Apartment Blog

During this holiday season it is important to factor in the safety of all of your family members; even the little furry ones! You’d be surprised what dangers are lurking for your family pet during this festive season. So to help out all of our pet-friendly readers, we have compiled a list of items to watch out for this year. A trip to the veterinarian hospital would not be a pleasant thing!

Ingesting items:
Everyone knows chocolate is bad for dogs. But did you know that onion, grapes and raisins are horrible for them too? Fatty foods like turkey skin or gravy is not good for their stomach and alcohol is toxic! And be aware of things they can get into and eat such as plastic wrap, toothpicks, napkins, disposable plates or flatware. Items likes these can definitely do some damage to their internal organs.  If you are traveling with your animal or having friends staying at your home, make sure all medications are put in a place where curious animals cannot find them.

Safety for your pet:
This is not only about the safety of your animal, but also safety for humans around your animal. A pet that lies down in the middle of the kitchen is an accident waiting to happen. Make sure all of the left-overs are properly sealed and stored away where counter surfers cannot reach.  If serving turkey, make sure the carcass is in a plastic bag and taken out of the apartment. You don’t want to leave it around where any animal can take interest. And be sure to tell your family/friends visiting that feeding your pet is not good for him/her.

And finally, make sure you keep your animals’ routine as normal as possible. If your cats are terrified of people, let them have one room (perhaps a bedroom) to themselves. Or if your dog doesn’t like to be pent up in the house for too long, take him/her out for long brisk walks (for small dogs make sure they are dressed accordingly). Since there will be people coming in and out of your apartment, make sure that your animal wears proper ID tags should they escape in the confusion.

Wishing you and your family, all of them, a very happy and safe Thanksgiving!

Summer is in full swing now! And it’s time to not only get yourself outdoors, but your pet(s) as well. We’ve put together a list of tips for you to follow to keep your pet safe this season.

1. Never leave your pet in the car.
2. Be on the look out for fertilizers and deadly plants.
3. Always have your dog wear a collar and identification tag.
4. Fresh water is a MUST for your pet while outdoors.
5. Think about the heat (especially with older dogs or dogs with longer coats).
6. Be careful of hot asphalt or cement. Dogs can blister just as easy as people.
7. Have your animal on the proper medication to prevent against fleas, ticks & mosquitoes.
8. Don’t forget sunscreen….for the animal! Light skinned pets will burn if they are outside long enough without sunscreen.
9. No ‘outside dogs’. It’s not healthy for your pet to be outside for long periods of time, even if there is shade. They can get overheated quickly.
10. And finally, just be observant of your pet. You will notice when they start to act differently and if they do, take them to the vet.

Everyone loves keeping their animals safe and healthy. They are a part of the family. So if you’re looking to move this summer, be sure to check out Pet Friendly Apartments on ForRent.com so you can bring all your family with you healthy & safe!

I know you know those people we’re referring to. The people you ‘have’ to like and ‘need’ to get a gift for. It could be a friend you’ve known through the various social circles you travel, or it could actually be a relative you’re not fond of. Whomever it may be, during the holiday season you are forced to come up with a gift idea suitable for them. Wouldn’t it be great if you could really tell them how you feel? Well how about doing it in a backhanded way through your gift this year?!?!  Take a look…..

1. For the friend who is always in debt and complaining about money-a ‘Managing Your Money for Dummies’ book (added bonus would be a piggy bank)!

2. For your smelly friends-a body wash gift basket set. She’ll think you’re just being sweet, but you’ll know the real reason why!

3. For the domestically challenged-a cookbook with a gift card to a restaurant. Just in case the ‘oops’ occasion happens (which we all know will)!

4. For the winer-literally a bottle of wine! Maybe even throw in some cheese. Better yet, a violin ornament. For the heart strings she’s pulling…….

5. For the friend with a POS car-a AAA Membership

6. For the friend who constantly talks about losing weight but can never seem to drop the chocolate-the ‘Weight Watchers Complete Cookbook’. (an accessory could be a scale)

7. For the single friend in your life-a frog statue with a note ‘kiss me, I’ll turn into your prince charming’…..then hopefully she can leave YOU alone!!

8. For the cat lady…..duh! ANYTHING with CATS!!!!! They’ll enjoy it, but you’ll get a kick out of the real reason you purchased it. Soon enough cat trinkets will start out numbering the actual amount of cats she has!!

9. For the friend who is WAY TOO chatty-a timer. Or better yet, if conversations always seem to circle back to her, a boomerang!!

10. For the ‘great listener’ friend-In one ear and out the other earrings. They are found at Uncommongoods.com

11. For the friend with constant drama-a set of Knife earrings. You could say it’s because she loves to cook……(but we all know the truth)! These are also found at Uncommongoods.com

12. And finally, sticking with holiday tradition-a Nutcracker! For the real ‘ball breaker’ in your life!  (nuts sold separately)

Hope this made you smile today, just thinking of the gifts you’d like to purchase for someone!! If you have any more ideas regarding gift giving for frenemies, let us know!! We all have them in our life….

 Animals’ roles in a household have changed dramatically from providing services to the owner’s family to now becoming a staple in the family dynamics.  And it’s been headed in this direction for awhile; consumers have started to spend a great deal of money for items such as clothing for their pets!  Plus, when you toss in a holiday to the mix the appeal is even more overwhelming!  This may come as no surprise to you, but the market for pet costumes is quite large. Just Googling the term ‘pet costumes’ pulls an array of websites ready to cater your every desire to dress your feline or canine in the most subtle or outrageous outfits.

I myself am guilty. I have bought my dog a Halloween costume in the past and this year his tuxedo collar is serving as his elegant costume. But if you see the picture left, you’ll see what a friend of mine has done to her family Fido. He’s in a pumpkin costume!  Or take a look on the rigt below at what my brother had his dog be last year…..a LOBSTER!

Going into an animal retail chain you’ll be surprised by the quantity of Halloween costumes available. There are Yoda costumes, Inmate costumes, various insects, Superheroes, as well as the traditional scary witches and Dracula costumes.   The ideas are infinite and there is a market where consumers will pay for them (as evident by my purchasing habits)!!!

So going back to the true point of this article, pets have essentially become members of our families.  They’ve gone from protecting us and aiding us in our daily tasks to now becoming a closer companion than many would have imagined.  Why this very morning when listening to the radio I heard a story of a woman and her husband divorcing. The only thing they have disagreed on, and are now going to court for, is who gets the dog!! That’s how deep our bonds with our pets have grown! So trust me when I say that I realize looking for an apartment that accepts pets isn’t a ‘nice to have’ option, it’s a MUST HAVE option!  That’s why ForRent.com gives you the capability to narrow down apartments for rent based on pet-friendly apartments.

And just think this year when you greet Halloween Trick or Treaters, you can have your pet greet them too! Dressed to the Nine!!

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.

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!

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[1] Realestate.aol.com/article/_a/allergy-proof-your-home/20060501110209990001[2] Realestate.aol.com/article/_a/allergy-proof-your-home/20060501110209990001