Central NJ Apartments

3-6 Weeks

2010-03-02T09:14:00.000-08:00

· It is the time to take a look at what you own, and decide what must go and what can be left behind. All items such as old books, magazines, broken items, old toys can be left behind. Remember-adding more weight to your shipment costs more money.

· Organize your move by deciding and making lists of what items you will not transport, what items your van line agent will move and what items you will move yourself.

· Make a decision if the items not going that will be sold at a garage sale, picked by a charity or trash it.

· Make a decision on who will do most of the packing or all the packing. It is a good idea that you let the van line agent do most of the packing. The van line agents know the best methods for keeping items safe; that's what they do for a living.

· Get your kids involved with the moving process. Let your kids do some packing and let them suggest a layout for their new room. Make it fun and exciting for them to move.

If you are looking to rent an apartment in new jersey, specifically apartment rentals in central new jersey or apartment rentals in north jersey. There are many beautiful apartments for rent in Englewood New Jersey, which has apartment rentals in Bergen County. So if you are looking for Englewood NJ Apartments for Rent then go to Bergen County Apartments. Another place with apartments for rent in Monmouth County is in red bank apartments for rent. These beautiful apartment rentals in red bank include 1 bedroom apartments, 2 bedroom apartments and 3 bedroom apartments.

With multiple places to rent apartments in red bank nj it is a great place for apartment rentals in central new jersey and apartments for rent by the jersey shore. Another place to rent apartment in Monmouth county are spring lake heights apartments for rent. With many apartment rentals in spring lake heights it is a great place to rent an apartment by the jersey shore.

When people are looking to buy real estate the old adage is “Location, location, location.” When you are looking to rent an apartment or other types of real estate that is also a major criteria. In addition to location there are other things to consider when you plan on renting an apartment. The list is in no particular order of importance, or rather the order of importance is your personal choice.

Monmouth County NJ Apartments for Rent are valuable pieces of real estate to rent. If you are looking for red bank new jersey information and Monmouth County Rentals, this is the place to go. Red Bank New Jersey is in Monmouth County. When you are in the market for Red Bank NJ Apartments for Rent, make sure to check out these beautiful townhouses. For Bergen County NJ Apartments for rent make sure to check out this lovely apartment complex in Englewood.

Since renting an apartment is where you will be residing, location is the first criteria when you are in the market. Location of the apartment has a different meaning than when you are buying real estate. Location in the rental market is usually shorter-term than a possible long-term real estate investment.

Pre-Fab Units: Advantages/Disadvantages

2009-11-18T18:01:00.000-08:00

Advantages

1. Fast installation, whether by pros or DIY. Have a new shower by end of the day.
2. Typically cheaper than tiled stall.
3. Lighter and can be installed in problem areas, such as on a floor with less-than-adequate joists below.
4. Flexible. If there is any chance that the floor might shift, the shower pan will not crack with movement. Nearly impossible for the pan to leak.
5. Easy for do-it-yourselfers to install.

Disadvantages

1. Fewer design options than tiled shower stalls.
2. Available only in set sizes.
3. One-piece units may not be appropriate for remodeling because size may prevent them from passing though doorways. One-piece units are intended mainly for new houses or additions.

Tiled Shower Units: Advantages/Disadvantages
If you plan on tiling the shower or tub yourself, I recommend a basic book that I often consult, Ortho's All About Tiling Basics. (Compare Prices - Ortho All About Tiling)

Advantages

1. Literally an infinite range of design options, since it is built from scratch.
2. Size can be adjusted to fit any space.
3. Slightly better resale value.
4. Good for remodeling, since it is often difficult to get large building materials through doorways.

Disadvantages

1. More expensive than the pre-fabricated units.
2. Difficult for do-it-yourselfer to build.
3. Probability of shower pan leaking because it can crack with the settling of a house. Note, though, that you have a couple of alternatives. In some instances it is possible to install fiberglass shower pans in conjunction with tiled walls. Or, even better, if you want to keep the look of tile throughout, install a polyurethane shower pan which can be tiled over.
4. Slow installation time due to curing process.

For apartments in New Jersey go to Raritan Crossing. They are pet friendly apartments and New Brunswick NJ apartments . Rentals near Metropark and apartments in Middlesex county. For apartments in central NJ this is the place for you with Apartments in Middlesex County NJ. Raritan Crossing has apartments near metropark, apartments near Rutgers and apartments near Robert Wood Johnson. Central NJ Apartments

5 Moving Steps

2009-10-22T08:23:00.000-07:00

Don't Let Your Move Stress You Out - Five Simple Steps to Make it Easier(ARA) - According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the weeks between early May and Labor Day weekend mark the busiest time of year to move. It's estimated that more than 21 million Americans will move this summer. Some moves will go smoother than others, and while there's no way to guarantee a problem-free experience, there are things you can do ahead of time to make the process easier."Anticipating tasks that may cause frustration and headaches on moving day is crucial. People want to enjoy settling into their new home, whether it's finding a dog sitter for moving day or connecting their cable services, planning ahead will guarantee less stress for the entire family," says Leslie Levine, a moving expert and author of "Will This Place Ever Feel Like Home?"Levine, who has helped millions of people move, urges movers to avoid five common mistakes before packing things up and hitting the road.1) Don't put off calling utility providers (electric, cable, gas, etc.) to schedule the disconnect date of your services. This can be done weeks before the move when you have more time. And now, connecting services at your new home couldn't be easier.To set up your cable, high-speed Internet and phone, all you have to do is log on to www.cablemover.com and click on "find your cable company." Movers enter their new ZIP code and are directed to their new provider's Web site (where they will receive special moving offers). Customers can schedule their cable services, such as digital cable, high-speed Internet and phone service, or bundle all three in a package for potential cost savings. Movers can also access the free service by calling the toll-free Cable Movers Hotline (877-9TV-MOVE).2) Don't forget to inform your insurance companies about the move. Coverage can vary from state to state and most insurance companies' provide up-to-date information on their Web sites.3) Don't forget to pack a travel bag that can be easily accessed when you arrive at your new home. In preparation for a move, people tend to pack away essentials that are difficult to find following a hectic move-in day. Pack your bag as if you are going away for a weekend, include medications, a toothbrush, toothpaste, a change of clothes and other daily essentials.4) Don't expect to get every picture and painting on the walls during the first week. Instead of cleaning or unpacking the first night in the new home, take a break, relax and watch a favorite program with cable On Demand. If the boxes just can't be left alone, check out a favorite DIY show for home improvement tips while working to make the new place feel like home.5) Don't try to do everything alone. For big home improvement projects, hire a professional. Pick a few projects to do with the family and then hire someone to do the time-consuming projects like painting and hanging wallpaper."Any steps that can be taken to simplify a move are worth considering," adds Levine. "I recommend all movers do some advance planning to take the stress out of their move."

Procedures for Renting an Apartment

2009-09-23T09:57:00.000-07:00

The procedures for renting an apartment in different counties, and within the same area, city, or local area, can differ widely, and thus, know what to expect can help you in your apartment search.
First of all, decide on the type of apartment you want to rent. How big of a place do you need? How much money are you willing to spend? Is public transportation available nearby? Think carefully about the place for you.
Next, many apartments are advertised in the local newspaper, and these listings generally described the size, location, and amenities of the place. Looking over these ads will give you a general idea of the types of apartments available. Ask your friends and teachers if they can recommend any specific place to live. Other students might be looking for roommates, and this might be a good way to minimize your apartment search. Compare what they tell you to what you find in the newspaper.
Then, figure out the exact costs for renting an apartment and determine your budget. In addition to your first month's rent, you might have to pay a security deposit to cover any damage to the apartment. The amount you get back when you move varies widely, but don't expect to receive the entire amount because landlords sometimes deduct money for regular maintenance including carpet cleaning and new paint.
Finally, be sure to carefully read and understand the terms of the rental agreement because once you sign, you will be bound to uphold the terms of the contract. Ignorance is no excuse. Can you keep pets in the apartment? Is smoking allowed? How much notice do you need to give the landlord before you move out? Ask questions if you aren't sure.
For apartments in New Jersey go to Raritan Crossing. They are pet friendly apartments and New Brunswick NJ apartments . Rentals near Metropark and apartments in Middlesex county. For apartments in central NJ this is the place for you with Apartments in Middlesex County NJ. Raritan Crossing has apartments near metropark, apartments near Rutgers and apartments near Robert Wood Johnson. Central NJ Apartments

A step-by-step guide to renting

2009-08-17T08:50:00.001-07:00

Property Guides on Times Online
Spiralling house prices have fuelled a boom in the rentals market. For many people, especially would-be first-time buyers saving for a deposit, renting is becoming the norm. There is also growing evidence that renting is a long-term choice; potential buyers are put off by high interest rates and stamp duty, and prefer the freedom of moving around when they feel like it. But before you start scouring Loot, read up on the ten things you need to know about renting:
1. Demand is up…
The Association of Residential Letting Agents reports that demand for rented property is at its highest for five years. Its latest quarterly survey found that two-thirds of letting agents in prime central London have more tenants that properties available. Across the South East, 57% of letting agents say that also have a shortage of properties to let, and add that the lack of stock is pushing up rental prices.
Related Internet LinksProperty guides A guide to househunting on the webHousehunting goes high-tech: technology is transforming the way we search for our next home. Our buyers test-drive top property websites
A step-by-step guide to selling your home Gumtree founder, Simon Crookall, puts his £1.5m home for sale online
BACKGROUNDWhy can’t we sell our home? ‘I didn’t want a profit; I just wanted out’ How to sell your home in a hurry BACKGROUNDOverseas property: where, how and what to buy How to get onto the property ladder Guide to buying above a shop BACKGROUNDHow to sell your home Buying a property at auction Home improvement Eco homes Step-by-step guide to buying your first property Related LinksA step-by-step guide to renting 2. …but not up north
In many Northern and Midlands towns and cities, however, there are more flats than tenants. Alastair Stewart, an analyst with Dresdner Kleinwort, says that there is a glut of apartments in Leeds, Manchester, Ipswich, Norwich, Leicester, Nottingham and Birmingham. “The proportion of new-build properties that are apartments has gone up from 21 per cent in 2000 to 49 per cent in the latest quarter”, he adds. The result is a “renters” market, in which renters are bargaining down prices.
3. How much does it cost?
The Residential Rental Price Index (RRPI) at rentright.co.uk monitors the cost of renting a home across the UK. Its latest figures report that average rental prices are falling, month-on-month. In November 2007, the average monthly rental was £825, in December 2007, it was £795 and in January, so far, it is £678 (figures are updated as properties are uploaded to the website). Studio flats are outperforming the market: since November 2007, average monthly rental prices have risen from £473 to a whopping £933.
4. A family affair
The latest research from the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors suggests that family homes are the most sought-after rental properties. More than a quarter of surveyors reported an increase in demand; agents attribute it to a rise in families who have sold up and are waiting to see what happens to prices in 2008 before purchasing their next property.
5. Staying power
The prime central London market has the most settled tenants, according to the Association of Residential Letting Agents. Tenants in areas such as Belgravia and Knightsbridge rent houses and apartments for an average of 17.7 months. Across the South East, the average tenant occupation is 15.2 months, compared to 14.2 months elsewhere in the United Kingdom. For apartments in New Jersey go to Raritan Crossing. They are pet friendly apartments and New Brunswick NJ apartments . Rentals near Metropark and apartments in Middlesex county. For apartments in central NJ this is the place for you with Apartments in Middlesex County NJ. Raritan Crossing has apartments near metropark, apartments near Rutgers and apartments near Robert Wood Johnson. Central NJ Apartments.

Things to Be Known About Sub prime mortgage and Sub prime Crisis:

2009-07-22T19:06:00.000-07:00

One of the words most used by news channels in the last year was the sub prime mortgage. This was one of the reasons for the recession that the world is under. There was a sudden boom in the housing sector in US and it was in this boom that the sub prime crisis occurred. Sub prime lending is the process of lending money to people with a weak credit history. There are various credit rating companies that rate the capacity of the borrower and it was because of the errors in the ratings this sub prime crisis occurred. The positive side of sub prime mortgage was that it allowed people with poor credit rating to own a house. This wasn’t possible previously. The borrowers with poor credit rating were not able to pay the loans and this had a big impact on US housing. The housing industry in US had gone to a low and with it brought down the economy.
Working of Sub prime Mortgages:
The basic thing to be considered in sub prime mortgage is the sub prime specifics. Sub prime mortgages are available in various forms but the only common factor among these various forms is that the lending rates will be higher than those for people with good credit ratings.
A famous form of sub prime loans is the sub prime loans with an adjustable-rte mortgage(ARM).the thing with ARM is that they have low interest rates and low monthly payments. The rate attached with the loan is adjusted every 6 or 12 months and could shoot up to something as high as 50%.
Sub prime loans also come with prepayment penalty. If you are able to pay off your loans before the stipulated period then you may have to pay a penalty for it. Sub prime loans also have a balloon penalty attached to it. This occurs when the remainder of the loan is due after the introductory in one lump sum. The thing that people do to overcome this is to look out for refinancing but this is not always possible. Your loan could become sub prime under the following conditions.Credit card payments that may have been missed in the past three years.It may occur if your bank account is consistently overdrawn, defaulted on credit.
Sub prime Mortgage Crisis:The number of loans that have failed in the sub prime crisis is around 2.2 million and the loss is estimated to be around $164 billion. It is predicted that two out of every five sub prime mortgages would fail in the next two years.The factors for this crisis are many and among them one is the various mortgage brokers. These mortgage brokers lead their clients towards loans that they couldn’t afford. In the past people would approach a bank directly to obtain their loans but now due to the mortgage brokers they approach them easily and get loans above their capacity. The thing with this is that the mortgage brokers don’t suffer when the loans go down and it is the banks that suffer.
Neighbour Works America:One of the face saving organizations in this crisis is an nonprofit organization called Neighbour works. What it does is that it joins with mortgage companies and insurance companies and reaches out to borrowers in need. This ensures that some kind of an action could be taken to prevent he foreclosure of the sub prime loans.
For apartments in New Jersey go to Raritan Crossing. They are pet friendly apartments and New Brunswick NJ apartments . Rentals near Metropark and apartments in Middlesex county. For apartments in central NJ this is the place for you with Apartments in Middlesex County NJ. Raritan Crossing has apartments near metropark, apartments near Rutgers and apartments near Robert Wood Johnson. Central NJ Apartments

Why should I consider renting a post office box?

2009-07-06T17:49:00.000-07:00

One thing you may want to consider when moving into a new apartment is post office box rental. If you don't have a secure area for your mail, or want to have additional privacy, it can be the perfect solution. It can also be a simple solution, as it is easier than other things, such as renting a car. Here are some of the best reasons to get one:
It is inexpensive. Most post office boxes are not pricey and you can often opt to pay for your box in two separate installments rather than all at one time. You can retain a permanent address. If you move a good deal, this can save you a lot of hassle when it comes to getting your mail in a timely fashion. You have privacy. Only you can decide who gets to be on the box and have a key. It might be more convenient. You can opt to get a box that is close to your work so that you can receive your mail even before you return to the apartment. It is secure. Since the box is located in a building, you have the additional security of having eyes and ears around all of the time to make sure it is safe. For apartments in New Jersey go to Raritan Crossing. They are pet friendly apartments and New Brunswick NJ apartments . Rentals near Metropark and apartments in Middlesex county. For apartments in central NJ this is the place for you with Apartments in Middlesex County NJ. Raritan Crossing has apartments near metropark, apartments near Rutgers and apartments near Robert Wood Johnson. Central NJ Apartments.

Contract issues

2009-06-26T06:35:00.001-07:00

It’s a big move so you have to make sure you’re covered on every aspect so never sign a lease without seeing the apartment even if it’s a bargain. Second of all, our advice is not to sign a contract that has an automatic renewal clause, because you may not know what’s going to happen next year. Maybe you change work or move to a new city and a renewed contract would only force you to pay even if you’re not living there.
Last thing and a very important if you enjoy privacy, keep away from a lease that gives the landlord unlimited access without notification. Tenants have their rights and a landlord should be permitted without notice only in case of emergencies.
Inspect the apartmentMost important thing when you inspect an apartment you plan to lease (or buy) is not to let the looks deceive you. Look for the “hidden” attributes and if there’s any damage ask for it to be repaired otherwise you may be blamed for it later.

8. What to look for
You like the price, the area is great, but you need to see where you’re going to live. Here are a few things to take a closer look at:
Pipes – be it gas, water or anything else, check for leaks. Sink faucets, shower heads and water – make sure water (both cold and hot) really comes out of the faucets and the shower head and it’s with a decent pressure. Also the toilet has to flush properly and thoroughly. Electricity and appliances should all be working. Check if all the lights or other electric devices are operational. Also check the air conditioner and the heater to see if they’re good for anything. Walls and windows. Check the windows to see if they open, close and lock properly. Also inspect the walls. The more walls in common (shared with adjoining apartments), the greater the chance of noise from next door. Noise. For a student, outside noise may be extremely disturbing and may interfere with learning. If it’s a highly trafficked area you may have problems concentrating and even sleeping. For apartments in New Jersey go to Raritan Crossing. They are pet friendly apartments and New Brunswick NJ apartments . Rentals near Metropark and apartments in Middlesex county. For apartments in central NJ this is the place for you with Apartments in Middlesex County NJ. Raritan Crossing has apartments near metropark, apartments near Rutgers and apartments near Robert Wood Johnson. Central NJ Apartments

Subletting your Apartment

2009-06-16T05:52:00.000-07:00

You’ve finally landed the job of your dreams. It allows you to do the work you’ve always dreamed of doing for a great salary and amazing benefits. The perfect opportunity, right? It would be, if it weren’t 200 miles away. You don’t mind moving but have a lease for the next six months. Don’t give up that ideal opportunity until you read over our advice on how to sublet. Subletting means essentially sharing a lease with someone else until it expires. It has its risks but if done properly, it will be possible to move early without breaking a lease. Here are the steps you need to follow to make your sublet experience a success.Get Your Landlord’s PermissionRead your lease to determine your subletting rights. If your landlord profusely forbids it, try to explain your situation in writing and negotiate a solution. You can offer to help your landlord find a new tenant, although you are still responsible for the rent until a new lease is signed. If subletting is permitted, get your landlord’s permission in writing before moving on to the next step. Find a Trust-worthy LeaserAsk around your circle of friends and co-workers first. If you don’t get a response, post a flyer in a coffee shop you frequent, community center or place an ad in the classifieds. Describe your apartment and the dates that it will be available along with your contact information. You can try to advertise for the same rent you are paying but may have to reduce the rate since you are limited in time. Interview interested people just as if you were hiring them to work for you. You will still be responsible for the lease so you need to make sure the person who moves in will pay rent on time and keep the apartment well-maintained. Here are some questions to ask a potential sublessor: Where are you employed and what is your monthly after-tax income? Why are you seeking short-term housing? How many people will be living the apartment? Any children? Any pets? Do you plan on having any social events or guests staying at the apartment? Do you consider yourself a clean person? (The person’s appearance is one clue to the answer although it is not a guarantee that their appearance reflects their housekeeping habits). Give the best potential sublet candidates a tour of the apartment. Answer their questions as honestly as possible and be candid about any problems. You don’t want the sublessor to back out in a month or two since you will be left to fill in the rent. Sign a Written AgreementEven if you were lucky enough to have a friend to take over your lease, you still need to have a written agreement. You can make one yourself but unless you’re a lawyer, this is not advisable. The Internet Legal Research Group has a sublet form for every state. Go to http://www.ilrg.com/forms/sublease/us/ and print out the form for your state. A professionally formatted version of the form is available for a fee. If not mentioned in the agreement, you need to add in a statement regarding the security deposit. Since your landlord is most likely not required to return it to you until the lease is over, you will need to come to an agreement over it. For example, if the sublessor puts a hole in the wall is he/she responsible for the security deposit? If you don’t address it the money will surely come out of your pocket. Depending on the terms in your lease and state laws, you may have tenant’s rights over the sublessor. This means you can evict the person if they do not pay rent or in any other way violate the terms of the written agreement. Explain this to the sublessor so that there is no confusion later. Make sure the sublessor is clear on when he/she can move in and leave them a way to contact you as well as the owner of the apartment. Leave an emergency maintenance number as well as the place where the rent should be delivered.

Habitability

2009-06-09T06:58:00.000-07:00

Tenants have a right to habitable housing, which includes safe and decent housing.
The law provides that safe and decent housing includes the following:
Effective waterproofing and weather protection of roof, exterior walls, windows, doors.
Plumbing and gas facilities that conform to state and local law at the time of installation, maintained in good working order.
A water supply that produces hot and cold running water.
Heat that conforms to applicable law at the time of installation maintained in good working order.
Clean common areas, free from accumulations of debris, filth, garbage, rodents and vermin.
An adequate number of garbage and rubbish receptacles.
Floors, stairways and railings maintained in good repair. If a tenant's apartment fails to provide these guarantees, the law provides protections for tenants to take action against the landlord. A tenant may repair the damage and deduct the cost of the repairs from the rent. A tenant may also withhold rent under certain circumstances.
Repair and deduct and rent withholding can be risky, however. A tenant who asserts such rights risks an eviction. A tenant should only attempt these remedies upon the advice and assistance of an attorney. A safer option is to report any problems with your unit to the local Health Department. To avoid an eviction, a tenant should always pay his or her rent on time.
Making habitability issues more difficult is the fact that landlords have become less tolerant of tenants. In years past, landlords would accommodate tenants in order to avoid a vacancy. In Los Angeles County, there are more tenants than available apartments. More than ever before, landlords are willing to evict "trouble" tenants.
Some landlords consider a tenant "trouble" if the tenant simply asks for necessary repairs to her apartment. Even a complaint regarding legitimate repairs may give a landlord an incentive to evict the tenant so another tenant who will accept the problems or pay the higher market rents can move in.
For apartments in New Jersey go to Raritan Crossing. They are pet friendly apartments and New Brunswick NJ apartments . Rentals near Metropark and apartments in Middlesex county. For apartments in central NJ this is the place for you with Apartments in Middlesex County NJ. Raritan Crossing has apartments near metropark, apartments near Rutgers and apartments near Robert Wood Johnson. Central NJ Apartments

Renting An Apartment After Foreclosure

2009-05-27T18:41:00.000-07:00

This article is for those homeowners who have decided that they can not keep their current home and are seeking to move on, instead of trying to work out a solution that will stop foreclosure.The situation may be due to a new job in another state that requires a move, a precipitous drop in income that is expected to last long-term, or other circumstances. Because of their poor credit from the foreclosure and falling behind in other debts, however, these homeowners may have a difficult time being able to rent an apartment and start their lives over. Most landlords will not want to discover the fact that the homeowners are currently behind on their mortgage payments or had faced a very recent foreclosure. That will indicate to them that the apartment applicants do not take their housing payment obligations very seriously, and may pay the rent late or not at all. The foreclosure victims will have to find a way around the credit check, if they are serious about renting an apartment and proving their financial integrity.One way they can do this is to find a landlord that they know, or talk to someone (friends/family) in the area that in which they want to move, and ask if they know of anyone that would allow apartment rentals without a credit check. The key is for the homeowners to let the potential landlord know that their credit is not great at the present time, and that they are not willing to damage it even further with more inquiries, but that they want to have an opportunity to start recovering their financial situation. A lot of landlords will be reasonable if the situation is explained to them very clearly, and if the former homeowners make a good first impression.If the foreclosure victims do not know any friendly contacts in the area, though, they will have to offer the landlord an incentive to decide not to pull their credit histories and discover the late payments and foreclosure. For this purpose, they can offer an extra amount as a security deposit, or offer to pay an extra 2-3 months rent up-front, in exchange for the landlord not conducting a credit check.The offer of more money is a very powerful incentive for landlords, as they will be able to use the extra resources for current projects and investments. If the former homeowners need a "cover story" to explain their unwillingness to have their credit pulled, they can use the one in the paragraph above, or simply inform the landlord that they are very private and do not want to give out their social security number and financial information to anyone, since they have been a victim of identity theft in the past.This can be useful to explain their poor credit situation as well as the reason they can not give away any personal information that can be used to pull a credit report. Extra cash in the form of a security deposit or extra rent will usually help the landlord see things from the foreclosure victims' perspective. For apartments in New Jersey go to Raritan Crossing. They are pet friendly apartments and New Brunswick NJ apartments . Rentals near Metropark and apartments in Middlesex county. For apartments in central NJ this is the place for you with Apartments in Middlesex County NJ. Raritan Crossing has apartments near metropark, apartments near Rutgers and apartments near Robert Wood Johnson. Central NJ Apartments.

