Apartment Blog

During the housing boom, buyers were borrowing thousands of dollars to pay for homes on the market. However, in today’s economy, many of the buyers aren’t able to repay those loans due to rising interest rates, resulting in mass foreclosures. With foreclosures, many residents are forced to find alternative living arrangements, most often apartments to rent. Due to pet restrictions in apartment communities, pet shelters are seeing an increase in the number of animals being given up. Or worse, left on the streets.

ForRent.com doesn’t want to see anymore pets separated from their family. Pet owners needing to relocate can use our site to find pet-friendly apartments. With our easy search criteria, you’re sure to find an apartment in your area that accommodates you and your animal. Please visit ForRent.com today! Your pet is a part of your family and we want all of you to stay together.

When relocating to a new area there are many difficult obstacles to overcome, like finding a new place to live, finding a date, finding your way around town and most importantly finding a job. With the economy threatening a recession and the unemployment rate escalating in many cities, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to find a job. Luckily, ForRent.com is making it easier for you to search for jobs in your area. If you visit the Relocation Center you can rummage through multiple job listing sites for openings and apply to ones that meet your skill set. So while the idea of moving to a new area is still scary, ForRent.com can help make the process a little bit easier. Visit ForRent.com and look for a new job today!

According to Wikipedia, a credit score “is a numerical expression based on a statistical analysis of a person’s credit files, to represent the creditworthiness of that person, which is the perceived likelihood that the person will pay debts in a timely manner.” Lenders typically assess the potential risk involved in lending money to consumers by using these scores to determine who is qualified and at what percentage rate. These lenders include banks and credit card companies. This number not only affects your ability to get a loan, but also influences insurance companies, potential employers and apartment communities. When you go to apply for an apartment, your credit score is going to be checked! Do you know what it’s going to say?

Everyone is entitled to one free credit report every 12 months. One of the major agencies that provide credit reports are Experian, which has it’s their own method of calculating your credit score. Finding out your credit score, which range between 300-850, will make you informed so you know when to correct errors or work on a better score in the future.

To get your Free Credit Score, visit ForRent.com. On our Relocation Page we offer the opportunity for you to check your credit score with freecreditreport.com. Take the first step to knowing where you stand and check your score today!

I’ve written previously about the fear seniors have regarding the loss of independence. Sometimes growing old without having to move from their original home isn’t an option. Moving to a smaller, more manageable dwelling, such as an apartment or condo, is better than a nursing home where seniors lose a majority of their independence. Before such a move can take place there are four factors to consider in order for this shift to take place; security, exercise, health and socialization.

Before moving into a new environment, you need to make sure it’s a safe one. This advice is as true for young adults as it is for the after 55 demographic. The locks on the doors need to work properly. Not answering the door to strangers is an obvious and being able to identify suspicious people is important. Also, make sure you have all the information for the fire and police departments by your telephone. For extra precaution, you can look for an apartment community that is gated, such as mine, which also has a security officer out every night.

The second factor would be exercise. Exercise is important for all age groups, particularly for older adults. Is the community you plan on moving to a safe environment for you to walk around? Or is there a nearby mall for you to travel to? How about a fitness center? These issues need to be considered before you move anywhere as they are important for your health.

Speaking of health, this is another factor that has to be thought about before relocating. If you move, will you be able to properly care for yourself? Will you be able to get your own groceries, get them to the kitchen and prepare yourself a meal? Making sure your body has the nutrition it needs as well as daily exercise will keep you healthy and able to be independent longer.

The final factor, at least for these tips, is socialization. Older adults need to interact with a variety of people. Having meaningful interactions with people promotes a feeling of hopefulness and well-being. Not to mention keeping your mind sharp.

So as I’ve mentioned before in a previous blog, After 55 or not, For Rent Media Solutions strives to improve the apartment hunting process for all apartment seekers. Your independence and peace of mind is important to us. Check out our apartments for rent on SeniorOutlook.com and look at the communities you think would fit into these four categories!

Source: Unionsentinel.com

Spring is here! YAY!! But as the warm weather approaches, so does all the pollen and allergens that can aggravate your sinuses! Its not just outside allergens that can help create a Rudolph nose, but also the inside of your apartment! Here are a few tips that I’ve found helpful to allergy proof your home!

Concentrate on the Bedroom!

According to Angel Waldron of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, you spend about 80 percent of your time in your bedroom! So it’s logical that should be the first place you start. Believe it or not, dust mites live in your bed! Somewhere around two million of them! They take residence in your pillows, mattresses, bed springs, blankets and comforters. “These mites are the number one indoor allergen, and their population peaks in July and August.”[1] So do your part in controlling them and it’ll go a long way toward helping your allergies. Be sure to wash your linens in the hot cycle frequently. Another tip is to purchase allergen-proof pillows and bed covers. I had both of them growing up and they helped relieve my symptoms!

Manage the Pet Hair!

While I’m an animal lover as much as the next person, there is some pet dander that I just can’t be around-specifically cats! And apparently I’m not alone. “Approximately 10 million people are allergic to cat dander, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation.”[2] Cats have the most allergens followed by dogs and rodents. So to control your animals’ dander make sure you keep your pet off your furniture, including your bed! Bathing your pet once a week also makes a big difference in cutting down on allergens.

Keep Pollen Out!

