5 Apartment Safety Tips to Help You Sleep Easy

Apartment safety tips may seem like common sense, but don’t get careless and leave yourself open to crime. Here are five apartment safety tips to consider. (Don’t forget to look into buying renters insurance, too!)

Apartment Safety Tip #1: Lock Your Door

Believe it or not, this is one of the most important apartment safety tips. Remember, most burglars are looking for the easiest opportunity. We’ve all left a door unlocked while we get the second load of groceries out of the car. You think you’ll just be gone for a minute, and you don’t want to have to fumble with the key again. You can always set the groceries down beside your door, unlock it, and pick them up again. Also, don’t leave a hidden key in a plant, under the mat, in a fake rock, or anywhere near your door.

Apartment Safety Tip #2: Leave the Light On

Leave a light on for safety, especially when you know you’ll be coming home after dark. If you’re worried about running up the utility bill and going through bulbs, use a compact fluorescent bulb. You might also put on some music at a low volume.

Apartment Safety Tip #3: Be Careful When Answering the Door

Don’t just open your apartment door to anyone, especially when you’re not expecting them. Use that peephole.

Apartment Safety Tip #4: Get to Know Your Neighbors

We recommend finding an apartment neighbor who can be a friend. You can look out for each other. Also, if you should have an emergency, strangers in your apartment complex may ignore you out of fear, but if they know you, chances are they’ll open the door or at least try and get some help.

Apartment Safety Tip #5: Improve Your Apartment Safety with a Pet

Thieves hate pets, especially dogs. Dogs, birds and even some cats can raise a very loud ruckus if a stranger enters your apartment. Consider seeking apartments that take pets and adopt a pet from the local animal shelter. Burglars will probably not want to come in, and you’ll have a great new friend.

Organize Your Apartment: Get Rid of Stuff

If you’ve got a cluttered or messy apartment, your first problem may be that you’ve just got too much stuff. After your long search for an apartment, you don’t want to be buried in it by miscellaneous piles of papers and clothes that you know you’re never going to wear. Organize your apartment by clearing out the clutter!

Take a Trip to Charity or the Library

If you’re not using it, maybe someone else can. Load up those extra clothes and the furniture that doesn’t quite fit your new digs and drop it off at the local thrift store. Do the same with some of those books that you’ve already read and don’t want to give up, or those you’ve “been meaning to read.” You can always donate books to the local library, and if you ever really need to read them, you can simply borrow them. If you have less stuff, you are on the way to having an organized apartment.

Organize Your Apartment: Rent Storage

You’ve got to keep certain items where you can find them, but you don’t need to trip over them every time you get in the door. Documents proving what you claimed on your taxes, for example, should probably be kept around for 5 to 7 years. Why not rent a storage space to keep some of this out of your apartment complex and out of your way? If the tax man comes round, you can always go and retrieve it. Ask at your management office. Some complexes even offer additional storage right on site, so you don’t have far to go to organize your apartment.

Buy a Few Key Organizational Aids

You don’t need to clean out this whole section of the store. Take a look around your apartment and see what would benefit you most. For example, whether you take your shoes off at the door or pile them up in your closet, either way you’re likely to have a pile cluttering up your floor somewhere. Why not invest a small amount of cash into a shoe rack or shelves so you can stack them neatly and organize your apartment using vertical space?

If paper clutter is your enemy, try scanning documents into a computer and keeping electronic copies only, or investing in a file cabinet. Clearing out the paper piles will help you organize your apartment – and help your state of mind too!

Create Your Own System to Organize Your Apartment

Decide how you’re going to deal with things like mail every day, and find tools and systems that work for you to organize your apartment. Try immediately dealing with junk mail, and having a mini-filing system right at the door to separate bills and materials that you want to read later.

Good luck, and happy organizing!

Apartment Finders: Their Job Is to Help You

Apartment finders are there to help you out when you’re trying to find that perfect place to live. Where do you even begin your apartment hunt, especially when you live in a larger city, when you’re working on finding an apartment?

There’s a lot to consider when finding an apartment. Are you interested in renting a college apartment, a loft apartment, or a high rise apartment? What kind of location, how many bedrooms and what about price and amenities? Some people value safety over amenities; others just want to find smoke-free apartments or apartments that take pets so they can stay with their furry friends.

