Author Topic: Should I move...? (Update on bats)  (Read 3980 times)

EconDiva

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Should I move...? (Update on bats)
« on: January 15, 2016, 01:05:12 PM »
Background:
http://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/ask-a-mustachian/bats-in-my-bedroom/

Scenario:

-Above thread shows I had issues with bats in my apartment.  Haven't seen any in ~3 months.  However, the nets they put up outside of my building went down last week.  I still haven't seen any but who knows...I heard bats hibernate in the winter so that could be why.  This issue costed me months of sleep and about ~1K in hotel rooms, ER/hospital visits. 
-On one hand I think I should move out because if I see them again, it's going to cost me money and my mental health.  On the other hand if I leave it's also going to be a strain because I can't find anything like my current apartment that's not like a minimum of 40% more (I got a really good deal on my current place outside of the bat issue lol).  If I move out I feel like the sacrifices would be huge-as in get a roommate, pay way more money (not an option), or find a place priced at what I pay now (which would be crappy from geographical and aesthetic points)
-I'm currently paying over $1000 and last year they tried to go up ~12% on my rent (I talked them down to like 6%).  So it's a good chance it'll go way up again this year.  The issue is I figured I could stay in this place that I so happen to actually like and just rent out the other room.  We'd have to share a bathroom but this does seem like the mustachian way to go.  If bats appear again though there's no telling...the other person could just bow out and leave.  That's what I wanted to do at the time.

I hate the idea of moving (I've moved on average once ever 18 months since like the age of 21 and I'm now 37).  I don't want to spend the money and time doing this again so soon. I just am not sure of my safety as the nets were the primary solution the landlord implemented so it's not like bats were physically evacuated out of the building roof, and it's not like they identified exactly where in the roof/building they were coming in/out of and patched it up.  So I'm convinced when it gets warm again they will be back. Sigh.  Would you stay or go?

lbmustache

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Re: Should I move...? (Update on bats)
« Reply #1 on: January 15, 2016, 01:21:41 PM »
Well, if you stay, you will be paying in terms of money AND mental health.

If you move, it's just a money issue (and the initial hassle of moving).

Quite frankly, I am not sure why this is even a debate. I would absolutely, not live in a place that had bats - and you are concerned that they are still there/will be back!!! FLYING OVER YOUR DAMN FACE AT NIGHT. Possibly attacking you? For over $1000 a month?! Maybe if this was some dirt cheap $200/mo place. Even then...

Start searching for a place now. You may get lucky. Just a big fat NO to the bats.

Edit: Also you say that a downside to moving out would be having a roommate and then you suggest getting a roommate for your current place?
« Last Edit: January 15, 2016, 01:23:27 PM by lbmustache »

EconDiva

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Re: Should I move...? (Update on bats)
« Reply #2 on: January 15, 2016, 01:25:10 PM »
Well, if you stay, you will be paying in terms of money AND mental health.

If you move, it's just a money issue (and the initial hassle of moving).

Quite frankly, I am not sure why this is even a debate. I would absolutely, not live in a place that had bats - and you are concerned that they are still there/will be back!!! FLYING OVER YOUR DAMN FACE AT NIGHT. Possibly attacking you? For over $1000 a month?! Maybe if this was some dirt cheap $200/mo place. Even then...

Start searching for a place now. You may get lucky. Just a big fat NO to the bats.

It's only an issue because when I first encountered bats and went looking for a new place, I couldn't believe how quickly the market had changed.  I couldn't afford anything NEAR what I have now.  I guess I'm going to be 'forced' to get a roommate whereas before the bat situation, I'd just continue living where I am now and "maybe" consider a roommate if I wanted to down the line. 

But I understand why it seems silly that I'm even debating about this  But you don't know what I went through to find and get this place; I'm just a little upset I feel like I'm being forced to leave and spend time and money looking for and settling into a less desirable place and/or location because of something so random and beyond my control.

sonjak

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Re: Should I move...? (Update on bats)
« Reply #3 on: January 15, 2016, 01:27:30 PM »
Sounds like you'll have a roommate either way.  Would you prefer that roommate to be bats or a human?

lbmustache

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Re: Should I move...? (Update on bats)
« Reply #4 on: January 15, 2016, 01:40:38 PM »
I live in a place where nice apartments at reasonable prices are hard to find too - and involve you trying to beat out hundreds of applicants. So I get that part of it. Is it worth it to be paranoid and miserable and spend even more money on hotels/hospital visits? For me, no.

The bat thing is unfortunately one of the downsides of apartment living  (you are at the mercy of the landlord or PM company). That's the luck of the draw.

If you choose to get a roommate you would (legally?) need to disclose to your roommate that you potentially have bats living with you.

little_brown_dog

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Re: Should I move...? (Update on bats)
« Reply #5 on: January 15, 2016, 02:11:52 PM »
I would stay - but then again, I am not afraid of bats or most animals. We had bats in our home and had to get vaccinated. Once you are vaccinated for rabies, it's really not unsafe to live in a home where a bat may get in every now and then. I tend to view bats/mice/ants as a natural part of life, as long as their unwelcome visits are few and far between and I am otherwise happy with the cleanliness of my environment. If you are going to hate your life always worrying a bat may appear though, you should probably move.

