How To Leave Your Rental Apartment When Traveling For The Holidays

The holidays can be a time for baking, enjoying the season's best music and movies, and decorating your apartment. They can also be for travelling and visiting friends and family. But this could mean leaving your apartment unattended for up to several weeks. If you don’t travel often enough to justify splurging on a home security system, here are some cost effective ways to ensure that your apartment and belongings stay safe and theft free during the holiday season.

Get to know your neighbors - When it comes to leaving your apartment for a large amount of time, your neighbors can be a huge help in reporting any suspicious activity that might come up while you’re away. Say ‘hi’ and introduce yourself; stay on friendly terms and even offer to repay the favor if they are out of town on some other occasion.

Leave The Heat On - Contrary to what you might think, leaving the heat on a low setting while you’re away is actually more beneficial than turning it off. A cold apartment can cause pipes to freeze and bust, leaving your apartment and belongings susceptible to flooding, which, if you are unable to attend to can result in a lot of damage.

Keep Your Car Free Of Valuables - If you are planning on leaving your vehicle parked outside your apartment, make sure it is free of any valuables, bags, or items that might arouse curiosity. And of course, make sure that your doors are locked.

Lock All Windows and Doors - Go around your apartment and double check every single window and door to make sure that nothing is left open or unlocked. If certain locks appear to be broken or not working well enough, talk to your apartment maintenance team to get things fixed and taken care of before you leave your home.

Leave The Lights On - Most apartment complexes have security lights installed outside the building which help keep the grounds lit. But, leaving a light on outside your apartment, and in your home, can go a long way in deterring thieves from breaking into your apartment, as it gives the appearance that someone is home.

Have The Post Office Hold Your Mail - Instead of letting your mail stack up and making it obvious that you are not home, request a “hold mail” at your local post office. You should also request the apartment management team to hold any packages, that may be delivered while you are away, in the office.

Keep Your Vacation Plans Off Social Media - Wait until you are back home before updating about your vacation and time away on Facebook and Instagram. You might have several hundred friends on social media that you don’t know well enough to trust when leaving your home unattended. It’s better to be safe than sorry!

Have A Friend Check-In On Your Apartment  - If you will be gone for more than a week, leave your apartment key with a friend you can trust. This way they can check in on your home from time to time to make sure everything is okay as well as have it close by in case of an emergency.

We hope you found these tips helpful to keeping your apartment safe this holiday season. If you are looking for an apartment to call home in the Austin area, Apartment Specialists proudly leads a team of apartment locators dedicated to help you find the best apartment for your needs and budget. Our apartment locators answer phones 7 days a week and the locating service is free to you. Call 512 241 1111 today!

Bookshelves: Three Ways To Save On Space And Keep Your Home Stylish

When it comes to setting up a small apartment, often times you need to find dual uses for your furniture. On a practical level when your large decor pieces double as storage devices, this can give you that much needed extra space. But practical doesn’t always have to mean unattractive to look at or time consuming to figure out. Below you will find three options for bookshelves and how you can use them to not only get your place looking good, but organized as well!

Option 1. A bookshelf that doubles as a shoe shelf. This is great option for your room or walk in closet. Get those shoes organized and keep them from piling up on the floor! Try coordinating them by color or type for an aesthetically pleasing look!

Option 2. If you have a lot of picture frames but don’t have the time or the option of nailing them into the walls, then this idea will be great for you! You can use any size bookshelf that will fit your space best, to set up your own gallery. It’s creative and time effective and much less hassle to change up or take down when moving. 

Check out our Pinterest board for visual inspiration and tips!

Option 3. This is a great option if you have kids and don’t constantly want to be taking things out of storage containers from under the bed. Place your child’s favorite and most used toys in baskets on a smaller bookshelf for easy on and off access. The best part is that it keeps things organized and you can switch out the toy options as your child grows!

We hope you found these ideas helpful! If you’re new to Austin and need help finding a new apartment to call home, or are simply looking to move to another location within Austin, give us a call at 512 318 2504. Our service is free!

Bad Credit Doesn't Have To Hold You Back

When you have bad credit, it affects many aspect of your life, including finding an apartment that will rent to you. But a bad credit score doesn’t mean you can’t find a place to call home. You might have to work a little harder at it, but it is possible to find something that will work for you. Trying these points below will help with just that.

