Message-Id: <8dceOQG00UhBM3F41o@andrew.cmu.edu>
Date: Wed, 19 Feb 1992 13:49:00 -0500 (EST)
From: Ofer Zellermayer <oz00+@andrew.cmu.edu>
To: bovik@k.gp.cs.cmu.edu
Subject: Additional to your guide to living in pittsburg 
Cc: 

Hi,
First I'm sending you some staff that I posted on the board an one
response that I got.


           Bad Experience With Saniel Elkind Real Estate Agency
 
 
    It all began about three weeks ago. I visited a friend who has a
very nice apartment on Philips in Sq. H and found out that another
apartment in the building was just vacant. So I called the owners -
Elkind Real Estate and set an appointment for 3pm the next day.
When speaking with me on the phone, Mr. E made sure that both me and my
wife were going to be there because as he said " I don't waste my time
on just one person"
    On 3pm sharp we were there, but who didn't come? Mr. E.
Instead there were another guy there (I think one of the neighbors) who
told us the app. was rented.
I called E and asked why he didn't call us to cancel the appointment,
and he said he didn't remember where he had put the number. He also said
he had another place on Hempstead and set an appointment with my wife.
When she got there Mr. E was already there showing the place to two nice
girls from Pitt. 
When those girls left Mr. E told my wife that even though they were
first he didn't like renting to them cause they will bring boys to the
apartment (what ever that means).
Anyhow we didn't take the place because it was overpriced.
Several days later E calls us and says he has a nice place on Hobart
(you got it this guy owns half of Sq.H) that is much cheaper than the
other one we saw. Over the phone we made clear to E that we don't want
to come for nothing again, and he said that this time he would call if
he rents it.
We got there on the set time, this time to find Mr. E with two other
people who had already rented the place.
Well, an apology would be nice but it seemed like E takes people for granted.
That night I called Mr E. hoping he would explain to me what was going
on. He told me that that's the way it is and that's how he conducts his
business.
Well Mr. E I don't think so.
I hope the readers don't think so as well.
And to everybody, if you are looking for an apartment and you do set an
appointment with Elkind just make sure he is there for you and not just
using you as a default or a background.
 
 
Yeah, Mr. Elkind is a jerk. I've been renting from his company for
almost 3 years. Most of his rents are reasonable, & his company is very
responsive about repairs, but he doesn't give a damn about his tenants'
quality of life. I like my apartment, but for almost a year now, I've
been having problems with the people next door to me. (We share walls a
bedroom & living room wall.) They make a ton of noise--verbal & physical
fighting, constant foot pounding when they walk, slamming doors, etc.
They are very inconsiderate, and even though I've asked them to be
quiet, they won't. Mr. Elkind refuses to do anything about it. In so
many words he called me a troublemaker for complaining, & inplied that I
was starting trouble because these noisy people are not American. That
was very insulting, because I'm not like that. I can't wait until my
lease is up, & in the meantime, I'm looking for another place. I guess
the point of this message is to say you're better off not renting from
Saniel Elkind, especially the places on Hobart St. You can hear noise
from the entire building & from the buildings next door. If you live in
a quiet building, it's okay, but if not, it's HELL. Elkind did the same
thing to a person I know as he did to you (didn't show up for the
appointment because the apartment was already rented), but that's awful
that he blew you off so many times. Just another slumlord making money.
I hope your post keeps other people from renting from Saniel Elkind, but
he does manage a lot of property in Squirrel Hill & his places get
rented pretty quickly. I can't wait until I'm away from my evil
neighbors! I hope you find a nice place.
 
Ruth Ann

Hopefully you would know what to do with it.

Second there are some services givers in that city that do a very good
and honest job which I would like you to know about as well:

1) There is a graet garage with nice people that do a good job
inexpensively, and at least to me worth the drive up there it's called 
'Nick's Auto' try it ask for Riges or Nick and tell them that you are
form C.M.U.
Direction: Take Penn to Frankstown to Saltsberg and make a right on
Stotler they are on 1050 Stotler road about 20min from here.  (412)
793-1131.

2) The Spaggeti Whear House at the strip did a graet Job respecting its
complaint postcard by giving eight of us (grad students from cmu) a free
dinner after we were mislead about how long we have to wait in line.
That's the way a business shuold behave. We like the place.

The rest will come later
Thanks, Ofer