Edit: Just read your update on the other thread. It is very possible the issue will be fixed permanently with the removal of the nets. Bats tend to return to the same place over and over, like we do. If they are blocked out, they will try to return for a few nights. Once they realize they can't come back, they move on to another site and won't revisit. This is why one colony of bats can literally move down a neighborhood over the course of a few years...they just go house to house. Still it may be reasonable to demand that the landlord permanently patch any unnecessary holes in your walls with drywall and plaster so you can be sure.
« Last Edit: January 15, 2016, 02:27:36 PM by little_brown_dog »

EconDiva

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Re: Should I move...? (Update on bats)
« Reply #6 on: January 15, 2016, 02:20:49 PM »
I would stay - but then again, I am not afraid of bats or most animals. We had bats in our home and had to get vaccinated. Once you are vaccinated for rabies, it's really not unsafe to live in a home where a bat may get in every now and then. I tend to view bats/mice/ants as a natural part of life, as long as their unwelcome visits are few and far between and I am otherwise happy with the cleanliness of my environment. If you are going to hate your life always worrying a bat may appear though, you should probably move.

Note: I am basing this on the assumption that you had a minor bat problem (a bat or two got in and haven't been seen since), not a full blown colony living in your walls.

It was a colony. I say that because I had like 5 encounters. Plus one was a baby bat. They were breeding in the ceiling above my laundry room and entering through what apparently are huge openings in the ceiling of that room.

MVal

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Re: Should I move...? (Update on bats)
« Reply #7 on: January 15, 2016, 02:24:15 PM »
Well, if you stay, you will be paying in terms of money AND mental health.

If you move, it's just a money issue (and the initial hassle of moving).

Quite frankly, I am not sure why this is even a debate. I would absolutely, not live in a place that had bats - and you are concerned that they are still there/will be back!!! FLYING OVER YOUR DAMN FACE AT NIGHT. Possibly attacking you? For over $1000 a month?! Maybe if this was some dirt cheap $200/mo place. Even then...

Start searching for a place now. You may get lucky. Just a big fat NO to the bats.

Edit: Also you say that a downside to moving out would be having a roommate and then you suggest getting a roommate for your current place?

Highly unlikely a bat would attack you. They are flying around because they are trying to find the exit. They have no reason to seek out a human.

mozar

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Re: Should I move...? (Update on bats)
« Reply #8 on: January 15, 2016, 02:41:22 PM »
Can you do some patching yourself? I probably wouldn't even tell the landlord. I would diy that ish.

lbmustache

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Re: Should I move...? (Update on bats)
« Reply #9 on: January 15, 2016, 02:47:43 PM »
Well, if you stay, you will be paying in terms of money AND mental health.

If you move, it's just a money issue (and the initial hassle of moving).

Quite frankly, I am not sure why this is even a debate. I would absolutely, not live in a place that had bats - and you are concerned that they are still there/will be back!!! FLYING OVER YOUR DAMN FACE AT NIGHT. Possibly attacking you? For over $1000 a month?! Maybe if this was some dirt cheap $200/mo place. Even then...

Start searching for a place now. You may get lucky. Just a big fat NO to the bats.

Edit: Also you say that a downside to moving out would be having a roommate and then you suggest getting a roommate for your current place?

Highly unlikely a bat would attack you. They are flying around because they are trying to find the exit. They have no reason to seek out a human.

LOL, my mistake. Can you tell I live in a city and have never seen a bat in my life, other than TV. :P

MVal

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Re: Should I move...? (Update on bats)
« Reply #10 on: January 15, 2016, 03:33:44 PM »
Well, if you stay, you will be paying in terms of money AND mental health.

If you move, it's just a money issue (and the initial hassle of moving).

Quite frankly, I am not sure why this is even a debate. I would absolutely, not live in a place that had bats - and you are concerned that they are still there/will be back!!! FLYING OVER YOUR DAMN FACE AT NIGHT. Possibly attacking you? For over $1000 a month?! Maybe if this was some dirt cheap $200/mo place. Even then...

Start searching for a place now. You may get lucky. Just a big fat NO to the bats.

Edit: Also you say that a downside to moving out would be having a roommate and then you suggest getting a roommate for your current place?

Highly unlikely a bat would attack you. They are flying around because they are trying to find the exit. They have no reason to seek out a human.

LOL, my mistake. Can you tell I live in a city and have never seen a bat in my life, other than TV. :P

Haha, no problem. I've caught them before when they get loose in our house and I even tried to nurse a baby one with a small paintbrush, but it wound up dying. The good news is, she shouldn't see any this winter unless they're disturbed by something or have White-Nose Syndrome (which is just a fungus that grows on their face and causes them to wake up during the winter, which is fatal since there's no bugs to eat). Putting a light at night where they're getting in once they're active will help deter them from thinking the spot where they're getting into the house is another way to the outdoors.