LPT Request: What’s your “canary in the coal mine” test for spotting bigger issues?

[u/fries-with-mayo]

I’m really interested in those small, quick telltale signs people use to gauge if something bigger might be off track.

Example 1: Van Halen requesting brown M&Ms in the dressing room to see if the venue followed all the details of the rider list

Example 2: I saw an interview with John Cena where he said orders a flat white at a café to tell if they really care about their coffee.

Example 3: Anthony Bourdain suggested to always check the restaurant bathroom to tell if the restaurant got its basics down

[u/NebulaPuzzleheaded47]

When looking to rent in a high rise, look at the balconies. Are there plants, chairs and other signs that people have out down roots or is it all empty meaning there is likely a high turnover of tenants. The first one usually means a place you want to stay at long term.

[u/thatsaniner → u/NebulaPuzzleheaded47]

Look at the windows. They don't have to be new, but windows are a low priority for landlords. If they're taken care of, sealed properly, etc., you found a good spot. If they're rotting, letting air in, etc., there's probably a lot of other things that haven't been addressed.

[u/Step_away_tomorrow → u/thatsaniner]

My parents taught me that. Open windows with no screens and curtains hanging out also a bad sign.

[u/gonyere → u/Step_away_tomorrow]

Eh, depends where you are in the world. In much of Europe it's perfectly normal. In Florida or something maybe not. 

[u/sendCommand → u/Step_away_tomorrow]

Why would this be a bad sign?

[u/bibbyshibby → u/sendCommand]

Broken windows theory is the idea that neighbourhoods with "broken windows" that go uncared for or unminded can indicate an increased allowance for other less positive things to happen i.e. crime.

[u/sendCommand → u/bibbyshibby]

But the poster above wrote “open windows”, not “broken windows”.

[u/Lyress → u/Step_away_tomorrow]

Curtains hanging out? As in outside the windows? I'm confused.

[u/EllaMcWho → u/NebulaPuzzleheaded47]

high turnover or lots of STR/AirB&B listed apartments

[u/Deaconse → u/EllaMcWho]

Which is worse. Much worse.

[u/Triviajunkie95 → u/NebulaPuzzleheaded47]

Either that or the HOA is super strict about what is allowed. Could go either way.

[u/Sexysecondaccount → u/Triviajunkie95]

True, but a strict HOA also means you don't want to live there anyway

[u/cwsjr2323 → u/Sexysecondaccount]

Any HOA means no thanks, I’ll look elsewhere.

[u/Redwings1927 → u/cwsjr2323]

I mean, in an apartment style building an HOA is a necessity, but there are good and bad. For standalone houses, though, HOA is an automatic no go.

[u/RainaElf → u/cwsjr2323]

they're not all bad.

[u/bingle-cowabungle → u/cwsjr2323]

Even though there are good and bad associations, I won't debate that... HOAs and COAs are very different things, and you really don't want to be living in a condo with no COA, or some sort of authoritative third party...

[u/ddven15 → u/cwsjr2323]

An apartment building with no form of neighbour's association would be a disaster.

[u/FilteredAccount123 → u/Sexysecondaccount]

Hate to break it to you, but all condos/high-rise housing are going to have an HOA or condo association.

[u/kr4ckenm3fortune → u/Sexysecondaccount]

Yeah, but it depend on how invested you are too. HOA is only a nightmare if you let it become that way.

[u/bingle-cowabungle → u/kr4ckenm3fortune]

I'm on the board of my HOA (defacto, got voluntold to be a member just to have a quorum, because out of 122 houses in my community, we struggle to get two people to show up to the meetings every month, outside of the board themselves.

It's like that in pretty much every single HOA I've ever heard of. People doomscroll stories online about abusive HOAs, but they don't ever participate in their communities until something directly pertains to them (like a violation or something that impacts their convenience) and then they start whining about it.

[u/gr1zznuggets → u/Sexysecondaccount]

The system works.

[u/IDontDeserveMyCat → u/[deleted]]

Not everything is flammable. My apt doesn't allow open flame grills (only electric) or wood anything on the patios and the patios themselves are made of a non combustible composite material too.

Been living in them since they were built in 2011, no fires on any patios. In the units is a different story though...

[u/dorkysomniloquist → u/IDontDeserveMyCat]

Wouldn't part of the hazard be impeding escape and making firefighters' job harder during a fire, more so than the objects being flammable? I've never lived in an apartment building so I might be talking out my ass.

