59Expressing wants
and needs
Conversation: Looking for a new apartment
Receptionist: Good morning! How can I help you?
Ted: I’d like to rent an apartment in this neighborhood and wonder if you can help me.
Receptionist: You need to talk to Shirley—she’s our go-to agent for apartment
rentals. Here, I’ll take you to her office.
Shirley: Hello, I’m Shirley. Have a seat and tell me what kind of apartment you’re
looking for. Is it just for you?
Ted: Well, that depends on what’s available. I’d really rather live alone, but if I don’t
see anything that works, I could share a bigger place with a friend of mine.
Shirley: OK. First, tell me what you have in mind.
Ted: The most important thing is the location. I want to be in the city, preferably in
this neighborhood, so I can walk to the university and to the metro station. I don’t
have a car.
Shirley: OK, then you don’t mind if there’s no parking space.
Ted: Exactly. But I want a secure building. I also want it to have a living room, a
dining room, one bedroom, and, of course, a modern kitchen and bathroom. I don’t
really need all the bells and whistles, but I would like to have a balcony.
Shirley: And what is your budget? I mean, what monthly rent are you thinking
about, including utilities?
Ted: I’m hoping to find something for about $700 a month.
Shirley: Look, I can tell you right now there are no decent apartments in this area
under $1,200 a month—and none of them have dining rooms or balconies. There
are modern, secure buildings that are actually near the metro—but they’re at least
six miles outside of the city.
Ted There’s no way I’m going to live way out there. Do you think you could find a
two-bedroom place closer in for, say, $1,400 a month? Something I could share with
my friend?
Shirley: Let me do a little research this morning and see what I can find. I’m not going
to tell you that it’s impossible, but I can’t promise anything, either. Give me a couple
of hours to see what’s out there. If I find anything worthwhile, we can go have a look
this afternoon. In the meantime, I need you to fill out this form so I have your
contact information. As a matter of fact, both you and your friend will have to fill out
an application in order to be approved as tenants. I’m assuming you want a one-year
lease. Is that right? Oh, one more thing: you don’t have a pet, do you?
Ted: Yes, I’m willing to sign a one-year lease, and no, I don’t have a pet. And I’ll make
sure my friend gets rid of his dog. He can leave it with his family—they have a place
in the country. I’d better go give him a heads-up right now.· 6 ·