What kinds of things does your super do for you, specifically in your apartment? Does s/he install your window ac, change light bulbs, repaint when you ask, etc.

I'm curious because I have high ceilings (12 foot?) so everytime my light bulbs burn out, I call the apt. office and ask to have the super change them. (I don't have a ladder, nor do I have room in my apt. to store a ladder, and even though I'm 5'8" standing on a chair doesn't work). I have always provided the new light bulbs. Last time I left out 2 light bulbs (in their little cardboard sleeve) even though just one was burnt out -- because I didn't want to leave one loose light bulb on the cabinet in case it rolled off and broke. The super changed both light bulbs and basically wasted the other one.

I called the office and mentioned this and the girl was so snotty, she said, "Well he's doing you a favor. it's not in his job description to change light bulbs." Okay, I seriously doubt the building super has a written job description, and I really don't think asking him to change a light bulb is unreasonable. But I didn't want to ask what was in his job duties b/c i was trying to be nice.

Another example, last summer I asked them to have the super install my window ac (because I figured they might have a specific way they wanted it connected to the window frame, etc.) and she told me that wasn't his job.

I checked my lease and it doesn't say who is responsible for light bulb changing. I pay A LOT of money for my apartment, so I don't think it's that unreasonable to expect the super to help with its upkeep in return. So I'm curious....what kind of things does the super do in your apartment buildings?

ps. I am always very nice to the super and his assistant when I see them in the building. I don't understand why the girl at the management office is so snotty. (She always has been--I've rented from the same company for 3 years now.)

well i guess they are only the supervisor and not the owner.
maybe they need to be reminded of that.
im sure if the owner is paying them to supervise the place that he/she doesnt want things damaged such as the frame of a window or someone unaccustomed to handling a ladder inside an apartment changing light bulbs themselves.. although im uncertain of what type of bulb needs changed, but if its a regular screw in kind, they have extensions that help you reach up high and change them at a place like lowes. FYI
but usually supervisors maintenance people live on the premise rent free and just get shitty cause they are called at all hours to take care of everything. well thats what they are paid for. maybe the owner needs to know they are getting shitty about doing their job.
neglecting the lawn landscape etc. sometimes the owners have no idea because they live clear across the counrty.

Changing light bulbs is typically not the job of the apartment maintenance crew. It's one of the few things apartment dwellers are expected to be able to do for themselves.

That said...if you have high ceilings, it doesn't hurt to ask. You did the right thing by providing the bulbs...but you might want to "sweeten the pot" by tipping the maintenance person to do the work for you. Because, technically, it isn't his job.

Same thing with the AC. I've never lived in an apartment where the air conditioner wasn't just "there" - either central AC or a hard-wired unit.

Here's my advice: ask the super or his assistant directly. Just bypass the office. Say to them, "Look...I know this isn't really your job...but I want to make sure it gets done right (AC)...or...I don't have a ladder (light bulbs). I'll be happy to pay you for your time."

I guaran-damn-tee you that if you agree to pay these guys 20 bucks cashto haul out a ladder for the bulbs or...say...30-40 bucks for the AC...they will be only too happy to oblige.

Cuddles said:

No, the super is very nice. It's the girl who works in the management office that is snotty.

That's a good suggestion about the extension thing, but my lights have glass covers that you have to unscrew by hand so that wouldn't work.

The super does not live in the building and I NEVER call him directly -- even on the weekends. I always follow protocol and call the management office first and they call the super -- because he has stuff to do at several different buildings.

I hate to bother the owner, but I may have to. I emailed the office girl last week about getting a spare key (can't get it made on my own--it's one of those fancy multilock keys) and she still hasn't responded. Another light bulb burned out so I guess I'll call her tomorrow for that and to follow up on the key. If she is snotty I might email the owner. He owns several building in NYC and doesn't really deal with the day to day stuff, though.

Genesia said:

Hmm. I'm surprised changing light bulbs for high ceilings is not their job. How do they expect it to get done then? I know they wouldn't be happy if I bought a ladder and stored it in the laundry room or hallway because it doesn't fit in my apartment closets.




The problem is I am always at work during the day and never see the super. I don't know that he has regular hours at my building (he doesn't live on site.) Every once in a while I'll see the assistant -- like the night before recycling day he'll be sorting the recycling or maybe on the weekend shoveling snow. And I think I would get in trouble for calling the super directly. (One time the super called me and accused me of calling the city when the heat in the building went out, saying I should have called the office first. And it wasn't me who called the city!)


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DevotedPuppy said:

i don't think you did anything wrong at all! you've been nice, and asked the office everytime. i think the girl in the office needs to be nicer towards you!

May I suggest that next time you purchase those energy saving bulbs. I hated climbing chairs after I threw my husband out. I changed over to those coiled looking bulbs more than 2 years ago. I haven't had to replace one yet. It is not the super's responsibility to change bulbs but I find they will do pretty much anything if you give them some cash.

