Renting in Oak Park, IL -some helpful links

When moving into Oak Park, Il or anywhere else you need to be on your toes regarding the rental process. Below I have added some links to the apartment.com’s website regarding the rental process. What questions you should ask normally, an apartment checklist to things you should do when you move out. Because Oak Park, IL will make you do that, move out.

I would also research or ask about:

The parking conditions in the area. This is serious because if you do not know the parking restrictions in the area of your new place you can easily rack up 50 to 150 dollars’ worth in tickets.

The demographics of your neighbors. Families will tell you how busy the area will be. Seniors will tell you how quiet you need to be and how much intrusiveness you can expect on your daily life when you are entering or exiting the public domain.

Here are the articles I aforementioned above:

https://www.apartments.com/blog/apartment-rental-checklist

https://www.apartments.com/blog/12-questions-to-ask-a-property-manager-before-signing-a-lease

https://www.apartments.com/blog/5-tips-for-moving-out

Greenplan crap how I got there…

I remember how my journey or time in Oak Park, iL started when I began the rental con-tract with Green shit properties. I was deleting some old emails and found this beauty:

I should have read between the lines and saw the “control play” written by the representative of Greenplan Management it was such an underlining “who-gives-a-fuck-pay-us-money” attitude between each word. I really should have known. Please note that renting is a business however with every business to have happy customers there must be some type of showmanship or sense of empathy/humanity. But most entities in Oak Park, IL lack these traits. Actually, these businesses do not even try to portray them, because to them: “We are helping you.”

As if renting a lead-painted vintage apartment in Oak Park, IL with the help of the stoic frigid personalities of this organization was high on one’s bucket list. I should have been gracious for entering such a judgmental hypocritical community that I should have been helping the entitled spawn that gets out of school after 3pm cross the street so that they do not have to separate themselves from their iPhones.

I know I sound like I am ten thousand years old but I do not feel the need to be a part of a community that has a stuck up attitude, on one hand, wants me to play “village mother” on the other and then wants me to be grateful for such treatment. Same with Greenplan management, paid on time, kept the apartment in one piece, had parties but kept it respectful. However, Greenplan management would rather throw that away, lose a good renter for the optics of a situation that is judged by their crappy representatives.  Thank God I rent elsewhere and if you are renting from them anywhere in the Chicagoland area you should try to do so as well.

Painting away the vintage in Oak Park, IL

I have been painting my apartment recently nothing major just a shade lighter so that the association cannot tell, but I get better light. It is a shame because in Lakeview I was able to paint that apartment over there, so long as the color was not a gloss black. Really. That specific. And I can understand the reason behind it because trying to cover the color black is hard enough, but gloss black? UGH.

Also means that someone painted an apartment in gloss black before. Why? I have no idea but it was a caveat. Here is Oak Park, IL it seems that there is a moratorium on improving the rental living spaces even by the associations that run them. The old vintage look is definitely over with, updates should be required by the village alas they are not. When looking at where all the new development is happening I can definitely say that the village planners are not exactly the brightest crayons in the box. Therefore when it comes to new regulations being written for older exiting buildings I doubt I will see anything in my lifetime.

The nostalgia trip Oak Park, Il seems to be riding also leaks into its politics and social economic policies, but right now I am just bucking the system to get more light into my apartment with the old ass light fixtures I have. Just a tad shade lighter and my rooms are looking better than ever and hopefully sealing in all that lead paint. That way I won’t die from “vintage” Oak Park, IL

Vintage electrical in Oak Park, IL during the summer

Now that the heat wave has set in, like most people in Oak Park, IL I will be trying my hand at running my Air conditioner and taxing the electric system in my apartment. Oak Park, Il usually has homes and apartments littered with electrical systems that have a mixture or various versions of electrical equipment. You can tell by the electrical outlets, the old two plug outlets or what are called two prong receptacles. If you have any of these old time or vintage outlets in your house or apartment it means you have a piece of shit electrical system that could go back decades. And therefore, will have issues running air conditioners or multiple electronic devices at once in one room or sometimes multiple rooms.

With this type of electrical system, you can be sure that you will easily blow a fuse. Whenever I am looking for a new apartment I ask about the electrical set up and I take a long look at the outlets and light fixtures. All that vintage shit does not help but it becomes a “selling point” when realtors or landlords talk about properties in the area. When you hear that just think of 90-degree days and your air conditioner blowing a fuse for the whole apartment and you do not have access to the fuse box. Add to that make it a Sunday, mid afternoon and you have to call someone to either replace the fuse or fix the electrical issue on this hot ass day, when people all around your area are probably having the same issue. It does not make you “love” that “vintage” electrical set up at all.

