“Dear PoPville,
What is the protocol or expectations regarding apartments and food delivery service from places like postmates, Grubhub, etc.? Do you expect them to come to the building front door or to come upstairs to your apartment door? I live in a small building with just 12 units and no lobby or doorman. I can easily buzz people in but find that they often expect me to come down. Just curious what the norm is so I don’t expect something which isn’t really included.”
“Dear PoPville,
I plan to sell a car myself on Craigslist (first time), and would love advice on the process and on some things that aren’t completely clear from the information on the DMV site. Like: do I just accept the cash and hand over the title, or does something need to be notarized? What about the tags, which I understand I need to turn in to the DMV – is the expectation that the buyer drives off before they get new tags for the car?”
“Dear PoPville,
I’m moving within my own building, and was looking for recommendations for labor only movers, specifically to help with the disassembly and reassembly of my bed. (Everything else I can do myself and/or with the help of friends, but as far as the bed is concerned, we are not the handiest of people). I’ve looked around and have found most places charging around $140/hour with a 2 hour minimum, which is a lot for help with one piece of furniture.
FWIW, I considered craigslist and task rabbit, but would feel more comfortable having someone who actually knows what they are doing help.”
Photo by PoPville flickr user Phil
“Dear PoPville,
Any recommendations for a jewelry store with progressive values, for buying an engagement ring? For example, we’d like to purchase from a store that supports selling engagement rings to people in LQBTQIA relationships. Location in DC would be ideal but we’re happy to go to Virginia or Maryland. If it’s relevant, we’re looking to buy a salt and pepper diamond ring. Thank you for your help!!”
Photo by PoPville flickr user Victoria Pickering
“Dear PoPville,
There is a woman that lives outside of Seaton Elementary School on 10th Street NW. She’s been there for a few months, in all conditions. We’ve dropped off left overs for her and exchanged polite pleasantries at times. We’ve called the shelter hotline on particularly cold nights, concerned for her safety. Until recently we haven’t had any other concerns related to her.
Over the past few weeks, however, she’s consistently been using our alley as a bathroom. With our block full of curious kids and dogs, and rain too infrequent to be a reliable clean up method, a few of us neighbors have done our best to continually clean up after her. (more…)
Photo by PoPville flickr user Tim Brown
“Dear PoPville,
Was wondering if readers knew of any good painter recommendations. Very small task. One bedroom (11 by 11). Want the ceiling, four walls, closet, bedroom door and window painted.”
Photo by PoPville flickr user DCBmyers
“Dear PoPville,
I was wondering if you could do a post asking for readers’ best advice on moving in the DC area and any tips they have for a first time home buyer. Just went under contract for a condo in Columbia Heights (more like Pleasant Plains) and would love any advice related to movers, the neighborhood, or anything else related to homeownership!”
“Dear PoPville,
What are rat abatement/prevention techniques people have used in the past? I live in a condo building and our trash bins are outside. They are the standard green and blue trash bins, and the rats eat right through them like it’s wet paper. The rats skip the black poison boxes, because, as one pest control guy told me, “Why eat the poison when you can just eat real human food?” I looked into getting large metal trash containers from a company (the type you might see at a state or national park) but they are very expensive and if the lid is left even a little open… the rats get in. We had the company with the rat-killing terriers come by and assess the property… and a few nights of having the dogs come would cost $10,000 or so. Crazy expensive for our condo association. (more…)
“Dear PoPville,
Here’s an old mystery for a new year. I’ve lived in what is technically “university heights” for 7+ years, and walk down the hill to Petworth regularly. And frequently, but without discernible regularity, there is a smashed coconut on the intersection of Harewood and Rock Creek Church Road. Just in front of the cemetery gate but in the road. Just one coconut. And usually not a whole one. (more…)
“Dear PoPville,
I recently moved into an english basement of a tenant occupied rowhouse. Since the property was originally designed for a single family, there are 2 small trash bins and one larger recycling bin (it’s too small of a street to use the supercans). These are clearly insufficient for use by two families, and it means one of the units is often having to wait (up to a week) with trash or recycling in their units as the cans are full.
Has anyone had luck getting an answer from DC on if an extra can is allowed in situations like this? The website is less than helpful, and not surprisingly, calling hasn’t returned any answers.”