The search for a new apartment can feel overwhelming. Time is often against you, and you may even begin your search from another state or country. You start by finding apartment options that fit within your desired area and price range. (Tools like ApartmentSearch are great to help you save time on this first part.) But usually, once you have the list narrowed down to a handful of options, you will want to visit the apartments in person. After a long day touring apartments, they often all begin to look the same.

However, there are some important differences you should look out for. Not all apartments are the same and sometimes the challenges can be hard to spot. This list will help you discover the wolf in sheep’s clothing. Read the rest of this entry »

Need a dress for next week? Find something on Rent-The-Runway. Need a lift to the airport? Open your Uber or Lyft app. Need a place to stay on vacation? Make a reservation with Airbnb.

In this brave new world, ownership is no longer the only way to get what you want. Did you know that, in 2013, sharing economy transactions brought in about 15 billion dollars? That’s a lot of cash! If you’re looking to hop on the bandwagon and make money on unused space in your apartment, signing up for Airbnb could be the perfect solution. But before you start snapping pics and booking guests, be sure you have all the information. Here’s what you need to know before posting your apartment on Airbnb! Read the rest of this entry »

It’s exciting to search for a new apartment, new neighborhood, and new favorite hangout spot, but don’t let your excitement get the best of you. While you might find the apartment of your dreams, you could also stumble upon a scam. Simply put, a scam is when a criminal tries to get money for an apartment they’re not planning on renting. Once you know how rental scams work, they’re a lot easier to spot. Read our handy dandy guide to make sure you don’t fall prey to one of today’s top tricks! Read the rest of this entry »

In most parts of the country, sweater weather is finally here. Starbucks released their new holiday cup, parents are trying to get their children to pose nicely for a holiday card, and neighborhood and apartment complex decoration competitions have begun!

It’s definitely an interesting time of year. While most holiday traditions are fun (or awesomely corny), some aren’t. Between Thanksgiving and the New Year, your car could be vulnerable to a not-so-fun yearly occurrence: a 20% increase in parking lot accidents. With over 1 million parking lot accidents occurring annually, that’s no small number. Happy holidays?

With hoards of people flocking to the mall every day and drivers distracted by Bing Crosby crooning over the radio, your odds of getting caught on the wrong side of someone’s distracted driving increase over the holidays. While a nice driver will leave their contact information on your car’s dash if they hit you in a hurry, not everyone ends up on Santa’s nice list. Although no one wants to fall prey to a hit and run driver, you should be prepared for the possibility. Read on for our guide to handling a hit and run, with top tips we hope you’ll never have to use! Read the rest of this entry »

The holiday shopping season is upon us and, for many people, that means jumping on Amazon or countless other shopping sites to order gifts and needed items. This year’s Cyber Monday looks to be the single biggest shopping day in history, far surpassing $90 billion in sales, which means that more packages than ever before will be shipped. This poses an interesting challenge for some apartment residents because where you live could mean drastic changes in how (and if) you receive your package deliveries. Read the rest of this entry »

Between birthing classes and baby name books, expecting parents have a lot on their minds. To help make sure everything is ready for your upcoming bundle (or bundles!) of joy, try to keep things simple and stress-free. When it comes to childproofing your apartment, work smarter not harder. Follow our simple guidelines on how to make your apartment safer for its newest, and smallest, resident without giving yourself a headache in the process. Read the rest of this entry »

If a burglar thinks your apartment is “easy pickings,” it could become a target…even if the fanciest thing you own is a VCR with a copy of Dirty Dancing stuck in it. Why not make things difficult for that burglar? You’d be surprised by how much you can do to protect your apartment without spending big money on armed guards and snarling dogs. Read the rest of this entry »

It’s one of a renter’s worst nightmares: you come home from work to find your carpet soaked and a burst pipe gushing underneath your bathroom sink. You don’t have the tools or expertise to fix it yourself… so what’s a renter to do? When there’s no time to waste and you need apartment maintenance, it’s good to know what you can do right away.

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October 4th – 10th is Fire Safety Week, so we’ve assembled a list of important things to keep in mind when preventing fires, planning escape strategies, and responding quickly in the event of an apartment fire.

1. Practice Fire Prevention

One of the most important things you can do to prevent fires is to be proactive. Fortunately, there are a few simple tasks you can perform to save a lot of trouble. Smoking is the number one cause of fires, so make sure to put out your cigarettes completely, and to never smoke in bed. Another important tip is to avoid keeping any flammable liquids inside of your apartment, and to make sure that your matches and lighters are stowed out of reach of children. Lastly, make sure that you’re practicing safe electrical outlet protocol: don’t use frayed cords, overload your outlets, or keep liquids nearby.

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Making sure a home is safe and livable for any senior should first priority when it comes to senior apartment living. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to deal with safety concerns for your senior’s apartment. Appliance safety (and ease of use), mobility issues, security concerns: all can be addressed to make sure that a senior living on their own is both comfortable and well cared for. Whether you make these modifications on your own or with the help of an occupational therapist, there are plenty of small things you can do to an apartment that will make a big difference for a senior’s apartment safety.

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