NYC Rebuild

The Apartment Dude asked:


I am excited to try out one of those new culinary pseudo-classes that let you show up and prepare your own meals that are supposed to last you for about a month.

The only reason I have hesitated is I’m a bit of a picky eater. I don’t care for vegetables, and I also don’t care for seafood (an unpopular decision in this era of sushi, so I tell people I’m allergic).

Another words, I don’t want to show up expecting chicken and find out that half the menu is seafood. So, in essence, I am chicken to show up. Stop with the booing…that’s funny.

Well, apartment shopping is the exact same thing for me. I’m a bit chicken. I need to find an affordable place, but I want to make sure I end up in an apartment that I really like. I want it to match my tastes, my life. Basically, I want it to be perfect.

Not much in life is perfect, so how can I get close?

Tip 1: Think through the specifics

Think through your location: location to family, friends, work and nightlife. Who do I need to live by? Who do I see weekly? Can I stand to commute 40 minutes if it means I save $75 a month? Do I need to live downtown or will the suburbs suffice? Do I go out three times a week, or twice a month?

Think through your budget: financial planners say only 30% of your income should be spent on your housing costs. Not a big problem if you make $6,000 a month. A little bit more of a problem when you make $1,600 a month. What’s your realistic, total budget? And even though I may want a one-bedroom with a den, can I only afford an efficiency?

Think through your pet situation: I have a dog. He’s a miniature poodle. Would I be willing to part with Ziggy? Never. Can I afford to shell out $500 for a pet deposit. Never. Could I afford $250 if I saved up beforehand? Possibly. Think through if you plan on getting that bulldog you’ve always wanted. First, does the community you want to live in even accept pets? If so, how much will the deposit cost? You may need to save up, or bow out.

Tip 2: Research your options

Now it’s time to compare. I like this catalog for a quick reference, but I also like to go online to look at virtual tours and compare amenities. At apartmenthomeliving.com, I can fill out a personality profile that matches me to the apartments that are right. It even goes a step further to find out what else I like. Do I want a pool? Do I work out? You betcha. There’s a match out there and I want to see all the choices.

Tip 3: Visit your top choices and enlist the help of friends

Seeing is believing. I know that the product itself is terribly important to me. I have to visit to know it feels good to me when I drive in. I want lush landscaping. I want good lighting in the living room, and a pool with a nightlife around it. I want a clean apartment. I can only find out these details by visiting.

While I’m visiting, do I like my leasing professional? Does she seem knowledgeable? Friendly? Does she answer my questions about maintenance to where I feel comfortable? Do I trust this person? Because this is who I’m going to get on the phone when something goes wrong in my apartment.

And two pairs of eyes are better than one! Do my friends agree this is a cool place to live? Will they visit me here to hang out? Do they agree with what I think?

Make your decision

Finally, decide what’s the best match for you. I knew when I picked Ziggy it was love. I know when I pick my next apartment it will at least be lust! And that can last at least a year. Happy hunting!

Visit Apartment Home Living for more tips on getting the most out of your apartment living experience.

The Apartment Dude asked:


Here’s how it went down. Last Sunday, my buddy Schultz was over at my apartment. He’s the type of guy that is highly intelligent, but has the common sense of a stapler. He got like a 1300 on his SAT, but can’t match his socks (and even forgets to put on shoes sometimes). Anyhow, he was telling me how pissed off he was that he leased with locator. She apparently kept urging him, with profound glory, to lease at this one particular community. Well, that placed turned out to be a grade ‘A’ dump.

I rolled my eyes because I remember him telling me, literally, the same thing last year, and the year before, and the year before that. Stubborn much? I guess he will never learn. It’s like a toddler’s beloved little puzzle box that has shaped pegs that go into shaped holes. Eventually you should learn that the round peg doesn’t go into the square hole.

Friends, please listen very closely. Here’s a quick thought about apartment hunting: Apartment Locators might seem like a good quick option in finding a place, but they may rush you into picking a certain apartment because they get fat cash when you sign that lease. That’s most of their single motivation—not your happiness. I highly recommend using our personality matching engine at http://www.apartmenthomeliving.com instead.

I want you to compare places, be happy, and actually find the home you want to live in. So, grab your square peg, get on our website, and we’ll help you find the square hole or the right apartment. I want you to be happy and not insane. If anything…I want you insanely happy!

Visit ApartmentHomeLiving.com for more information on apartments and living for fun!

The Apartment Dude asked:


Living on the third floor at your apartment can at times be frustrating…especially when you are trying to lug groceries or furniture up three flights of stairs. However, as frustrating as it may be from time to time, there are some really great bonuses to living on the top floor.

