It’s a pretty great time to be alive. Almost anything you can think of can be delivered right to your front door. Whether you need a car to drive you to the airport, dinner from your favorite restaurant, a selection of clothes from a virtual stylist, or a doggy door from Amazon for your house-trained miniature horse, it’s all just a few clicks away.
Every day, the news is filled with stories of the growing cost of rent in the U.S. and the challenges of finding quality apartments in many metro areas. However, the news media has only given you one side of the story. The simple fact is, in nearly every metro area in America, the total costs of renting an apartment are equal to or far less than those of home ownership. If fact, apartment living can provide you with many luxuries that most homeowners cannot afford. This means that today is as good a day as any to leap into the joys of renting an apartment.
Ah, springtime. The season of birds chirping, flowers blooming, and all things fresh and… wait, is that a cashmere blanket on your chair or just a giant layer of dust? Let’s face it: winter isn’t the easiest season to clean up. Luckily for you (and your roommate, if you have one), spring is the perfect time to tackle the clutter. Here are a few easy ways to get started and save you some stress.
The simple fact is that we are obsessed with our pets. This Valentine’s Day, pet owners are expected to spend at least $30 on their pets and, as Americans, we spent more than $60 billion annually on our furry family members. We share photos of them on social media, we talk to them as if they were our own human children, and apartment renters go out of their way to make sure that they choose the apartment that is right for their pets. It is not a coincidence that the Westminster Dog Show takes place each year around Valentine’s Day and is held in New York City. Even Hollywood is getting in on the action with the upcoming movie, The Secret Life of Pets. For many of us, apartment life has definitely gone to the dogs.
This Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, we celebrate the expansive variety of ages, cultures and backgrounds of all Americans. The apartment industry, especially, provides fair and equal housing to all persons, regardless of factors like age, race or sex. There really is an apartment for every demographic group and every life situation, including:
Baby Boomers
The new Baby Boomers don’t just sit around the apartment after their children move out. Instead, they are increasingly choosing urban apartments, where they can walk or bike to enjoy restaurants, shopping, plays and other activities.
Generation X
The children of Baby Boomers, or Generation X, are very practical, self-reliant and independent. They know that it makes financial sense to rent an apartment versus home ownership – where maintenance and repair expenses are constant. Generation X is also a very social group, and apartments allow them the freedom to spend time with their friends.
Millennials
Whatever the size of the apartment you’re applying for—from efficiency to two-bedroom apartments to lofts—you’ll probably have to undergo a credit check when you submit your application. Because landlords are trying to find out whether you would be a reliable renter, they look at your report for things like debt, consistency, predictability, and your previous rental history. But what happens when they actually go to check that report?
This Tuesday, December 22, marks the Winter Solstice – the longest night of the year. While this is the official start to winter, in many places, winter is already in full effect. As schoolchildren, college students and others wrap up their studies and testing, their thoughts quickly turn to enjoying the holiday season – including throwing a snowball or two.
For apartment renters, winter is a terrific time of year. These are the top reasons why, when it comes to winter, renting rules:
Do You Want to Build a Snowman?
In colder climes, frozen pipes are a real danger during the winter. When frozen pipes burst, you could be looking at flood damage and ruined possessions. And worse, depending on your renters insurance coverage, you may not be covered for reimbursements and repairs. That’s why renters should be especially vigilant about preventing frozen pipes during the wintertime. After all, the last thing you want is to come home from a winter vacation to a sopping wet apartment.
Great home staging for an apartment can be the difference between a quick turnaround and a sluggish sale. When a prospective tenant walks in, they should instantly feel at home in the space, and an effective home staging job can make that happen. However, there are some common blunders that you can make when setting up an apartment. Take note of these top 5 mistakes, and you’ll be on your way to a successful partnership.
Every apartment that a prospective resident is looking for is one-of-a-kind, just as each apartment shopper is unique and has distinctive needs. However, at a certain point in the apartment-searching process, all apartments start to look the same. Perusing local print ads, you start to see the same features and benefits described about nearly community in your region. These include colorful terms such as “state-of-the-art”, “resort-style” and “luxurious”. But what everyone really wants is a “unique” place to call their own – that perfectly fits their needs, desires and lifestyle.
In the search to find that right residence, not all apartment communities are created equal. Some, in fact, offer unique perks that may not exist elsewhere in the local landscape. It is these perks that turn an ordinary apartment community into an extraordinary place for you to call home. Here are some of the most fun and exclusive apartment amenities we have seen: