Renter’s Advice and Resources

We all know that Thanksgiving is a time for family, friends, and giving thanks. But sometimes when you live in an homogenized, bland apartment, it can be a little hard to get into the spirit. So how can you lift your spirits, make your apartment feel more homey, and get in the festive mood? Short of setting out an incredible good spread on the day itself, how can you make your surroundings tastefully and subtly show some Thanksgiving spirit?

Many parents dream of buying their own house to raise their children in, but that’s not always possible. If you need to move into an apartment complex with your children, you are likely have some special needs beyond those of the typical tenant. This article will help you prepare to find a great apartment complex that’s not just safe but also fun for kids to live in. Finding the right place will take a lot of preparation and research, but you and your child will be happier for it.

Moving with kids can be tough. Beyond the psychological resistance to moving that they may display—being reluctant to leave cherished friends and familiar surroundings for scary new experiences—there are practical concerns as well, such as how best to involve kids in the moving process or keep them entertained during a long car or plane ride. Knowing what to do with the kids at all times can be tough, but many other people have lived through it and emerged with ideas about how best to handle the process. Read on for suggestions on how to keep yourself sane and the kids busy while you’re moving.

We all want to decorate our homes to the best of our abilities, but sometimes those abilities are limited by our pocketbooks! Check out the following decorating-oriented sites for tips on keeping your decorating budget under control. Some sites have helpful do-it-yourself tips; others have affordable furniture and accessories. Read on, then rev up your apartment with these stylish savings!

Every apartment has walls in abundance—sometimes more wall space than floor space, it might seem. Learn how to take advantage of these vast expanses and use them for storage. You can even mount large items on your wall if you’re up for it!

A number of formal complaints have been lodged against the White GloveMoving & Storage Company, located in Jersey City, New Jersey. Most of the cases involve issues with the company raising the price of the move after providing an estimate or failing to pick up or deliver items on time. While the company has a clean record with the Better Business Bureau, several individuals have reported significant discrepancies between what White Glove initially told them and the charges demanded or services provided by the company in the end. Here are a few of the problems that some customers encountered, and what we can learn from these negative experiences.

When it’s time to renew your lease, you don’t necessarily have to succumb to your landlord’s demands. If you’ve been a good tenant, you can engage in some savvy negotiation to get a better deal. It’s always easier for the apartment management to have a guaranteed good tenant than to have to seek out a new tenant with unknown payment and residential habits. These suggestions may help you get on your way to negotiating a better agreement with your landlord when re-signing your lease.

A lease option gives would-be buyers the chance to purchase a home, apartment, or condo space after renting it for a certain amount of time. There’s usually an extra fee paid at the beginning of the lease term that will allow you to enter into the lease-purchase option. Lease-purchase options are sometimes offered when the housing market is slow, in part to entice people who may not otherwise be interested in or capable of purchasing a home. Depending on your situation in life and your home-owning aspirations, a lease-purchase option may be appropriate for you. Some of the pros and cons of the lease-purchase concept are covered below. Some agreements put part of your rental payments toward the purchase price; others might only give you first option to buy if the owner decides to sell the property. Keep in mind that the situation will vary with individual contracts and agreements, so make sure you understand the full terms of the deal before signing anything.

Your walls are white, your carpet is beige, your kitchen tile is gray, and you chose neutrally colored furniture to give you a blank background for decorating. Now your apartment just couldn’t be more boring—but what can you do to liven it up? Color is the key, especially when you’re starting with a blank palette. Read on for some super creative and exciting ideas about how to add color—and therefore excitement—to your home.