Apartments For Rent Blog

Electric bills are a major concern for those who rent, especially those who are trying to save money. If you’re trying to save money on the electric bill in your apartment – we’ve got some tips on how to cut back on your electric – so that you’ll have more money to decorate your apartment or to have more money for your personal expenses.

Reducing Electric Bills: Tips for Tenants

One of the first and possibly, one of the most important tips for cutting back on your energy bill is to replace older, energy-consuming appliances with energy-efficient/eco-friendly appliances. The list of changes can include everything from changing your light bulbs (to a lower wattage or to energy-efficient bulbs) to buying a new TV that has been “Energy-Star Approved”. Lighting comprises approximately 20 percent of our utility bills, so remember to get low-energy bulbs, if you want to really save money on your electricity costs.

Tenants can also make an effort to unplug or turn off any appliances that are not in use – remember to unplug your toaster, coffee maker, curling iron, blow dryer, etc. and remember to shut off the TV, computer or radio when not in use to save as much money, as possible. For instance, if you and your partner are watching TV in the bedroom – any lighting in other rooms can be turned off, to save money on your bill.

In addition, to making these small changes – you can also save money by keeping the windows and doors in your apartment, properly sealed. A cheap way to keep drafts to a minimum and your electric bill down is to tuck or roll a blanket or rug at the bottom of doors that are drafty. Even the smallest changes can make a big difference on your monthly utility bill, plus these options are an excellent way to save energy, too.

Electric Deregulation is another option that help tenants save money on their electricity bills. However, this option is only available in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Texas. You can learn more by visiting the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s website to find out more information regarding electric deregulation in your state.

Apartment tenants can keep the electric bills down by lowering the thermostat. The temperatures don’t have to be higher than 68 when you’re not at home, plus, you can keep the thermostat at a lower temperature if you are home. Keep the temperatures in your apartment down at night and stay warm by adding extra blankets to the bed. Another great tip for saving on your electric bill is to turn down the refrigerator/freezer thermostat.

Air that is humid feels warmer than air that is dry, therefore, by adding moisture to the air – you’ll be able to lower your thermostat, by at least one or two degrees and still feel warm enough. You can do this by placing several bowls of water in front of your heat registers, so you can keep humidity in your apartment in the winter. In addition, this trick will help to lower static electricity that is common during winters.

Using passive solar heat can be an easy way to heat your apartment (in the winter) for cheap. Tenants can open curtains and raise the shades with the doors of their apartment closed to trap heat inside the rooms of their home.

While some prefer the simplicity of renting in the country — there are many different positive aspects associated with renting an apartment in town, as well. Keep reading to learn some of the benefits of renting an apartment in the city.

Population

The biggest difference between living in the town or the country is the amount of people. While this may be a disadvantage to some, many apartment dwellers may take pleasure in losing themselves in a crowd and appreciate the comfort in having neighbors nearby. For many who appreciate being part of the masses, the large number of people who are living in the city can be a definite bonus to renting an apartment, there.

Getting Around

If you rent an apartment in the city — you have access to numerous methods of transportation. There are a variety of options ranging from bus lines to taxi cabs to trains, metro stations, airports, subways and more, all available to take you whenever and wherever you need to go, in the city. However, if you live in the country, it is a necessity to have your own car (including gas, insurance and maintenance for your car, as well) and most locations are a good distance away from where you live, as well.

Entertainment

City life is vibrant and exciting — there’s no doubt about that. City apartment dwellers have a variety of options when it comes to finding the entertainment they’re looking for. Whether they prefer clubbing in the afternoon, outdoor ice skating (any time of the year) or ordering Thai takeout at 4 in the morning — they can experience that, and more by living in the city. Additionally, those living in the city don’t have to spend a lot for entertainment either. There are a vast array of cheap or even free entertainment options hidden throughout most cities. Inexpensive options include visiting historical hot spots, taking a trip to the library, walking to city parks/dog parks, window-shopping and much, much more!

More Opportunities

In addition to having more things to do, the city also offers more job/schooling opportunities, as well. Jobs are more readily available in the city than they are in the country and by renting an apartment in the city — you’ll be closer to where you work. There is a variety of schooling options for your children, as well as, higher education opportunities for you, too. Schooling options in the city include colleges, universities, technical schools, trade schools, public schools, private schools, charter schools and boarding schools.

Emergency Accessibility

In the city, emergency services are more accessible to those who need it. Fire departments, police, hospitals and paramedics can be reached, much faster in the city than in more rural or suburban areas. Therefore, in case of emergency, renting in the city is a definite advantage, over living in the country.

There are many more advantages to renting an apartment in town, but why not find out the benefits for yourself by choosing an apartment in the city.

It’s easy to spend a lot of money on your apartment – you may really want a particular apartment and the only way to hold it is by paying more than you can afford to pay. The good news is that just because you have found the apartment of your dreams doesn’t mean you have to spend way too much to get it. In the following information, we will offer negotiation tips for how to avoid overpaying for your next apartment or lease renewal.