How To Comply With a Landlord's Request for a Letter of Employment

2009-05-19T16:59:00.001-07:00

Many landlords require a letter of employment from prospective tenants. This is simply a written statement from your employer letting a landlord know that you indeed work for the employer, and it states basic information about your arrangement, such as your salary and title.
If you work for a large company, it probably honors requests for letters of employment all the time. Smaller employers, however, might not be as familiar with this request and therefore could take longer than you would like to handle yours.
Here's what you should do if a landlord asks you for a letter of employment:
Difficulty: EasyTime Required: Usually just part of one dayHere's How:Talk to your employer. Contact someone in the human resources (HR) department where you work and explain that you need a letter of employment in connection with an apartment you wish to rent. If your company is small and doesn't have an HR department, ask your office manager for help.Offer a sample letter to your employer. If your employer's representative tells you he knows what to do and will be happy to take care of your request promptly, great. If not, offer him a sample letter of employment to adapt and use for your purposes. This will save time and help ensure that the landlord gets the proper verification promptly.Touch base on the delivery method. Ask your employer's representative if she will fax or mail the letter directly to your landlord or give it to you to send. If the representative will contact the landlord directly, provide her with the correct address and find out from your landlord if the letter should be mailed or faxed to any particular person's attention.Make sure the landlord is satisfied. After you or your employer's representative fax or mail your letter of employment to the landlord, call your landlord to confirm that the letter is satisfactory. If your landlord needs additional information, offer to follow up with your employer's representative or suggest that the landlord do so, if it's easier.Tips:Don't be surprised if the landlord insists that the letter of employment come directly from your employer. Many landlords require this as a safeguard to prevent tampering or even fabrication by the employee.For apartments in New Jersey go to Raritan Crossing. They are pet friendly apartments and New Brunswick NJ apartments . Rentals near Metropark and apartments in Middlesex county. For apartments in central NJ this is the place for you with Apartments in Middlesex County NJ. Raritan Crossing has apartments near metropark, apartments near Rutgers and apartments near Robert Wood Johnson. Central NJ Apartments.

Apartment Questions

2009-05-14T11:50:00.001-07:00

Is it safe? Is it clean? Are the essentials located nearby? Those are the types of questions to ask before you pick a new place to rent. Here is a list of things to watch for when you are looking at apartments for rent or homes for rent.Outside the ApartmentDo you feel safe in the neighborhood and the surrounding area? That's the first and most important question by far.If you visit the apartment during the day, think about how you will feel coming home late at night, or early in the morning. If the thought makes you scared, move on. No amenities or cheap rent can compensate for the feeling of insecurity.As part of this, ask your neighbors about safety and check in with the local police about crime statistics.Is the building clean and well kept? Are entryways and hallways well lit? Are unsavory types hanging about? How the building is kept up is a pretty good indicator of the vigilance of the apartment manager.Is the laundry nearby? If you don't have a car, it better be close, preferably in your building. Picture yourself trudging there every week or so and ask yourself how you feel about that.Is the building close to major roads and public transportation? Do trial runs for how long it would take to reach your work, your daycare, or other frequently visited placed.Find out where the following things are: gas stations, supermarkets, restaurants, banks, drug stores, and gyms - is the distance friendly or daunting? If you're on public transit, figure out how long it will take to get to these various places that you might visit often.Inside the ApartmentBefore signing a rental lease and moving in, make a quick check of the apartment, not only the appearance and cleanliness, but see that things actually work. Don't take anything for granted -- something that doesn't work now you'll have to deal with right away when you move, not a great way to spend your first few days in your new home.Bathroom: Check the water pressure in the sink and shower, and flush the toilet to make sure it operates properly. Also, make sure the hot water works.Appliances: Check the refrigerator, the heating and air conditioning, the stove and oven, and any other appliances that might be in the apartment.Walls: If the building is near a road, can you hear the traffic? Can you hear the neighbors next door? If near an airport, how is that noise?Windows: Make sure they open and close easily, and make sure there are no holes or cracks in the glassFor apartments in New Jersey go to Raritan Crossing. They are pet friendly apartments and New Brunswick NJ apartments . Rentals near Metropark and apartments in Middlesex county. For apartments in central NJ this is the place for you with Apartments in Middlesex County NJ. Raritan Crossing has apartments near metropark, apartments near Rutgers and apartments near Robert Wood Johnson. Central NJ Apartments

Apartment Rental Tips and Considerations

2009-05-04T08:48:00.000-07:00

With tough economic times and house prices plunging across the country, rental (apartment) living has become the norm for a number of people. Whether it is by choice or circumstance, apartment living has its own challenges and before you make the move here are some things to consider and tips to ensure that the move is as smooth possible. Having rented for the last 10 years I have seen the good and bad side of apartment living and my experience will hopefully save you some angst in the future when looking and selecting the best apartment for your needs.

Finding the right apartment.
Start with a list of what you where you want to rent (location, schools, transport), what your minimum requirements for the apartment are (eg 2 bedroom, furnished), how much you can afford to pay in monthly rent (add 20% for utilities) and how long you want to rent for.
Once you have these key factors, go popular rental sites like Craigslist or Apartments.com to start your search. In smaller cities, look in your local newspaper to see what is available, though the trend is for most rental ads to now only be advertised online. Make sure you save your searches and request daily or weekly emails for your specified search results.
Once you have narrowed down the choices pay a visit to the apartment complex to get a sense of community and upkeep. Also, see if similar apartments nearby are available and how much they are going for. A simple call to the renting agent or landlord will get this figure for you. This gives you a baseline as to whether you are getting a good deal for your place or not.
Give your self time to find the right apartment. It can take time to find the right place at the right price. In tight rental markets it can take up to 3 months to find a place, so make sure you factor this time into your planning.
Apartment Inspection
Now that you have chosen a place, the key thing is to ensure you get what you are paying for. Most people spend all their energy on finding an apartment, but not enough on actually making sure the place they are going to live in for the next year or so, is up to scratch. It is much easier (and cheaper) to get things fixed before you move in, as opposed to afterwards.
It is imperative to walk through your potential new apartment before you sign the lease or move in. Insist to the landlord that you see the actual apartment that you will be renting and not a model. If there are any items that need to be repaired or replaced, make sure the landlord does this before you move in. If there are many things wrong with the apartment, you might just want to pass no matter how good it looks from the outside.
For apartments in New Jersey go to Raritan Crossing. They are pet friendly apartments and New Brunswick NJ apartments . Rentals near Metropark and apartments in Middlesex county. For apartments in central NJ this is the place for you with Apartments in Middlesex County NJ. Raritan Crossing has apartments near metropark, apartments near Rutgers and apartments near Robert Wood Johnson. Central NJ Apartments.

Top 5 Steps if Your Rental is Foreclosed

2009-04-27T19:45:00.001-07:00

Look in any newspaper these days and you’ll see a whole list of foreclosures. Not all of those foreclosures are just affecting homeowners, though.
Some of those houses were rentals, making life suddenly harder for tenants. If your landlord is losing your apartment, condo or house in a foreclosure, you still have some options.
#1 Know Your RightsThe actions new landlords can take vary from state to state. If you know that your situation is up in the air, it’s up to you to determine just what options your state provides you. If you have any sort of special status, such as participating in the federal Section 8 program, you may also have special status when it comes to a foreclosure. Section 8 participants, for instance, cannot be evicted if a property changes hands.
#2 Contact the New OwnerYour original landlord will have very little interest in helping you figure out your situation, but many new owners want to keep rental properties profitable. Some will terminate leases automatically, but you can often remain on as a month-to-month renter, hopefully making arrangements to sign a lease down the road.
#3 Negotiate with the New OwnerMany real estate investors who make a habit of picking up foreclosed rentals believe that empty buildings are easier to sell. If you can convince your new landlord of the benefits of regular income while searching for a buyer–as well as the fact that paying tenants can actually up the resale value of a property because a new owner doesn’t need to go hunting for new renters–you may be able to stay on. You can also request a cash payout to move quickly and without a fuss. Your landlord has no obligation to offer such a payment, but may be willing to do so rather than deal with the hassle of an eviction.
#4 Take it to CourtYou may not be able to keep your rental, but you can sue your former landlord for moving costs and other damages. When he signed the lease, your landlord guaranteed that he could provide you with the use of the property for the full term of the lease. A foreclosure puts your landlord in breach of contract.
#5 Avoid Eviction at all CostsHaving an eviction on your record can make it much harder to find a new rental down the road. If the situation escalates to the point that the new owner is threatening eviction, pack up and leave. It’s not worth the fight.
For apartments in New Jersey go to Raritan Crossing. They are pet friendly apartments and New Brunswick NJ apartments . Rentals near Metropark and apartments in Middlesex county. For apartments in central NJ this is the place for you with Apartments in Middlesex County NJ. Raritan Crossing has apartments near metropark, apartments near Rutgers and apartments near Robert Wood Johnson. Central NJ Apartments.

Negotiating with Your Landlord After Damage Occurs

2009-04-20T19:48:00.000-07:00

It’s the worst thing that can happen when you’re living in an apartment: the landlord — the person you pay for shelter — is responsible for damage to your possessions. Maybe the management is at fault for a burst pipe, or perhaps for a fire. If you don’t have renter’s insurance, it may seem as if you’re stuck between a rock and a hard place.
But you do have an option: you can negotiate with your landlord to cover part or all of the damages. Janet Portman, the author of Every Tenant’s Legal Guide, says that landlords have a legal responsibility to compensate tenants for damage that is the apartment management’s fault. It’s just a matter of asking your landlord.
Ruth E. Thaler-Carter dealt with such a situation first hand in an apartment in Baltimore, Maryland: her landlord had arranged to have a microwave installed, but the maintenance man botched the job. The microwave fell, breaking a number of items sitting on the kitchen cabinet. “It was a huge mess as well as a terrible fright — it really made a loud noise as it all went flying! As soon as I caught my breath and calmed down, I took a photo of the mess. Then, I called the front desk and had the doorman come down to see the damage, since this occurred after 5 p.m.”
Ruth made sure that the doorman could corroborate her claim, as well as documenting the damage herself with a written list of damaged items and photographs. She even made an estimate of the amount she would need to replace everything. When she took her claim to the apartment manager, she was able to get $250.
If you find yourself in a similar situation, try to follow Ruth’s example. If you can provide documentation of the problem, you will have a much easier time convincing your landlord to cover the damages. You should also go in with a clear idea of what you want: a specific dollar amount, perhaps, or a discount on your rent.
If your landlord is unwilling to compensate you for damages, you have a few options — moving out, small claims court — although they may be too extreme in all situations. You should also remember that your landlord has no obligation to cover damages that were not his fault. Problems stemming from the actions of other tenants or outside individuals will be very difficult to get reparation for if you do not have renter’s insurance.
If you are looking to rent an apartment in new jersey, specifically apartment rentals in central new jersey or apartment rentals in north jersey. There are many beautiful apartments for rent in Englewood New Jersey, which has apartment rentals in Bergen County. So if you are looking for Englewood NJ Apartments for Rent then go to Bergen County Apartments. Another place with apartments for rent in Monmouth County is in red bank apartments for rent. These beautiful apartment rentals in red bank include 1 bedroom apartments, 2 bedroom apartments and 3 bedroom apartments.
With multiple places to rent apartments in red bank nj it is a great place for apartment rentals in central new jersey and apartments for rent by the jersey shore. Another place to rent apartment in Monmouth county are spring lake heights apartments for rent. With many apartment rentals in spring lake heights it is a great place to rent an apartment by the jersey shore.
When people are looking to buy real estate the old adage is “Location, location, location.” When you are looking to rent an apartment or other types of real estate that is also a major criteria. In addition to location there are other things to consider when you plan on renting an apartment. The list is in no particular order of importance, or rather the order of importance is your personal choice.
Monmouth County NJ Apartments for Rent are valuable pieces of real estate to rent. If you are looking for red bank new jersey information and Monmouth County Rentals, this is the place to go. Red Bank New Jersey is in Monmouth County. When you are in the market for Red Bank NJ Apartments for Rent, make sure to check out these beautiful townhouses. For Bergen County NJ Apartments for rent make sure to check out this lovely apartment complex in Englewood.

