*Possibly* moving to Maryland...places to live / snakes?

[nevohraalnavnoj]

Hey East-Coasters!

I may be working at Ft. Meade, MD starting in the summer / fall. Anyone have any heads up on places to live? I'm not ready to buy, so I'll have to rent either a house or an apartment. The trick is, the SNAKES! I've got about 30 Bp's right now, and I want to expand that in the near future to somewhere around 60+.

Anyone have any tips how to broach this topic with a landlord? It's essential to me that he be OK with it, so I don't get tossed out in the cold. I spoke with a representative from one rental company and they said they had no problem with snakes. I even told them it was a home business so that they knew we weren't talking a couple pets, rather more. But I didn't get right down to brass tacks and tell them the exact quantities.

Anyone have any advice on how to proceed or any references you could send me? Are there any constrictor laws I need to watch out for? Right now I'm thinking Odenton, Columbia, or Ellicott areas if any of that helps.

Thanks!

JonV

[AaronP]

I'd say find out if exotic pets are okay and then if they say yes ask about snakes, if they say yes leave it at that. They can't kick you out if you have 60+ snakes as long as you pay rent on time and don't become a trouble maker...and also don't destroy the apartment.

However, I strongly discourage breeding rats in an apartment enviroment, no way in heck they'd let that slide.

[nova2door]

our old landlord didn't care he said no pets and my mom said what about stuff in aquairiums?
he said as long as they don't hold alot of water, 2nd story apartment and water is heavy
my mom said no we have a lizard or 2 and a couple snakes
he said anything in an aquairium is fine
we lived there for 5 years with 8 or 9 lizards, 30 snakes, a couple turtles, lots of rats and mice and even 2 rabbits all in aquairiums and never had a problem.

[nova2door]

if you think about it what damage can a snake or 30 do sitting in an aquairium or a tub in a rack? nothing
its not like a dog or cat that can cause damage, chew on stuff, go to the bathroom on the carpet, ect.

[kc261]

I have a few words of advice on this.

Don't start off with "do you allow snakes?" as your first question. It seems like it would save you a lot of time, but it seems to turn people off. Once they've warmed up to you and you've asked enough other questions they know you are serious, it seems to go over better.

Try, when possible, to be talking to the decision maker when you ask the question. Some of the times I've been told "no" I felt like it was a personal spur of the moment decision made by a receptionist who didn't like snakes rather than a real policy.

Start off with a vague question, and only get as specific as necessary. In other words, you might get a yes to "do you allow little pets like the type of things that people keep in aquariums?" which would allow you to have your snakes and your rodent colony, but if you say "snakes and rats" the person will freak out and say no. Also avoid the word "python" if possible, because too many people associate it with giant snakes (or worse), and if you need to tell them what species, consider phrasing like "a small non-venomous snake that make great pets, have you ever heard of ball pythons?"

Do not take that to mean you should be dishonest, but sometimes how you present something can make a huge difference.

Do get it in writing before you sign the lease.

Also, you might have more luck going through a real estate agent, who can argue your point with another real estate agent, before it ever gets to the property owner. Then, when it does get to the property owner, it is his guy telling him "don't be worried about these snakes", and even though they are only repeating what your agent said who is repeating what you said, it makes a big difference. Really one of the stupid ways the human subconscious works, but use it to your advantage here. Just make sure you find an agent who is not biased against snakes, and make sure you educate them enough to be able to argue your point for you.

[N4S]

BP's are BANNED in MD.

[AaronP]

BP's are BANNED in MD.

Might want to let Adam, Ralph, and Pete know then.

[nevohraalnavnoj]

if you think about it what damage can a snake or 30 do sitting in an aquairium or a tub in a rack? nothing
its not like a dog or cat that can cause damage, chew on stuff, go to the bathroom on the carpet, ect.

No doubt. If you were to make a list of all the things that could go wrong with your tenants owning dogs vs your tenants owning small, non-venomous snakes, the snakes would be favored. Too bad they're not "furry" and accepted on large scale.

[nevohraalnavnoj]

You're joking about the ban on BP's in MD, right?

[nevohraalnavnoj]

I have a few words of advice on this.

Don't start off with "do you allow snakes?" as your first question. It seems like it would save you a lot of time, but it seems to turn people off. Once they've warmed up to you and you've asked enough other questions they know you are serious, it seems to go over better.

Try, when possible, to be talking to the decision maker when you ask the question. Some of the times I've been told "no" I felt like it was a personal spur of the moment decision made by a receptionist who didn't like snakes rather than a real policy.

Start off with a vague question, and only get as specific as necessary. In other words, you might get a yes to "do you allow little pets like the type of things that people keep in aquariums?" which would allow you to have your snakes and your rodent colony, but if you say "snakes and rats" the person will freak out and say no. Also avoid the word "python" if possible, because too many people associate it with giant snakes (or worse), and if you need to tell them what species, consider phrasing like "a small non-venomous snake that make great pets, have you ever heard of ball pythons?"

Do not take that to mean you should be dishonest, but sometimes how you present something can make a huge difference.

Do get it in writing before you sign the lease.

Also, you might have more luck going through a real estate agent, who can argue your point with another real estate agent, before it ever gets to the property owner. Then, when it does get to the property owner, it is his guy telling him "don't be worried about these snakes", and even though they are only repeating what your agent said who is repeating what you said, it makes a big difference. Really one of the stupid ways the human subconscious works, but use it to your advantage here. Just make sure you find an agent who is not biased against snakes, and make sure you educate them enough to be able to argue your point for you.

All excellent points, thanks. I was planning on trying to get friendly with the landlord before breaking out the snake thing, I hope I get to meet him in person. I agree avoiding the word "python" could be good...we should come up with a friendlier name....how about "cuddly balls" or "rodent disposal systems"?

Getting it in writing is a good idea too.

I was also thinking Jedi mind-tricks could be useful:

Landlord: How long have you had these snakes?
Me: About three or four seasons. They aren't for sale if you want them.
Landlord: Let me see your identification.
Me: (waving hand slowly) You don't need to see my identification.
Landlord: [pauses] We don't need to see his identification.
Me: These aren't the snakes you're looking for.
Landlord: These aren't the snakes we're looking for.
Me: I can go about my snake business.
Landlord: You can go about your snake business.
Me: Move along.
Landlord: [gesturing] Move along! Move along!