THE GAME PLAN

Play your Cards Right

If you have found an apartment you would like (but don’t want to pay the price) or you have recently received a rental/lease renewal form where your landlord is asking for more rent, if you’d like to stay, then it’s important to remember to stay calm and focused. You should never rush into making a decision, especially one where you feel uncomfortable paying the suggested price.

Your Next Move: Research

When you feel calm and focused, the next step is to do plenty of research. Scan the internet for rent specials (recommendations include Rent.com and Apartments.com) and check out the website of your current apartment complex and management company. You may want to print out any deals to new renters (offered by your current apartment complex), nearby apartment complexes that offer competitive prices (compared to your current landlord’s pricing) and/or special deals offered by other apartment complexes in the same area where you would like to live. Completing thorough research will better assist you in determining a counter-offer for your current or potential landlord.

Make your Appeal

The next step is to write a short (one-page) letter that is polite and to the point.

Give Credit

The first few sentences can properly thank them for their time. Whether your current landlord sent a letter or a potential landlord took the time to show you around and/or present the “initial” asking price — it’s important to thank them and provide them with the information they need to identify you and any date information they need, as well (e.g. – when your lease will be up or when you viewed the apartment).

Plead your Case

In the next paragraph, assert your inability to sign a new lease and express to the property owner/management that this is because their lease terms are unacceptable. Explain that while you understand their need to continue with positive cash flow or occupancy of the unit, you will respectfully offer modified terms.

State your Terms

Here is where your research can pay off. Explain in the letter that you are willing to sign a one-year (or whatever lease terms you are comfortable with), immediately — provided that they are able to meet the following modified provisions. Then, state your terms and conditions in a practical and organized way.

By following these guidelines, tenants can avoid paying too much for their apartment. If things get tough during the negotiation process, just remember: YOU have the upper hand — your landlord needs you to rent from him because otherwise he will not get paid.

If you are like the majority of people who rent, you will want to be certain you do all you can to try and reduce the costs of your rent. The more time you take to do this, the more likely it will be you will be able to greatly reduce the costs of all your rental expense.

If you enjoy renting but aren’t sure how to reduce the costs you may want to consider speaking to your landlord prior to signing the lease. One of the best ways for you to hopefully be able to reduce the costs of your rent is to try and do so prior to actually renting. If you are able to negotiate the price of your rent in the beginning, it may be something you can do for a long time.

The key to getting a good rate for your rental needs is by taking the time to talk to try so in the beginning. Did you know a lot of people may be able to negotiate their rent down $50 and up? This is good for many people to know and try to make happen for themselves.

Also if you are looking to get lower costs rent, you will certainly consider the location where you are renting. There are a lot of people who do not do this  and this can certainly result in paying much higher costs for your rent in the future. So, if you are looking for cheaper rent, you will want to consider a place in the country to help you save on the costs of renting.

If you rent an apartment in the city, you can expect to pay much more for it than if you rent in the country and this is certainly something you will want to keep in mind.The more time you take to do your research the better off you will be when it comes to helping you find a great place to live at a price you can afford.

Finally, one way for you to also keep your rental costs low is by renting a smaller apartment. There are a lot of people who may not consider this but it can certainly make a huge difference when it comes to the costs of your rent. It is very likely you may be able to get by with a smaller unit and this is a great idea for anyone that is looking to reduce any and all costs of renting.

Renting an apartment can be a great way to live if you are hoping to reduce some of your costs due to the fact that you can save a lot of money by avoiding paying insurance costs as well as property taxes which you will have to pay year after year.

When it comes to renting an apartment, there is an excellent chance you will be asked to put down a security deposit. This will allow you to secure the apartment and will also allow for the landlord to have some type of coverage in the event you do any type of damage to the apartment.

The security deposit is necessary to give the landlord peace of mind in knowing if there is damage done they will have some compensation to allow them to repair any damage that may have occurred. It is a great idea to always find out what the amount of the security deposit may be prior to renting an apartment and this will allow you to be prepared for this amount ahead of time.

The security deposit is often the amount of a month’s rent or possibly two month’s rent. This amount can vary depending on what the landlord states it as, but you can rest assured that you will be responsible for putting this amount down or you will not be able to secure the apartment. It is very important you know ahead what to expect when it comes to the security deposit.

Most people are aware of the fact that if they do not do any damage to the apartment, they will be able to get the total amount of their security deposit back in full. This is great for most anyone to know and thus allow them to feel much better about having to put this amount down and also will allow them to be more careful about how they treat the property of others.

When you are renting an apartment, it is very important to treat the property as if it was yours and take very good care of it. If you do not, you can rest assured that you have to pay the security deposit and this is not ideal for most people that rent, it is far better too take care of the apartment and then you will know that you will get the security deposit back.

The security deposit is necessary to make certain you will take care of the other person’s property and in many cases may be the only security that the landlord will have that you will. If you consider the state of the landlord and put yourself in his shoes, it is very likely that you will understand why a security deposit is certainly necessary.

If you want to make certain you do get your security deposit back, it is a great idea to do all you can to take care of the apartment you are renting. This is by far one of the best ways to be certain you are able to get back the security deposit and will certainly allow you to put that money to other use. It is always a great idea to have the money to put back when you need to do so.