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apartment living Tag

Young Woman Under BlanketAh, the joys of living alone. Want pancakes and bacon at 2 AM? Get cookin’—you won’t wake anybody up! No need to call “dibs” on the remote—it’s always yours! Get the pet that you want, entertain guests when you want, and sing your favorite show tunes at the top of your lungs. But once the novelty wears off, living by yourself can actually be a little nerve-wracking. What if there’s an emergency and no one around to help?

Whether you have an overactive imagination or you just want to be prepared in case of a crisis, here are 5 ways to not be scared if you live alone.

Watering plantsBringing plants into your space is a great way to liven up your one bedroom apartment, but not everyone is born with a green thumb; we’re speaking from experience here! To avoid future indoor gardening mishaps, we’ve compiled the top 5 tips you need to keep plants thriving in any indoor climate.

Set a Watering Schedule

If you’re like us, watering your plants has been somewhat of an afterthought. And by the time you remember to water, your plant might be looking a little worse for the wear. Set a watering schedule based on your plants watering needs (add a standing appointment to your calendar) and you’ll be better prepared to tend to your plant on a more regular basis.

ApartmentSearch_Tax-DayApril 15 is a wake-up call for many of us. It is a time when we re-evaluate our finances, determining where we are spending our money and how we can save more of it. Unfortunately, for those who live in a home, the “saving money” part of the equation seems elusive. Every time they feel like they are making progress on bills and savings accounts, some new expense comes along to hamper their goals. An appliance stops working. A water pipe breaks and floods the carpet or wood flooring. The sod has to be replaced after a rough winter and pressure from the HOA.

There is an endless list of unplanned-for expenses that pile up. And these are not even the regular, monthly expenses. In addition to high utility costs, homeowners are paying mortgages, property taxes, lawn and landscaping fees, and a host of other home repair and upkeep expenses. The burden of mortgages – which are still disproportionately high after the housing bubble burst – and the other expenses is what has led many homeowners to switch to apartment living.

ApartmentSearch_Emergency-KitThe old adage, “April showers bring May flowers” doesn’t account for when those April showers get out of hand. Unfortunately, many of the country’s worst storms happen during the spring and can sometimes lead to flash flooding, steady downpours, and electrical outages. Bad weather that creates a power outage is no fun but it can also quickly escalate to more dire straights if your emergency kit was never stocked. At ApartmentSearch, we think being prepared is the best policy. Here are the emergency supplies to keep on hand year ’round.

ApartmentSearch_Roommate-CodeIf you’ve ever shared in a 2-bedroom apartment, you know the roommate life can be rough. Dishes, turning off lights, or noisy late nights – whatever the little things are that irk you, don’t let it ruin your living situation. Here are some guidelines that all roommates should follow but might go without saying.

Share Chores Equally

You can try as hard as you want to keep your apartment dwelling separate, but you can’t avoid sweeping the kitchen floor. If your roommate is a little less tidy than you are, there are ways to communicate what’s important to you to keep fair. Putting a list of divvied-up to-dos on the fridge can be an easy way to remind your roommate of things both of you needs to keep up with.

Small ApartmentRegardless of whether you live in New York City or San Francisco, studio apartments have one major characteristic in common: limited space. The thing about a small area is that it gives you the opportunity to be creative with your smaller home. We’ve put together a few apartment hacks to keep your clutter to a minimum and help you maximize your space and organization.

Wine holder as a towel rack

If you’re seriously lacking shelving space in your bathroom, a wine rack is a great way to store and organize your towels and linens. Plus, the wine rack adds a functional yet elegant look to the bathroom.

Grocery Bags There are plenty of apartment hacks for loving the environment, even if you don’t live in an “eco-friendly apartment.” Here’s the good news: going green doesn’t have to be difficult or complicated. It can actually be fun and a great way to save money. Here are a few ways to jump-start your green living:

Reducing Energy Consumption

  • Unplug your gadgets. Many electronics consume energy even when they are turned off. By unplugging the TVs, DVD players, consoles, coffee makers, etc. in your apartment when you’re not home or they’re not in use can save a lot on your electricity bill every month.
  • Switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs. Incandescent light bulbs use more energy and don’t last nearly as long so why bother?
  • Be conscious of temperature. Running heat and air conditioning not only sucks up energy but also money. During winter, turn the heat down by 2 degrees, wear a sweater, and you’ll save green. Washing your clothes on cold will also cut back costs.

Digital Hand Held DevicesIn 1984, Madonna said that she was a “material girl, living in a material world.” If she re-released that song today, we would imagine she’d be singing a new tune, that she’s a “digital girl, living in a high-tech world.” From smartphones to portable tablets to blue-tooth integration, the world as we know it has evolved over the past 30 years to make us almost 100% reliant on the technology around us. The smartphone in your pocket has more computing power that the systems that put a man on the moon. This digital life has become an integral part of our daily lives. Here are some of the ways technology is helping apartment renters get the most out of the apartment communities in which they live:

Valentine's Day On CalendarHave you found yourself still single as Valentine’s Day is approaching? Have no fear! Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be about surviving single or moping around. Let’s shoot some of Cupid’s arrows right into the heart of that myth and start your own Valentine’s traditions this year. Here are four ideas to help you feel inspired.

Celebrate Being Single

While the rest of the world seems to be pairing off, it’s good to remember that you should embrace all the reasons being single is awesome. Use Valentine’s Day as a mini-holiday for yourself and splurge on that pair of shoes or new gadget you’ve had your eye on. Or you could revel in the alone time of your 1-bedroom apartment and sleep in as late as you want!

Plumber Fixing Broken SinkIf you’ve ever accidentally hit your thermostat the wrong way or heard a funny noise from your refrigerator, you’ve probably wondered what exactly your apartment’s maintenance can assist you with. Read on for some basics about how to approach maintenance problems in your apartment.

Major Fixes Are a Must

Your landlord is responsible for anything structurally wrong in your apartment, no matter what. If there are any plumbing problems, leaks, or anything that affects the structural integrity, your landlord must take care of it in a timely manner. If you’re renting in an older building, even simple problems could be a sign of a more deep-rooted issue in the infrastructure and should quickly be taken care of. Unfortunately, a problem like this might lead maintenance to spend a couple days in your apartment – good thing it’s on business days.