Know your credit score - Knowing your exact credit score, and how you got there, puts you at an advantage when trying to rent an apartment. It allows you to be honest with the landlord or company you are trying to rent from and even helps you show the progress you have made from that point. Sometimes a financial setback in life is out of your control and knowing the “whys” and “hows” can help you on your quest of renting a place.

Show a steady income - A bad credit score doesn’t have to affect your ability to work hard and bring in a steady income. Showing your paychecks, bank account statements, and even credit card statements, will help show that regardless of problems in the past, you are capable now of paying your bills.

Get a cosigner – A cosigner is someone who does not live with you but is willing to vouch that you will pay your rent on time or they will be financially responsible for it. Typically the financial requirements for a cosigner are stricter than those for the renter themselves. It’s important to discuss the exact requirements in detail with anyone you ask to be your cosigner.

Be willing to compromise - Sometimes you can encourage a decision by offering to pay a larger deposit, speed up your move in time, suggest a shorter lease or even by paying your first month of rent with cash right there on the spot. There is no harm in putting all your cards on the table to see if one of them might work for you.

No credit check - In some cases it is possible to find apartment complexes that won’t do a credit score check. A great way to have an easier time figuring out which places do this in your city is by working with an apartment locator. Their data base is capable of pinpointing the exact apartments that will do this, and you just might be pleasantly surprised.

If you are ready to find an apartment that is just right for you, regardless of a low credit score, contact us today at 512 912 8000 and see how we can help you! It’s free of charge and will make your hunt for the right apartment that much easier!

The Best Place For You

When it comes to renting, location is a pretty big deal. It is common for renters to sacrifice the quality of their apartment, or pay more for a smaller place if it means the location is just right. In the list below we put together the main points to consider when looking to rent in your desired location.

Set a budget - Knowing the minimum and maximum point you are willing to spend is very important, whether you’re working with an realtor, an apartment locator, or finding something yourself, this is the first number you need to know.

Decide what you want around you - Do you prefer the fast paced city life or more quiet rural one? Would you rather have the grocery store in walking distance, or don’t mind a longer drive? Are you okay with a longer commute to work, the gym, or other points that are a part of your life style? Figuring out what you would rather have when it comes to your weekly routines is important, as these will be things you repeat often.

School district - If you have children, this is a major point to consider. School districts can make the difference in your child’s experience in school and the quality of their education. Austin has some great school districts with affordable homes and rentals. If you aren’t sure on the exact ones, this is definitely a question you want to bring to the table.

Commute to work - How long it takes to get to your job in the morning can make or break your day. There are several tools at your disposal that can give you a good idea of how long it would take from your new location. Google Maps and Waze determine how long your commute would be, based on the route, the times of day you travel, as well as taking traffic, tolls, and stops into consideration.

If you feel like you are ready to take the step and look for an apartment in a great location, call us today at 512 241 1111 and get set up on us. It’s fast, free and easy!

"Starter Apartment" Ideas to Keep

When you're first out on your own in your first apartment, there are certain things you do out of necessity and lack of funds.  However, some of them are habits there is no reason to give up.  Check out Apartment Therapy's round-up of "Starter Apartment" ideas that will work in your sophisticated home too!

It's not just art that belongs on the walls, and when you don't have any money to buy art, you're more likely to hang tablecloths, scarves, love letters, anything that might serve to brighten white walls.  So don't be afraid to hang something unconventional up there as art!

Repurposing objects in service as something else is a must when you don't have a lot of money.  Next time you need a new bedside table or other piece for your home, take a look at what you've already got for inspiration!

Customize things to make them fit your needs, whether it's DIYing a storage solution or making something from scratch to fit in an awkward corner.  Just because you have more money to buy what you need now doesn't mean you shouldn't take time to make something that will fit your space perfectly and have more individuality.

Keep in mind that just because you CAN fit your space with more furniture and stuff, doesn't mean you should.  Declutter and try to have breathing space around your possessions for peace of mind.

Need help finding your starter #apartment?  Give Austin Apartment Specialists a call today at 512-241-1111.

