We've had a couple of open houses over the past few months while we try to sell our house. Our agent advertises and comes over and sits there to greet people for 3 or 4 hours.
In Sydney an "open house" lasts 15 minutes. We are trying to find a place at the beach. Since it's the beginning of the summer there isn't much left to pick from. We got a call the other day - "be at this address at 2:15 today".
We arrived and there were about 15 people waiting outside the door. The agent opened the door and people rushed in. The current tenants had their belongings in there and things were getting jostled and knocked around.There were applications laying out on the counter and people were applying on the spot. Kim asked the agent how they would decide who gets it - he shrugged and said "depends on the owner" - sometimes it's first in, sometimes it's best dressed, sometimes it's draw from a hat.
The rent for this small, old apartment was $675 per week. Yes, that's per week - not month. Since there is such a shortage, you would think they would raise the rent to meet the demand. That just isn't done here. There is an egalitarian element to society here. If the other apartments in that building are going for $675 - then everyone pays the same. If the Ince's are paying more for theirs - does that mean they are better than everyone else? Does that mean the owner of that unit thinks his is better than ours?
In this respect - Americans are sometimes considered a bit opportunistic and boorish (because we would just charge more for rent - duh). At least that's how I read it.
Oh yeah - we didn't like the apartment and didn't apply.
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