It would never occur to me to ask someone to change my light bulbs in my own apartment. If it were in a common area – hallway or laundry room, etc. then, sure.

I, too, have very high ceilings in my place. So I asked for a step stool for Xmas the year I moved in cause I couldn’t reach to change MY light bulbs, nor can I reach the top of my cupboards and closet and stuff. The step stool works great and folds up small so I can slide it under my bed.

I can see asking about the window a/c as some buildings DO have codes as far as how they are installed. Others don’t, however, and I wouldn’t consider it surprising that they would say they don’t do that.

Basically, I only contact my management company to fix something that’s broken. For example, the dimmer switch on my dining room light stopped working. I called them to come fix that.

I've had many problems with my heat this winter, so I've had the super in my apartment often the past few months. He's a great guy and does a lot for the building. I gave him some money in a holiday card and I got the impression that not many (maybe not any) other people in the building had done so, which really shocked me. I thought it was pretty standard to remember the super at the holidays. But now I'm getting extra special attention, which is great.

DevotedPuppy, I would try to build up a good personal relationship with the super and see if you can call him directly for the light bulb thing and other problems. He might not mind if you just ask him the next time you see him.

DevotedPuppy said:

CarrieMpls said:

Yes, normally I wouldn't dream of asking them to change the light bulbs, but there is no possible way for me to do it myself. (I wish I could instead of having to call and wait for a day or two until the super gets around to it.) I can reach the lights in the bathroom and kitchen and the high shelves in the bedroom closet & kitchen by standing on a chair so it seems silly for me to buy a step ladder for something that rarely happens. Plus I really have zero room to store it. My bed is already on 6" lifts so I can store luggage, spare linens, etc. under it.

Efan said:

I know. But honestly, I haven't seen the super (Nick) since last summer when I was having problems with my refridgerator. Who knows when I'll see him and be able to ask him to change a light bulb. I could maybe ask the assistant, but he hardly speaks English and I'm afraid he won't understand me. Our conversations usually go like this:

Me: Hi! How are you?

Him:

Me: Have a good day! "

Him:

DevotedPuppy said:

I'm not sure, but I thought it was NYC law that the super's number has to be posted in the lobby. So you could skip the middleman. Tell the super you have a little gift for him for all his hard work, then schedule a time to meet face to face and build a direct relationship with him so you could call him up when you need him. My experience with supers is that if you're a nice, responsible person who doesn't abuse the privilege (and who gives the appropriate gifts at holiday time), they are cool with the occasional call. (I'm just trying to be helpful; hope this helps!)

Technically, it's not the maintenance person's job to replace lightbulbs, unless they are common area lights. BUT....I do this as a favor to residents, and I especially would if there are high ceilings. There is a huge liability for residents to endanger themselves like that. Ignore the girl in the office. She is most likely a very inexperienced, young girl who isn't even learned in real estate law.

Leasing agents are a pain, especially when they have a snotty attitude. I don't see it as a huge inconvenience to change these kind of lightbulbs, but nitpicking over a "wasted" bulb is a little much.

these on an extendable pole and any bulb is your bitch!
if the apartment super kept the sidewalks clean, the grass cut, the hallways vacuumed and the laundry facilities working, we were good. but i never liked to have those guys in my apartment if i didn't have to. i didn't have 12 ft ceilings either

The girl has no right being snotty to you. That's not how you treat tenents.
Put her in her place. You might have to talk to the owner.
The super should be able to put the light bulb in. It does not take up a lot of time. It's not hard to do. My Grandmother's super put in light bulbs all the time.

Purplestar88 said:

On the other hand as well, though, the people in the office should not have to take abuse from residents.

GetAwayFromMe said:

What abuse? Just because you ask the super to do something that means the secretary should be rude to you? Whatever. Is this person the owner or the super. Once I called the mangement office and the secretary was very rude. At that point I said "let me talk to owner". She did not want to put him on. Then I said "ok am going to make a complaint with the city." It was very cold in the apartment and no heat was comming in. She finally put him on. I don't have no time for auttiude from the owner, super, and secretary. I paid a arm and leg for rent. Rent is not cheap in ny. You play with these people and you will not get anything done. I never "abused" the secretary. When she decide to get rude with me and treated me like a dummy I could say she "abused" me.
If the super is any good he will put up the bulb. It's not going to kill him to do it. It will not end his life to do it.
[Edited 2/13/09 6:07am]

Purplestar88 said:

Hmmm. well I happen to see it from the other side as well, and being abusive to people in the office sometimes backfires on ya. I know that you think you weren't being abusive, but there are residents who can be a real pain in the ass about things.

GetAwayFromMe said:

I don't why your bringing up "abuse". I did not abuse the people in the office. So noting can back fire to me. Asking the super to fix something, send up heat and maybe do a little favor for you is not "abuse". Just because other residents are rude does not mean anyone in the office should treat me nasty. I did not talk to anyone nasty in that office but they feel fit and ready to talk to me like that.