5 Things You Must Consider Before Renting an Apartment

Whether you are moving out for the first time or you are a seasoned renter, getting a new apartment could be a daunting task. It comes with its excitements but it is also scary.

This is because there are a couple of factors that must be put into consideration. You don’t want to move from a good space to a bad one. You rather want to advance and get better. Additionally, for those seeking convenience and ease in their living situation, exploring furnished apartments for rent can provide a hassle-free option, with all the necessary home comforts and furnishings already in place.

There are different reasons that always contribute to moving out or from one place to another.

This could be the search for a bigger space, wanting a 1 month furnished apartment rental in washington dc rather than a longer contract in an unfurnished place, getting closer to a major town, or you are just tired of living in the same neighborhood for too long and you just want to move to a new location.

You might also be a student wanting to live close to school, or you want to stay close to your workplace.

Whatever the reason to move out may be, it needs some critical thinking and planning. You want an apartment that suits your needs, likes, preferences, budget, and one that supports your lifestyles.

There are many hidden costs of owning a home so it is not easy to purchase a property, hence renting seems to be an easy option. This article discusses some things you must put into consideration before you rent an apartment.  

5 Things You Must Consider Before Renting an Apartment

To get the best apartment, here are some factors to check out before settling on a decision.

Rent prices VS your budget

This is probably the first thing you want to check. The prices should well align with your budget.

It is also important to note that rent prices are not fixed. When you sign a lease, your rent price is only going to remain constant in the period signed for. After that, the prices might go up.

It is therefore important to ask the possibilities of the rent prices to change before signing any contracts.

This is especially if you are looking to stay in that place for a long time. It will help you decide whether you should rent there or not.

You might also have decided on an area that you want to be your next home for a certain amount of time. If rent prices in that area do not suit your budget then you might have to seek another place.

Whatever decisions you make, think critically about rent prices.

Location and the apartment rules

The next thing you must be keen on is the location. This also includes the neighborhood, infrastructure, and the apartment rules.

Where do you want to be situated? Close to a market place? Close to a major town? Away from the cities? The infrastructure around, etc.

This again comes down to your preferences and your lifestyle.

Remember to also inquire about the rules, if any, in the apartments. Some communities have specific visiting hours, so you can’t be visited at certain times.

Find out about pet restrictions, quiet hours, and if it is allowed for you to hold parties. Most apartments offer one year plans. There are a lot of places, like in NYC, which offer month to month or 6 month rents.

Amenities

This includes swimming pools, gyms, lifts and elevators, and any other amenities. In some regions, these are included in your rent whether you use them or not. In others, they are separate costs.

Check if you will need to pay some extra fees to use the gym or the swimming pool or you automatically have access to them once you start living there. You can start your search on Bwalk.com and find out how they operate, their rules, and whether there are any additional costs involved.

Extra costs

Find out what other extra costs you will incur when you rent an apartment. Rent is not the only bill you will need to take care of.

Other bills include electricity and water. Don’t assume that these are included in your rent. You might be delighted to have found a beautiful cheap apartment only for you to be smacked in the face with a huge electricity bill at the end of the month.

Apartments differ. Some have every bill under rent while some don’t. Make sure to find that out.

How long do you want to rent

While most apartments offer as from one-year plans, there are a lot of other places that have 6 months lease and even month to month lease.

Whatever amount of time you’d like to rent a place depends on your needs. If you just want to stay there for a short time and move, or you want to try out the neighborhood first before settling, you might want to go with the month to month lease.

However, if you want to rent a place for a long time, you might want to sign a one-year or more contract.

Also, remember that you might save if you decide to sign the longer contract. Shorter contracts are expensive than longer ones.

This is because renters know the hustle of finding new tenants so they offer them discounts to keep them for longer.

Finally

Nothing should scare you from moving out or looking for another apartment. Keeping the above-discussed factors in mind will make your apartment searching easier and help you decide faster.

Getting the Most Out of Your NYC Property- A Guide

NYC properties are notoriously small, but that doesn’t mean you cannot do big things with them. With the right design elements, you can transform a one-bedroom property into a spacious, multi-functional space. With the right approach, you can do so without your storage spaces heaving under their own weight or clutter building up in the corners.

