| Author |
Message |
Naja
Member
06-28-2003
| Sunday, June 15, 2025 - 12:39 pm 
RN Remember when I said my friend Sabrina dropped the 2 liter of coke zero, and pop went all over and the dogs got so startled they scattered and spilled their food and water? She was at it again today.
There was about half of my bday cake left and when she was pulling it out of the fridge to get a slice, she dropped it icing side down on the kitchen floor. LMAO She feels so bad and I can't stop laughing. Losing half a cake is so worth the laugh!
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Dipo
Member
04-22-2002
| Sunday, June 15, 2025 - 9:29 pm
RN, watching Underdogs on National Geographic, it's very interesting and quite cute.
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Naja
Member
06-28-2003
| Tuesday, June 17, 2025 - 8:13 am
RN Happy 82nd Birthday to my dear Barry Manilow!
 
Image from Here
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Naja
Member
06-28-2003
| Wednesday, June 18, 2025 - 3:04 pm
RN I am really aggravated. My 23 yr old tenant just sent me this.
"Hey Naja, sorry for such a short notice but one of my friends that lives in KC had a room open up much closer to the office I work at. I am going to move out of your room on Monday when I get back after work.
I get I paid rent to the 26th so I will be missing out on a few days I have paid for but it is the most ideal time for me to move before then.
I appreciate the room you have given me for the last month though. I have just found a better situation for myself. Thank you!"
I am so sick of tenants. I'm not going to do it anymore.
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Karuuna
Board Administrator
08-30-2000
| Wednesday, June 18, 2025 - 5:47 pm
darn it, Naja! Glad you won't need the income much longer!
At least he didn't ask for a refund!
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Naja
Member
06-28-2003
| Thursday, June 19, 2025 - 3:52 am
RN I really wish I knew that at least this was going to be a possibly for him. I thought it was going to easy street until July 9. But instead of getting a month's rent, I have to give back a deposit. I may just tell him he can't have his deposit until July 9, the day my benefits start, instead of 2 weeks of me being on the edge of my seat hoping my checking account doesn't get overdrawn from the household bills on autopay.
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Karuuna
Board Administrator
08-30-2000
| Thursday, June 19, 2025 - 8:50 am
That's fair!
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Seamonkey
Moderator
09-06-2000
| Thursday, June 19, 2025 - 9:44 am
I would have thought he forfeited the deposit.
But you have had some good experiences, too.
Now you will be able to run naked through your house, if you actually want to do that.
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Pamy
Member
01-01-2002
| Thursday, June 19, 2025 - 10:31 am
Usually a tenant has to give 30 day notice
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Naja
Member
06-28-2003
| Thursday, June 19, 2025 - 10:38 am
RN Since he was only staying 2.5 months, I figured we didn't need that agreement. I do have people with an "unknown" check-out date agree to the 30 days notice.
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Pamy
Member
01-01-2002
| Thursday, June 19, 2025 - 12:53 pm
you can look at the bright side, at least he wont be a tenant you have trouble getting rid of. We have given our back house tenant 2 months notice to move out and I fear she wont leave then
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Seamonkey
Moderator
09-06-2000
| Thursday, June 19, 2025 - 2:01 pm
Pamy has a good point.. And he isn't like the ntb.
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Naja
Member
06-28-2003
| Thursday, June 19, 2025 - 3:33 pm
RN That's why I have tried to stick with traveling medical professionals. Their contracts are almost always 3 months with chances for extensions. But no matter what, they don't like to be away from home much longer than a couple contracts.
RN I just got an email that Google fiber is finished being installed in my area and the very first customers have been hooked up. I'll get another email when they get to my house.
The possibility of cutting cable is soon to be an actual choice. When or if I do, I have to be 100% sure and have the replacements planned out. What I am hoping for is Xfinity being forced to lower their price a LOT to try to keep me.
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Mack
Member
07-22-2002
| Thursday, June 19, 2025 - 3:58 pm
RN My son, who lives just 2 miles away, has Google fiber. It is amazingly fast but not cheaper than Spectrum cable which previously serviced the house. We don’t have fiber in our community yet as we’re in the county and Google fiber had some kind of “deal” with the city so that was their initial installation. Earlier this year Google fiber was brought down to the closest major intersection which is in the county but still a block away from our community. Far as I can tell they’ve done nothing to extend it any further. We will probably switch if and when it becomes available but right now we’ve stuck with AT&T DSL. Not as fast as Spectrum cable but I refuse to deal with them.
