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We couldn't be more excited to have you living in our beautiful gated community on the lakes at Dos Lagos! After moving in and reorganizing we're sure your ready to relax and enjoy the time that you spend with us.
Though many of you are seasoned renters, it never hurts to take a moment and look at some tips to simplify. The writers over at apartmentguide.com have some concise ideas about how to keep your apartment living easy as pie. Keep reading, and don't forget to leave us a comment if there's anything we missed!
1. Over-Decorating
You never know how long you’ll be in your apartment. You may want to customize and personalize your new place immediately, but don’t get too carried away. The more you do to the apartment, the more there is to undo when you move out.
Read more: Add Color to Your Space Without the Commitment of Painting
2. Lax Security
You might not own the apartment, but it’s still filled with your belongings—including yourself. Remember to lock your door and secure your windows. Here’s something to consider: ask your landlord to install a peephole (or for permission to do it yourself.) It may seem like a stretch, but you don’t know if it’s possible unless you ask!
Read more: How to Assess the Security of a New Apartment
3. Making Permanent Changes to the Apartment
When you are hanging curtains or decorating your apartment, make sure that you ask permission before drilling holes, painting walls, or doing anything permanent. Often permanent changes will need to be undone upon moving out, or you will be charged for them.
4. Carelessness
That carpet stain in the bedroom might seem like a minor issue. But in reality, it’s a problem that will cost you when you move out. Moral of the story? Be careful! Treat your apartment as though you own it.
Read more: Cheap Green Cleaning: The Only 5 Products You Need
5. Failing to Repair Damages
From minor scratches on the wall to missing floor tiles, it is important to get problems fixed as soon as they arise. If for no other reason, a little problem could soon become a bigger one if left untreated. When it’s time to move, you’ll be held responsible if you don’t speak up sooner.
Read more: May a Landlord Choose Not to Renew a Lease?
6. Not Getting Renter’s Insurance
You insure your health and your car, so why wouldn’t you want to insure the other things that are important to you? Most people don’t realize how important renter’s insurance is until it is too late. Don’t let that be you.
Read more: Renters Insurance: What You Need to Know
7. Not Cleaning Regularly
This may seem obvious, but it’s a point that deserves stressing. If you made a list of fun things that you like to do in your spare time, there’s a good chance that cleaning wouldn’t be on it. However, cleaning your apartment consistently will save you a giant headache when it’s time to move out.
Read more: Apartment Cleaning Mistakes: Are You Guilty?
8. Failing to Notify Landlord of Problems
Some people fear that they might be blamed for any problems that they report to their landlord, but it is actually something that every tenant should do. If you don’t let your landlord know about that faucet leak, it could get worse and you could get blamed for it when it might have been a relatively simple fix in the first place.
Read more: Be Aware of Actions That Might Violate Your Lease Agreement
9. Wasting Money on Utilities
Ever looked at your utility bills and wished that you could just rip them in half? You might not be able to get rid of them altogether, but you might be paying more than you need to for utilities each month. How often do you leave your heating or air conditioning on when you go to work for the day? Switch it off when you leave, or use a programmable thermostat. There’s no need to pay to heat or cool an empty apartment.
Read more: Saving Money on Utilities
10. Not Taking Advantage of Tax Benefits
If you live in certain states, such as California, Missouri, and Maryland, you could be receiving tax benefits for renting a property. Check your state tax laws to see if you’re missing out on possible tax breaks. Cha-ching!
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