There are ways to get the most from a small space, and this guide will help you learn all about them:

Maximize Storage Opportunities

When you first move in, your first priority should be about storage, storage, storage. If home improvements are a responsibility that rests on your shoulder, then immediately get people in to install custom storage solutions that allow you to take advantage of all nooks and crannies from floor to ceiling. If not, give your landlord the plans and work to convince them that this is a great investment for the future of their property.

Think Vertically

As for design, think vertically. By keeping your floor space relatively clear of clutter and other items, you can make it easier to breathe in the space. You need to be able to walk and lounge in as much of the space as possible, which means using your walls as your primary means of storage and design. Instead of statues or floor lamps, hang art and lights from the ceiling. It will drag the eye up, make it feel bigger, and give you more space to live in.

Invest in a Storage Unit

NYC living means living small, even if you can splash out for not just a one-bedroom, but a two-bedroom or bigger apartment. Simply put, some clutter is annoying to deal with. Christmas decorations, sports equipment, your seasonal wardrobes – anything that is only used during one season of the year is going to crowd your closets for the rest. Thankfully, with StorageArea storage units, you can easily find a nearby option that is affordable and perfectly suited to keep your seasonal belongings safe and secure, without crowding out your home.

Choose Small-Home Design and Multipurpose Items

When you do get something new, it should solve more than one problem. Instead of a toaster, for example, get a toaster oven that can do more than just burn the sides of bread. When you can, try to find furniture and other items for your home that are designed specifically for small spaces. A table that can be lifted up and converts into a shelf, for example, is a great way to maximize the space and function even in a studio.

Know Your Home’s Limits

Your home, no matter how smart or clever it is designed, will have limits. If you are a book worm through and through, for example, you won’t be able to keep buying books to bring home. Instead, find alternatives. You can borrow books from your local library if you enjoy the physical product, or switch to eBooks entirely. This is just one example, but everyone is going to have something they love to have and hold in their hands, and they will have to limit themselves. To do this instead of thinking more, think about how you can improve your hobbies or belongings instead.

4 Ways that You Can Use Recycled and Reclaimed Materials on Home Projects

For some people, making home renovations is pretty simple. They look at options, interview a few contractors, and go with the one that fits their budget and timeline the best. However, other people will have a whole different set of priorities when getting work done. They want to do it in a sustainable and responsible way. They want to work with contractors who either use responsible methods, or source their products responsibly, and many of them put a lot of emphasis on using recycled materials.

The good news is that you can find more types of recycled materials on the market than ever before, and they can be used on virtually any project you can think of. Let’s take a look at a few ways you can use recycled materials on your home projects.

Use Recycled Asphalt

Did you know that asphalt can be recycled? As a matter of fact, asphalt is the single most recycled material in the United States, and 81% of all asphalt on our roads and driveways will get recycled at some point. It’s easy to see why when you see all the benefits.

For one, there’s virtually no difference between recycled asphalt and “virgin” asphalt. It’s much cheaper as well. Not only that, but it can be used for everything from driveways to roof shingles. Recycled asphalt is a great option if you're both budget and environmentally conscious.

Reuse Bricks

Bricks don’t have to be new, and if you can find old bricks from a previous project or from an old home, use them. There are also some suppliers that will sell reclaimed bricks at a discount. This could be a good option if you were trying to build something outside, like a fire oven, or some brick edging for your flower beds.

Use Recycled Timber

Recycled timber is another great option for outdoor projects. Reclaimed wood can also be used. It can be used both outside or inside if you’re trying to create a rustic look. It’s much cheaper than buying new wood and you could get stunning results. Recycled wood is perfect if you’re trying to build an outdoor shed or a deck.

Be Smart with Your Choices

There are chances that you won’t be able to get the exact material you need in its recycled form. In this case, you’ll have to be ready to make some compromises.

How about using locally sourced natural materials that could be reused or recycled later on? You also want to be able to use any surplus material on other projects, so plan ahead. For instance, if you go out to buy stone, chances are they will charge you for a whole slab. So, you could start planning the multiple areas where you’ll be able to use it, like a kitchen counter, bathroom, or in your landscaping.

