Apartment Renting With Pets

If you’re a pet owner who is considering a move to an apartment there are certain things you must be keep in mind. First, whether or not your pet will be accepted by most landlords depends primarily on the type, size and personality of your pet.

Dogs:

If you own a large dog, apartment living is probably not for you. Not only will accepting landlords be hard to find, but your dog will not be happy in the confined space of an apartment. A large dog needs room to exercise and play, neither of which is usually available in an apartment setting.

If you plan to move to an apartment, make sure your dog is one that will adapt easily to this change in environment. Usually smaller, lap dogs are the best choice. However, even smaller dogs can cause problems.

If your dog barks or whines a lot you may well find yourself at odds with the landlord, as well as with other tenants. Many times your dog only causes a disturbance because it’s lonely or bored. If you’re gone during the day, you can sometimes alleviate these problems by hiring a pet walker to come in and give your dog attention and exercise.

You must also keep in mind that most apartment complexes have leash laws so you will have to accompany your dog each time it goes outside. Since most complexes don’t have areas where it’s safe for your dog to run free, this is as much a matter of your dog’s safety as it the protection of other tenants.

Cats:

Cats are the pets of choice for apartments. Most are not as socially oriented as dogs and are quite happy left on their own. As long as your cat has a nice spot to curl up and take a nap, space isn’t an issue. More than likely your pet is a house cat so frequent trips outside aren’t required.

But you must realize that some landlords do not accept cats any more willingly than they do dogs. Some have a strict “no pets” rule. If that’s the case, don’t consider renting there. If your pet is discovered you may be evicted and/or fined.

Other Pets:

“Pocket pets” such as fish, birds, and reptiles usually don’t pose a problem when it comes to renting. However, you should still check with your prospective landlord to make sure.

General Tips:

Landlords who do accept pets often require a pet deposit. This is intended to cover any damage your dog or cat does to the premises, as well as additional cleaning that may be necessary when you leave the apartment.

If you’re searching for apartments that accept pets, there are many places to go for help. You’ll find lots of websites and message boards dedicated to this subject. You can also enlist the help of a local realtor or relocation specialist who usually have lists of “pet-friendly” apartments. Just make sure you’re clear on the policy regarding pets before you sign any rental agreement.

If you take into account your pet’s needs, as well as those of your landlord, you’ll be much more likely to find an apartment that meets your needs.

Happy apartment hunting!

About Furniture Rental

There are many businesses out there which rent furniture by the month. You need a couch? Rent one for only $40 per month. Need a lamp? You can get one for $12 a month. Now, let’s see, in one year you would have paid $480 to use the couch and you wouldn’t own it. The lamp would have cost you $144 and it’s the same situation ~ at the end of your lease, you still own nothing.

Most of us would think it foolish to rent furniture. But, that isn’t always the case. There are situations where renting may be the best option. Consider these scenarios:

• Your company transfers you to a new location but the rest of your family is staying in your present home until the school year ends and that’s 4 months away. You buy a house and live in it until your family arrives. Do you go out and buy new furniture or do you rent a few necessities in the meantime?

• Right after you get married, you move into a new home. You and your spouse haven’t decided how you want to decorate your home. Do you rush your decisions or do you rent furniture until you find the style that will please you both?

• You graduate from college and accept a position in an unfamiliar city. You find an apartment that has everything you want, except furniture. You can’t afford to go out and purchase the items you’ll need right away. What do you do?

If you find yourself in any of these situations, renting all or part of your furniture may be a viable option. The thing you have to keep in mind is that it’s never a long-term solution. From the figures in the first paragraph, you can see how expensive renting is over the long haul.

However, when you find yourself without furniture, short term rental may be your best option. If you don’t have the cash or credit to purchase what you need, or if you only plan to be without furniture for a little while, short-term rental may be the best solution.

Most furniture rental companies offer several options from which to choose. Most of them also offer packages in different price ranges, depending on the style and quality of the furniture you require.

• The bedroom package usually includes a double or queen-size bed, night stand and lamp, and 1 chest.

• A living room package provides a couch, end table and lamp, cocktail table, and a chair.

• A dining room package includes a table and 4 chairs.

• A complete home package includes all of the above.

• You can also rent any accessories you may need, including cookware and china, rugs, additional lamps, TV’s, stereos, etc.

As long as you rent only what you need and do so for as short a time as possible, furniture rental may be the solution you need. But, don’t forget to calculate the cost of your rent or mortgage along with the cost of your furniture rental before you decide which package to choose.

If money is an issue, one question you need to ask yourself is this: do you really need the most expensive package or can you get by with the more generic and economical choice for 2 or 3 or 4 months? Unless you plan to do a lot of business entertaining, the answer is obvious.

In short, furniture rental can be an economically sound solution to your problem, if you use your common sense and don’t get in over your head. It beats sleeping on the floor any day!

Two Can Live More Cheaply Than One ~ Consider a Roommate

If living expenses are eating up your budget, one of the most popular solutions is to find one or more roommates to share them. Rent for a multiple-bedroom apartment is usually not significantly higher than that of a single bedroom or studio unit. So actually, with a roommate to share the expenses, you’re able to live much more cheaply. There are many places where you can find people who are also looking for roommates. Check the classified section of your newspaper and with acquaintances. Post a notice at your church, at work, or, if you’re a college student, on a bulletin board at school. There are also several websites which focus on finding roommates and living accommodations. Choose Your Roommate Wisely . . . You must keep in mind that you’ll be living closely with this person (or persons) so there are several things you should consider when choosing your roommate: • Make sure that your schedules and interests will compliment each other. If you like a quiet life and your roommate loves to invite people in for impromptu parties, it’s probably not a good mix. • How you live is another issue that should be considered. If you’re a neat freak and your prospective roommate is a slob, there will be problems. • If you’re a pet owner it’s important to find someone who shares your love for animals. • Be sure and specify whether you wish to room with a smoker or non-smoker. • If you plan to share shopping and cooking responsibilities choose a person who likes the same types of foods you do. These are just a few of the issues that must be resolved if you intend to live in harmony with other people. Take the time to get to know a little about the person with whom you intend to share a home. It will prevent a lot of difficulty later. Agree On the Rules From the Start . . . 1. Choosing a location: If you have already chosen a roommate, or roommates, and are looking for an apartment, be sure you only consider locations that are convenient for all of you. 2. All roommates should be included on the lease. This will prevent anyone being left “holding the bag” if one of the roommates decides to make other living arrangements. 3. Decide how the bills will be divided. How the rent, utilities, phone bills, etc., will be divided is extremely important. While heat, water and electricity are usually divided equally, other bills can be divided according to usage. For example, if one roommate has a larger bedroom and a private bath, while the others share a communal bath and have smaller rooms, this should be taken into account when determining what percentage each pays for rent. And, while the basic cost of the phone bill should be shared by all who use it, personal toll calls should be the responsibility of whoever made them. If there are Internet and cable bills, you can hardly expect someone who doesn’t use a computer at home to share the Internet charges. Be sure and put all of these arrangements in writing so there is no question or dispute later. It’s a very good idea for each roommate to set up one of the utility accounts (electricity, gas, etc.) in his/her name. 4. Decide how housekeeping chores will be divided and put it in writing. While this may seem like a lot to worry about, you and your roommates will get along better if everyone knows what’s expected from the start. Take the time to iron these things out at the beginning to prevent later dissension and hard feelings ~ you’ll have a much greater chance of living together happily and harmoniously if you do.