Planning Firm Seeking Feedback on Transit from Round Rock Residents

A local planning firm has set up an online survey to get Round Rock resident's opinions on transit, Community Impact reports.

The survey can be found here and gives residents the opportunity to build their own hypothetical transit system by choosing from a variety of types of service while sticking to a budget.  There are also questions about what residents want to see in potential transit.

The firm, Nelson/Nygaard, wants to get a better understanding of what community residents would like to see put into place in the next 10 years.  Once the survey is done, the team will come up with service proposals which will be presented to residents in the fall.

The firm hopes to get over 1,300 responses to the survey and will complete a transit master plan to present to City Council by the end of the year.

Looking for an #apartment close to public transportation?  Give Austin Apartment Specialists a call today at 512-241-1111.

10 Commandments of Decorating Your Rental

Bet you didn't know that you had rules to live by when it comes to decorating your apartment, but Apartment Therapy begs to differ with their "10 Commandments".  

First of all you should definitely decorate, even if you won't be there for long and even if it's in small, easily removed ways.  Otherwise, your space will never feel like home and you can feel depressed every time you open the door.

Spend your money on items that have a lot of versatility, so you can use them in your next apartment, whatever that may look like.  A couch that can switch from left to right handed, tables that have additional leaves or double as storage are all great choices.

Lighting is often horrible in rentals, especially older ones, don't feel like you're stuck with what's there.  Even if you can't swap out the overhead lights, you can fill your space with lots of great floor and table lamps.

Replace the hardware on the drawers and cabinets in the bathroom and kitchen for a complete make-over.  Just keep the original knobs and pulls in a safe place and put them back when you move out.

Window coverings are usually abysmal in rentals.  So make sure to cover what's there with new curtains (IKEA is a great place to find cheap ones) or roller blinds.

If you can paint, go for it, but if you can't, use temporary measures, like removable wallpaper or wall decals, to make a big (non-permanent) impression.

Rugs can cover an ugly floor, a stained carpet, and just generally bring color and pattern to whatever room they reside in.  Invest in area rugs you love because you can take them with you wherever you go.

Display art, even if you can't hang it on the walls, by leaning it against walls or using removable 3M strips to attach it to the walls.  From print it at home sayings to original works, there's something for every budget and every taste out there.

Finally, focus on the great stuff about renting, like you can spend your money on new furniture rather than emergency repairs.  If something breaks in your rental, you can call maintenance and get it fixed for free.

Ready to find a great new apartment?  Give Austin Apartment Specialists a call today at 512-241-1111!

New Apartments Planned for East Riverside Corridor

A 5.6 acre site on Pleasant Valley just north of Riverside has been purchased by Presidium Group, the Austin Business Journal reports.

The site currently has a few tenants, including an auto repair shop, a flea market, and a hookah lounge.  At some point, the parcel had several sports-oriented businesses, as evidenced by the batting cages, miniature golf course, and remnants of a sports bar that remain at the site.

The company plans to put apartments on the land and they plan to do it soon.  Presidium has also bought two other properties in the area recently, a burned down apartment complex near Wickersham Lane and East Oltorf, and two lots at 2714 and 2730 East Cesar Chavez Street.  The company plans to redevelop the apartment complex, but no plans have been announced for the other lots.

The East Riverside corridor is a rapidly expanding area, with hundreds of new upscale apartments already opened and retail on the way.  Single family development has also been growing, as in two nearby Milestone Communities.  

The area is popular for its proximity to downtown, as well as the new boardwalk that connects trails on the south side of Lady Bird Lake east and west of I-35.

Ready to call the Riverside area home?  Give Austin Apartment Specialists South Austin a call today at (512) 912-8000 for the latest vacancies and move-in specials at all the best #apartments in the area!

How Much Income Do You Need to Rent in Austin?

Austin's rental rates can cause a bit of sticker shock, especially to longtime residents or those moving from other cities in Texas.  But how much do you actually need to earn to afford a median-priced #apartment in Austin?  CultureMap reports on Zillow's analysis.

Zillow uses $15 an hour as a minimum wage, based on the fact that Seattle has set a minimum wage of $15 per hour for the city.  However, Texas' minimum wage is only $7.25, so their analysis is based on someone making over twice minimum wage here.