As you can see, incorporating recycled and reclaimed material on projects is pretty simple. Look at the material options available, and find someone who’s familiar with these products for better results.

3 Simple Ways To Sell Your Pad Quickly

There’s nothing worse than putting your home on the market only to see it languish on your real estate agent’s books. There is always a reason for a home not selling. Perhaps you have pitched the asking price to high or maybe your home isn’t well presented or maybe your large dog jumping up at potential buyers isn’t creating a positive first impression. These reasons for you not being able to move onto pastures new are often easy to fix. Read on to find out how you can sell your pad quickly and for the maximum price.

Do Your Research

If you are keen to sell up to move to a new location or you’re keen to find a home with extra space, you need to do your research before listing your dwelling. Your humble abode will hold a precious place in your heart. However, when it comes to selling up, it’s crucial that you are able to list at an acceptable price. Just because you have seen a new pad that you want doesn’t mean that you can list your property for the amount you would like to get for it. Property is always a buyers market. List your bricks and mortar too high and no one will come to take a look. You need to incentivize a buyer so it’s vital that you pitch your price effectively. Look at the sales prices achieved on your street in the past three years. If you are listing well over these figures, you are being much too optimistic.

Present Well

Don’t ever show your home to potential buyers when your living room is a mess, you had a curry the evening before, or your dog has just come in from a wet and muddy walk. You need to present your home like a show pad. Ensure that you hoover, dust, put clutter away, and have the dog elsewhere when potential new homeowners come to view. You need to seduce a buyer with a potential lifestyle. They want to see space, natural light, and a well-coiffed outside space for garden living. Leave a new homeowner enough room to put their own stamp on a pad. This means creating a more neutral palette. If your bedroom walls are a deep damson purple, whip out the white paint, and your home may sell quicker.

Selling Options

Some people will rock up to your pad as cash buyers and will put in cheeky offers with the incentive of getting the money in your account quickly without any home loan complications. When you are stuck at home wondering how do I sell my home fast, don’t allow anxiety to creep in. There are professional home buying companies that will make a certain bona fide offer on your home no matter what state it is in. This can give you clarity and a definite sales figure, helping you to plan for your future move. Your home can be sold quickly giving you the freedom to move forward with your life in terms of property, employment, family, and ambitions.

Selling your home can be a challenge, but follow this guide and you can sell your home at an optimum price at top speed.

Top 4 Reasons You Should Sell Your House for Cash

A quarter of homes sold in the U.S. in 2019 were all-cash purchases. Buyers and sellers are ditching the traditional method for quick and easy cash sales. 

Need to sell a house for cash? Here are the top benefits of selling a house for cash and why it's a good decision. 

1. Fast Sale

As of June 2020, the average time to close a purchase loan is 47 days. Selling a house the traditional way takes time. Lots of time.

When you get an offer, you have to wait for an appraisal, an inspection, and loan approval. If something goes wrong, it's back to square one.

A cash buyer has the funds available to buy the house exclusively with cash and they don't need to wait for an approval for a loan. If you've researched, "fastest way to sell my property as is," an all-cash deal is the way to go. 

2. Save Money

There are no fees, no commissions, and no contingencies in an all-cash sale. In a traditional sale, you pay a closing fee, the realtor's commission, and contingencies the buyer included in the contract such as replacing the old roof. 

These extra expenses add up quickly. A real estate commission is five to six percent of the sale price, home repairs can cost thousands of dollars, and closing costs for sellers are eight to ten percent the sale price. For a $250,000 home, that's $40,000 not including home repairs. 

3. No Showings

Without the need for showings, you don't need to make your home look perfect and have strangers walk through your home nitpicking every fault. 

You don't need to stage your home, which usually involves decorating and renting a storage unit or have your home ready at all times for single viewings and open houses.

If you have kids and pets, showings are even more difficult because they don't understand why it needs to be tidy at all times. With a cash buyer, there's no need for perfection. 