Since renting an apartment is where you will be residing, location is the first criteria when you are in the market. Location of the apartment has a different meaning than when you are buying real estate. Location in the rental market is usually shorter-term than a possible long-term real estate investment.

It’s Winter - Do You Know Where Your Gas Bill Is?

2009-04-06T10:20:00.001-07:00

In most apartment complexes, the apartments are heated by natural gas. Composed primarily of methane, natural gas is efficient and delivers quick, powerful heat. However, if you’re not keeping track of your gas bill, your natural gas usage can quickly get away from you.
Keep records of what your gas bill was over the past few months. If it spikes without an accompanying change in the weather or in your gas usage, you may have a problem - or even a dangerous natural gas leak. Talk to your apartment manager about the problem.
It’s also very handy to know what’s happening to your neighbors’ gas bills. If you see a significant change in your gas bill, find out what happened to your neighbor’s gas bills. If yours was the only one to jump, you know you have a problem.
Lower Your Gas BillHere are some quick gas bill lowering tips:
Stay in tune with the seasons. When it’s cold out, don’t fight it with your thermostat. Wear a sweater and socks when you’re in the house, and keep the thermostat a few degrees cooler. Program or adjust your thermostat so your gas bill isn’t skyrocketing because you’re heating an empty apartment. Spot heating is big savings. As we mentioned in our electric bill article, it really pays to use a space heater to stay toasty in your favorite locations, instead of heating the entire apartment. Hot water hits your gas bill. If your shower spits scalding water, you’re also getting burnt by your gas bill. Turn the hot water heater setting down until you don’t need to mix in cold water when you take a shower. Insulate. Even apartment renters can insulate with easily-removed weatherstripping. If you’re worried about getting dinged for damage caused by weatherstripping, just stuff drafty window cracks with packing foam or bubble wrap. Hot water, redux. Some 80 to 85% of the energy you spend on washing clothes is spent on heating the water. Try washing your clothes only in cold water, and if that doesn’t work for you, try warm instead of hot. Make sure you’re using the right water level setting - less water means less waste. Watch that oven. If your gas bill is being inflated by oven usage, try moving and sharing the load. Can those fries be browned in your smaller toaster oven? Are you using the oven for toast? How about baking potatoes and cooking a roast at the same time? Gas Bill ReliefTry these tips and see if you get some gas bill relief. Sometimes, though, you may have to talk to apartment maintenance about the insulation or the heating in your unit.
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Affordable Housing

2009-03-29T10:12:00.000-07:00

At the Federal level, housing assistance programs are the responsibility of the Department of Housing and Urban Development. These housing assistance programs are placed by HUD into four categories.
Public housing is low rent housing built by the Federal government and operated by local housing authorities. These are "the projects" which blight many cities. Now that they are recognized as a general failure, they are being slowly phased out. This program is of little interest to landlords as there is no way for them to participate, nor would many want to do so if they could.
Privately owned subsidized housing consists of privately owned buildings, subsidized directly by HUD, with a rent charged to the tenants which is set by HUD.
The third category of affordable housing program is the block grant. In this scheme, money is channeled through Washington to individual States and local governments, who administer programs tailored to their own needs, but approved by HUD. Such programs are growing in popularity because they permit politicians to fulfill the requirement that Federal money be spent as far away as possible from its source. Thus, money from Massachusetts is sent to California to fund housing programs while money from California is sent to Illinois, and from Illinois to New York, and so on. The true cost of the "Federal money," i.e., the cost of everybody else's program, is effectively concealed from the people of Massachusetts by this stratagem, that State's congressional delegation getting credit for the subsidy, without having to explain the cost.
The fourth category of assistance program is what is generally referred to as "Section 8." We will deal with this in a little more detail below.
In addition to the Federal programs there are state and local programs which are too numerous to list. They should be explored through local government listings.
Within broad guidelines as to procedure and certain economic formulas promulgated by HUD, the Section 8 program is run by individual local housing authorities. While procedures and the format of documents may vary among the local housing authorities, the basic pattern is as follows. A prospective tenant having qualified for Section 8 assistance is issued a certificate and other documents and sent out to find a rental unit. If the landlord agrees to accept a Section 8 applicant, a proposed rental agreement is prepared according to the accompanying instruction sheet. This is turned into the local housing authority which determines whether the rent is within HUD guidelines, inspects the property to ensure it is habitable, then executes the housing assistance payments agreement, a document separate from the lease. If this is all acceptable to the landlord, the housing authority will send a monthly check for the portion of the rent it has agreed to pay, and the tenant will pay the portion of the rent the tenant has agreed to pay. There is no qualification or registration required of the landlord. His only requirement is to fulfill the lease and housing assistance agreement he has signed. Participation in the program is voluntary, and the fact that the landlord has accepted one Section 8 applicant does not mean he has to accept more. At the end of this document is a list of HUD administrative offices. The landlord who is contemplating participating in the Section 8 program should contact the one closest to him to obtain further information about the program in his locality, and how it is administered.
Whether or not the landlord should participate in the Section 8 program is a different issue. As with all such decisions, there are pro's and con's.
Reasons why Section 8 may be good for the landlord:
Practically all the rent is guaranteed by the government. In low end properties, obtaining financially stable and responsible tenants is usually a problem. Section 8 can ameliorate this risk.
There is not appreciably more paperwork involved in a Section 8 lease than in any other.
HUD Section 8 certificates are an extremely valuable commodity to the tenants who have them. Behavior which would create a risk of loss of the certificate, such as cheating, damaging the property, etc., is, therefore, to some extent deterred.
The tenants are, to some extent, pre-screened (but see below).
Reasons why Section 8 may not be a good idea: The landlord must operate the property according to HUD standards, thus losing some control over it.
The pool of available tenants tend to be less sophisticated as well as poor. While the vast majority will be just fine as tenants, there are some who will not. Perhaps the prospective tenant's poverty stems, in part, from habits which would not be in the landlord's best interest to tolerate.
A tenant paying only $100 or so for monthly rent is not likely to have much pride in the premises.
Some local housing authorities have in the past, and still do, impose onerous dispute resolution procedures in the event the landlord attempts to evict for certain reasons.
The landlord must commit to one year of occupancy of the premises during which time he may only evict for breach of the lease, or, in the case of certain lease forms used by local housing authorities, only for certain types of breaches.
Even though the housing authority will, to some extent, screen the tenant, the landlord should not rely exclusively on this, but go through his ordinary screening routine, ensuring the information he verifies is the same as that provided by the housing authority application form.
In the future we will be adding additional information not only about Section 8 subsidies, but also other programs. We would welcome email from visitors who wish to highlight a program in their area.

For apartments in New Jersey go to Raritan Crossing. They are pet friendly apartments and New Brunswick NJ apartments . Rentals near Metropark and apartments in Middlesex county. For apartments in central NJ this is the place for you with Apartments in Middlesex County NJ. Raritan Crossing has apartments near metropark, apartments near Rutgers and apartments near Robert Wood Johnson. Central NJ Apartments. After a day of hard work you can relax in your luxury rental apartment and buy undergarments for yourself or your loved one online here. You can check out the women’s clothing undergarment blogs and shapewear here, here, here and here. For shapewear and it’s a great place to buy women’s undergarments

How to Set-up a Moving Budget

2009-03-15T18:05:00.001-07:00

Most people who move feel they don't have time to set up a budget first. However, not preparing financially could cost you more in the long-run. Small items such as a new shower curtain, sheets or restocking your shelves all adds up. I recommend setting a budget first, before you do anything else. Know what the move is going to cost so you're prepared and aware of what you're spending. Note: Each item below should be listed as separate line items.
1. Create a Moving Budget TemplateSoftware programs are probably the easiest way to create a budget template; Microsoft Word or Excel are the best programs to use, with Excel allowing you to use formulas for easy calculations. For your convenience, I've created a moving budget template in Excel that will provide you with everything you need, including formulas and and easy-to-use breakdown. It blends perfectly with this article.If you'd like a copy, just email me and put "moving budget template" in the subject line. Please note that this template can only be used in MS Excel.
If you'd rather have something more portable or if you don't want to spend the time setting up a document on your computer, purchase a bookkeeper's record book at your local office supply store. You may need to make a few adjustments to the column titles or entry boxes, but it will provide you with the basic outline of expense tracking that you'll need. Also, make sure you have a good calculator or adding machine on hand.
2. Moving Company ExpensesIf you're hiring a moving company, you'll need to include the following amounts:
Moving Company Fee: Includes fuel charges and labor. Ask for estimates from three and even if you haven't decided on which company you'll choose, add the highest quote to your budget. Additional Insurance: If your items are worth more to you, you may need to add this on to your total moving costs. Extra Services: Could include preparing appliances, moving a piano, etc. Ask the moving company for quotes if these services apply. Extra Charges: These may include accessorial charges, expedited service charge, flight charge, longhaul charges, long carry charges and shuttle service. Claims/damage costs: you may not need to include an amount here, but to be safe, add in a 5 percent contingency rate based on the total moving company fees. Professional Packing: This is an optional service.
3. Moving YourselfIf you're moving yourself, these are the items you'll need to include:
Truck Rental: Rates vary according to size and whether you're moving one way or return. Mileage/Gas: Ask the rental agency how many miles to the gallon you can expect from the van or truck that you're renting. If you're moving any distance, find out the cost of fuel along your route. Do this by going to the Fuel Calculator, a service offered by AAA. Insurance: Before you purchase insurance, contact your credit card companies to find out if you're covered under their service. This could save you some extra money. If you're not covered, make sure you include an insurance fee. Extra Equipment Rental: This may include a dolly, a loading ramp, mattress and furniture covers, etc. Before you add this item into your budget, ask the rental agency if they'll throw these tools in for free. Incidentals: Add in an extra contingency amount, just in case the price of gas goes up again or in case you need to make some extra stops along your route. It's better to build extra coFor apartments in New Jersey go to Raritan Crossing. They are pet friendly apartments and New Brunswick NJ apartments . Rentals near Metropark and apartments in Middlesex county. For apartments in central NJ this is the place for you with Apartments in Middlesex County NJ. Raritan Crossing has apartments near metropark, apartments near Rutgers and apartments near Robert Wood Johnson. Central NJ Apartments. After a day of hard work you can relax in your luxury rental apartment and buy undergarments for yourself or your loved one online here. You can check out the women’s clothing undergarment blogs and shapewear here, here, here and here. For shapewear and it’s a great place to buy women’s undergarmentssts in up front.