All the surge strips in the world cannot help me now, so now I am trying to figure out the next steps. Mainly, I am looking at low watt portable air conditioners, using plastic to seal off the windows to keep all the cold air in. Actually, I have doubled the plastic on some windows, that way the old ass crappy windows that are a part of the building will not leak as I have the air conditioner on. The part I hate? The electric bill during these months because they will be massive. Hence why I am thinking smarter this summer and not merely throwing my money out the window because Oak Park, Il and its old ass building codes (construction) does not become a hindrance to me.

“Vintage” Windows In Oak Park, IL

I haven’t written that much recently because I have been putting plastic up on the Windows of my “vintage” apartment. It has gotten warmer in here but such activities would not be necessary if places like this in Oak Park, il would have newer energy efficient Windows already installed. Therefore, I am now climbing on furniture, ladders and everything else to keep the zero below temperatures out being a “vintage” apartment I have higher probabilities of the cold air coming in and me, freezing my ass off.

I really only fault anyone who does not bitch about such conditions because silence is always damning. The directions seem simple until your monkey ads is climbing furniture trying to use this dumb ass sticky tape on the window sill to keep the plastic in one place. I am not an expert at this so I must admit I used half the tape for three Windows with only eight more to go. And I tore a lot of the plastic up while redoing some of the windows. But I think I got this whole process down “pat” as they say, I still have to go downstairs in the cold down the icy ass stairs to do my wash.

Whoever states that this “white Christmas” was great should be beaten with a large stick. And yes, if you watched the news there were some idiots thinking that this was great weather for the holiday. They were being interviewed in each station at 10 pm showcasing their ignorance for the world. Idiots.  All I know is that their “prayers” has me climbing furniture like mount Everest with sticky tape stuck to my ass clinging to some 70-year-old lead painted wooden window frame with one hand and a ball of plastic in the other. Winterizing these old vintage ads Windows to keep the outside, out.

Say no to Albion in Oak Park, IL

Totally awesome, finally Oak Park, Il residents have used their collective wits to stand against more bullshit development in the Oak Park, Il area. With the vote going 5-4 to say “NO” to the development of the Albion development is a major accomplishment. Because the money is what talks in Oak Park, IL with this vote obviously the “winds of change” are going another way. Protection of Parks in Oak Park, IL is very instrumental without the green areas

Oak Park loses its luster. However, this is only a “recommendation;” and the village board can still go ahead.

So why is that awesome? Because at least the voices of the residents of Oak Park, IL are being listened to by someone in the planning and development stages. Hopefully, the citizens sue the village board if they go ahead and point to this “recommendation” by the Oak Park Plan Commission to delay the selling of Oak Park, IL to special interests that the village board is okay doing.

If the residents that pay taxes are not okay with this development why is the village board going ahead with such stupidity? Because they are a smaller identical twin government of dysfunctional City of Chicago government that you see dominating the news on a daily basis with their stupidity.

If the residents were smart they would protest this crap on a bi-weekly basis forever and ask/get local media to cover it, the more “light” the residents can bring to this issue the less likely the cockroaches on the Village board will push through such crap. But that is only if the residents who are against this development have the balls to do so, this vote gives them the ammunition to totally stand against the village board.

Now it comes down to putting boots on the streets of Oak Park, IL or will the residents just sit on their asses at home complaining about it on social media, me? I have no dog in this fight I cannot care either way if the residents choose the latter then Oak Park, IL will be just the biggest hypocrites on God’s green earth.

This discusses the decision online:

http://www.oakpark.com/News/Articles/8-30-2017/In-close-vote,-Plan-Commission-rejects-Albion-/

Oak Park, Il blog related: Back to school

I am back in school for the time being taking about two classes or I have a full-time schedule for the next two terms, this way I can get done with school get the Masters degree in line with getting done with Oak Park, IL tons of writing means I will probably spend more time in front of the computer instead of outside whiffing in the smells of dog shit and pompous attitudes in the great outdoors.

I might use the extra money and or time to get myself ready for another move and update my furniture to things that are more functional and durable. This way it will not break down either inside just be used or during a move like my four-drawer dresser from Ikea. The movers just turned that thing from a thing of beauty to Frankenstein’s monster in less than a couple of hours. Mind you I waxed and shined that thing for a good 8 months and was very careful in using it.

Now one of the drawers’ outer face is scratched and another drawer is just smashed to pieces. That is why I am dipping into my drinking fund to get it right this time, ha-ha I guess I am “growing up” but I just want to make sure that I am not doubling my expenses just to make the apartment look cute in such a shitty suburb. With that in mind, i am going to max out on Bed Bath and Beyond coupons on the sturdy shit, instead of on candles.

