Buying renters insurance is more urgent than you might assume. Think your apartment’s landlord is responsible if the stuff in your apartment gets stolen or damaged? Think again. Their responsibility is only for the building itself, which you won’t matter much to you if your new laptop or flat screen TV gets stolen or trashed.
While most of us have drifted by in an apartment for awhile without buying renters insurance, it’s taking a big risk, and it simply doesn’t make any sense considering that a lot of renters insurance policies cost less per day than the price of a soda. Here are a few tips on buying renters insurance. Read the rest of this entry »

The cost of cable television for apartments may soon get a lot cheaper. Millions of Americans who watch cable TV in their apartments don’t have any choice in who their cable provider is. This means no choice of rates, providers, or packages.

It’s called exclusive rights, and apartment buildings across the country have experienced them when it comes to their cable services provider. But this is about to change with the recent FCC announcement that it will no longer allow cable TV service providers to force apartment communities into exclusive contracts. Companies such as Time Warner and other large cable service providers have in the past been able to sign exclusive rights agreements with individual apartment buildings. In return for these agreements, the cable TV provider would agree to upgrade the apartment cable systems as well as other capital investment. But with these upgrades comes a downside for renters. If a renter does not like the rates that he or she is charged, they have to either switch to satellite television or go back to using good ‘ol rabbit ears. The ruling, which is expected within the next few weeks, would strike these agreements down, thereby allowing other cable service providers, such as AT&T and Verizon, to provide cable television for apartments that previously had exclusive agreements. The result of allowing even just a second competitor, experts argue, is a drop in price of roughly 30%. With cable TV prices having risen significantly in the past ten years–one study estimated a rise of 93%–this will come as a relief for many families.

Proponents of limiting exclusive rights include a broad range of groups. There are other large corporations, such as Verizon and AT&T who, with recent technological advances, are now able to provide cable TV service. Then there are also satellite providers who would like to see more fair positioning in providing cable television for apartments. Finally, there are the small regional cable providers who are especially disadvantaged by exclusive rights in cable TV contracts for apartments.

So, what does this mean if you’re renting an apartment? First, there you can expect to see cheaper prices on your existing cable provider’s bills as the threat of the competition’s lower price causes price cuts. Second, with more options available, expect a more diverse set of cable television programming packages for apartments as competitors try to fit different niches in the market. Third, watch for bundling services with their cable television for apartments, especially from new cable providers like AT&T and Verizon. Both companies offer several services across the technological spectrum, such as phone, cable television, high-speed internet and wireless.

Smoke-free apartments are a priority for many people on the hunt for a new place to call home. There can be many reasons for wanting a smoke-free apartment, including the fact that a smoke-free apartment building is less likely to catch on fire. Plus, many people looking for smoke-free apartments are doing so to avoid second-hand smoke, which can cause harm and discomfort, especially to those who are more sensitive to the smell of cigarette smoke.

Smoke-Free Apartments: How to Find One

Finding smoke-free apartments can take a bit more time than not having a preference, but it’s an important step to take if living in a smoke-free environment is important to you. There are a few things to consider during your search:

• Has the apartment complex completely banned smoking, or do they have certain units designated as smoke-free apartments?
• If the place has rules about smoking, do the rules cover the entire complex, or just certain areas? Are common areas like the laundry room or fitness center also smoke-free?
• If it’s a smoke-free apartment complex, how does the management treat those who break the rules? Are there fines? How seriously are complaints taken?
• How does the management handle cleaning apartments once tenants move out?
• Are nearby apartments also smoke-free, or will your smoke-free apartment be the only one designated that way?

In addition to asking these questions while on-site, you can also call ahead to the management offices ahead of time to ask about their policies on smoke-free apartments.

Smoke-Free Apartments: What To Do When Neighbors’ Smoke Creeps In

One problem in smoke-free apartments is that smoke can creep in through vents, windows or doors from neighbors who are smoking. This is why it might be a good idea to ask the apartment management about policies, such as whether the units surrounding the smoke-free apartments have the same designation. Definitely discuss this with the apartment management before you make a decision about living there.

Some ways to help curb the smoke problem might be to make sure there are no gaps in the doors or cracks in walls or windows. Even electrical outlets can allow smoke to come in, so check to make sure they are properly insulated. Patching cracks and holes in walls and installing door sweeps may also help. If the problem is still bad, you may consider changing your air filter or speaking to your apartment management office about the problem with your smoke-free apartment.