How to Tell Your Neighbor the Music's Too Loud

2009-03-03T10:08:00.001-08:00

You don't want to rock the boat or tip the neighborhood canoe, but you do want to be able to sleep in on Saturdays. With a tactful approach, you can achieve your goal.
1Start by smiling. Catch your neighbor's eye when he heads out in the morning or give him a friendly nod when he comes home. Step2Get to know this person if you don't already. What's his name? Where does he work? How long has he lived on your street? Step3Try to make pleasant chitchat and find a common interest'sports? gardening? movies? Step4Mention, in an offhand way, that you can hear his music from your house. Tell him it sometimes wakes you up. For many people, this will be enough to let them know that their behavior needs to change. Step5Wait a week or two to see what happens. Step6Mention in a more direct way that you'd like the volume lower. Be clear and specific with your request - and don't forget to be friendly. Step7Find out if other neighbors are bothered, if no change happens, and ask them to mention it, too. Step8Consider soliciting the help of one of his friends on the block - he might be willing to heed the complaint from someone closer. Step9Wait a week or two to avoid creating a conflict that could become hostile. Step10Escalate if you must: Write a letter, solicit legal advice or call the police. These methods up the conflict ante, so use them with care. For apartments in New Jersey go to Raritan Crossing. They are pet friendly apartments and New Brunswick NJ apartments . Rentals near Metropark and apartments in Middlesex county. For apartments in central NJ this is the place for you with Apartments in Middlesex County NJ. Raritan Crossing has apartments near metropark, apartments near Rutgers and apartments near Robert Wood Johnson. Central NJ Apartments. After a day of hard work you can relax in your luxury rental apartment and buy undergarments for yourself or your loved one online here. You can check out the women’s clothing undergarment blogs and shapewear here, here, here and here. For shapewear and it’s a great place to buy women’s undergarments

Finding An Pet-friendly Apartment

2009-02-23T09:07:00.001-08:00

One sign that a city is growing is urban development. This means companies are investing in buildings as offices and as residential complexes. This attracts people from out of town to seek fortune in the metropolis and renting a place to stay for the moment.
Jennifer is a good example. After graduating from college in community college, this woman decided to apply for work in one of the biggest firms in the state. The interview didn’t last long and the employer wanted the newbie to start work on Monday.
This meant looking for a place in less than a week and moving in. Since Jennifer didn’t know anyone in the city, the best place to find apartments for rent will be the classified ads in the newspaper or in the magazine.
There was a newsstand nearby and after scanning a few; Jennifer decided to give the person in charge a call to see it. Many of the places were one-bedroom apartments. It was cozy and the one thing that this woman did not know was that the place was not pet-friendly.
Jennifer had a cat named Figaro for more than 4 years. This pet has gone wherever the woman went and having to leave it at home was unacceptable.
The one lesson that Jennifer learned then was that to visit places that was only pet-friendly to be able to save time commuting from one place to the next.
Since the ads were very limited in the publications, Jennifer decided to check out if there were apartments posted in the Internet. After typing in “pet-friendly apartment”, more than 10 hits popped out which made this girl very happy.
This person then called again and visited each of these places. When an ad claims to be pet-friendly, it will be a good idea to find out what this really means. This is because some will require certification that the animal is toilet trained.
Since Jennifer had a cat, this wasn’t going to be a problem. The landlord just insisted that Figaro be placed in a cage or left with the windows closed so the pet will not roam the halls causing any damage.
Since the rent and the inclusions in the package looked reasonable, both parties were ready to sign an agreement. The landlord said there will be an additional security deposit for the cat.
This is similar to the security deposit that has to be paid up front and is refundable should the tenant decide to leave and move somewhere else. It was only $500 more aside from the 3 months advance in rent, which will be recovered once the first paycheck comes in at the end of the month.
All Jennifer had to do now was move some stuff from back home into the apartment. The essentials that were brought were clothes, shoes and a few books. This could come in handy with the new job since this is something that this employee specialized in back in college.
Jennifer is just lucky to find a cat friendly environment. Maybe it was the woman’s charm or it was a miracle that this place was found in just three days. The important thing is that work will start in a few days and there will be place to come home after working those long hours in the office.
For apartments in New Jersey go to Raritan Crossing. They are pet friendly apartments and New Brunswick NJ apartments . Rentals near Metropark and apartments in Middlesex county. For apartments in central NJ this is the place for you with Apartments in Middlesex County NJ. Raritan Crossing has apartments near metropark, apartments near Rutgers and apartments near Robert Wood Johnson. Central NJ Apartments. After a day of hard work you can relax in your luxury rental apartment and buy undergarments for yourself or your loved one online here. You can check out the women’s clothing undergarment blogs and shapewear here, here, here and here. For shapewear and it’s a great place to buy women’s undergarments.

Contracts

2009-02-11T09:47:00.001-08:00

Strict but fair is a good description of the bulk of agents contracts. They need to deliver to the landlord and will have had experience of the stereo-typed "Young Ones" student tenants. They will therefore be unlikely to have missed too many tricks. The advantage of this approach is that you will tend to be treated objectively. If the landlord has made the mistake of giving you his best three piece suite which has started to fray slightly during your tenancy, the chances are that you will avoid an emotional request for compensation. At the other extreme landlords may provide a very loose agreement, which may mean that it is more difficult for her to claim that you have breached your contract but can equally mean that you are more open to changes of heart and such like (fortunately the housing act does give you a fairly good level of protection in such an event).
SummaryIn general it is probably fair to say that the best landlord will produce a better value for money option than the best agent. However in general the worst landlord could make your life far more miserable than the worst agent. Finding the right landlord could be very difficult unless you get lucky. We aim to ensure that the agents that pastures-new can put you in touch with are honourable and professional. However we are reliant on your feedback so pass on your comments (both good and bad).
For apartments in New Jersey go to Raritan Crossing. They are pet friendly apartments and New Brunswick NJ apartments . Rentals near Metropark and apartments in Middlesex county. For apartments in central NJ this is the place for you with Apartments in Middlesex County NJ. Raritan Crossing has apartments near metropark, apartments near Rutgers and apartments near Robert Wood Johnson. Central NJ Apartments. After a day of hard work you can relax in your luxury rental apartment and buy undergarments for yourself or your loved one online here. You can check out the women’s clothing undergarment blogs and shapewear here, here, here and here. For shapewear and it’s a great place to buy women’s undergarments

Pros of Renting an Apartments

2009-02-03T05:53:00.001-08:00

Few topics evoke more emotions among Americans than the issue of buying a house. After all, without a house, you don't have the American dream, right? Renting an apartment makes sense for many Americans and not necessarily because you can't afford a mortgage.
The hidden costs of home ownership make apartments a sensible alternative. Consider:
1) Property taxes. True, cities with property taxes also tax apartments, but the cost is included in the rent. Your mortgage payment does not include property taxes, which can be rather expensive.
2) Maintenance costs. Need a plumber or electrician? When something goes wrong in my apartment I call the landlord. It's their property, they pay for maintenance. I don't even have to buy an air filter. When the furnace in your house goes on the fritz, be prepared to pay up.
3) Insurance. Renters' insurance does not have to cover the property, just you possessions. Obviously the insurance company will want to charge you more to insure your roof or insure your home against a fire.
4) Your time. I do not rake leaves, mow the grass or shovel snow. Besides the fact that I don't like doing those activities, they cost money for supplies or to hire someone else to do it.
5) Squabbles with neighbors. How much easier is it to move from an apartment than a house? You have to sell your house. You just have to wait for the lease to end on your apartment.
6) Inflation. Do homes really go up in value that much? Consider inflation. If a house goes up in value by 4% this year, it's worth the same as it was last year in last year's dollars.
7) Interest. When you borrow money, you pay interest. You have to consider this when you pay for your house. A $150,000 house can easily cost way over $200,000 when you pay it off over 15 to 30 years.
8) Real estate fees. Have you sent a Christmas card to your real estate agent? They're not high on my popularity list. I'm not exactly sure what it is they do, but they receive an awful big chunk of your hard-earned money when you sell your house.
Many people are genuinely happy in a house, and many people have made very handsome incomes by dealing in real estate. But house prices do not always go up, and few people consider all of the costs when they buy instead of rent. When you have a house, you're never really done paying for it (in terms of your time, repairs, taxes, and other "negative compounding").For apartments in New Jersey go to Raritan Crossing. They are pet friendly apartments and New Brunswick NJ apartments . Rentals near Metropark and apartments in Middlesex county. For apartments in central NJ this is the place for you with Apartments in Middlesex County NJ. Raritan Crossing has apartments near metropark, apartments near Rutgers and apartments near Robert Wood Johnson. Central NJ Apartments. After a day of hard work you can relax in your luxury rental apartment and buy undergarments for yourself or your loved one online here. You can check out the women’s clothing undergarment blogs and shapewear here, here, here and here. For shapewear and it’s a great place to buy women’s undergarments.

Renting apartments vs. owning a house or condo

2009-01-30T05:38:00.001-08:00

If you have pets, you may well be better off renting a house than an apartment or condo. Many apartments only allow cats or fish, while condo rules can be much stricter. Renting apartments (unless a luxury one) is almost always cheaper, allowing you to save for a real estate purchase if you wish. Other benefits to renting an apartment? On-site super who will fix things, and be there in an emergency. Also you will not need to mow the lawn and do other maintenance with an apartment rental. Condo's have strict rules. If you find yourself renting one of these (although many condo agencies forbid it) you could be subject to a wide variety of chores, and sitting on Condo boards which can be very time consuming, considering its not even for a property you own! While saving to buy a home, my husband and I rented an apartment, and it was a lot less time and trouble than other rentals.
For apartments in New Jersey go to Raritan Crossing. They are pet friendly apartments and New Brunswick NJ apartments . Rentals near Metropark and apartments in Middlesex county. For apartments in central NJ this is the place for you with Apartments in Middlesex County NJ. Raritan Crossing has apartments near metropark, apartments near Rutgers and apartments near Robert Wood Johnson. Central NJ Apartments. After a day of hard work you can relax in your luxury rental apartment and buy undergarments for yourself or your loved one online here. You can check out the women’s clothing undergarment blogs and shapewear here, here, here and here. For shapewear and it’s a great place to buy women’s undergarments.

From Dorm Room to Apartment

2009-01-19T10:52:00.001-08:00

Save money in the long run by equipping your dorm room with investment pieces that will transition into your first apartment.By Kaelin Tripp Splurge for the FutureAre you a "plan ahead" kind of person? Then think through your decorating choices for a dorm room.Instead of choosing the kooky "Sponge Bob" comforter and a cheap canvas chair, select a couple of investment pieces for your room.Dark woods and neutral chairs pair well with a photo-montage wall in brown, white, and green. At the desk, a simple leather chair is sturdy enough to transition easily into your first real place after graduation. Side Table with StyleFor your dorm room, pass on the funky milk crate nightstand. Go with something more stylish! Ours is a small round table in a dark wood stain. The style is simple enough to be a great addition to your first apartment.For your apartment: This handy piece can find a home in nearly any room. Try it next to a reading chair, sofa, or guest bed.Classy SeatingSchools rarely provide classy furnishings, so spruce up the standard college desk with a sleek leather dining chair. This chair will provide comfy seating for studying and guests who lounge around your room.For your apartment: Your leather chair will look great in a living room, entry, or dining room area. Hide-Away StorageFor this dorm room, our "coffee table" is a pair of handy storage cubes that hide bedding, extra books, or CDs.For your apartment: These units could transition into handy nightstands or side tables For apartments in New Jersey go to Raritan Crossing. They are pet friendly apartments and New Brunswick NJ apartments . Rentals near Metropark and apartments in Middlesex county. For apartments in central NJ this is the place for you with Apartments in Middlesex County NJ. Raritan Crossing has apartments near metropark, apartments near Rutgers and apartments near Robert Wood Johnson. Central NJ Apartments. After a day of hard work you can relax in your luxury rental apartment and buy undergarments for yourself or your loved one online here. You can check out the women’s clothing undergarment blogs and shapewear here, here, here and here. For shapewear and it’s a great place to buy women’s undergarments.

Meeting Landlords and Signing Leases

2009-01-12T08:39:00.000-08:00

You should put together a pet resume. You can include your pet's height, weight, breed, age, whether it is spayed or neutered, training background, veterinarian's name and number and other pertinent facts about your pet. Not only will this information be useful to your potential landlord, but it will show that you are indeed, a responsible and organized pet owner.
You should also include numbers of previous landlords, as well as references that will vouch for your pet's good behavior. Completing these simple tasks and presenting this information to landlords can be helpful in markets that are extremely competitive for pet-friendly housing.
To get a step ahead of other renters with dogs, cats and other animal friends, you can use MyNewPlace for your apartment search. Simply select whether you need an apartment that accepts dogs, cats or both. Be sure to check the details on the apartment rental listing page as some apartments will provide specifics on their pet policies.
Some apartments will have a pet deposit or increase in rent per month as well as restrictions on breed, size and number of animals. Be sure to inquire if anything is unclear or you have any special circumstances.
Before you sign your lease make sure you inspect it carefully. Some apartments may even list your dog or cat as a tenant in your apartment. Understand and review the terms with your landlord so that any issues that pertain to your pet are clearly understood by both parties.
For apartments in New Jersey go to Raritan Crossing. They are pet friendly apartments and New Brunswick NJ apartments . Rentals near Metropark and apartments in Middlesex county. For apartments in central NJ this is the place for you with Apartments in Middlesex County NJ. Raritan Crossing has apartments near metropark, apartments near Rutgers and apartments near Robert Wood Johnson. Central NJ Apartments. After a day of hard work you can relax in your luxury rental apartment and buy undergarments for yourself or your loved one online here. You can check out the women’s clothing undergarment blogs and shapewear here, here, here and here. For shapewear and it’s a great place to buy women’s undergarments.

