Apartment Blog

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

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!