Last night I was reminded of an incident a fews ago at a condominium unit that we managed. 

Management of the complex called me one very hot afternoon because there was a horrible stench coming from this particular unit. No one had seen or heard from the tenants and they were expecting the worst. 

I headed there with my key and requested one of the security guards to accompany me. I opened the door and gestured for the guard to go in first. Wouldn’t you? He gave me a pitiful look when I told him there was just no way in hell that I was going in first.

As it turned out, the tenants had a big fight several days earlier and had moved out. Unfortuantely, the wife had forgotten to take the chicken that she had left defrosting for dinner in the kitchen sink. 

The security guard’s face is forever stamped in my mind. He had to have been all of 18 years old and working his first job. I couldn’t tell if he was turning gray from the smell and the maggots or if the color was just returning to his face after being scared half to death. I held on to him as I burst into hysterical laughter. He and I became good friends and he is no longer a security guard. But to this day, whenever I see him, we remember… and smile. 

Sometimes, like last night, I find myself giggling when hauling out a particularly bad smelling trash can from my kitchen.

🔑 Your experienced Property Manager is accustomed to these crazy situations and deals with them daily so you don’t have to.