La visita al departamento correcto
The visit to the right apartment
1 · Spanish Story
La historia
Lucía abrió el aviso en su celular por tercera vez antes de salir. El departamento quedaba en un edificio viejo de Almagro, cerca del transporte público y de una plaza chica. A Martín le había gustado la foto de la cocina, pero a ella le preocupaba otra cosa: el precio parecía más alto de lo que habían acordado pagar. Igual, fueron a verlo porque no querían decidir solo por una pantalla.
Los recibió Nora, la dueña. Tenía una carpeta bajo el brazo y una forma muy directa de hablar. Les mostró el living, el dormitorio y el baño. Todo estaba limpio, aunque un poco más chico de lo que mostraban las fotos. Cuando llegaron a la cocina, Martín sonrió. Había espacio para una mesa pequeña y también para su computadora.
Después de la visita, Lucía hizo la pregunta que venía guardando. "Perdón, en el aviso decía un monto distinto. ¿Ese es el alquiler final?" Nora la miró con sorpresa y enseguida revisó la carpeta. Entonces se dio cuenta del problema. El aviso mostraba un total mensual y detallaba por separado sus componentes: el alquiler, las expensas y los impuestos. Lucía había leído la cifra completa como si fuera solo el alquiler. Por eso, había sumado los gastos dos veces. Nora escribió cada cantidad en una hoja y aclaró qué incluía el total.
Martín se quedó callado un segundo. Después le dijo a Lucía en voz baja: "Ahora sí cierra." La suma total seguía siendo alta, pero ya no era imposible. Además, el edificio tenía buena luz, aceptaban mascotas y la estación del subte quedaba a pocas cuadras. Nora les explicó las condiciones con paciencia y les pidió que, si seguían interesados, enviaran los papeles por correo esa misma tarde.
En el camino de regreso, Lucía y Martín caminaron despacio, sin hablar demasiado. Cada uno estaba pensando en lo mismo. No era el departamento perfecto, pero tampoco iban a encontrar uno mejor si seguían dudando por miedo. Lucía miró a Martín y sonrió. "Mandemos todo antes de que se adelanten", dijo. Él asintió y, esta vez, ninguno de los dos revisó el aviso otra vez.
2 · Key Phrases
Language to keep
Premium lets you save phrases and track what you know. Your earlier saves stay readable when Premium ends. View saved vocabulary →
por tercera vez
for the third timeThis expression gives the number of times an action has happened.
Revisé el horario por tercera vez antes de salir.
I checked the schedule for the third time before leaving.
le había gustado la foto de la cocina
had liked the kitchen photoThe past perfect places Martín's reaction to the photo before the apartment visit. The pronoun le refers to Martín, the person who liked the photo.
A mi hermana le había gustado la foto del balcón.
My sister had liked the balcony photo.
Tenía una carpeta bajo el brazo
She had a folder under her armThis physical description adds a concrete detail to the scene.
El contador tenía unos papeles bajo el brazo.
The accountant had some papers under his arm.
a ella le preocupaba otra cosa
she was worried about something elseThis expression shifts attention from Martín's interest to Lucía's different concern.
A mí me preocupaba otra cosa y por eso no escuché bien.
I was worried about something else, and that is why I did not listen well.
se dio cuenta del problema
she realized the problemThis expression describes the moment someone recognizes what is wrong.
Cuando leyó el mensaje completo, se dio cuenta del problema.
When she read the full message, she realized the problem.
Ahora sí cierra
Now it makes senseMartín uses this expression when the clarified costs finally seem reasonable.
Usage: Conversational; common in relaxed speech. In Argentina, Ahora sí cierra can mean that an explanation or calculation finally makes sense. Here, cierra does not refer to closing something.
Ahora sí cierra: el precio incluye la entrega.
Now it makes sense: the price includes delivery.
a pocas cuadras
a few blocks awayThis expression describes a short distance measured in city blocks.
La farmacia quedaba a pocas cuadras de la plaza.
The pharmacy was a few blocks from the square.
3 · English Translation
The full story in English
Lucía opened the listing on her cell phone for the third time before leaving. The apartment was in an old building in Almagro, near public transportation and a small square. Martín had liked the kitchen photo, but she was worried about something else: the price seemed higher than what they had agreed to pay. Still, they went to see it because they did not want to decide based only on a screen.
Nora, the owner, greeted them. She had a folder under her arm and a very direct way of speaking. She showed them the living room, the bedroom, and the bathroom. Everything was clean, although a little smaller than the photos showed. When they got to the kitchen, Martín smiled. There was space for a small table and also for his computer.
After the visit, Lucía asked the question she had been saving. "Sorry, the listing said a different amount. Is that the final rent?" Nora looked at her with surprise and immediately checked the folder. Then she realized the problem. The listing showed a monthly total and itemized its components separately: the rent, maintenance fees, and taxes. Lucía had read the full figure as if it were only the rent. Because of that, she had added the expenses twice. Nora wrote each amount on a sheet of paper and clarified what the total included.
Martín stayed silent for a second. Then he told Lucía quietly: "Now it makes sense." The total amount was still high, but it was no longer impossible. Besides, the building had good light, they accepted pets, and the subway station was only a few blocks away. Nora explained the conditions patiently and asked them to send the paperwork by email that same afternoon if they were still interested.
On the way back, Lucía and Martín walked slowly, without talking much. Each of them was thinking the same thing. It was not the perfect apartment, but they were not going to find a better one if they kept hesitating out of fear. Lucía looked at Martín and smiled. "Let's send everything before someone else beats us to it," she said. He nodded, and this time neither of them checked the listing again.