Tip for Winter

While browsing some winterizing your apartment tips online, we ran across this great one from the Des Moines Register webarticle.

Stop using your venting fans! You want to keep the moisture from your shower in the house! The moisture is great for the air that gets dried out by the heater. When you are cooking, don't turn on the vent fan that pulls that oven heat out of the kitchen, keep that warmth in!

Having Roomates

When deciding to have roommates in your first apartment or your tenth, having a clear set of rules will make the experience much better! Using accomidationforstudents.com, here is a list of important considerations.

-Be sure everyone is very clear of the terms of the lease and how each will fulfill their responsibility. Know who pays what, when it is due, and how long it will be paid.

-Set up to each pay individual portions of the rent to the landlord on a certain date and a certain place.

-Decide how meals will work. Who will grocery shop, will there be an individual effort or group effort?

-Overestimate for bills so no one is surprised when they are due.

-Plan how living arrangements will go with joint spaces. Can parties be held? When? Who is invited?

-Work with each other in deciding who will clean what and when.

Tenant / Landlord Rights

The legal relationship between a tenant and a landlord of the apartment is governed by a few different factors. First, several statutes in the Texas Property Code, particularly Chapter 92. Second, the oral or written lease. The terms of the lease are considered legal documentation for the acting relationship of the landlord and tenant. Read the lease carefully before you sign it, you will be held accountable for the content. If there is something you do not agree with, propose a change to the landlord. Once the lease is written out and signed by both parties, it becomes a legally binding document. Changes can be initialed by both parties, putting the change into effect.

Information gathered from the Texas Attorney General website.

Apartment Amenities

When searching for an apartment, finding the right amenities can be just as important as location and price. Start by listing what features you want in your apartment, and ones you simply can not live without. This will help your search and narrow down possible apartment homes. Below is a list of different features apartments commonly offer. Bring your checklist to us and we can search for the apartment that fits your needs!

Apartment Amenities-

- Hardwood Flooring
- Fireplace
- Balcony
- Garden Tub
- Walk In Closet
- Linen Closet
- Outside Storage
- Microwave
- Dishwasher
- Vaulted Celing
- Washer/Dryer
- Yard

Complex Amenities- 

- Access Gates
- Free Cable/Internet
- Pool
- Jacuzzi
- Laundry Room
- Fitness Center
- Business Center
- Clubroom
- Sports Courts
- Pets Allowed
- Parking Options

Dog Breeds That Are Good In Apartments

The question "do you accept pets" always comes up when apartment hunting. But what breeds of dogs are a good match for apartment life? We found a list on dogbreedinfo.com that answered that question! Click here for the complete list.

Renting With No Social Security Number

Unlike employers, landlords are not restricted from renting to undocumented residents of the United States or those without social security numbers.  In fact there are many people in Texas that fall under this category.  In general there are two types of residents without social security numbers:  documented and undocumented.

Examples of documented residents that may not have a social security number include those with green cards, work visas, work permits, or I90 student visas. For these types of renters there is a supplemental non-resident application that you will need to fill out.  With this type of application, apartments will also require legal documents verifying your status within the United States.  These residents often do not have verifiable income from an employer within the United States.  If that is the case it is important that you are able to show money in a US bank account, whether the money is wired in from your country of origin or from a student loan.

Undocumented residents are those that have no social security number and no documentation of their status within the United States.  Since criminal and rental history checks are much more complicated for these types of residents, very few apartments will rent to them.  Those that will usually require an additional deposit that can be as much as 1 month’s rent.  All will require some form of ID, like a Matricula (if your country of origin is Mexico), or a driver’s license or resident card from another country.  They will also require you to verify your income.

If you have questions about renting without a social security number, give us a call, we can help you navigate your options quickly and help you find the best possible Austin apartment!

Food Storage

With all of the recent natural disasters, keeping food storage is a great idea for everyone. Even if you live in a small apartment, keeping some necessities on hand in case of an emergency is important! This list is an example of what to have in an emergency kit, but you should personalize it to you own needs.

-Water and/or water purification system
-Medications
-Cash
-Change of Clothing
-Contacts Information
-Flashlight
-Hygiene Products
-Non perishable food items
-Insurance Policy
-Copies of birth certificate and/or social security card

*This list compiled with the help of the Food Storage Made Easy website.