While many people might prefer to just dive into hunting for a new apartment, others might find the help of an apartment finder extremely useful. If you’re a person who wouldn’t mind a little apartment finder assistance, consider following these apartment finder guidelines:

1. Research the Market You’d Like to Explore with Your Apartment Finder

Research can save you time before you meet with your apartment finder. Use a website like ApartmentSearch to browse apartment listings. But don’t stop there — ask around, too. Talk to friends and neighbors about the areas of town they prefer. Get recommendations from happy residents, and don’t be afraid to ask them questions. Visit some apartment ratings websites for opinions. Researching apartments and areas of town is a great idea to start narrowing down your hunt to the neighborhoods you like.

2. Decide What You Want in an Apartment

What exactly makes an apartment a home for you? You should think carefully about this. What’s important to one person is not important to the next, so think about what you value.

Do you have pets? What is your budget, including renters insurance and utilities? Figure out how much you can spend on rent per month. Your apartment finder will tell you that to qualify for an apartment, your maximum rent usually should be around three times your monthly income. Think about other things like apartment cable television service, internet providers and school districts if you have children. Crime statistics, parking and swimming pools are good things to consider as well. And, of course, how much space you will need. Write this information down and bring it with you when you meet with an apartment finder.

3. Find a Reputable Apartment Finder

Ask around for recommendations for an apartment finder. You want someone who will listen to your concerns and someone with enough experience to know which apartments are offering specials and discounts. A good apartment finder will find apartments that would be a good match for you based on the criteria you give them.

Some apartment finders win incentives from apartment complexes for placing residents; make sure your apartment finder is showing you the full selection of choices and is respecting your preferences rather than pursuing a hidden self-interest.
4. Set Up a Meeting Time with an Apartment Finder

Once you pick an apartment finder, call their office to schedule a meeting time. You’ll want to set aside a few hours, as this can take a while. You’ll need to sit down to discuss what you want; then the apartment finder will search for good matches. They may also be able to do this for you over the phone so that when you come in for the meeting, you and the finder can leave right away to start visiting apartments. Be sure to bring a photo ID, as some places may require one to view an apartment. A pen and paper to write down notes on your discussions with apartment managers would also be helpful.

Going from place to place can be exhausting, even with your apartment finder’s assistance, but at least by the time you get back from your search, you’ll have your hands full with brochures, floor plans and pricing information from a few good apartment complexes. Then comes the hard part: picking an apartment to move into.

If you feel like you haven’t been given enough choices or suitable options after meeting with an apartment finder, don’t be afraid to go back and ask for more help — or choose another apartment finder. The search for an apartment can be long and frustrating, but it sure is a great payoff when you find what you want and start moving into your apartment.

Congratulations! Ready to rest? Not quite! Now it’s time to start decorating your apartment!

Choosing a Secure Apartment Will Help You Sleep at Night

Any police officer will tell you that they most frequently get called to apartment complexes about domestic disputes and burglaries. They’ll also tell you that there are a number of things you can look for before you even move into an apartment home to ensure your safety. Choosing a secure apartment can make a big difference in the quality of rest you get at night – and the enjoyment you derive from being at home.

Pay Attention to the Application Process

Did it take an hour or two to complete your rental application? Did they check your references? That’s a good sign, however painful it might have been. Thorough screenings are important if you’re serious about choosing a secure apartment. How well they screen you will be how well they screen your neighbors.

Go with an Upper Floor

While it’s a pain to lug furniture, groceries, and other stuff into the elevator or up and down the stairs, if choosing a secure apartment is your priority, go with an upper floor. Breaking into a first floor apartment sure looks easier to a thief. If it’s in your budget, take a look at high-rise apartments.

Examine the Outside Areas

Take a look at any gates and fences. Are there any? If so, are they just for looks, or are you actually getting some security for your money? A lot of apartment complexes have a big, fancy looking gate and fence at the front, and then nothing at the back, or something so short a snake could jump it. If there’s a keypad entry system, try to go in one day without buzzing in. Try driving through the gate behind another car and see how easy it is. If there’s a security guard, try and talk your way in after the office is closed. Tell him/her that you just want to take a look around the place, and see how easily you can talk your way in.

Trace the steps you’ll frequently take from where you’ll park your car to your apartment, or other frequent areas, such as your mailbox, the laundry or gym area. How well-lit are they?

Examine the Apartment

Take a careful look at the doors and windows. How thick and sturdy are the doors? How easy is it to open a window from the outside? Does the door have a peephole so you can see who’s there before you open it?

Talk to Current Residents

Current residents will know and will probably tell you if there have been a lot of problems. Try to drive around one night after dark and see if there are residents walking around the buildings. If they feel secure, chances are you will too.

