I have to say that there are some things here in Germany that really perplex me. Today we had a visit from a chimney sweep who I guess is delegated to our area. Once a year they come around and check out the chimney, heater, etc. to make sure that everything is working correctly and that you don’t have any problems developing or that something has gone wrong in the previous year that you haven’t noticed. Obviously, this is a very nice and practical service…but it’s not something we requested and I’m pretty sure it’s not something you can refuse. We had another guy come out a few months ago who also comes around once a year to inspect the entire heating unit.
Since this is the first home we have owned, there are many new experiences, fees and just things to get used to general…but random people dropping by my front door to tell me that they are here to check out XYZ and they will send me a bill later is just a completely foreign concept. The fees are nominal and I’m not really complaining – I’m just not sure if I will ever really get used to this or if I will ever find out just how many of these various workers will stop by in a given year to assess our home and collect their fees.
Why can’t someone stop by who wants to do something for me for free? Or someone who wants to give me money? Or how about someone who could actually repair our heater or inspect our fridge which is on the fritz? I think we need to contact the local government about these propositions… 😉
Uuuuh, one of my favourites ;). In the row house where we used to live, the chimney sweep came 4 (!) times a year to check all kind of things concerning the heating, the chimney etc. Usually they dropped a note like two days ahead saying they’ll come at 11 am. Each time I called them to say that no-one will be at home at that time of the day. And each time they answered: Oh, you’re no “hausfrau”?
Make sure to check out your local “Kehr- und Überprüfungsordnung (KÜO)” – it tells you how often they’ll “visit” you 🙂
Oh good grief! Actually, now that you mention it, I think the guy that came earlier this year was also a chimney sweep but he wasn’t wearing one of those cute black outfits…but he did leave a note in our box that he would be coming by and all that.
This 2nd visit though – no notice at all and I wasn’t even sure what he wanted when he was talking to me at the door. He just was so matter of fact (probably in his late-20’s like myself) and borderline rude.
I had to go to the dentist this morning and noticed another chimney sweep standing on the corner in a neighboring village…apparently it is just that time of year.
Thanks for the tip on checking out the KÜO. I don’t even know what that is so we’ll have to see if Stefan does lol