Renting loft apartments can provide a refreshing alternative

Loft apartments might be the perfect cure for the common cube – that is, the ordinary rental apartment or efficiency that we’ve all seen and lived in for years. Rental apartments can suffer from low ceilings, commercial-grade carpeting, paper-thin walls, and an overall lack of character. Loft apartments, like the Chicago loft for rent depicted here, are usually apartments built in a former industrial building that’s been converted for units for rent. As a result, loft apartments often feature distinctive and unique attributes like natural materials, exposed support beams, high ceilings, large windows, vintage signage, and exposed brick walls.

It’s also becoming popular for new apartment complexes to be built in “loft style.” Loft-style apartments emulate original loft apartments in design and construction. Depending on the developer and the location, loft-style apartments can be identical to or even more comfortable than a true loft apartment. New loft-style apartments are built specifically for residential renters, and can take advantage of modern materials and techniques that save energy and increase the “liveability” of a loft apartment. Even older converted buildings, like this Detroit loft apartment, can boast modern features like stained concrete floors and gated parking.

As you might expect, loft apartments tend to proliferate in the warehouse districts of denser, more industrial cities. Loft apartments in Philadelphia and loft-style condos in Chicago are the kinds of dwellings a renter might expect to see.

However, since loft apartments are being built new all around the world, we strongly recommend that you use our “Find an Apartment” search tool to look for loft apartments in your desired city! For example, this sparkling loft apartment in Rochester Hills, Michigan, was built in 1997 with modern conveniences like a racquetball court and outdoor pool. And if you rent a loft apartment, don’t forget to claim your reward for finding it through Apartmentsearch.com – it could earn you $200!

Apartment ratings can be extremely helpful when searching for that perfect apartment. Apartment ratings and reviews tell potential residents whether an apartment complex will be a good fit for them. Thanks to many helpful Web sites, finding that perfect place to call home is a lot easier than it used to be. Tons of current and former residents are eager to give their two cents on whether they liked their apartment, often rating things like grounds, office staff, amenities and safety in the apartment ratings. Here are a few Web sites that provide apartment ratings.

Apartment Ratings at ApartmentRatings.com

Apartment ratings at ApartmentRatings.com give people the chance to read real apartment ratings by real residents. In fact, this site has over 579,000 apartment ratings of residences all over the country. There are quite a few funny reviews, and of course there are plenty of livid ones and positive ones. Reviewers on this site definitely aren’t afraid to speak their mind, and it’s a good thing — you can be warned about potentially unsafe apartment complexes or unhelpful management by viewing the apartment ratings on this site. It is free to use.

Apartment Reviews: No Shortage of Apartment Ratings

ApartmentReviews.net is another place to find great apartment ratings. Like ApartmentRatings.com, you can search this site to find apartment ratings of residences all over the country. The mantra of this site, similar to other apartment ratings sites, is to “help others choose the right apartments.” Talk about good karma — reviewers on this site are also honest and helpful, and clicking on a state on the map will lead you to a page listing cities in that state. From there, you pick your city, and you’ll see a list of apartments along with peek at the score of the apartment. Apartment ratings include factors like security, parking, management, appearance and maintenance.

College Apartment Reviews at RateMyApartments.com

RateMyApartments.com seems to be more aimed toward the college crowd, with a focus on college apartment reviews. This can definitely be a helpful tool for students who have little or no experience in renting a college apartment. Many new renters might make the mistake of signing a lease for a place that’s the cheapest, or the place that looks the nicest. But failing to check out apartment ratings is a huge mistake that they’ll undoubtedly realize down the road. This site makes moving into that first place easier for college students. Users must choose their state and then the college they’re attending. After that, they’ll be taken to a page that lists apartment ratings for complexes near that school.

Any views and opinions expressed on ApartmentRatings.com, ApartmentReviews.net, and RateMyApartments.com are strictly those of the author and not shared by ApartmentSearch by CORT. ApartmentSearch by CORT does not endorse, guarantee, or warrant the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of these facts, views, or opinions. ApartmentSearch by CORT specifically disclaims any and all liability for any claims or damages that may result from facts, views, or opinions of individuals or organizations not affiliated with ApartmentSearch by CORT appearing on this Site.