1) No above neighbors- You will never have any upstairs neighbors pounding on the ground and bothering you with noise. If you start hearing noises above you, it could only be either thunder or some really big squirrels. You also don’t have to worry about an upstairs neighbor dumping liquid or a cooler full of ice over the balcony passed your balcony.

2) Best Views- Looking out of your windows or going out on your balcony from the third floor can provide you with some of the best views in the community. How can you beat that?

3) Further Away From Car Noise- Up high, you are further away from the parking lot and the cars passing back and forth. This helps you isolate yourself away from the noise as well and things are a little quieter.

4) Harder For Crime- It may also be more difficult for a burglar to break in to your apartment through the windows on a higher floor unless they are good at scaling walls. They also would be less prone to take things out of your place because they would have so far to lug that stuff.

5) Work Out- The best bright side of all is that you get a little more of a work out and burn more calories than you would in a downstairs apartment just by simply going to and from your place. (This is no way to get fully in shape, but every little bit helps)

So there you have the top 5 reasons that living on the top floor in your apartment building is a really awesome thing. Enjoy it! Relish it! Remember to live for fun!

Extra Tip: Keep a big brown box broken down in your trunk that you can put together and use to bring your groceries up in bulk and in one trip!

For more tips on apartment living and getting the most out of the apartment lifestyle, check out ApartmentHomeLiving.com

The Apartment Dude asked:


Community laundry is such a joy.

Really though, having laundry centers in your apartment community is a huge, HUGE bonus over having to go to the laundromat next to the stop and go. Although some communities actually offer laundry hookups and even washers and dryers in their actual units, most other communities offer on-site laundry centers.

There are a few really great benefits to having a community laundry center. Check it out:

1) Money Saving- Running the washer and dryer at home is convenient, but it eats up electricity and if you are constantly washing loads, you will run up your bill quite quickly. Not only that, but if you have the connections, but don’t have a washer and dryer yet, they can be quite expensive and a pain to lug up to a second or third floor apartment.

2) Noise Prevention-Then there is always the unbalanced dryer that bangs around and can cause all kinds of disturbing noise through out your building. Do you really want to be the cause of all that noise?

3) Meet People- Honestly, if you are an outgoing person…its a good place to meet your neighbors and make friends in the community.

4) Time Saver- If you can get into the laundry center when noone else is in there, you can start a few loads at once and save time by washing several loads at one time!

5) Maintenance– If a washer or dryer breaks, it’s not your responsibility to get it taken care of.

So keep things clean and don’t be afraid to use your community laundry center. Make sure to bring a book, laptop, or good conversation topic while you wait. AND REMEMBER YOUR QUARTERS!

I think it’s time for me to wash and dry!

For More info check out: ApartmentHomeLiving.com

The Apartment Dude asked:


Looking for love? Or worse…looking for love in all the wrong places? I think we all know by now that it’s all about living for fun, and just about everyone agrees that much of the fun in life comes from finding the right person to share it with.

From regular, day-to-day pursuits like grocery shopping, working out, or preparing a meal, to life’s more exciting adventures like traveling, going out, or getting close (and maybe a little adventurous), setting the right mood is imperative to finding love. Then when the time is right, the right ambiance in your apartment can make all the difference.

Let’s say you’ve gone out on a great date, the conversation’s fantastic, and it’s time to make a move. You’re looking to make the action in your apartment a little Carmen Electra and a lot less Electric Company. So what can you do to get that Electra?

I’d like to call myself a bit of an expert on the subject. Some may even go so far as to call me a professional. Okay, I think pretty much everyone might say that it’s a self-proclaimed title, but let’s let bygones be bygones and get down to the nitty gritty.

Since I’m such a sharing guy and want my vast knowledge to help every apartment-ite it can, I’m going let you in on some great steps that’ll help you get your place ship-shape for love. Some of you out there need a lot of help (you know who you are) so make sure to pay attention. Take notes if you want to, but let’s get your apartment ready for love!

Step # 1 For the Love of cheese, Clean Up - No one, and I mean NO ONE other than Grover gets hot and bothered amid a mess. Pick up around the place, clean up the dirty dishes, get that vacuum in gear, and don’t be afraid to actually clean your own toilet for once. Trust me, fellas, ladies don’t want to see [BREAK] the mold around your sink and the ring around the tub either. Soap scum will make you look like a lazy bum. Hire a maid if you have to. Just make sure your place is as dust, dirt, and clutter free as Mama would’ve wanted.