4. Less Stress

Selling your home the traditional way leaves a lot of room for something to go wrong. When a cash buyer approaches you, they have the funds to pay you and the likelihood of the sale falling through is much less. 

In a cash sale, you are free to sell in your own time and you decide the terms of the sale. You don't need to choose a realtor, there's no need to worry about staging your home for an open house, no home repairs, and no need to constantly be prepared for viewing. You're in control of the sale start to finish.

Need to Sell a House For Cash?

There's a reason why selling a home for cash is becoming increasingly popular. Buyers and sellers are realizing that the traditional home-buying method isn't the only option. Consider all of the above benefits if you need to sell a house for cash.

Be sure to check out our blog for more real estate articles!

Four Safety Tips For A More Secure Gym Experience

Going to the gym was a privilege that you took for granted before the coronavirus pandemic. Now that they're open again and you're allowed to go back, it's essential that you keep your safety, and that of other gym-goers, in mind. Jumping back into your workouts headfirst is tempting, yet it's not responsible considering what has happened in the past five months.

Of course, you need to be wary of COVID, something that you never had to think about at the gym. However, it's also vital that you don't emphasize the virus too much and forget about other essential safety precautions. After all, a gym is a dangerous place, and it's even riskier when you're rusty and haven't been for a couple of months.

With that in mind, here are the general safety tips you should keep in mind, as well as the COVID-19-related issues.

Use One Piece Of Equipment

Staying six feet away from your fellow exercisers is going to be tough, particularly if your gym is busy. Hopefully, your establishment of choice will take the necessary precautions, but if you're feeling a little close, you can reduce the risk of spreading or catching the virus by only using a single piece of equipment.

Although it sounds counterproductive, you can get creative and use one machine for a variety of activities. Take a treadmill as an example. Rather than running for thirty-minutes, you can mix up your session by performing interval sprints. If you add weights to your pockets or sneakers, you will utilize your muscles, too.

Of course, remember to wipe down the surfaces when you're done with paper towels and antibacterial spray. Also, try to avoid wiping sweat away. If you're someone who sweats profusely, please take a cloth that you can wash.

Don't Skip The Warm Up/Cool Down

It's been a while! In your haste to crack on and pick up where you left off, you hop on the first piece of equipment that's free and hit it hard. Within minutes, you have to stop because your muscles and joints are aching. Yep, you're experiencing pain because you didn't warm up correctly.

You should never skip the pre-workout routine, whether you're exercising during normal times or a lockdown. Thankfully, you can take care of the warm up at home or in the car park before entering the building if you want to minimize contact with other people. Not only do these activities prevent injuries, but they also boost your workout, something that will come in handy after weeks of being stuck inside doing nothing!

The same logic applies to the cool down. It only takes five minutes, but stretching thoroughly will ensure that there are fewer aches and pains in the morning. Considering that you haven't gone hard in a long time, there are bound to be DOMS!

Ditch The Earbuds

Music has and always will be a staple of gyms around the world. Pumping up your favorite tunes is an excellent way to motivate your body and brain to work harder and not stop. All you have to do is pick the songs correctly and they could encourage you to exercise at a greater intensity for longer periods. Great!

However, there are downsides. For one thing, you won't be able to hear instructions from the gym workers. Usually, this wouldn't be a problem, but during a health crisis, it's crucial that you follow the rules at all times. Plus, blasting music into your ears can lead to hearing problems, and untreated hearing loss is an ailment that will impact your life. It's amazing how many people suffer from tinnitus due to not treating overly loud music with respect.

Currently, earbuds are unnecessary safety hazards.

Make Gradual Increases

The best safety tip of the lot is to make gradual increases in your workout regime. If you used to bench a couple of hundred pounds, what's the likelihood you can do it now? If you once ran ten kilometers in under fifty minutes, will you be able to keep up the same intensity? Mostly, the answers are no as the lockdown has stopped you from exercising as thoroughly.

Therefore, it's smart to start small and work your way up to your previous targets. Don't see it as backsliding because it isn't your fault. You couldn't help a pandemic! Instead, view it as an opportunity to work hard and enjoy the novelty of working out in a gym.

You'll soon return to your previous level of fitness, and that's when you can go even harder.