Apartment Blog

During the month of February, which as you know, contains Valentine’s Day, an extremely commercialized holiday, it is good to think about other aspects ‘love’ can encompass. For example, the love of a family member, the love of a friend, the love of a pet, the love of your apartment, the love of your hair or even your city.

Speaking of love and cities, did you know that Philadelphia, the largest city in Pennsylvania, is referred to as the ‘City of Brotherly Love’? It’s because translated from Greek philos is love and adelphos is brother. The ‘Brotherly Love’ motto is attributed to William Penn, the English Quaker, who had envisioned the area to be a place where people of any color or background could live together in peace and harmony. Isn’t that LOVEly!

So instead of viewing this month with negativity and skepticism, perhaps we can adopt a different perspective and appreciate what there is to LOVE in your life! Starting with that beautiful apartment in Philly!

Get more information and search tips on Philadelphia Apartments, or view all Apartments for Rent in Philadelphia, PA.

Valentine’s Day can be one of the most stressful holidays of the year. It’s marked as the day to express your love for those you care about most. However, there are so many questions as to what to buy, what he/she will think of it and whether or not it’s appropriate.  We’ve all gotten bad gifts on Valentine’s Day so to help you on your hunting expedition here are a few items NOT to get your Valentine this year!

For Him:

Anything he has to take care of. I.e. Flowers, a plant, an animal, etc.

Boxer shorts. Now I am guilty of this one, I’ve bought my boyfriend boxers many times before. I guess there really isn’t anything too exciting about opening up a gift with those bad boys inside!

Any type of soap, lotion, etc. He won’t be excited

For Her:

Anything that even remotely implies that her body has imperfections. I.e. gym memberships, Botox, diet plan subscriptions, self help books and the like.

Any type of appliance.  Just because she says, ‘I need a new….’ does not mean you should be the one to buy it for her! Trust me!

Any type of candles. Candles are boring and come on; everyone knows that you give candles when you can’t think of a gift.

Anything from the gas station on the way over. Cute flowers with the price sticker on it and a cheap box of chocolate screams ‘last minute’ which shows you didn’t really put much thought into it!

And the worst possible gift would be…….Nothing at ALL! Come on guys, even a card has to be done on this day! (Even if she says she wants to ‘skip’ Valentine’s Day, you know she doesn’t really mean it)

If you’ve got a story to tell with the worse Valentine’s Day present, feel free to share here….

As most of us renters know, while closet space is a nice amenity to have, it isn’t usually one of our top choices for narrowing down apartments. Therefore, we are usually stuck with whatever closet space we are given in the apartment we choose. And while a closet the size of Harry Potters Room under the stairs isn’t desirable, it’s manageable. So we’re here to provide you with a few tips on how to turn that hole in the wall of a closet, into a functional space for your wardrobe and accessories.

Tip 1: Do some ‘Spring cleaning’
The easiest way to get more room in your closet is to go through the items in there. Get rid of anything you don’t wear, haven’t seen or haven’t worn for more than a year.

Tip 2: Use all available space
If the closet you have only has one rod across the top, consider putting in a tension rod so that you can have double the space. Put the longer items on top (likes dresses and pants) and the shorter items on the bottom (like jackets, skirts and shirts). This is what I have done in my closet and it really opens the space!

Tip 3: Find Space Saver Ideas
The hanging shelf closet organizers can be used for various items. You can put sweaters, t-shirts, jeans or whatever in there. The space it takes to hang up the organizer will be more than doubled with the amount of garments you can put in there.

Tip 4: Use the back of the door
I think people underestimate the amount of room it’ll save them if they put a shoe rack or an over the door rack to hang accessories.  Instead of putting your shoes on shelves, free up those shelves with a shoe rack on the back of the door. If nothing else, you can always put a full length mirror on the back of the door so you can check yourself before you leave. That’ll save room somewhere else in your apartment.

Tip 5: Stash seasonal items
There are quite a few storage bins available in stores. You can get rolling bins for under your bed to hide non-season items. For example if you are in the summer months, there is no reason for you to have your bulky sweaters and jackets in your closet. They just take up space. Put them in a container under your bed and get them out when the weather calls for it.