Rent for a median-priced apartment in Austin is $1,686 per month.  This means that in a household with two wage earners, both people need to make at least $16.86 per hour to afford it.  For a single earner, you need to make $33.72 per hour.  For a household to not exceed spending 30 percent of their income on rent, the annual household income needs to be at least $67,440.

Other Texas cities are a bit more affordable.  Two earners need to make $15.13 an hour to afford rent in Houston and $14.65 in Dallas.  

The most affordable places to rent for dual-income households are Detroit ($11.21), Pittsburgh ($11.24), St. Louis ($11.37), Cleveland ($11.61), and Indianapolis ($11.99).  The highest rent was in San Jose, California, where two people have to each make $32.87 an hour to pay for the median rent, which is $3,287 a month.

Don't be discouraged by the news from Zillow, Austin Apartment Specialists knows up-to-the-minute rental rates and specials at all the hottest #Austin apartments, plus how much your income needs to be to qualify.  Give us a call at 512-241-1111 for help!

Quick, Inexpensive Fixes for an Apartment Bathroom

Is your #apartment fantastic, but your bathroom is less than stellar?  Check out Apartment Therapy's suggestions for jazzing up a rental bathroom.

Replacing your light fixtures is easier than you think, and cheaper.  Check out IKEA for a lot of unique, affordable choices.  Just hold onto your old light fixtures so you can put them back when you move.

A replacement toilet seat will only cost a few bucks and will make your bathroom feel new.

If you're allowed to, painting the walls a cheery color or just a glossy white can go a long way towards making it feel more luxurious.  Similarly, if your landlord allows it, painting the vanity can also make the room look like a million bucks instantly.

Even if you can't paint your vanity, changing out the knobs and pulls can really make things look up-to-date.  Just hold onto your old knobs to replace them when you move out and you can take your replacements to your next home!

Replacing your mirror is another great way to bring your renovation-starved bathroom into the 21st century.  Check garage sales and thrift stores for affordable finds you can transform with a coat of paint or leave as is for a vintage look.  Landlord says no?  Try hanging a mirror OVER the mirror that's already there.  Just be sure to use a lightweight one.  Or 

you can use molding with peel and stick mounting tape to make the mirror you have look special.

Do a deep clean on your grout to get rid of the ick and re-caulk to banish moldy caulk for a fresh, clean start!

Finally, new towels, bathmats, and art can really make a place look great and won't change the room in a permanent way at all!

Ready to find an #apartment with your dream bathroom?  Give Austin Apartment Specialists a call today at 512-241-1111.

Apartments More Affordable than Rental Houses in Austin

Renters looking for housing in Central Austin will find houses to cost much more than apartments, Community Impact News reports.

The average rental home in Central Austin costs $2,232 per month, based on first quarter MLS data.  During the first three months of 2015, the average apartment rent was $1,137 per month.

The average renter in Central Austin has an annual salary of about $33,827, which is three times less than homeowners in the same area.  This results in most Central Austin homes and apartments being too expensive for the average renter.  Housing costs should comprise no more than 30% of a person's income.

Much of the reason that renters are "housing cost burdened", meaning their housing costs exceed 30% of their income, is the dramatic increase in rental rates, which increased 50 percent between 2004 and 2013.  Median annual family incomes only went up 9 percent in the same period.

Need help finding an #apartment in #Austin?  Austin Apartment Specialists can help.  Give us a call today at 512-241-1111.

Maximizing Space in a Small Bedroom

When you have a small bedroom, especially if you also live in a small #apartment, you need to maximize every inch of the room.  Sometimes your bedroom has to serve double-duty as an office as well.  Check out About.com's suggestions for making the most of your bedroom.

If you need a desk in your room, consider putting it next to your bed and using it also as a bedside table.  Or maybe you need more storage for your clothing.  How about using a chest of drawers as your bedside table?  Keep in mind your nightstands need not be identical.

In a small room, organization is even more important than usual.  By regularly going through your belongings and paring them down to the absolute essentials, you will find it easier to find room for what you do have.  Visual clutter like power cords can make a space feel smaller, so take care to organize and hide them.

