Property Manager Chronicle: A Frigid January Afternoon

It was a frigid early January afternoon. The message came thru from a tenant -- National Grid was coming tomorrow to replace a leaking gas pipe. What gas pipe? What leak? I called the tenant, who said she’d set the whole thing up, and what’s the problem?  I told her our job was to know what’s going on at our client properties and to ensure there’s oversight, especially on important stuff like leaky gas pipe replacement. I called the National Grid guy, he also said what’s the big deal – I told him I need to see what he’s doing and his credentials – he said I’m with national grid – I said I don’t know you – he said we have a big truck and we both laughed. I arranged to meet him the next morning at 7am.

The next morning was 20 degrees outside. I hiked to the property 20 blocks away. I got there on time. I waited. The tenant opened the front door and invited me inside, but I noticed the windows were covered, and I wanted to see when they arrived. I stayed outside. After ten minutes I called the National Grid guy and asked where his team was. They’re fifteen minutes away he said – I told him I’m waiting in the cold. Finally, half an hour late, one of the National Grid team showed up. No big truck, but he had on National Grid clothes and showed me his badge. He explained the gas line was rotting and the team would be tearing up concrete in front of the house to replace it. We walked down the narrow stairway under the stoop, and he showed me the definitely rotting gas pipe. I took some pix, thanked him, and left, heading to the office to report my findings to the owner. As I headed up the block, the sky brightened.

- Josh Blackman, Brownstone Principal