I already took the advice of some of my buddies and looked into Ethan Allen (2k for a dresser!) but I am not that interested in that type of investment unless I am certain I am staying in the state. The amount of taxes that are going into effect especially very soon, like getting a house or a condo less of a sure thing than ever.

Therefore, keeping my head down and getting back into the swing of writing for school to finish that up and also to get back in practice of writing for the blog will be more of my focus …well, unless there is a two for one or free drinks option somewhere. Then I will happily fall off the wagon. Toodles.

Do not mess with the mail carriers in Oak Park, IL

There was an issue with the mail and I loved that the mail person just did not want to throw the mail anywhere but at least left a note. A note regarding the situation although what I did read (I was looking over her shoulder as I was coming in from my lunch break) was very hilarious then my otherworldly neighbor came down (not the offender) and I had to stop lingering otherwise I would have made it obvious.

The note was basically stating to have all the names on the mailbox, I guess that pisses off all the mail people working in Oak Park, Il not just the ones in my old neighborhood I believe that the mail workers believe that everyone in Oak park, Il is a bunch of privileged assholes. When that is totally not true however if that is all you have been exposed to and the majority of my experiences with people in Oak Park, il has been negative as well so it is easy to see why these postal workers have such as shitty attitude towards residents doing whatever in regards to their mailboxes and postal expectations.

These postal workers are probably treated like “the help” or indentured servants without a second thought and the only way they know how to react is by giving tons of hostility towards everyone they come in contact with. That is why I give them a wide berth to do their job and interact with them like I have manners.

Just a professional courtesy that as a customer ensures that my mail is delivered on time, properly and correctly. Oak Park, Il is shitty enough than to just be pissing off those who are merely doing their job, do not live here, and handle important documentation that is essential for my daily activities and/or existence in this shitty little burb, hopefully, other people in Oak Park start thinking the same way.

Modern Construction will eliminate “Vintage” wiring in Oak Park, IL

I cannot believe that the local government agencies allow apartment buildings in the Oak Park area to have such crappy electrical set ups for their buildings. I mean there are outlets from the 1950s or maybe 1930s it’s just ancient compared to today’s standards or the new construction that is occurring in downtown Oak Park. It is so scatterbrained, it is like the village is waiting for a major fire to happen before having on a set of standards.

Of course, these vintage set ups are still allowed because renters buy into the illusion that Oak Park’s culture and acceptance into the area’s community is just to “roll with” it. However, this illusion is now being challenged by the new buildings being built in the area, it shows that the new residents are not accepting these old-fashioned standards. In fact, today’s technology of temperature controls, surge protector outlets, and low wattage lights are all pieces of the environmentally friendly message that Oak Park, Il espouses to masses.

But again, the massive contradiction that is Oak Park, Il there is this environmental holier than thou message or fantasy that is pushed by those disillusional hippies here only to be dashed by the reality of the two prolog outlets that pop up in the various dwellings here in Oak Park, Il. The two standards cannot exist side by side, and the more younger renters that come into the village the louder, the more the voices that will request, that will demand newer standards.

The demand for new technology for dwellings to become environ mentally friendly will become prevalent. Change is inevitable for Oak Park, Il and I for one cannot wait to see it happen. The more people who speak up for modern technology the more likely we will be seeing the end of “vintage” wiring in Oak Park, Il.

Oak Park, IL blog: The “Master key murder” episode supports what I have said before

I was recently watching the ID channel series called the “Nightmare Next Door”, and there was this one episode called “master key murder” that illustrated one of the issues I had with Oak Park apartments. In a previous blog post, I mentioned I had a master key that opened every door in my apartment building, and how after I found out I received nothing but resistance in trying to change the locks too (at least) my apartment.

Well, this episode from the series “Nightmare Next Door”, a promising young woman is hacked into pieces by her crazy stalking neighbor who… Had a master key to the entire apartment building. At one point, not on did he steal condoms from his neighbors but also had a pair of used (had DNA on it) panties from the victim.

Of course, this was only found out with police searched his apartment but it proves my point that sick ass individuals are out there doing the exact same crazy shit I was worried about. The same stuff that Oak Park Apartments representatives thought I was being silly about or just being dramatic about. Those dumb bitches have no clue about how serious an issue, of having a “floating” master key is.

This crime on illustrates why property management companies, should be extremely careful with individual apartment keys, master key, and all their copies. Plus, anyone who rents should watch this episode or research this tragic case to get a heads up. When I moved to my new place I made sure I got new locks on the main door and had extra locking systems put into place so I can be safe from all the freakin creeps out there. The ones Oak Park Apartments think do not exist.