Talk to the Management

Find out if the office will check on your apartment or collect your mail for you during an extended absence. Ask them if the locks were changed since the last renter, and if you’re not satisfied, ask to see the receipt for the locksmith. Ask who has access to your apartment and what the policies are for letting employees have a master key.

Talk to the Local Police About Choosing a Secure Apartment

Most police officers are happy to help you before you have to call 911. They may or may not have statistics on the crime rate at a particular apartment complex.

While we can’t assure you that nothing will ever happen in your apartment renting experience, we hope these tips will help ensure that you’re successful in choosing a more secure apartment.

ApartmentSearch by CORT does not guarantee security or safety at any property. For local crime statistics and information, please contact you local law enforcement agency.

Decorating Your Apartment: Add Some Color

Decorating your apartment with color? What? Color? Yep. Color adds mental stimulation, a mood, and variety. Just because most apartments have leases with restrictions on painting doesn’t mean you need to stare at 4 boring white walls every time you come home. Oh, and if you didn’t read part one of “Decorating Your Apartment“, you might want to go back and read that first.

Painting May Be Possible

First, ask your apartment manager about your options. Some will let you paint one accent wall if you promise to turn it back to white before you go. Then, get your mind out of the box, and think about how you might go about decorating your apartment with color while keeping management happy.

Alternatives to Painting Your Apartment

If you can’t paint in your apartment, try decorating your apartment by using supersize canvas from your local art supply or craft store. Or hit the lumber yard and get thin sheets of plywood. Instead of painting the wall, you paint the wood, then attach it or lean it against the wall. There’s also fabric. You might choose a flat piece of fabric in a color that goes along with your theme for that space. Or experiment with decorating your apartment using strips of fabric to create texture.

Remember to Not Damage Your Apartment

It’s important to remember to not damage your apartment or you could get hit with fees. You’ll want to use the smallest thing available to attach it to the wall. You might try thumb tacks. Visit your local hardware store and explain what you want to attach, and tell them you need to make the least noticeable mark on the wall possible. There are some great wall hooks made specifically for this purpose. Also, if you spot one of the maintenance crew at your apartment, ask them for suggestions. They’re usually the ones who have to do the clean up and patching, so they may be able to give you suggestions on decorating your apartment without causing.

Better yet, select a wall you want to accent, get a cheap tensioning curtain rod, and mount it against the opposing walls. From there you can hang drapes or curtains, giving the illusion that there is something behind there, and that you’ve actually got more space then you really do. If you take care, decorating your apartment with this technique shouldn’t even leave a smudge on the wall when you’re ready to move out.

Choose Your Lighting Well When Decorating Your Apartment

While you can’t install your own lighting fixtures in the walls or ceilings of an apartment, there’s a lot you can do if you go out shopping for lamps to fit your functional or theme space needs. For example, a few small lamps in the corners of your bedroom installed with colored light bulbs can give it a romantic feel without the danger of candles. Or a lamp with multi settings and multiple bulbs in your dining area might be able to provide bright light for studying or doing your taxes on the table, or a calmer, background light while watching TV in the evening. Don’t forget the importance of lighting in decorating your apartment.

Shop for Furniture, Organizational Supplies, and Knick Knacks

Now that you’ve got your canvas ready with theme ideas, colors, and lighting, pick the big items to go along with the rest of your apartment personality. Start with just a few major items you need, like a bed and table, then slowly work your way up until you’re happy. Less is definitely more when it comes to decorating your apartment.

Now go get those creative juices flowing, and decorate your apartment!

Renting a college apartment takes some forethought, but it can be done efficiently. Some people even find it fun!

Looking for an apartment in a college town, either for yourself or a son or daughter, can prove to be a daunting task for even the most independent student or trusting parent. With proper planning and research, renting a college apartment can be an easy and rewarding experience for all parties involved. There are a number of factors to consider when choosing an apartment. Read below for some factors that I’ve found most important during my college career.

The most important factor is location. You can save considerable time and money by walking or biking to classes instead of driving (and trying to find that impossible parking spot) if you live close to campus. But, this often comes as a tradeoff, as apartments closer to campus tend to cost more. This rule is by no means set in stone, but finding a cheap apartment close to campus takes more time and work. Trust me, it’s worth it.

A second factor to keep in mind when renting a college apartment is the neighborhood. For example, you might find a dirt cheap apartment, but it isn’t such a good deal if it’s in a crime-stricken neighborhood. Instead of solely relying on price, try to find a balance between proximity to campus, cost and the nearby amenities. Consider the distance to the nearest bank, movie theater, bus stop or grocery store. Also, it’s important to consider your neighbors. Is your apartment in a neighborhood surrounded by other college students or by elderly people? Remember that when you move into your college apartment, the neighborhood can affect the way you feel about your new home just as much as the price.