With the warmer weather coming, people tend to have their windows and back doors open to let in the fresh air. I know I love doing that! Turns out that could be a huge contributor to my allergies! Doing that brings the pollen inside your apartment! So if you don’t want the runny nose, watery eyes, and stuffed up feeling-keep those windows and doors closed! Especially during the time of day the pollen count is at it’s highest, which is between 5:00-10:00 am.

Get Rid of Mold!

Who wants mold in their apartment? I know I don’t! The very thought of it gives me the shakes, but it happens! The biggest hotspots for mold happen to be in your bathroom and your closet! The bathroom is one of the wettest places in your apartment. The combination of heat and dampness is optimal for mold growth. So make sure you do your part to prevent it from starting. A few tips to help with bathroom mold is to make sure you circulate the air before and after your shower. Use the fan during the shower and open the door for 5-10 minutes afterwards. Also be sure to stretch the shower curtain after your shower so all the water can drain and the material can dry out. Wash your bathtub, shower door, walls, etc, if you see any mold. Use rubber gloves and a mixture of bleach and water. Doing these few steps will not only prevent your allergies, but also your health and the appearance of your apartment!

So there you have it. A few tips I’ve learned from AOL Real Estate about how to allergy proof your apartment! I know this spring the outdoor allergens are going to create difficulty for some, but at least when you get inside you won’t have to worry about too many irritants!

In a previous blog, Seal the Deal with the Landlord, I made a few suggestions about how to impress the landlord so that you can ‘seal the deal’ to get the apartment. I’ve since found tips on MSN Real Estate which echo my advice while giving a little more in-depth instruction on how to be the best applicant for the apartment of your choosing.

Number 1: Make A Good Impression

This applies to many instances of your life. In the words of Stacey London on ‘What Not to Wear’ “Dress for the job you want not the job you have!” If you want to get a better apartment, you need to dress appropriately for it. Give the potential leasing consultants a reason to want you there. Show up on time and have questions for the leasing consultant. Act like you want to live there!

Number 2: Bring Copies

Letters of recommendation and references from previous rental companies, neighbors or roommates will go a long way to impressing the leasing consultant. I would also recommend bringing copies of your recent pay-stubs, should you need to finalize paperwork to get approved. Being prepared gives them confidence in you as a tenant, so they’ll want you in their apartment.

Number 3: Pet Resume

Another tip mentioned on MSN Real Estate is bringing a pet resume. While I have suggested having a copy of the health/shot records for the leasing consultants so they know your animal is in good care, having a resume is an excellent idea. On this resume could be referrals from former landlords or roommates who can vouch for your pet’s good behavior. You could also put in there a copy of your animal’s obedience training certificate. All are good steps.

I would also recommend reading my previous blog, Seal the Deal with the Landlord, for additional tips, such as finances. But these are great quick tips for making you the best applicant for the apartment! I hope you’ve found this useful!

Source: Realestate.msn.com

If you’re renting an apartment with a pet, you realize some of the financial obligations you are faced with such as pet deposits, monthly pet fees, etc. But what you may not have taken into consideration is having a pet at the end of your lease could cost you a lot more if you aren’t careful. When most people put down a security deposit on their apartment, they usually expect to receive the full deposit at the end. However, pet owners need to be more proactive when it comes to caring for their apartment even before move-out if they want their full deposit back! Here are some tips for pet owners to getting your full security deposit back:

Tip 1:

Document everything. Prior to move in, or on the first day, have a checklist and go through the entire apartment for any problems. This would include the carpet, the walls, counters, etc. If the leasing office hasn’t given you a check list, bring your own. You need to inspect the apartment thoroughly and have documented proof of any incidents. This will help you prove your case should there be any discrepancies at the end of your lease, while also helping you remember the original state of the apartment. Also feel free to take digital photos and keep those for your records.

Tip 2:

Clean up spills/accidents IMMEDIATELY! Obviously if you’re not home when an accident happens you can’t clean it up as quickly, but as soon as you become aware of the mistake you need to clean it up. Use Pet Stain Remover and clean the area thoroughly. Remember that cleaning ‘accident’ spots only cleans the carpet, not the material. Get a vacuum pet powder and use it prior to vacuuming your carpets to help eliminate odor. Cat urine is absolutely the worst smell! I would recommend shampooing your carpet a couple times a year. It’ll add life back to your carpet!

Tip 3:

Be thorough! When you do your initial inspection you should catch any areas in the carpet where threads are loose or fraying. However, while you were moving or vacuuming, some may have ‘popped’ up. You need to inspect your apartment often for these problems as they could potentially be a larger problem if your animal, particularly dogs, find it. If there are any trouble spots in your carpet, purchase a rug to deter your animal’s attention or some object so that it won’t make the problem worse.

Tip 4:

Be proactive! You know your animal better than anyone else. If your dog likes to go after blinds, be sure and pull them up or replace them for curtains (just be sure to keep the blinds for when you move out as you don’t want to be charged for a new set). Or if your cat likes to use the sofa as a scratching post and transfers that habit to a wall; make efforts to block access to that wall or have your cat declawed.

In an apartment rental, you are responsible for damage your pet creates. To get your full security deposit back, you need to go above and beyond to restore the apartment back to its original condition! Do you have any more tips for getting your security deposit back with a pet? Let us know! We animal lovers can use all the help we can get!