3、apartment hunting租房子
kim’s note:
this is a difficult but necessary task if you are going to be in america for a long time.
(1)hunting for an apartment 找房
a:come on in, let me show you around. here’s the living room. there are two bedrooms and two bathrooms.
请进,让我带你们先看看。这是起居室。有两间卧室和两个洗手间。
b:great! the view from this window is wonderful.
太棒了!窗外的风景很美。
a:this is the kitchen.
这是厨房。
b:it looks new.
看起来很新。
a:yes, we renovated just last year and replaced all the appliances.
是的,我们去年刚翻修过,而且更换了所有的器具。
b:just look at all the closet space in the master bedroom!
看主卧室的壁厨空间多大呀!
a:well, i’m sure you can fill these closets in no time!
我相信你很快就会把这些壁柜填满。
b:oh come on, give me a break. i don’t have that much stuff.
快别这么说。我哪有那么多东西呀。
a:and here’s a bathroom.
这是洗手间。
b:what did you say the rent was?
你刚才说的房租是多少?
a;fifteen hundred dollars a month.
一个月1500美元。
b:does that include utilities?
包水电费吗?
a:it includes heat, gas, and hot water. electricity and telephone are extra.
包暖气、煤气和热水。电和电话费另付。
b:when will the apartment be available?
什么时候可以搬进来?
a:on the first of the month.
月初。
b:we like it a lot, but we’ll have to think about it. can we call you tomorrow?
我们很喜欢这套房子,但还得考虑一下。明天给你打电话好吗?
a:sure. but don’t wait too long. i have other people who are interested in renting this place.
当然行了。但是别拖得太久。还有其他人看上了这房子。
(2)renting an apartment 租房
a:hello, mr. jackson, this is jim johnson. i’m calling about the apartment we looked at yesterday. we’d like to take it, if it’s still available.
喂,杰克逊先生,我是吉姆•约翰逊。我打电话想跟你谈谈昨天我们看过的那套房子。如果还空着的话,我们想租下来。
b:great! 那太好了!
a:so, what’s the next step?
那下一步做什么呢?
b:i’ll draw up a lease and send it to you. what i’ll need from you is one month’s rent as a security deposit, and the first month’s rent in advance.
我会把租约写好给你寄去。你要给我一个月的房租做保证金。另外预付第一个月的房租。
a:i’ll get the deposit back, won’t i?
保证金以后会退还给我对吗?
b:of course, as long as the place is not damaged beyond the usual wear and tear when you move out.
当然了,只要你搬走时房间里除正常磨损以外没有别的损坏就行。
a:great! can i send you a check?
太好了!可以给你支票吗?
b:sure, a check will be fine. just send it along with the lease after you’ve signed it.
当然,支票可以。你在租约上签字后把支票一块寄来就行了。
a:thanks!
谢谢。
额外成就感
租房用语
lease 租约
* you should read the lease carefully before you sign it.
你在租约上签字之前要先仔细阅读。
* could i have the lease translated before i sign it?
在我签租约之前能不能让人先把它翻译一下?
* i want to have a lawyer look over this lease.
我要找个律师过目一下这份租约。
landlord 房东
* i have a really nice landlord.
我的房东人很不错。
* i’ve been trying to get a hold of my landlord for a week.
这个星期以来我一直在试着跟我的房东取得联系。
storage space 储藏室,储藏东西的地方
* i’m looking for an apartment with a lot of storage space.
我在找一个有很大储藏室的房子。
* is there storage space in the building where i can keep my bike?
这栋楼里有没有地方可以放我的自行车?
laundry room 洗衣店
* does this building have a laundry room?
这楼里有没有洗衣房?
* i forgot my wallet in the laundry room. i have to go back and get it.
我把钱包忘在洗衣房了。我得回去取。
wear and tear 磨损
* don’t worry about it. a little wear and tear is to be expected.
别担心,一点点的磨损是免不了的。
* this is a sturdy model. it can take a lot of wear and tear.
这个模型很坚固,经得起磨损。