Lease Agreements

2009-01-06T08:52:00.001-08:00

Got lease troubles? A "lease" is a written contract that binds both the landlord and the tenant for a specific period of time, such as six months, a year, or 5 years. A "rental agreement" is a month-to-month (or sometimes week-to-week) contract - either oral or written - that either party may terminate by giving notice at least as long as the rental period.
Oral Rental Agreements Read if tenants are bound by rental agreements that are not in writing. Learn how to prove an oral rental agreement and how to write a rental agreement.
Evictions Find out if your landlord can evict you if you've signed a lease. Learn if there is any kind of behavior that can result in a tenant's eviction.
Moving During A Lease Read if you may leave in the middle of a lease if your landlord breached it. Can you find a replacement if you want to move out in the middle of a lease? What if you simply leave?
Month-To-Month Leases Learn about the differences between leases and month-to-month agreements. Find out, which, if either, is better.
Terminating Tenancy Discover how much notice you should give if you're moving out. Learn what it means to owe rent on a "pro-rated" basis.

For apartments in New Jersey go to Raritan Crossing. They are pet friendly apartments and New Brunswick NJ apartments . Rentals near Metropark and apartments in Middlesex county. For apartments in central NJ this is the place for you with Apartments in Middlesex County NJ. Raritan Crossing has apartments near metropark, apartments near Rutgers and apartments near Robert Wood Johnson. Central NJ Apartments. After a day of hard work you can relax in your luxury rental apartment and buy undergarments for yourself or your loved one online here. You can check out the women’s clothing undergarment blogs and shapewear here, here, here and here. For shapewear and it’s a great place to buy women’s undergarments

Best Places to Find Budget Furniture

2008-12-24T09:23:00.001-08:00

It's not just first-time homeowners who have to find budget furniture. In fact almost everyone, at one time or another, had to furnish a home or apartment on a budget. I know that I borrowed furniture from my parents, gratefully took grandparents' offerings, and shopped at garage sales. But eventually I wanted something to trade out the hand-me-downs from family and strangers for things that would actually help me create a more mature and coordinated home.
I had to find ways to stretch my mini-budget without sacrificing my taste for nice things. I was surprised to find out how many places there were to find bargains.
Don't expect to find exactly what you want or need. You might have to be creative and adapt what you can find to what you need.
Learn to see pieces for the details and lines they have, not just for what you can put in them. If you see a beautiful teak table instead of the mahogany desk you need, thing about refinishing it and adding filing drawers. A period side table can be painted and moved into the bedroom.
Don't buy a piece if you'll need to do too much work on it. Think about your skills and the time you have and the space you have to work in.
See if your neighborhood has some of these sources for budget furniture:
Garage SalesYou might be able to walk next door on a Saturday morning and find just the piece you need. What your neighbor is getting rid of may be just the piece you need. When shopping at a garage sale, always bring cash, look for defects, and be ready to negotiate on the price. It's usually expected and you can often get a great bargain.
Flea MarketsMany communities and colleges stage flea markets on weekends at large parking lots. Vendors set up their wares and you can wander around looking for what you need. Beware: you might not find what you need but you probably won't get away without buying something.
Your Neighborhood Dumpsters or CurbsideAs you take a walk around your neighborhood, keep your eyes open for furniture pieces left on the curb. The end of the month is a good time, since that's when people are clearing out their homes to get ready to move. "One man's trash is another man's treasure," as the saying goes. I found a great wrought iron table and bench on the curb once--both at the same house. I sanded off the rust and painted the pieces with rust-proof finishing paint. The table is on my patio and the bench at the end of my bed.
Thrift Stores and Junk StoresLocal charities, Goodwill, and the Salvation Army often provide thrift stores where people can bring their household discards and unneeded furniture to donate for tax deduction. The money raised from making sales goes into your local community to help those in need. It might take a few trips and perseverance, but if you're successful you'll really get a bargain. Enlist friends to be on the lookout, too.
Consignment StoresA great strategy for consignment store shopping is to introduce yourself to the owner and ask them to call when your needed item comes in. People bring their things to be sold and they get only a portion of the sale. A hospital in my community has a consignment store that receives beautiful estate pieces. I've sold and bought things there.
Model Home FurnishingsHome builders contract with designers to decorate and furnish their model homes. If you see a model you like, ask the sales office when they'll remove the furnishings. Ask where they sell their pieces. You might even be able to buy a roomful of furniture, coordinated by a designer. And you'll get the pieces well below market price. Beware of fading, spots, or wear-and-tear.
For apartments in New Jersey go to Raritan Crossing. They are pet friendly apartments and New Brunswick NJ apartments . Rentals near Metropark and apartments in Middlesex county. For apartments in central NJ this is the place for you with Apartments in Middlesex County NJ. Raritan Crossing has apartments near metropark, apartments near Rutgers and apartments near Robert Wood Johnson. Central NJ Apartments. After a day of hard work you can relax in your luxury rental apartment and buy undergarments for yourself or your loved one online here. You can check out the women’s clothing undergarment blogs and shapewear here, here, here and here. For shapewear and it’s a great place to buy women’s undergarments.

Apartment Questions

2008-12-15T10:01:00.000-08:00

Is it safe? Is it clean? Are the essentials located nearby? Those are the types of questions to ask before you pick a new place to rent. Here is a list of things to watch for when you are looking at apartments for rent or homes for rent.
Outside the Apartment
Do you feel safe in the neighborhood and the surrounding area? That's the first and most important question by far.
If you visit the apartment during the day, think about how you will feel coming home late at night, or early in the morning. If the thought makes you scared, move on. No amenities or cheap rent can compensate for the feeling of insecurity.
As part of this, ask your neighbors about safety and check in with the local police about crime statistics.
Is the building clean and well kept? Are entryways and hallways well lit? Are unsavory types hanging about? How the building is kept up is a pretty good indicator of the vigilance of the apartment manager.
Is the laundry nearby? If you don't have a car, it better be close, preferably in your building. Picture yourself trudging there every week or so and ask yourself how you feel about that.
Is the building close to major roads and public transportation? Do trial runs for how long it would take to reach your work, your daycare, or other frequently visited placed.
Find out where the following things are: gas stations, supermarkets, restaurants, banks, drug stores, and gyms - is the distance friendly or daunting? If you're on public transit, figure out how long it will take to get to these various places that you might visit often.
Inside the Apartment
Before signing a rental lease and moving in, make a quick check of the apartment, not only the appearance and cleanliness, but see that things actually work. Don't take anything for granted -- something that doesn't work now you'll have to deal with right away when you move, not a great way to spend your first few days in your new home.
Bathroom: Check the water pressure in the sink and shower, and flush the toilet to make sure it operates properly. Also, make sure the hot water works.
Appliances: Check the refrigerator, the heating and air conditioning, the stove and oven, and any other appliances that might be in the apartment.
Walls: If the building is near a road, can you hear the traffic? Can you hear the neighbors next door? If near an airport, how is that noise?
Windows: Make sure they open and close easily, and make sure there are no holes or cracks in the glass.
Electricity: Where there's a switch, try it out to make sure it worksFor apartments in New Jersey go to Raritan Crossing. They are pet friendly apartments and New Brunswick NJ apartments . Rentals near Metropark and apartments in Middlesex county. For apartments in central NJ this is the place for you with Apartments in Middlesex County NJ. Raritan Crossing has apartments near metropark, apartments near Rutgers and apartments near Robert Wood Johnson

Tips On Apartment Hunting

2008-12-09T10:45:00.001-08:00

Timing is Crucial The housing market is competitive, especially for affordable apartments. Be prepared to make decisions quickly and be flexible by a week or two with your plans. Start your search no earlier than four weeks before your desired move-in date since tenants are not required to give landlords more than 30 days’ notice of their move-out dates. Make apartment hunting your life for two or three weeks - that should be enough time to get familiar with the market and find what you are looking for.
Focus Your Search According to Your Budget New York City is an expensive housing market and you will likely be forced to make compromises in your choice. Monthly rents will vary depending on several factors; the most important of which is location, followed by apartment size and then amenities.
Decide if You Are Willing to Share an Apartment – You can cut costs by sharing a large one bedroom. To find a roommate, check the listings for apartment shares in the OCHA Housing Registry. Consider Where You Can Afford to Live - Manhattan apartments are in the greatest demand and consequently rents are the highest here compared to other boroughs or nearby suburbs. In most areas of Manhattan, you will have great difficulty finding a studio apartment for less than $1,300-$1,400 per month. In contrast, there are areas just outside Manhattan (within a 30-40 minute commute) where you can find a decent studio apartment to rent for $850-$1,000 per month. Determine What Size Apartment Fits Your Budget and What Amenities You Can Do Without - Squeezing into a smaller apartment than your ideal and a willingness to accept some commonly perceived flaws such as street noise or lack of view or natural light may save you some money. In addition, rents will vary with the type of building in which the apartment is located such as whether or not the building has a doorman or an elevator.
For apartments in New Jersey go to Raritan Crossing. They are pet friendly apartments and New Brunswick NJ apartments . Rentals near Metropark and apartments in Middlesex county. For apartments in central NJ this is the place for you with Apartments in Middlesex County NJ. Raritan Crossing has apartments near metropark, apartments near Rutgers and apartments near Robert Wood Johnson

Disguising Ugly Furniture

2008-12-04T09:53:00.001-08:00

We've all been there. You have a furniture-related need, but you simply can't afford to fill it, or you can't find the perfect piece you want. For me, that dilemma was over two nightstands. I searched, literally, for years, and still couldn't find a set I liked enough to purchase. So in the meantime, I used two perfectly sturdy, functional nightstands I'd had for years. There was just one problem: they were U-G-L-Y.
Since they were made of wood, I was able to solve my problem easily. I simply painted both nightstands the same color as the wall they were up against. Painting less-than-beautiful wood furniture the same color as the walls of your room makes they blend in with the room. (If they are located against, or very near, a wall, that is.) The pieces can serve their purpose quietly, rather than screaming "Look at me! I'm hideously ugly!" to everyone who sees them.
For apartments in New Jersey go to Raritan Crossing. They are pet friendly apartments and New Brunswick NJ apartments . Rentals near Metropark and apartments in Middlesex county. For apartments in central NJ this is the place for you with Apartments in Middlesex County NJ. Raritan Crossing has apartments near metropark, apartments near Rutgers and apartments near Robert Wood Johnson

Phone Service for Your New Apartment

2008-12-01T08:28:00.001-08:00

As of March 2008, thanks to a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) ruling, apartment buildings can no longer force exclusive telecommunications contracts on their tenants. The ruling (which was supported by the telephone industry and opposed by the real estate industry) gives even more options to someone looking for phone service in a new apartment. Here are some tips to help you figure out the best way to be able to talk on the telephone at your new place for minimum cost.
Local Phone ServiceThe first and most obvious option is to call a local utility company and contract for local phone service. Many major companies (including AT&T and Comcast) will offer "bundles" where you combine your phone service with cable or Internet access (or both) for a lower price than if you had contracted for them separately. If you already know you want cable television or Internet service in your new apartment, and if you have a local major provider, this will probably be the easiest option -- provided that you're willing to wait around the apartment one day for the service person to hook everything up.
If you do decide to go with conventional land-line service, don't immediately assume it makes sense to get long-distance service as well. Even if you don't have a cell phone (where long-distance calls are almost always free), you still may find cheaper long-distance service via independent companies such as OneSuite, Pingo, and Tel3. With these services, you establish a balance with a credit card, then dial a toll-free phone number and give a personal identification number (PIN) in order to make the call and deduct from your balance. These services might be especially useful if you know you'll be making a lot of calls overseas, since they frequently offer very competitive rates to foreign countries.
Mobile Phone ServiceYou may choose, instead, to use your cell phone as a home phone. For many people, the biggest concern about using the cell phone as the only phone is the ability for 911 operators to locate you if you call 911 from a cell phone. The 911 system was designed on the expectation that people in distress would call from land lines, and while the FCC is requiring an updating of 911 systems, it's harder for a 911 operator to tell emergency services where you are if you're calling from a cell phone.
For apartments in New Jersey go to Raritan Crossing. They are pet friendly apartments and New Brunswick NJ apartments . Rentals near Metropark and apartments in Middlesex county. For apartments in central NJ this is the place for you with Apartments in Middlesex County NJ. Raritan Crossing has apartments near metropark, apartments near Rutgers and apartments near Robert Wood Johnson.