Under the bed is an often-overlooked area for storage.  Use bins with lids to store out-of-season clothes, gift wrapping and craft supplies, Christmas decorations, or anything that you don't need on a daily basis.

Think of how your furniture can do double-duty:  a dresser can also be a standing-height desk, bookshelves can be a vanity, and a chest or ottoman at the end of the bed can be a filing cabinet or store extra blankets.  

Use a variety of lighting sources to make your room larger, from floor lamps to table lamps to sconces.  Make sure you can turn lights on and off individually so you can have lights for working and lights for sleeping.

Finally, in a small space, always look to the walls for storage.  Picture ledges are great for art and makes the eye look up and visually elevate shorts ceilings.  A wall-hung mirror is great for getting ready and reflects light to make the room feel larger.  Hang jewelry and accessories on the wall to add color to the room and increase storage.

Ready to find an apartment with a large bedroom?  Give Austin Apartment Specialists a call today at 512-241-1111.

Pflugerville Downtown Makeover Plan

A Downtown Vision Plan was brought before the Pflugerville City Council recently and seeks to make the area a destination for area residents, Community Impact reports.

The proposal divides the downtown area into eight districts:  The Entertainment District, Office District, Service District, Dining District and Gateway District.  It would add restaurants, park space, programs and festivals, pedestrian paths, and streetscape improvements.

The plan could be financed through a tax increment reinvestment zone (TIRZ), which uses the additional tax revenue from increasing downtown property values to fund redevelopment.

There is talk of also relocating City Hall out of downtown, possibly to the Sunshine development near SH 130.  Many think that the space City Hall occupies would be better served by a park or civic centerpiece, especially now that so much city business can be conducted online.

Ready to find a new #apartment in #Pflugerville or surrounding areas?  Austin Apartment Specialists can help!  Give us a call today at 512-241-1111.  

Clean Your Apartment in Half an Hour

Cleaning your #apartment is probably last on your list of fun things to do.  So read on for About.com's tips on how to clean your apartment in 30 minutes!  First step is to put on some fun music to make you go faster and take your mind off the drudgery of cleaning.

Begin in your bathroom by putting away any items on the tub ledge, sink and on the back of the toilet.  Spray a foaming cleanser all all the surfaces and allow it to work while you do other chores.  Wipe down your mirror with a glass cleaner and use the same product to clean any chrome surfaces.  Wipe off the foam cleaner, and give the toilet seat and sink an extra good scrub.  Be sure everything is put away and close your shower curtain.

In the bedroom, make up your bed and put any dirty laundry into the hamper.  Take anything else that doesn't belong and put it away.

The kitchen will probably need the most attention.  First put any dishes that you've gathered from around your apartment in the dishwasher, then wipe down all the surfaces with disinfectant wipes or paper towels and a spray cleaner.  Put away any objects that don't belong in the kitchen.

The living room is another vital area, as guests will be likely to congregate there.  Get rid of clutter and trash, then quickly vacuum floors, wipe down bookcases, tables, and the entertainment center, and put away any objects that don't belong, paying special attention to the entryway.  

Need help finding an apartment that you will want to keep clean?  Give Austin Apartment Specialists a call today at 512-241-1111.

Home Items to Pay More For

While it's great to be a bargain hunter, there are some places where you should spend a little more for quality.  Check out Daily Finance.com's recommendations for home items you should splurge on.  

Mattresses are a place where cheapest is not best.  This is something you will be sleeping on almost every night for several years.  Back, neck pain, and fatigue are all side effects of a bad mattress.  So invest in a mattress that's supportive and will give you a good night's sleep for a long time.

While conventional light bulbs may cost less, they also tend to use more energy, which will show on your electric bill.  Invest in energy-efficient bulbs that use 75 percent less energy, generate 75 percent less heat and will last 10 times longer than conventional bulbs.  

Another great place to invest in a high quality product is kitchen knives.  A well cared for knife can last your entire life.  You also really only need a chef, paring, and bread knife, so invest wisely in the best you can afford.

Looking for an #apartment that will bring you happiness every day?  Give Austin Apartment Specialists a call today at 512-241-1111.