So there it is, five tips to help you organize the closet in your apartment into something that is practical for your lifestyle. You will truly be surprised by the ‘magical’ transformation!

Every year people make resolutions for the New Year. Most resolutions circle around weight loss goals, money or time with family and friends. This year, we want to provide New Years resolutions specifically for renters!

Take a look below:

1. Start 2009 fresh….if you’re tired of the apartment community you live in now? Visit ForRent.com to find a new apartment in your area!

2. Follow the trend of 2008 into 2009, utilize tips for ‘going green’!

3. Feeling overwhelmed from 2008? Get organized in 2009!

4. Have you been saying you’re ready for a new look? Then spice up your decorating style in 2009 with a few decorating tips!

5. Wanna get fit this year? Why not utilize your apartment communities’ amenities?! Go to the Fitness Center to work out!

6. Is your goal to spend more time with family and friends this year? Become a terrific cook with these recipes and you’re bound to have more gatherings at your apartment!

7. Need to save money in 2009?? Consider getting a roommate, browse these roommate tips.

8. And if 2009 is another year that reminds you you’re alone, considering getting a pet! Weigh your options by reading pet-friendly apartment tips.

9. If you’re thinking of relocating to a different area, be prepared! Research as much information about that city/state as you can; one place to do so would be at our City Guide.

10. Another great resolution is to get to know your neighbors!

ForRent.com hopes you have a happy and safe New Year! See you in 2009!!

It’s inevitable; you’re going to get a bad gift this holiday. It could be from your loving grandmother who just seems to think you are 10 years younger than you really are and gets you and your cousin matching tea sets (don’t ask….). Or it could be someone who tried really hard to find something you might like, but just overshot. Regardless, you are going to experience some uneasiness when opening a bad gift. Therefore, we are providing you with a few ways to say ‘thanks’ and of course their actual translation in your mind!

1. ‘Oh, thanks. How unique’
Translation: ‘Wow, really?’

2. ‘Wherever did you find this?’
Translation: ‘So I know where to return it…’

3. ‘I know just where to put this’
Translation: ‘In the attic where no one will find it…’

4. ‘Oh, how sweet! What size is this?’
Translation: ‘Hopefully I’m a different size and have to exchange it for something else!’

5. ‘Nice pattern…’
Translation: ‘Am I trying to stop traffic?’

6. ‘That’s so funny; I saw these everywhere in stores!’
Translation: ‘Which is probably why they’re still there and I didn’t purchase myself one’

7. ‘How creative! Did you make this yourself?’
Translation: ‘Crap, a thoughtful gift. Going to have to break it out when he/she comes over’

8. ‘Thank you so much. You’re too thoughtful!’
Translation: ‘Now I have another thing to do on the day after Christmas’

9. ‘This is perfect for…. (name a situation in which you’d use the item)’
Translation: ‘Goodness, what on earth am I going to do with this?!!’

10. ‘That’s so sweet, but unfortunately I’m allergic.’
Translation: ‘Please have the receipt so I can return this thing and if not, I’m allergic so you can’t be upset if it’s not used!’

11. ‘Yah know, I think I have this very same thing at my house!’
Translation: ‘Offer up the gift receipt so I can return this thing.’

12. ‘This is something I don’t have…’
Translation: ‘For good reason….’

Well, hopefully these tips have given you an idea of what to say this Christmas when opening up bad gifts. Please also remember that receiving gifts and the thought behind those gifts is what matters most. So be grateful to those who have thought of you this holiday season!

My father use to say ‘what do you get the person who has everything? A box to put it all in.’ (yes, my father is corny like that) But seriously, what do you do when you have a gift to purchase for someone and it appears that they literally have everything!?! 

Here are a few suggestions from the team at ForRent.com if you really wanna ‘wow’ someone who has everything…..

1. Unveil their inner Monet.  Local art studios and recreation centers typically offer classes starting at the beginner level and work their way up to advanced.  A class like this will let them try a hand at their pottery, wine slumping, or mosaics skills (the list goes on).  Pick a class you think would be of interest and see if it results in a new hobby.