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Juju2bigdog
Member
10-26-2000
| Thursday, June 19, 2025 - 10:41 pm
Naja, I live in an over-55 community, and some of the neighbors are realllly savvy about cutting costs (our grandparents survived the Great Depression). One of the neighbors casually remarked about a month ago that it was time for her to go re-negotiate her Xfinity service, and I asked her what that meant. She said every year at this time she has to re-negotiate her Xfinity service. And I vaguely recalled a time when we got very unhappy with Comcast/Xfinity annually raising our bill, and called them to cancel. And they cut our bill!! So go try that.
And I would try to also negotiate with the kid or the kid's parents about refunding the deposit. Guilt the crap out of them. I would say HALF of the deposit on July 9 would be more than fair, (considering you are a kindly widow forced into extreme circumstances).
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Karuuna
Board Administrator
08-30-2000
| Friday, June 20, 2025 - 8:57 am
FWIW, I tried to renegotiate Xfinity a few months ago, and while it has always worked in the past, this time the only offer they had cost MORE for fewer channels. And that was for a 30 year customer!
I suspect you have to call back frequently and watch for a good deal.
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Naja
Member
06-28-2003
| Friday, June 20, 2025 - 9:02 am
RN Well, here is my plan. I will 100% figure out a new configuration for my internet and TV. I mean be ready to hit "pay" on them. Then call xfinity and tell them I want to cancel. If they offer me a savings of at least $50 for at least one year, I'll stay. Anything less and I'll go ahead with cancellation.
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Naja
Member
06-28-2003
| Friday, June 20, 2025 - 4:00 pm
RN I have decided to take 1 month off from tenants and I made all 3 of my listings say the room is available Aug 1st. Only women. No more guys unless Endo wants to come back.
I have also decided to give Toyota Sam his full deposit when he gets back to pack, and not make him wait until July 9. The main reason is I want get it over with. No other reason. I'll be cutting the finances close, but I'll make it.
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Sugar
Member
08-14-2000
| Friday, June 20, 2025 - 7:43 pm
Naja, you had asked about holiday pricing for your dog sitting business in another thread. I suggest that your charge 1.5 or twice as much for holidays as well as the days before and after.
However, any stay from 12/23 to 1/3 I think you should charge double.
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Seamonkey
Moderator
09-06-2000
| Friday, June 20, 2025 - 9:43 pm
I was thinking the other day, Naja, and another angle could be a concierge service to dogs (and owners) you really want to keep..
They pay more with a guarantee of fewer guest dogs. They feel more special and they are. But with fewer dogs you also have less work and enjoy it more. Dolly and Patsy probably enjoy it more too.
And holidays, definitely more..
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Juju2bigdog
Member
10-26-2000
| Saturday, June 21, 2025 - 11:49 pm
Brilliant idea, Sea!!! Yes, concierge service is something people of means are gladly paying for these days.
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Naja
Member
06-28-2003
| Sunday, June 22, 2025 - 3:44 am
RN I'm not putting together what you guys mean by a concierge service, or rather how it would work with dogs.
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Karuuna
Board Administrator
08-30-2000
| Sunday, June 22, 2025 - 8:29 am
Naja, I'm not sure, but it sounds like they are suggesting limiting the number of dogs you take at any time to provide more individualized service?
Around here, concierge services include taking your boarded dogs on walks, or to the vet, or bathing, anything other than just providing a place to sleep, play, eat. Personally, I wouldn't care for the additional liability for those (except maybe bathing).
Hope that helps.
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Seamonkey
Moderator
09-06-2000
| Sunday, June 22, 2025 - 9:24 am
Yeah, I would worry about more trips outside the property.
I was thinking of how doctors sometimes set up a concierge practice where people pay more but have better access.
My cat sitter (last used in 2009) raised prices over the years but she also got training for extra services like T Touch (Tellington Touch), massage, IV fluid administration, probably more. She had a charge for vet visits too.
When my brother and sister in law had a cat that needed IV fluids, they used a cat sitter trained in that when they traveled.
They didn't use the term concierge. I just thought it up myself, but obviously people also have been using it.
Some of the things you already do, like bathing and sending updates and videos, could be considered extra.
Back before internet and email and cell phones, my cat sitter would keep a daily written log and leave that, nut when I took a 2 month trip, I had two phone lines as I was on call for a hotline.. Anyway I just had her call one line from the other and leave a voicemail. I could call and get a nice update, which was wonderful. Today it is so much easier.
And yes, just a way to avoid that too many dog anxiety and provide quality service while reducing your load, as long as you even want to be in that business for some extra income.
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Karuuna
Board Administrator
08-30-2000
| Sunday, June 22, 2025 - 9:34 am
RN, To be honest, since you are frequently on the verge of being overbooked, I'd keep jogging up those rates slowly but surely.
Then maybe offer a discount for previous customers or frequent boarders.
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