Highland Mall's Transformation Continues

Highland Mall, which has recently been transformed into Austin Community College's Highland Campus, will take its final retail bow April 30th, 44 years after it first opened, Community Impact reports.  

Although no anchor tenant has occupied the mall since 2011, there were still a few retailers left in the mall. Those retailers will have to close at the end of this month so ACC can start development on the next phase of Highland Mall's transformation, which will cost $152.8 and revamp the mall's central area.  In June, ACC's board will review architect's design proposals and narrow the choices down to three to five finalists.  

The project takes advantage of the number of modes of transportation convenient to Highland Mall, such as bus, train, and highways, with the goal of educating Austin's future workforce.  

Many of the displaced retailers will move to the the nearby Lincoln Village Shopping Center, which has been renamed "The Linc" and is undergoing its own revitalization.

At Highland, Rackspace is in negotiations to relocate to the former Dillard's and the area around the former mall is being redeveloped into mixed use.  The developer for that land, which comprises 35 acres, plans to include residential units, hotel space, office space, and retail.  The first project, a residential mid-rise with ground-floor retail, should be complete by mid-2017.

Want in on the Highland area's transformation?  Looking to be near "The Linc" where Easy Tiger will have a beer garden and stage and Vivo will offer their delicious Tex-Mex?  Or maybe you work or attend school at ACC Highland.  No matter what your reason for living in the area, Austin Apartment Specialists can help you find an #apartment that's perfect for you.  Give us a call today at 512-241-1111.

Easy Ways to Personalize Your Apartment

When you rent, it may feel like you can't make a space truly yours, but with Apartment Therapy's tips, you can inject your #apartment with style using non-permanent changes.

You may not be able to paint the walls, but you can paint or add details to a piece of furniture you already have to make it, and your home, a lot more unique.

Removable wallpaper comes in a large variety of styles and can make a huge statement in your apartment.  Feeling like that's too much?  Framing a square of the non-removable variety of wallpaper can have a big impact as well.

Apartments often come with flooring that's past its prime.  By layering rugs over beat-up floors, you can make an eyesore a focal point.  Smaller rugs are often cheaper, so layering allows you to have high style without the big price tag.

Lamps are a must to bathe your home in beautiful light, which makes any rental look better and you can add light without adding holes to walls or ceilings.

Large art makes a large impression on a space, but it also tends to leave a large dent in your wallet.  So make your own!  If you can't hang things on your walls because it would leave holes or they're made of cinderblock, lean it against the wall.

Large mirrors will make your apartment look larger, lighter, brighter, and reflect what art and decor you already have.  Check out Craigslist, garage sales, estate sales, and thrift stores to find large frames for cheap.  Add a frame you've made yourself to make it unique

Often rental bathrooms and kitchens have zero personality.  Try injecting some by using temporary products on the backsplash.  

Ready to find a new apartment you can inject some personality into?  Give Austin Apartment Specialists a call today at 512-241-1111.  

Preventing Burnout at Work

Are you chronically stressed out at work?  Always feel you have too much to do and not enough time to do it?  Fast Company helps with some coping mechanisms that will give you energy and prevent burnout.

Try reorganizing your day using "job crafting".  Job crafting is about organizing your day in such a way that you do the tasks that give you joy and revitalize you just when you need a boost of encouragement.  If there's something you really love for work, position it at a time of day when you find yourself losing motivation.

One of the first signs of burnout is feeling like you can't get anywhere in your work.  If you're feeling stuck, begin by coming up with achievable goal, and then plot out incremental steps you can take to get to your goal.

Are you a perfectionist?  Many people who experience burnout tend to be perfectionists because they just don't know when to say enough.  Recognize that it's okay to use a "good enough" solution rather than continuing to spend time on the perfect solution.

Being exhausted on a constant basis is a major source of burnout.  So make sure you give yourself little breaks to replenish your energy.  Experts suggest a five to ten minute break every hour and a half to two hours.  You'll feel reenergized and ready to take on your task again after giving your mind a little mini-vacation.

Speaking of vacation, make sure you take time off on a regular basis.  In addition to real vacations, use your lunch break to really step away from work, get a decent night's sleep, eat healthy, and exercise on a regular basis to continue to keep your mind and body in peak working condition.