2. Personalized wall art.  You pick the letter-shaped photos and the word; a first or last name is classic, but words like laugh, joy, and peace look great too!  A gift like this can’t be copied!

3. Go local.  Ever been complimented on a one of kind piece that you bought when visiting such and such a place?  Offer someone the same experience by bringing them back something unique from your travels.  Not only are you giving them something they couldn’t find themselves, but you are also supporting small, local businesses at the same time.

4. Everybody wants a good laugh!  Gifts from the heart are great, but every once in awhile someone needs to be thrown for a loop, why not be the person to do so?  Gifts like the below “Ignorance is Bliss” and “Bittersweet” scales are sure to be a hit and are definitely hard to come by.  You’ll walk away knowing this gift will be the source of much laughter! (www.uncommongoods.com)

5. Give to more than just them.  Sometimes people really do have everything and another knick knack isn’t the answer.  Organizations like Farm Africa (www.farmafrica.org/uk) allow you to make a sustainable purchase that benefits those in need under the name of a friend or family member.  Farm Africa actually has you purchase an animal that will be given to families in poverty; these animals help them overcome their poverty.  You can also adopt endangered species through certain organizations and send that animal’s information to your gift recipient.

Does your friend or family member feel passionately about a different cause?  Give them a TisBest Charity Gift Card and let them decide what to support.  All they need to do is log on to http://www.tisbest.org/ and choose from over 200 charities to contribute your predetermined gift amount toward.

6. Cooking Lessons.  Some people need to learn the basics, some people want to go gourmet, and some people would love to learn more recipes that fit their on the go lifestyle.  There are cooking classes out there that cover all these needs.  You could select a gourmet cuisine they may be interested in or lend them a hand with some beginner basics; either way this hands on gift lets them walk away with more than a good food sampling.

You should also check out available classes in your area for wine making or making beer. What an interesting trait to say you have learned? Who knows, you could inspire them to make some for your present next year!! Go for the skill they’d learn and the experience they’d have while doing it.

7. Have you, yourself learned a trade? Why not put it to good use! If you’ve taken scrapebooking lessons, put your talent to work for a friend. If you are a skilled photographer, why not utilize your skills with a photographer the person would love. It’s the personalized gifts that really take the breath away of the recipient. So go ahead….get creative!

8. So they may have everything, but have they done everything?  Think through things they have mentioned wanting to do, but either put off or chickened out.  Maybe they have always wanted to learn to ski, so you buy lessons or they think skydiving looks fun, but are too afraid to sign up.  This gift may take more thought, but they are sure to remember it.

 9. Feeling especially green this season?  Purchase a tree or several in your favored friend’s name and let them feel good about helping to sustain our planet.  Places like http://www.arborday.org/ and http://www.americanforests.org/ make giving gifts like this as easy as planting seeds.

10.  How many people can say they have a star named after them? This is something my brother did for one of his girlfriends and I thought it was the sweetest thing. You can literally name a star after a friend or loved one. Go on http://www.starregistry.com/ for the process!

11. Photo gifts. I am a personal fan of Walgreens.com photo center. They have a really nice collection of gifts you can do for anyone. One year I did a calendar of photos for my mother. There are also mugs, pillow cases, aprons, mouse pads and more! Or you could take a photo that you have, that the recipient would like, and enlarge it. Frame it with a matte and it’s a one of a kind piece of art!

12. Coupon book. This works if you’re a little financially strapped during the holidays as well (who isn’t these days). In a book I created, I had a coupon for various tasks such as: FREE dog sitter one night, hot chocolate and a movie, dinner at your favorite restaurant, NO boys allowed-girls night out, etc. I also incorporated my skills at their disposal whenever they should need it (which I’m sure will happen since I’ve already offered it and they have a coupon saying I’d oblige). This was extremely appreciated as it came from the heart and literally is a gift that keeps on giving (until the coupons run out)!

We hope these gifts have inspired you and given you something to get for that one difficult shopper on your list!  Happy Shopping!