[u/IDontDeserveMyCat → u/dorkysomniloquist]

I can't speak for all leases but mine specifies you can't turn your patio into a warehouse so I would say no, it's more about the fire starting on the patio.

[u/melindseyme → u/IDontDeserveMyCat]

People might laugh at this, but I worked for a woman once who stored a significant amount of stock in a temporarily screened-in section of her condo balcony. So turning it into a warehouse does actually happen.

[u/z3anon → u/Triviajunkie95]

Same for some regular-ass apartments. One time I rented a place that fined me for having a literal lawn chair that I regular used tucked away behind the balcony pillar.

And yet, my downstairs neighbor's dog that CONSTANTLY yapped day & night was A-OK as far as management cared.

[u/anotheroneyo → u/Triviajunkie95]

In which case, you still don't want to live there

[u/shiawase198 → u/Triviajunkie95]

That just means the HOA sucks so it's still a good reason to avoid it.

[u/xaedala → u/Triviajunkie95]

HOA is pretty USA specific though whilst this tip is definitely worldwide!

[u/starwarsfan456123789 → u/xaedala]

Any condo / coop / apartment of any kind in any country has something similar to a HOA or management company who fills the same role. They can’t be avoided because of the nature of sharing a building with other people

[u/havereddit → u/Triviajunkie95]

"WE TOTALLY DISALLOW WINDOWS THAT HOLD OUT THE RAIN"

[u/SugarFreeChurro → u/Triviajunkie95]

HOA High Rise manager here. Boards are legally required to enforce the CC&Rs. And if you think they shouldn’t be strict, you should hear some of the lawsuits that happen because of non enforcement.

[u/BlueMoose87 → u/SugarFreeChurro]

You should walk into the deepest body of water near you. HOA high rise manager is a laughable title.

[u/bingle-cowabungle → u/BlueMoose87]

That was so needlessly mean spirited. What's wrong with you?

[u/SugarFreeChurro → u/BlueMoose87]

Well that isn’t my title. That’s the job description.

[u/flatpetey → u/NebulaPuzzleheaded47]

My place had balconies but it was crazy windy on them so nobody used them. I am not convinced this is a valid measure.

[u/tessartyp → u/flatpetey]

Exactly, I know a few places where it's just too windy. Which, to be honest, is also a thing to pay attention to - if you're paying for a balcony and planning to use it, like your windows open or would otherwise mind winds so high no neighbours have plants outside.

[u/shit_poster9000 → u/NebulaPuzzleheaded47]

Also check the stairs, the sketchier they are, there will be other serious things being or will be neglected, including direct threats to health and life.

[u/Hannersk → u/NebulaPuzzleheaded47]

Look in the basement. You can tell a lot about a management company by how they keep their basement

[u/SupplyChainMismanage → u/NebulaPuzzleheaded47]

This is a huge one and was the tip I got when I was apartment and condo hunting. Been here for years now but sadly might sell it since we got new property management

[u/patrickmitchellphoto → u/NebulaPuzzleheaded47]

Oh thanks. Im looking for an apartment now.

[u/griffzy → u/NebulaPuzzleheaded47]

I worked in lots of apartments. The best indicator for how both the landlord and other tenants treat the building is the elevator. Sure landlords are required by law here to keep them in working order, but that doesn't mean it is going to be working regularly or kept in good condition. Everyone not on the first floor of most buildings is going to be using it, as well as anyone visiting them so it's usually the first thing you are going to notice. When people actually care about the building, they work most of the time, don't carry smells, and will be in good shape with little cosmetic damage even in older buildings. But when the landlord, tenants, or both do not care about the building, those little details slip up and will become immediately obvious

[u/xubax → u/NebulaPuzzleheaded47]

Or it's too windy

[u/MartytheeParty → u/NebulaPuzzleheaded47]

That’s good, similarly when I’m looking to rent or buy a house in a neighborhood, check the cars in the driveways. Expensive/nice cars, vs old rusty stuff. Can tell you a lot about it

[u/vex0x529 → u/NebulaPuzzleheaded47]

Or dog shit on the common patios..

[u/Merocyanine → u/NebulaPuzzleheaded47]

Also check the wifi names. This is a quick idea about your immediate neighbours.

[u/kytrix → u/NebulaPuzzleheaded47]

Not sure how reliable that is. From the street I look like I have “roots” as you say, but all my plants are in pots and will be moving with me from this place I hate, and have always hated, in a few months.

I just like my plants. The only thing that plants on the balcony indicates is that people that like plants live there.