Finding an apartment takes time and effort, but it’s worth it. A little planning and forethought in finding your apartment will go a long way. Don’t rush when you’re searching for an apartment – the decision you make can affect your quality of life for months and, more likely, years…! So use ApartmentSearch.com to pick an apartment wisely and enjoy the fruits of your labor for a long time.

Finding an Apartment That Fits You

Before you go browsing, your first step in finding that apartment is to narrow your hunt. Finding an apartment becomes a lot easier when you focus the search by size, lease length, location, features, and rent. It doesn’t make sense to spend time looking at listings and visiting apartments, only to find that your furniture doesn’t fit or that you can’t live without a tub.

Finding an Apartment by Size

Finding an apartment isn’t easy for packrats who have trouble judging volume. If you’re not sure how much stuff you have, and you’re afraid of a space crunch, take an approximate measure of the filled areas in your closets and storage spaces. You can even measure in feet instead of inches – just round up and get a rough idea of how much storage you’ll need in your new apartment.

It’s also a good idea to measure your biggest pieces of furniture – bureaus, wardrobes, beds, sofas, desks – to help you in finding an apartment that fits your needs. You might find it helpful to have these measurements with you when you visit apartments. Some landlords will be able to give you the dimensions of rooms before you visit. This information will come in handy when decorating your apartment, too.

Lastly, it’s critical to know how many bedrooms and living areas you’ll need. If you need a study for your home business, a bedroom for a roommate, or an extra living area for your book club meetings, you’ll want to be searching for the right kind of space. When finding an apartment, too, you should know that single-occupant apartments are generally the priciest. Privacy comes at a premium, partly because a single occupant has to carry the overhead for all the facilities (plumbing, electrical, appliances) that would be shared by multiple occupants.

Finding an Apartment by Lease Length

The lease length is another critical limitation when finding an apartment. How long do you intend to stay? A lease is binding on both you and the landlord, and it usually sets the rent at a fixed rate, too.

Unfortunately, a lot of listings don’t specify the length of the lease, so keep that in mind. Don’t waste time on visiting an apartment that you may find to be on a limiting lease. Call first, and ask about the lease before you schedule a visit.

Finding an Apartment by Location

Location is just as important when finding an apartment as it is with any other kind of real estate situation. You want to be close to your frequent destinations – work, friends, errands, recreation. When you’re talking about quality of life, you’ll often find that an unremarkable place close to work is a much better situation than a gorgeous apartment far from friends and office. Don’t be wowed by superficial elements when you sign that lease. Know the area, know your frequent routes, and be logical. If safety is a concern when finding your apartment, make sure to visit the apartment on a Friday or Saturday evening to see what the nightlife is like.

Finding an Apartment by Features

Everyone has lifestyle needs that can’t be negotiated. Maybe you have a huge collection of ventriloquist dolls that must be kept in climate-controlled environments. Maybe you have four miniature poodles. Maybe you want a spot in some smoke-free apartments or you’re interested in renting loft apartments. Whatever it is, it affects you when you’re finding an apartment.

Beyond your feature needs, you probably have a list of feature wants – desired features that can affect your decision. When finding an apartment, keep your favorite features in mind and don’t forget to ask about them if they’re not immediately obvious. Common features include pools, tennis courts, clubhouses, storage spaces, and cable TV.

Finding an Apartment by Rent

Of course, when finding an apartment, the bottom line is always important. A good place will always cost you some money, but with a little preparation and planning, finding a good, economical apartment should be more of a pleasure than a burden. You may also find the ApartmentSearch moving checklist helpful. And of course, don’t forget to claim your $200 reward for finding an apartment on ApartmentSearch.com!

Good luck!

Apartments that take pets can seem tough to find. This can be very frustrating if you have a dog or a cat and need to find an apartment, but don’t lose hope – it’s not impossible to find apartments that take pets if you follow a few guidelines. Read the rest of this entry »

High rise Dallas apartments are going up at a record pace in Dallas, Texas. Driven by high land prices, apartment developers are building bigger and higher than before. Builders plan on adding 7,000 new Dallas apartments for rent before mid-year, and many of them will be high-rise apartments. Read the rest of this entry »