copy of what you wrote. You’ll probably need to use a screen saver, or use the snipping tool on your computer.

I identified the following in my damage report - image below

Part 2 The CBD Apartment

I’m not a huge fan of the Auckland CBD for living. Yet when I consider the convenience and movability, the status of being single, unaccompanied and on foot? Despite the crime rate - which is increasing in all areas. I’ve got to acknowledge both through experience and research. It’s still the safest place for me to live. I’m not having to walk up deserted streets and roads to get to shopping malls and supermarkets, bus stops, dark tunnels and train stations. I’m not dealing with street people stopping me for money and food in an isolated area. And this was a very common occurrence when I lived in GI and St Lukes. 

Last time I think I talked about the Kitchenette, bathroom and air quality. I’d like to add one more point to the kitchen area.

You know the space above the cupboards?

It’s one of the most forgotten spots in an apartment. But if you're lucky, and your previous tenant has that skill of attention to detail. It’ll be clean and shiny when you move in. However, when you move in and check it? And find it’s dirty. One of the best ways I found to remove the dirt? Was to use dishwashing liquid.

I needed the power of it. The grease was thick and dust had settled into it. I could write my name in the gunk. And it smelt.

I believe that, when areas like these are very dirty. Illness is not far away. Just saying. It’s only my opinion.

Living area and balcony.

So,   the assistant property manager took photos, checked in the wardrobe. As it backs onto the shower. And there have been reports of water leaks. Mine is no exception. They also checked the water pipes this time around. There are significant concerns about water pipes bursting when tenants/owners go away on holiday.

The contractor was engaged, and both issues got sorted out. A tiler and a plumber fixed both so they wouldn’t become a problem for the tenant and property managers.

The flooring, walls, ceiling, TV and other surfaces - cupboard doors, mirrors, side tables, lamps and bed. Ranch slider doors/glass inside and out. Are all components that need care and watching for scratches and marks? Breakage is best to report when it happens.

Once again, I use dishwashing liquid and or a dust cloth to clean surfaces of grease marks and dirt and dust. Especially the back of the TV. Wow, that place gets a lot of sticky dust. Thick and hidden. For the obvious areas of floors, walls, ceilings and high up spaces, I use one of those retractable microfiber action mops. Where I take off the mop head and switch them over. But for s ure they make the work fast and easy.

The reason for dishwashing liquid alone is that the surfaces are delicate. They’re also easy to damage if I use harsh chemicals. It’s not like the home I grew up in where we used vim, ajax, janola and jiff on everything. Surfaces in those days were solid and painted with materials; something next to impenetrable.

I keep the skirting boards dust free by using the detachable mop handle. I wrap the bottom of it with a dust cloth and go for it. The wood can get easily scuffed and marked. And the space? Small for the big wooden double monstrosity of a bed. Moving that thing around the living area catches in places. So the skirting gets a good wipe. Luckily, the paint is that type where black smudges are removable.

I keep a cleaning schedule on my calendar. I have repeated events that run over a month. This way I know when I’ve last wiped a surface or done that cleaning job. I don’t have to stress  out. “When was the last time I wiped those or washed them?”

I’ve got one of these floors with tiles that look like wood. But are more like a strong solid plastic material. They’re super easy to wipe, mop and keep clean.

Oh, one thing, though, I need to mention. DUST. The apartment is a fair dust catcher. I think it’s obvious from having the ranch slider doors open for fresh air. But also just movement of fabrics and fibers is enough to have a thin coating over the floor and under the bed. Oh, and on the bedside tables and lamps.

The floor’s super powers are its defense against scrapes and scuffing. I drag the dining table and chairs across the surface. And they never so much as leave a mark. Yes, I like them very much. (I think some of the dust particles come from the ceiling paint - IMPO). And footprints and shoe marks? Are not an issue.

But the space is tight for the furnishings. I loathe the bed. It’s literally the dominant feature that takes up floor space. If I had my way, which I don’t. I’d use a pullout couch. Or a King single. That I can adjust to look like a couch when not in use.

The bedside tables are too big as well. And the need to keep them dust free? Means I don’t cover the surfaces with things. Because they’ll need dusting as well. But hey, that's just my own preference. I try to keep my energy for my writing.

The biggest setback I’ve had to accept is the darkness and bare lighting. Well, the space gets daylight. As dark as it is. After 16 months and two freezing cold winters. Huge power bills to keep the space warm and dry. I’m getting grumpy. Sunlight would take away much of the energy costs I layout over winter. And the smell?

Yes, I'm back to that again. Air quality. It’s affected by not having enough natural warmth. Using the heater often, all day and always, isn’t a genuine option. It puts me at risk both health and financially. Still, in my moments of CosWah brilliance, I’d give anything to open the main entrance door to the apartment. Block it. And then fling open the ranch slider doors for the cross ventilation.

But that’d be weird and not something that’s done in an uptown up market apartment building. Imagine that. Walking past an apartment and the door’s wide open? And let me caution the Cosmic Wahine. This is not the done thing. But I’m a child of the 1960s when cleaning a house meant serious airing out of everything.

The Balcony

A small space that could be a significant area to use, if not for it being dark and open to the cold air; in all seasons. The biggest issue for the property manager is the drain. They like to see that  clear of any obstructions. And the outside glass and tiles are clean. The deck area needs to be clutter free. It’s not possible to keep outside furniture secure; the area is prone to high winds. So it’s often a dead loss of space. But essential for getting a breath of fresh air in between the invading ciggy smoke from other tenants.

Disappointment

Property managers are busy and hard to reach people. I think of them as spending all their time dealing with the dozens of emails they receive, probably hourly. For emergencies, fix this or fix those things. Run tasks and show off new premises. But that shouldn’t mean we can’t let them know about outstanding worrying conditions inside the apartment.

Note: Always: Be on time with rent! Be professional with the property managers.

If the issues are big-ticket  items, like water, electricity, fridge, waste master. You’ll have no delays. But in my experience of chattels, there is a slow response. Like the case of my drapes issue (from way back in April)  I had to take control of my health and wellbeing. So I replaced them. Which I shouldn’t have to. But I believe the property manager didn’t want to spend money on them.

In something more present, the case of water damage to the bathroom door frame. This was an issue before I tenanted the apartment. Yet I can’t get any traction on mitigation. And the bathroom glass shower door desperately needs a seal. Water sprays out onto the water damage and it’s stressing the cosmic out of me.

So how do I approach disappointment when my property manager doesn’t reply to my minor maintenance requests? I make sure I log it in my apartment journal, where I keep the copy of my damage report. I keep photos up to date. And I still email them to continue the hope of them sorting out the issue.

At the most, tenancy nz is good to contact and get advice from. They know all about inner city apartment living. But that said I’d love to film this apartment and include it in this podcast.  Because then I’ll have an excellent record of what’s going on. I could consider asking the Property Manager. Except given that I’m critiquing and not overflowing with glowing reviews? Besides, at the rate they move? The Sun would have cycled our galaxy before I’d get a reply to my query to film the apartment they’d need to get the owners’ permission. Nah, too much red tape to climb over for a short video.

Well, I won’t excite you with anymore of my CosWah. It’s time to say ka kite ano. Till next time, stay cosmic in the CBD.