You may also want to seek out apartments that take pets. No one wants to leave a pet behind and dogs and birds can be invaluable in scaring away would-be thieves. Another important factor is the physical layout and facilities of the apartment. Is the bedroom big enough for your bed? Can the kitchen fit all of your appliances, such as a microwave, coffee maker, or washing machine? If you have a car, does the apartment complex have adequate and safe parking? If you plan to live with roommates, is there enough space for everyone? These are all important questions to consider.

Apartment ratings can be an important help, too. Apartment rating websites often have a wealth of information about the pros and cons of popular apartment complexes, making it much easier for you to weed out the bad seeds when you’re renting a college apartment.

Finally, how do you plan on paying for the apartment? This can be an especially important question for college students, as money tends to run tight. First, check to see if the heating, electric, water, cable and internet are all included in the monthly rental fee or if you have to pay for them individually. Also, make sure to ask about the average monthly costs from past tenants to see if you are consuming too much energy. Check to see if everything is clearly stated on your lease agreement, including the date of payment and the terms of the lease. As you will be probably living in the apartment for months or even years, it’s important to take the time to carefully read over the contract. This will help you to avoid future disputes with the landlord down the road.

Living in an apartment during your college years can be one of the best experiences of your life. Take the time to think about what qualities are important for you. Then browse through our list of apartments for rent to find your perfect college apartment. Don’t forget to claim your reward for renting through ApartmentSearch.com!

Decorating Your Apartment Is Like Furnishing Your Life

Decorating your apartment should be something you look forward to. But that’s not true for everybody.

For some apartment dwellers, finding an apartment is the big challenge and decorating an apartment is an afterthought. Apartments become places where they just store stuff. They think of it as a temporary space, and figure that with the restrictions in their lease about painting the walls that they’re stuck with a generic white apartment treatment that looks like every other apartment on the floor.

With a little decorating creativity, though, you can make your apartment feel more like a real home that says something about your personality. Whether it’s candlelight and pastel-colored, fluffy pillows, or a display of your favorite team’ sports memorabilia, here’re some ideas to get your creative juices flowing and your apartment decorated in style.

Decorate Your Apartment in Themed Spaces

The important thing here is to brainstorm, and not worry too much about how you’re going to decorate. Just get your creative cap on, or invite your more creative friends over to brainstorm ideas and help you with decorating your apartment.

Mentally Divide Your Apartment

Even if it’s only a one bedroom apartment you’re living in, take a look around and mentally partition your apartment into some divisions around which you can create a few different decorating themes. Use the # of bedrooms + 3 rule. That is, you can usually choose a theme for each bedroom in the apartment, and create three other themed spaces. More themed spaces may create a busy, crowded feel; fewer themed spaces may give the impression that you stopped decorating your apartment halfway through.

For example, the best corner in the apartment could become a mini antique display, a spot to highlight family photos, or a morning meditation spot. By creating themed spaces, you’re taking a small, homogenous space and giving it variety. You’ll also make your small apartment feel bigger. That’s what decorating your apartment is all about.

Functional and Random Spaces in Your Apartment

Your themed spaces can be functional and random. For example one corner could be your dog’s, with his doggie bed and a few pictures of him on the wall above it, while the general living room area can evoke a relaxing, laid back feel, with a recliner as the main focus.

A Central Decorating Theme

Try making your apartment’s themed spaces revolve around a central theme. Your living room area could be decorated in a South American fiesta theme, with a large map of the continent on the wall, while your apartment’s bedroom can have an Asian theme, with bamboo pictures and thrift-store lacquer furniture. Use your own style and interests to define how you approach decorating your apartment.

Physically Decorate and Divvy Up Your Apartment’s Space

A divider can be a great way to decorate your themed space and give you even more of a feel that you’ve got more space than you do. These are a great cure for the layout of a studio apartment, which feels like (and is) one big room.

Here’s a creative alternative to the usual wooden dividers: head to your local crafts or sewing store, and ask them about large, folding table pads, used to protect tables from needles and to provide a work surface. You can throw a large sheet, blanket, or other cloth over them to create a different look, and nobody knows what’s under there. Not only might this save you money, but the foam type of material inside makes a great sound absorber, which is important in a small apartment. You never know when you’ll have trouble quieting noisy apartment neighbors, too.

Stay tuned! In our next blog, Decorating Your Apartment Part 2, we’ll give you some tips on how to add color to your apartment while keeping the apartment management happy.

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.