Need help finding a new #apartment that's closer to your work to cut down on commute stress?  Austin Apartments Now can help!  Give us a call today at 512-258-8224.

Closet Organizing Mistakes

Is your closet constantly disorganized?  You may be making one of Apartment Therapy's closet organization mistakes.

If you are trying to cram in more things than will ever fit in your closet, it's time to take a step back and decide whether you really need all those clothes, shoes and accessories.  By regularly going through your clothes and donating what you don't wear as often, you'll make room for the belongings you love.

If you're not switching out your wardrobe each season, chances are your closet is a mess.  Either pack up your out-of-season clothes and put them somewhere else, or rotate them to the back of your closet to make room for the clothes you are wearing currently.

Make sure you're using every square inch of storage space, from the back of the door to the tippy top of the closet.  Using hooks or over-the-door shoe organizers, and shelves high up will maximize your storage.

If you don't organize each type of object you keep in your closet, it's likely to become a mess.  Make sure you have dedicated types of storage for each thing (scarves, bags, shoes, etc.) so you can keep them neat.

The things you use or wear on a daily basis should be the easiest to get to in your closet so you aren't pulling things out and making a mess trying to get to those daily items.  Finally, once you're done wearing something, put it back up!  The biggest mess can come when you just throw your clothes or accessories on the closet floor.

Looking for an #apartment with lots of closet space?  Give Austin Apartment Specialists a call today at 512-241-1111.

Austin Fastest Growing Metro in Texas, 3rd in Nation

Austin is the fastest growing metro area in Texas and the the third fastest growing metro area in the nation, according to data recently released by the U.S. Census Bureau and reported on by the Austin Business Journal.

The population of the Austin-Round Rock area increased 3 percent between July 2013 and July 2014 to a total population of 1,943,299.  That is an increase of roughly 57,496 new residents.

The Austin area was bested by The Villages, Florida, which grew by 5.4 percent in the last year and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, which saw its population increase by 3.2 percent.

Are you one of Austin's many new residents?  Welcome!  Let Austin Apartment Specialists help you find a great #apartment in the perfect neighborhood for you.  Give us a call today at 512-241-1111.

Austin #2 on List of Top Cities for Tech Startups

Austin has landed on another list.  This one is SelfStorage.com's list of top hot cities for tech startups, the Austin Business Journal reports.  

The report ranked cities after looking at local innovation, access to capital, access to educated workers, strength of the local tech startup scene, and local tech wages compared to other parts of the country.

Austin had the top number of venture capital deals per 1,000 people and was number two in the number of utility patents issued per 1,000 people.  

Raleigh, North Carolina nabbed the top spot on the list.  After Austin, the other cities are:  Denver, Salt Lake City, San Diego, New Orleans, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Seattle, Kansas City, Miami, and Portland, Oregon.

Living the tech startup lifestyle and need a new #apartment close to work?  Give Austin Apartment Specialists a call today at 512-241-1111.

Keeping Counters Clutter-Free

Are your kitchen counters constantly full of stuff? Do you have to clear them off just to make a sandwich?  Then check out Apartment Therapy's tips for keeping counters free of clutter!

As you cook, clean the dishes and utensils you are using. It's much easier to clean as you go and you'll have more energy than if you wait until after dinner is finished and you're experiencing a food coma.

Do you have a proper landing strip by your front door with a place for everything?  If not, you may find your counters covered in whatever you slap down as soon as you walk in the door.  Make sure you have a place for everything when you walk in the door to prevent this.

Look for ways to save space in your kitchen, like sponge holders that attach by suction cups to your sink, wall organizers that hang on your backsplash, and cup hooks that attach under the cabinets.

Every night before you go to bed, make sure everything is cleared off your counters.  Put the dishes in the dishwasher and return any items that don't belong to the proper place so you can start the day fresh.

Put away appliances that you rarely use in the cabinets, if there's room.  Sure, you use your coffeemaker every day, but that blender or crepe maker sees a lot less action and can be put away for most of the time.

Need help finding an #apartment with more storage space in the kitchen?  Give Austin Apartment Specialists a call today at 512-241-1111.