Courtesy patrols are becoming increasingly common “amenities” at certain apartment properties. To many renters, the extra safety measure represents a little more peace of mind. But to some, having a “security guard” on-site brings up a lot of questions. If the need of a courtesy officer in your apartment complex brings up more insecurity than calmness, put your mind at ease as we explain what courtesy patrols are, why they exist, and how they can help you! Read the rest of this entry »

Banking on your renters insurance to cover you in case anything happens to your apartment? Don’t! While you’ve probably given thought to what is covered under your renters insurance, it’s equally important to ask, “What does renters insurance not cover?” Learn which items are excluded from most renters insurance policies, so you can better protect your stuff and your wallet. Read the rest of this entry »

From gift exchanges and office parties to Black Friday and Christmas at grandma’s, the winter holidays are all about making memories and celebrating with loved ones. And all these festivities mean there are plenty of reasons for renters to leave their apartments.

Unfortunately, vacant homes and apartments are easy targets for burglars, even if only left unattended during a few hours of shopping. Seventy-seven percent of all crimes committed are classified as property crimes (burglary, theft, and vehicle theft), and Forbes reports a spike in those numbers during the holiday season. To make matters worse, as people deck the halls and turn up the thermostats, incidents related to fire, electric shock, and carbon monoxide poisoning increase as well. Read the rest of this entry »

Few feelings are worse than the one you get when your apartment is broken into. You frantically search for your most valuable belongings. You’re angry and scared. You feel violated and vulnerable. But all isn’t lost. Find out what to do when you experience the worst: an apartment break-in.

Wait! Don’t throw that in the trash! You might be breaking the law. Some things in your apartment can’t go out with your regular garbage–even if they fit in the apartment complex’s dumpster or trash compactor. Find out what these items are (they’re more common than you might think!), why they can’t go in your trash can, and how to dispose of them properly. Read the rest of this entry »

You probably (hopefully!) aren’t braced for a flood, a fire, or a burglary at any moment. In fact, we all like to assume, “It won’t happen to me!” The sad truth, however, is that a disaster or accident can happen to anyone. While you can’t protect yourself from everything, you can certainly take measures to prevent those things from happening while you’re away. 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 »

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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There you are on a sandy beach, basking in the sun, your cell phone and laptop far away, when suddenly it hits you: Rent is due in two days! And you can’t remember if you paid your utility bills! And… oh God… did you leave the stove on? Did you even remember to lock your apartment door?! If this scenario sounds like something you might experience while on vacation, don’t fear. Before you depart from your apartment for summer vacation, be sure to do these 7 things.

1. Plan ahead to pay rent and utilities.

Avoid the mid-vacation panic of remembering overdue bills by planning ahead a little. Before you leave, set up autopay online for both or pay them ahead of time.

2. Take care of your mail.

If you are expecting deliveries while you are away, ask your neighbors to receive them or bring them in for you until you get back. If the mail item will be delivered to the leasing office, you should also notify your apartment’s management so they will know to hold it for you until you return. Read the rest of this entry »

Renters insurance: the unsung hero of apartment safety.  If you don’t have renters insurance, you might want to think twice about how you’re protecting your apartment and all your precious stuff.

Why do you need renters insurance?  Well, renters insurance is used to cover you if something happens to your apartment that costs you money.  Of course, what your renters insurance covers really depends on the type of policy you get, but even having a little can be better than living in an apartment uninsured.

Still not convinced?  Consider these four scenarios.  Some are likely, some are silly, but all are perfectly good reasons to consider getting renters insurance.

Fire! Fire! Four-Alarm!

Let’s say your neighbor—we’ll call him “Bob”—is trying his hand at making Thanksgiving dinner for the first time.  Deep-fried turkey is all the rage this year, and he’s decided to give it a try.  What Bob doesn’t know is that you should never deep fry a frozen turkey because the combination of hot oil and cold bird can lead to splattered oil and a big, bad fire.  Fortunately, you and Bob are both okay, but neither of your apartments were so lucky.  Renter’s insurance can cover the damages to your belongings and the repairs to your apartment.

The Wrath of Your Landlord

Threatening phone calls, demands for money, reminders that if you don’t pay up there’ll be trouble– it’s not a scene from The Godfather, it’s just your landlord making sure you have renters insurance.  Sometimes landlords require tenants to have renters insurance upon signing a lease.  Not having renters insurance, or at the very least being unable to prove that you have it, could lead to hefty fines or even eviction.  By getting renters insurance you can avoid wearing concrete shoes and sleepin’ with the fishes, see?

Lawsuit from a Friend-Turned-Foe

You’ve just moved in to your new apartment and your friend has graciously volunteered help you move your furniture and paint the walls.  Unfortunately she’s a bit of a klutz, so she falls off the ladder and breaks her arm while painting a hard-to-reach corner.  Even though you’re very concerned, she gets angry, and decides to end your friendship, stick you with all her medical bills, and sue you to boot.  Renters insurance can give you liability protection, which could cover expenses within your liability limit like legal costs and hospital bills.

An Overexcited Bathtub Faucet

Some apartments are older than others, which means that some of their features can be a little… persnickety. Let’s say it’s been a long day, so you decide to run a bath and relax; however, once the tub is full, you discover that the faucet is stuck and the tub’s drain cover won’t budge.  You’re forced to watch your floors get soaked as you call the apartment’s emergency maintenance team.  Now your carpets are ruined, your shoes are sopping, and your downstairs neighbor is complaining about a dripping ceiling.  Renters insurance can help cover those costs, which is especially helpful if the landlord’s policy doesn’t help you out with them.

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