Rent Apartment or Buy Mobile Home and Resell?

2008-11-25T12:01:00.000-08:00

First, I think you’re getting too exotic by thinking about saving money by purchasing a mobile home and reselling it, recouping some of the equity and thus paying out less in rent. It’s certainly a very interesting decision and analysis but ultimately I think your assumptions are going to be your undoing on this one.
If all your assumptions go through, that you can purchase the mobile home and resell it at the stated prices, it sounds like your plan will work. Your assumptions, however, are very difficult to support and I am clearly not qualified to give you an advice on that. All I know is that there is a social stigma associated with mobile homes and I have no experience selling one, either first hand or anecdotally. What I do know is that you’ll have to put that mobile home somewhere and generally mobile home parks charge some sort of land usage fee that you didn’t figure into your calculation. You also have closing costs and selling costs that you haven’t factored into your equation which may make the decision less financially attractive. Then again, your extra low price of $80k may have accounted for all of this in its fudge factor, who knows.
All that being said, I go back to the beginning where I said this is probably making it too complicated and potentially putting yourself in a bad spot, especially if you experience difficulty selling it and have on your hands a depreciating asset that you can’t sell. Would I do this? Probably not. I don’t like committing myself to debt larger than my fist unless it’s a pretty sure thing and I don’t think your trade off necessarily is. It’s definitely an interesting question though.

For apartments in New Jersey go to Raritan Crossing. They are pet friendly apartments and New Brunswick NJ apartments . Rentals near Metropark and apartments in Middlesex county. For apartments in central NJ this is the place for you with Apartments in Middlesex County NJ. Raritan Crossing has apartments near metropark, apartments near Rutgers and apartments near Robert Wood Johnson

Short on Space

2008-11-19T09:15:00.001-08:00

Short on Space, Tall on FunctionFeel squeezed by your space? A lot of us do. But there are ways to feel as if you're living larger than you actually are with a few tips that won't make the walls seem as if they're closing in on you.According to the American Furniture Manufacturers Association, 87 percent of Americans who describe their home as small to medium in size try to use every square inch to maximum efficiency. Rather than making their space look bigger, people want a cozy, intimate feel and prefer to use their space wisely and get the most out of it."One of the great things about small rooms is that they help us think creatively about the way we live," said Jackie Hirschhaut, vice president of the High Point, N.C.-based trade association. "Furniture is a true complement to a small abode—it helps you maximize your space by providing function, comfort and style."AFMA suggests the following tips for ways to increase square footage without building on an addition:
For apartments in New Jersey go to Raritan Crossing. They are pet friendly apartments and New Brunswick NJ apartments . Rentals near Metropark and apartments in Middlesex county. For apartments in central NJ this is the place for you with Apartments in Middlesex County NJ. Raritan Crossing has apartments near metropark, apartments near Rutgers and apartments near Robert Wood Johnson.

Things to Know Before Selecting an Apartment

2008-11-13T07:16:00.000-08:00

With so many people wanting to live in the city, it is difficult to find an apartment, especially in big cities like New York City. Apartment prices are rising. Even if one finds an apartment it is better to not move in a hurry. It is useful to consider a few key things before selecting an apartment.
Things You Should Know:
These are the things you should know before selecting an apartment.
· Know How Much You can AffordThis is where your apartment search begins. You must know your monthly rental budget. Once you determine how much you can afford in monthly rent, then you can narrow your apartment search significantly. How much are you willing to spend for an apartment you will be comfortable with? This decision is depended on the income and your household expenditures. In cities where the cost of living is higher, a larger portion of your monthly income will go to rent. If this is a problem, you may need to look at other living options like living a little further out in the city suburbs where apartment rent is usually less expensive. You could also consider sharing the apartment with someone else.
· Know the Neighborhood After you have determined how much money you can spend on an apartment, you need to decide what areas of the city you are willing to live in. Always be sure about things like
- Is the locality affordable?- How far are the basic public amenities?- Is the neighborhood safe?- What is the history of the neighborhood?- Who lives in the neighborhood?- What are the nearby schools like?- How close is the public transportation to get to work and other places?
· Know Your Rights & Responsibilities Once you have successfully found a suitable apartment, make sure you know your rights and responsibilities as a tenant. Your rights are best protected if you have a written lease. Be aware of oral leases because you may be subject to restrictions that you are not aware of. In face, never agree to a word-of-mouth lease agreement. Always insist on signing a written lease, even if you are renting from a friend. You should be familiar with basic tenant rights, remedies, obligations and laws protecting the tenants. You can be entitled to interest on rent security deposit and entitled to withhold rent if repairs are not made in your apartment in a timely manner.
The above information will surely help you to select a suitable apartment even if it takes some time to find one.

For apartments in New Jersey go to Raritan Crossing. They are pet friendly apartments and New Brunswick NJ apartments . Rentals near Metropark and apartments in Middlesex county. For apartments in central NJ this is the place for you with Apartments in Middlesex County NJ. Raritan Crossing has apartments near metropark, apartments near Rutgers and apartments near Robert Wood Johnson

College Students Renting an Apartment

2008-11-07T07:04:00.000-08:00

If you've decided the dorm isn't for you, then renting an apartment will be one of your alternatives. After you have chosen an area to live in and found an apartment you want, being careful when negotiating and signing your lease can help you reduce the cost of renting and potentially eliminate some of the issues you are likely to face as a tenant. Here are some guidelines that can help.Try to get a reduction in the monthly rentIn most cases, not only are you eager to move in, the landlord is anxious to start collecting rent. Ask the landlord if there is some way to get a slight reduction - 2% to 5% isn't unreasonable. If you are a good prospect for leasing, the landlord may be willing to make a slight concession just to get the apartment rented. If the landlord says no, you haven't lost anything.
Examine the terms of the lease carefullyLook for items that you may find hard to live with. Are there restrictions on pets, types of furniture allowed (water beds, etc) or any other items? Can you have roommates? What are the payment terms? Is the penalty for late payment severe? Does the landlord have the right to enter your apartment without your permission? If the landlord's expenses rise (property taxes, maintenance, etc.), can your rent be raised? Even though the lease document may be a couple of pages long, you should read it carefully.
List all your roommates and have them sign the leaseWhile some landlords won't accept multiple names on the lease, it makes sense to ask. If all your roommates sign the lease, all share any liabilities. It will also protect you if one roommate moves out before the end of the lease.
For apartments in New Jersey go to Raritan Crossing. They are pet friendly apartments and New Brunswick NJ apartments . Rentals near Metropark and apartments in Middlesex county. For apartments in central NJ this is the place for you with Apartments in Middlesex County NJ. Raritan Crossing has apartments near metropark, apartments near Rutgers and apartments near Robert Wood Johnson

How To Conduct A Home Inventory

2008-11-04T05:56:00.001-08:00

How To Conduct A Home Inventory
*Quick Quiz*
Name the brand and model of the television(s) in your house or apartment. How much did your computer cost, and where did you purchase it? What is the serial number on your camera? Could you answer those questions without looking? Now imagine how difficult it would be to come up with this information for ALL of your belongings while dealing with the stress of a fire, burglary, or natural disaster. In such a case, you may spend countless hours trying to remember everything only to realize what you forgot after your claim has been processed. You might not even be able to produce the required proof for the claim to be accepted.

How can a home inventory help?
In the unfortunate event of a major loss, your insurance company will need a lot of information to process your claim. If you’ve already created a home inventory, this process will be much easier and should be completed faster. Otherwise, you might not be able to account for everything, and if you’re unable to provide the required information, you may receive less than full compensation for your loss.
Also, depending on your situation and the tax laws where you live, this information may also be required for a tax credit.
And finally, if you file a police report for stolen items, having the model number and serial number will improve your odds for recovering the stolen propertyFor apartments in New Jersey go to Raritan Crossing. They are pet friendly apartments and New Brunswick NJ apartments . Rentals near Metropark and apartments in Middlesex county. For apartments in central NJ this is the place for you with Apartments in Middlesex County NJ. Raritan Crossing has apartments near metropark, apartments near Rutgers and apartments near Robert Wood Johnson

Renting your first apartment

2008-10-27T07:15:00.000-07:00

Renting your first apartment is right up there with taking your first steps, graduating from high school, and getting a real job. But this milestone is one that you shouldn’t take lightly, especially when it involves signing a lease.
What to Look for When Choosing Your First Apartment:Proximity to work. With gas prices hovering on excruciating, you need to find an apartment near your place of employment. In fact, walking distance would be preferable. If that’s not possible, scour the two mile corridor surrounding your employer until you find a nice place in a nice neighborhood that you can afford.Size does matter. You don’t want to live in a box, but if you’ve come from say, your parent’s home, a 300 square foot studio might be difficult to adjust to. But if a 2,000 square foot penthouse isn’t in your budget, consider a compromise. Either rent a larger place with a roommate or carefully consider the studio if it’s the right price and you don’t have a lot of stuff. A room will appear larger if you don’t cram it full of furniture.Negotiate the rent. So you’ve found your dream apartment but the rent is a little steep. Don’t be afraid to ask the landlord for a lower price. The worst that can happen is that he/she says no. Remember, landlords would rather receive less in rent and take a good tenant, than command a higher monthly payment and accept an iffy resident. If you look professional, carry yourself with confidence, and make a good first impression, you’ll have a better chance at a lower monthly fee.Can’t find anything you can afford? Consider moving back home with your parents for a short time (if that’s an option) until you can save enough money for a security deposit and first month’s rent. Also, don’t rule out the basement or spare room in someone’s house. Just make sure you do a thorough background check before you sign a lease.Signing a Lease. Read the fine print carefully. Unless you are sure you will stay in the place for the foreseeable future, and the rent is a steal, don’t sign a long-term lease. Try to negotiate for six months. If that’s not possible, sign a year’s lease at the most. Agree to rent month-to-month after that. Read the paperwork carefully and find out exactly what you are responsible for. Who pays the cable, trash, water, alarm, sewer, etc? Budget all your expenses carefully. Look for language in the contract that would protect you in case you lose your job in the middle of the year. If it’s not there, don’t hesitate to write in a clause, initial and date it and keep a signed copy.Before you sign the dotted line, and this place becomes yours for a year, look around for any damage. If you find something amiss, report it to your landlord so you’re not charged when you move out. And don’t do any damage yourself. If you treat the place like you own it, you’ll not only get your security deposit back, but you’ll also learn how to care for the home you will own someday.
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Ceramic Tiles

2008-10-16T17:39:00.000-07:00

Ceramic tiles have been used on countertops for over a hundred years in this country. In the old days (or as my kids would say, "back in the day") mosaics, some of them hexagonal, were often used for the "drainboard" itself, and bulky trims called "box caps" were used for the front edge of the counter. In many cases the drainboards were actually tilted or sloped toward the sink. A few of these installations have been preserved and are still in use in older homes. At the time I entered the tile trade we were using wall tiles for drainboard work. Wall tiles did not hold up well at all. For the most part, we don't have "drainboards" anymore: we have countertops instead, and seldom are mosaic tiles used on their surfaces, even though porcelain mosaics remain one of the toughest materials in the tile trade. They seem to have fallen out of favor about forty years ago. Wall tiles shouldn't have been used, period

Garage Sales

2008-10-02T17:59:00.000-07:00

You might be able to walk next door on a Saturday morning and find just the piece you need. What your neighbor is getting rid of may be just the piece you need. When shopping at a garage sale, always bring cash, look for defects, and be ready to negotiate on the price. It's usually expected and you can often get a great bargain.
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Case the joint

2008-09-24T07:22:00.001-07:00

Case the joint

Step1

Inspect the property carefully. If there's any damage, you not only want to ask that it be fixed, but don't want to be blamed for it later. Make sure such problem areas are addressed in a lease, either by your agreeing to live with it, or the landlord agreeing to fix it by a certain date.