Step # 2 A little night music - When you head for the iPod, think soothing and sexy, not getting’ down and dirty. This one might depend on your personal definition of “soothing,” but Marvin Gaye is always a great choice. A nice acoustic sound like John Mayer or Jack Johnson will always set a great mood too. Plus, other than only turning up the heat, music therapy has proven to provide real health benefits as well as reduce stress. You’ll want to stay away from anything that could potentially bust an ear drum or makes you want to drive fast in the car. Anything you have to scream over to have a conversation won’t get anywhere. And no, the new Snoop album won’t work either. Offensive lyrics do nothing, but kill the mood.

Step # 3 Aromatherapy - There’s a reason the perfume and cologne industries rake in billions. Pleasing scents have been proven to soothe stress and can also foster romance. You can use candles, sprays, or even burn a little incense. But don’t overdo it. You can go from suave to cheesy pretty fast with too much smell good. Keep it subtle. Remember: scent is the number one sense associated with memory. Smell great and you’re bound to leave a lasting impression. Smell bad and you’re bound to leave their nostrils flaring and send them running.

Step # 4 Comfort is the key - If you’re going to spoil yourself with one expensive piece of furniture, make it a couch with plenty of room for getting to know one another. A couple of smooth recliners may look great and be heaven watching games or movies, but won’t help at all in putting a move on your date. In absolutely no situation should you ever find patio furniture or fold-up chairs anywhere else, but on the patio. Moral of this story: Go with that nice comfy couch. That after-dinner drink can turn into much more with the help of a comfy couch that just invites adventure.

The final step…Make it Your Own - Your apartment is your home and it speaks for you before you ever say a word. Remember that when someone walks in, they’ll make judgments about your style, your tastes, and, yes, your *** appeal based on how it looks. Pay attention to the details and you’re on your way to getting more than just a good night’s sleep.

Visit ApartmentHomeLiving.com for more information on apartments and living for fun!

The Apartment Dude asked:


Have an empty corner in your apartment that draws attention away from the rest of the room because its just soooo…empty? Or have an empty corner that you just want to fill?

Here are a few simple ideas to help fill in the blanks.

Plant Life- Putting a potted plant in a corner will always accent a room, add oxygen and fill the void, but requires work. I found out the hard way that plants can take day to day care almost like a pet. You have to water it, trim it, talk to it….well maybe not talk to it, but you get the idea.

The Random Chair- We’ve all seen it used at one time or the other. Someone places a chair in a corner. Maybe this chair was orphaned from a set or maybe it is an antique, but it always serves as a practical corner filler. You could even put a stool there. Some may think its out of place, but others will choose to have a seat.

Let There Be Light- Setting a tall floor lamp will not only fill the space, but also help add ambiance and lighting to your apartment. This is probably the best way to kill a dull corner and one of the most common. The best part is that it is relatively inexpensive if you are shopping at the right places.

Bookshelves- You could also purchase a corner bookshelf or 3 Tier Corner Metal and Wicker Shelf and place that in the corner to store books, DVD’s, collectables or anything else you’d like to display to your apartment guests.

Know of any good corner filling ideas? Leave them in a comment and let us know! Share, Apartmentite, share!

See ya!

For more info check out: ApartmentHomeLiving.com

The Apartment Dude asked:


Here’s the happs: Everybody wants to have a wonderfully pristine place to lay their heads. If cleanliness is next to godliness, than entering your new, clean abode should be like a religious experience. So what can you do to insure you’re about to move into a spotless apartment?

I’ve been through this about umpteen times, so I have some pretty solid advice for you. So listen up!

First and most important is a personal visit. Go on a tour of the actual apartment you’ll move into. Or as Kenny Rogers might suggest, “just drop by to see what condition their condition is in.” Any place that shows you an apartment that’s dirty should be a red-flag. Are the walls coated with a fresh coat of paint? Are the counter tops and kitchen floors so glisteningly clean that you want to eat off of them? Have the carpets cleaned? To see an apartment lingering with the stench of cigarettes and carpet that rivals turf after a rainstorm should concern you. You may want to steer your attention to a place that has carpet that makes you just want to take off those shoes, run your toes through it, and breath in that fresh new apartment aroma. That’s more like it!

Oh! Make sure to check out the exterior. Don’t be afraid to judge the book by its cover in this situation. Are the buildings freshly painted? Do stairways or fences need repair? What about the landscaping? If you drive-through at night, did they “leave the lights on for you?” Generally, a very well kept community contains incredibly kept apartments.

