Comment

Comment by LLovesmysailor on October 2, 2009 at 3:21pm

Janice, They almost all struggle at some point. Hang in there. Our sailors often make it seem like things are worst than they really are. They just use us to vent.

Comment by BunkerQB on October 2, 2009 at 11:29am

Jeanne, on your computer screen, you have a folder call "My Documents" on your desktop. You should create a subfolder "NavyForMoms" (which you can put on your desktop too). Think of it as having a hanging file withing a drawer. Of course, you can have sub folders within "NavyForMoms" (as many as you want). It gets frustrating .... I hate paperwork.

Comment by NevadaSierra on October 2, 2009 at 10:58am

Hey everyone: THANK YOU for all of your prayers and support. The unemployment funds are coming in now! Almost 60 days to the last day worked. Now, to find a new job! One step at a time. My angel blessings to all ~Susan~

Comment by carols_kitchen on October 1, 2009 at 6:57pm

Kris--you should hear in a couple of days if your sailor still had time left on his calling card or if a shipmate lends him a cell phone. Start packing your box--either flat rate box from the post office or UPS. Flat rate is less expensive and UPS gives military discounts.
It's great there!!!!!

Comment by Kris, Stevens mom on October 1, 2009 at 6:02pm

does anyone know after they get to GC how long until they can call home, or are they able to and my son is just being uncommunicative like he was in bootcamp? as far as i know they flew into charleston yesterday. he is a mm and plans to go to school in NY and also CT after hes done in GC.

Comment by BunkerQB on October 1, 2009 at 5:19pm

The easiest thing to do is copy the text in the comment and paste it to a MS WORD document. You'll always have that document on file. You can send it to your sailor as an attachment. If you loose it, friend me and I will send you one by regular email (no attachments with N4M message system).

Comment by Pat L. in IL on October 1, 2009 at 3:26pm

Thanks Sandi, Apparently my sailor won't know until Oct. where he goes for Prototype. If it is Ballston Spa, it is certainly nice to have a contact close.

Comment by BunkerQB on October 1, 2009 at 3:00pm

1. We should keep a list of recommended apartment buildings and ones to avoid. My son found housing in Ballston Spa and Charleston by taking over a room vacated by a previous officer. You should stay in touch with the class ahead.
2. Any Realtor within any given area will be able to provide information about the communities he/she services. Most Realtors do no specialize in rentals - not enough money in that unless he/she own the property or is representing an owner who just recently purchased the property or assisting a long time client. I can't think of a Realtor who would NOT take the time or make the effort to help a military person - much depends on how much the sailor(s) can afford on rent. Do not "tip" the Realtor. A heartfelt "thank you" note or navy hat or some small gift (navy related) would be better.
3.. The good rentals are always word of mouth. If you live in a city where a sailor may be coming, keep your eyes open.
4.. The majority of rentals, particularly in the "lower end" are listed in Craigslist which has a google map link on the bottom of the page. You can check the location immediately. The key is to have a broad idea of what areas to avoid.
5. You can put on a email in "housing wanted" in Craigslist in the community where you want to find an apartment. My husband and I own rental in Santa Clara County - we have found good tenants on a number of occasions by responding to housing wanted postings.
6. If you make contact with a Realtor, don't expect to be chauffeured around. Be pro active. Asking the Realtor for an opinion on neighborhood would it be OK but the sailor must do his/her own research.
7. What should a sailor do to optimize his chances of getting the landlord's approval in a hot rental market and good practices in any rental market?
a. Have a application filled with all pertinent information (don't supply soc security # here)
b. Get a credit report in advance, have a copy available to give to the landlord/manager
c. Take photos of the place that you just vacated to show that you can maintain a place
d. Get a recommendation from previous landlord, indicating rent on time, nice guys, etc.
e. Writ personal note explaining why you are looking for housing.
f. Many places don't allow pets, or smokers.
g. Be honest, don't lie about the smoking issue.
h. Take pictures upon taking possession. Make notes.
i. Contact landlord/manager ASAP when something goes wrong. Take photo and writ brief description
j. Call landlord/manager and schedule walk through of property prior to vacating premises
k. Read the lease (including the fine print)
l. Get renter's insurance
m. Do not allow someone to stay at place (particularly if your son/daughter will be gone unless you really know the person - whoever has his/her name(s) on the lease will be responsible.

That's all for now. Bea

Comment by BunkerQB on October 1, 2009 at 2:39pm

Comment by Rebecca on September 10, 2009 at 12:32pm
Also, I would like to add, that the Navy Base Housing Office will also have a list of rentals and off base housing. Your Sailors should start with them, for the know the community, or should, and will be able to direct our sailors in the right direction to finding themselves a good area and home.
Comment by Rebecca on September 10, 2009 at 12:26pm
Actually the Navy has a website for sailors and their families to use to look for rentals, houses to buy, sell etc.. The website is AHRN.com Not all bases are using this site, but I would think that California is on there. Its an excellent site for our sailors, b/c is mostly military trying to rent to other military. BUT, it also has a lot of rentals on there that will either wave or discount security deposits, credit checks, pet deposits etc...... Please refer your sailors off to their Ombudsmans, whom are a wealth of information and referral service to them.

Click HERE for AHRN.

Comment by BunkerQB on October 1, 2009 at 2:29pm

I remember the story also. Bea
KatherineC on April 17, 2009 made this comment.
I was just reading up on the comments and I have a good move-in story at Prototype School in NY. My son and 2 other mates rented a house in Saratoga Springs from Jeffrey E. Brown Realty over the internet with a jacuzzi, pool table, ping pong table, darts, washer/dryer, 4 bedrooms, completely furnished, etc for $1600.00/month $2500.00 security deposit. Their lease also had a required maid service agreement ($80.00 cash left on the dining room table once a month as it turned out). The lease was from October 28-April 27, 2006. One of the guys arrived at the house the day after the lease was in effect, only to find that the owner of the house was still living there. All of the guys had a 2 week leave so they would be arriving at different times. He only wanted to unpack his belongings, leave his car, and head home for his 2 week leave. He ended up leaving his car and belongings at the airport. My son was coming home first so he called me to let me know what was going on (this is definitely a "I need my mom to fix it situation"). I called the realtor and he was mad because they didn't call first. I pointed out the fact that they had a signed lease and they didn't have to call, they technically owned the house for 6 months and although they didn't have a key they could have found a way to get in even if that meant breaking a window and replacing it at their expense. The owner of the house was also using the utilities at the lessors expense. Anyway, they eventually moved in to their 4 bedroom furnished home with the jacuzzi that none of them had time to use so they drained it, the pool table with no cue tips for the sticks, 2 extra refridgerators running in the basement that they unplugged to save on electricity and heating bill that ran up another $300.00-$600.00 per month on average for a typical NY Winter, in that house anyway. The kitchen refridgerator had duct tape holding the interior shelves on the door together, the stove was filthy and the electric burners didn't fit the cooking surface. In the end my son had to call about getting the security deposit back and the owner said that there were a few items that had to be replaced. She sent him a receipt to replace one of the refridgerators in the basement because the hotdog and hamburg buns that "SHE" had left in the freezer got moldy ($600.00). The refridgerator was at least 20 years old. She also charged $300.00 or more for the jacuzzi because she claimed that it had to be repaired because it was drained. I called the repair person and what had to be done was normal wear and tear. All of the receipts were on the same store bought forms. The new refridgerator was bought at a yard sale on a Wednesday.

I think they learned a lesson about rental property. There was a woman at the Naval Base who tried to help, but the owner wouldn't budge and the sailors would have had to take her to small claims court.

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