You’ve also should check with the people that have been there. Visit with the residents. Ask about their experiences and how management responds to issues or maintenance requests. Then be clear and concise with your future property manager. Ask straight forward questions regarding their cleanliness standards and turnaround time on maintenance requests.

Just an extra hint: If you’d like to have something changed or fixed before you move in, make sure to put it in writing, and give it to them in person. Always remember that when something is in writing, it is usually always remembered!

I’d even go so far as to check an online at

Apartment Home Living to see if anyone has posted anything about the place you may be about to call home.

So that’s about it. You follow those simple guidelines and I guarantee that you will end up living in a place that you will love laying down your head and calling “Home, sweet, home.”

Visit ApartmentHomeLiving.com for more information on apartments and living for fun!

Austin Apartment Guy asked:


Summer is finally over and Apartment communities that maintained 90-100% occupancy levels throughout the summer have now been bombarded with new fall and winter time notices to vacate. Apartment communities pre-lease apartments based on their notices to vacate which are usually given 60-90 days out from the resident’s move date or lease end date.

Most long term tenants are being pushed out of their apartments with rental increases up to $200. Many of my clients recently call me discouraged stating that they have been a perfect resident for 5 years or more and dont understand why their aparmtent community is so anxious to "stick it to them" when it comes time to renew their leases.

The first question I ask them is how much they are paying currentlly ie; a client we’ll call Leslie that I am helping move currently. Leslie told me that she is paying $625 for a 740sf apartment in a community she has lived at for 5 years and is only 7 years old, and they want to raise her rent to $725. The first thing I told her was that the community wanted to raise her rent $100 due to the fact that since she leased there 5 yrs ago the market had completely changed. Unfortunately the only people that view long term occupants at an apartment community as an asset are the occupants themselves.

The truth of the matter is that Leslie and many others around Austin whom of which have been exemplary tenants are being viewed as a loss to their apartment communities. With a shortage of available apartments in Austin the market has changed. For example 5 years ago in South Austin you could get a nice apartmnet at an A class property for between 6-$700. Now you cant even get near an A class property in South Austin for less than $900 and that would be for a 1 bedroom apartment. Availability pushes pricing. If a guy has 50 apartments available they lower prices and offer up a massive upfront concession ie; 1 month free 2 months free etc. But when a management company looks down and sees that they are 96% full which has been the case most of this summer and historically most summers then their rates rise to the market rates (the highest rates they can charge for a particular unit). Long term residents are being viewed as a loss and therefore pushed out.

The good news is that in the last two or three months there have been at least twenty new apartment communities open.  There are also at least 100 more on the horizon. This type of news and the historically slow fall and winter months are forcing apartment communities to drop their prices and drop them fast. There are at least twenty communities that I can think of right now that have dropped their prices $50-$75 in the last month from August pricing to compete with the new properties that have opened or are opening up in their vicinity.

For example the Wyndhaven apartments on Wells Branch. For years wyndhaven was only one of two A property options in the Wells Branch area. Their smallest 1 bdrm apartment 630sf was going for $769 a month. Then comes the Verde Oak Park apartments that opened a month or two ago right next door. The day Verde Oak Park opened their doors Wyndhaven went to $679 on the same floor plan. It still didnt help them though Verde Oak Park has a similar square footage for $710 Brand New Never Been Lived In! Then they were offering two months free upfront. Well if you average out the two months free over the lease term which was 13 months (aka a prorate) $1420 is the total concession or (special) divided by the minimum lease term which was 13 months thats $1420 divided by 13 months equaling $109.23. The $109.23 is your average monthly concession. You then subtract the $109.23 from the monthly rental rate. $710 minus $109.23 equals $600.77 a month for 13 months. Plus these apartments contain granite countertops, washer and Dryer etc and are BRAND NEW and have NEVER BEEN LIVED in.

So, yes rental rates are dropping dramatically with the rise of new communities you just can’t be fooled by upfront numbers anymore. My advice is that you always contact a Real Estate professional procurement of leasing transactions for the consumer are always 100% FREE. And recommended. Yes rates are higher but if you look past the first picture of the rate being $710 when you’re pricerange is $650 and you end up at Wyndhaven which is over ten years old and a much lesser quality class A property at $679 then the only one to blame is yourself. With the newer communities trying to fill up their properties they are offering great upfront concessions that will bring the rates back down.

You should always contact an apartment locator before looking at apartments on your own. If that apartment locator dosent find you the best deal available and you are not happy enough to move in then they dont get paid that is your insurance. Austin Apartment Guy would be glad to either help you find an apartment or counsel you on the leasing process. You can contact us through our website http://www.austinapartmentguy.com .