Step2

Check out common walls (walls shared with adjoining apartments). The more walls in common, the greater the chance of noise from next door. Also consider a common entrance in terms of how much privacy you may want. Step3Ask about amenities such as enclosed parking or a garage, a yard, storage, laundry facilities, pool, tennis, gym or concierge services

How to Get Rid of Pests

2008-09-16T07:07:00.000-07:00

How to Get Rid of Pests
Pests are everywhere. Hopefully they won’t be in your apartment since they can quickly turn an amazing place into a nightmare. The staff at Apartments.com understands this issue and wants to help make sure that even if you do find yourself sharing a room with a gang of mice, you can get them out quickly and safely. Even if you’re positive you don’t have any bugs or rodents in your apartment, read on for how to continue to prevent their presence.
Preventing InfestationThe easiest way to prevent bugs and rodents is by keeping your apartment clean. This does NOT mean just keeping the clothes in the hamper and the dishes in the sink. While those are good ways to start, you also need to be sure to wash your dishes in a timely fashion, clean kitchen counters and floors, keep food stored in rodent-proof containers (they can eat through plastic bags and cardboard boxes), vacuum carpeting and rugs regularly and dust everything that is sitting out in your apartment. Your bathroom, while it may not contain food, can attract rodents if it is dirty. Wash and disinfect the floor, tub, sink and toilet often. All garbage cans should have tight-fitting lids and garbage bags should be taken to the dumpster immediately. Pet food should not be left out overnight.Beat the rodents at their own game by placing spring-loaded traps around baseboards. By the time you see rodents in your apartment, you can be relatively sure that they are crawling in all the walls and have run out of room. Use an EPA-approved poison rat bait under the plastic or plywood shelter along baseboards. Be sure to follow the directions carefully as this is poison for pets and humans, too. Rodents can squeeze through holes as small as ¼ of an inch so make sure to seal any holes you find. You can do this with lath screen or lath metal, cement or wire screening. Your landlord should have already done this but may have missed any new holes that have formed.

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Apartment Safety Basics

2008-09-10T10:30:00.000-07:00

Apartment Safety Basics Don’t be so excited about decorating your bedroom and getting your Internet hooked up that you forget about safety. Apartments.com wants to make sure you’re taken care of and while we can’t replace your mothers (sigh), we can offer some friendly advice to make your apartment a place where you’ll feel safe and sound.
Our biggest “mom” tip is to purchase renter’s insurance to protect your valuables. Even with insurance you still need to take steps to protect yourself. Here are some other easy ways to make you, your apartment and your belongings much safer.
Do…
Write only your last name or initials on your mailbox. Although you may have to pay a small fee, it’s a good idea to have an unlisted phone number for safety reasons. Having an unlisted number will also cut down on solicitation calls. Make sure the locks on all doors leading into your apartment have been changed since the last tenant was living there. You may need to make copies of your keys for roommates but most apartment owners forbid copies made for anyone not living in the apartment. This includes your best friend, boy/girlfriend and parents. For safety reasons, keep copies of keys in your hands only. Apartment doors should all have peephole viewers. If you don’t have one, ask your landlord to install one. On the elevator, avoid riding alone with a stranger. If you get stuck with someone you do not know, stand near the control panel so you can exit in an emergency or if the stranger makes you feel uncomfortable in any way. Stay alert when entering your apartment. Don’t talk on your cell phone or look preoccupied when walking toward your building. Criminals look for a weak target and are more likely to pass up someone who appears focused, aware and strong. Report bad lighting or overgrown shrubbery to your landlord. You are never being too picky when it comes to your safety. Inventory the description, serial number and cost of your valuables. Keep a copy of your records online, in a fire-proof locked box or in a safe deposit box in a bank. Take pictures of your most valuable items and attach those to your receipts to make any insurance claims run as smoothly as possible. Keep a broom handle or other long stick in the track of sliding glass doors. This may deter a break in. Purchase light timers and set them so that your lights turn on when you’re away from home in the evening. Take in your newspaper and packages on a daily basis.
For apartments in New Jersey go to Raritan Crossing. They are pet friendly apartments and New Brunswick NJ apartments . Rentals near Metropark and apartments in Middlesex county. For apartments in central NJ this is the place for you with Apartments in Middlesex County NJ. Raritan Crossing has apartments near metropark, apartments near Rutgers and apartments near Robert Wood Johnson

Focus Your Search

2008-09-02T10:59:00.001-07:00

Focus Your Search

According to Your Budget New York City is an expensive housing market and you will likely be forced to make compromises in your choice. Monthly rents will vary depending on several factors; the most important of which is location, followed by apartment size and then amenities.
Decide if You Are Willing to Share an Apartment – You can cut costs by sharing a large one bedroom. To find a roommate, check the listings for apartment shares in the OCHA Housing Registry. Consider Where You Can Afford to Live - Manhattan apartments are in the greatest demand and consequently rents are the highest here compared to other boroughs or nearby suburbs. In most areas of Manhattan, you will have great difficulty finding a studio apartment for less than $1,300-$1,400 per month. In contrast, there are areas just outside Manhattan (within a 30-40 minute commute) where you can find a decent studio apartment to rent for $850-$1,000 per month. Determine What Size Apartment Fits Your Budget and What Amenities You Can Do Without - Squeezing into a smaller apartment than your ideal and a willingness to accept some commonly perceived flaws such as street noise or lack of view or natural light may save you some money. In addition, rents will vary with the type of building in which the apartment is located such as whether or not the building has a doorman or an elevator.
For apartments in New Jersey go to Raritan Crossing. They are pet friendly apartments and New Brunswick NJ apartments . Rentals near Metropark and apartments in Middlesex county. For apartments in central NJ this is the place for you with Apartments in Middlesex County NJ. Raritan Crossing has apartments near metropark, apartments near Rutgers and apartments near Robert Wood Johnson.

How to create an art-friendly room.

2008-08-18T19:17:00.001-07:00

How to create an art-friendly room.
Think about it. When you walk into a gallery or museum, what do they all have in common? White walls and lots of light. If a wall is wall-papered or painted a color other than white, it limits the choices for hanging art that will look good on it. If a room is dark, the art will not show to its best advantage.
If you want to make art the center of attraction, play down the other elements of the room like window coverings, carpeting, wall coverings, and even furniture. A room crowded with other colors, textures and objects will take the spotlight away from the art. Follow the principle that less is more. Keep it spare and let the art star. Then relax and enjoy it.
Selecting and displaying art is an art in itself. Experiment to learn what pleases you and what doesn’t. You’ll be well-rewarded for the time you invest by finding more satisfaction both in the art and in your home.
For apartments in New Jersey go to Raritan Crossing. They are pet friendly apartments and New Brunswick NJ apartments . Rentals near Metropark and apartments in Middlesex county. For apartments in central NJ this is the place for you with Apartments in Middlesex County NJ. Raritan Crossing has apartments near metropark, apartments near Rutgers and apartments near Robert Wood Johnson

Is Renting a House For You?

2008-08-11T10:16:00.001-07:00

Is Renting a House For You?

Renting a house is not cheap. Usually the rent is a lot higher than an apartment. In some cities, renting a house is about the same as renting a townhouse. Of course, this depends entirely upon the location of the property, the landlord, and how eager the landlord is to rent it out. If the landlord hasn’t been able to rent for the past few months, the price is going to come down. However, if the property is in a popular location, the rent is going to rise.
Like most other units of rental, renting a house will most likely require a year-long lease (or maybe even a 16-month lease). If your income might decrease within that timeframe, being locked into a high monthly rental amount might not be a good idea. Most landlords will check your credit and income to be sure you will be able to afford the lease, just in case.
For apartments in New Jersey go to Raritan Crossing. They are pet friendly apartments and New Brunswick NJ apartments . Rentals near Metropark and apartments in Middlesex county. For apartments in central NJ this is the place for you with Apartments in Middlesex County NJ. Raritan Crossing has apartments near metropark, apartments near Rutgers and apartments near Robert Wood Johnson.

Everything In Its Place Stuff

2008-08-04T10:46:00.000-07:00

Everything In Its Place Stuff. You've got a lot of it. It's now fall, again, and you've been meaning to get organized since your last new-year's resolution.
You've tried to squeeze everything you can into closets. You've even considered lugging your stuff down to the basement so that you can make more room -- for more stuff. Instead, try clutter-reducing shelves that won't cost you a fortune in cash -- and 20 or 30 trips to the basement. Whether you are looking to improve your decor or just get your home organized, shelving is the way to go. It's cost effective, easy to install, and comes in a variety of colors, styles and finishes.
Organize your child's bedroom and study space by adding shelves to store books, CDs and magazines. Think you can't possibly fit all of your child's clothing and accessories into that room? Think vertical instead: wall space can be more valuable as storage than a place to exhibit posters of the latest pop stars. Don't forget to treat Mom or Dad by organizing that guest bedroom, den or home office by adding shelving above desks and computers.
Keep cleaning supplies and household chemicals out of reach of small hands with alternative wood shelving. Children are always ready and willing to explore all that your home has to offer. Linen closets, laundry rooms, walk-in pantries, bathrooms, and garages can now all have space to put those items we want to "keep out of reach of children" if you install wood-alternative shelving.
Basement and attics can be valuable real estate when considering home storage options. Instead of wrestling with heavy boxes and packing tape, go for simplified, easily installed storage solutions for your family heirlooms, out-of-season clothing, tools, gardening supplies, and of course, holiday decorations. Shelve them and you'll always know where your treasures are when you need them.
Adding cost-effective shelving options to your home not only helps you stay organized, but can add appeal to your home, as well. According to the National Association of Home Builders, potential homebuyers consistently rank storage -- and the need for a lot of it -- as a high priority when it comes to selecting a home. Shelving can provide a cost-efficient investment into your home.
What's more, some of today's shelving options are attractive, light-weight, and easy to install, with impressive strength and durability. Brands like Woodstalk Finished Shelving offer a variety of shelving depths and lengths to fit your space or that can be cut to size and customized to match the décor of your home. Available in high-quality, attractive white and maple finishes, the shelving can be used 'as is'. For those who have a specific look in mind for their shelving solutions, Woodstalk can be easily sanded and painted and provides a smooth, splinter-free surface for customized finishing.
The shelving is made from wheat straw fiber instead of wood and a strong, durable polyurethane resin, instead of a urea-formaldehyde binder. It’s an eco-friendly, higher performance alternative to traditional wood or other conventional shelving options.
It's past time to visit your local do-it-yourself center and get organized. Woodstalk finished shelving can be found at many Home Depot and Menards centers in the United States and Canada.

Choosing an Area Rug

2008-07-30T08:13:00.001-07:00

Choosing an Area Rug Is your living room looking a little, oh, I don't know, drab? Does it somehow feel incomplete? Or perhaps your dining room table just isn't doing the room justice on its own? Your apartment could be suffering from a rare condition known as Lackofrugitis. It's okay if you've never heard of it; the main thing is that you are now aware of it.
Lackofrugitis sadly affects one out of every three apartment tenants. The symptoms are clearly evident, yet most of those afflicted aren't even aware that they are suffering from it. Here's a checklist to help determine if you or someone you love may have Lackofrugitis:Cold or chilly feet A feeling of emptiness in the room Speech echoes Aching or numb backside when sitting on the wood floor for prolonged periods Lack of floor-based romantic tendenciesLackofrugitis is a serious issue, but it's one that can be treated. In order to beat this debilitating condition, you must take the only known cure for it--a new area rug.How to Measure the Floor for the Right Area RugBelieve it or not, simply purchasing a new rug won't cure Lackofrugitis. Choosing the wrong area rug can actually bring on a case of "Unevenroomatosis." In order to be completely cured of this affliction, you need to know the basics about how to measure the floor for the right area rug. An easy way to measure for an area rug is to take masking tape and frame an outline of the rug on your floor. This will give you an idea of the perfect-sized rug for your purpose. Once you have the tape down, use a measuring tape to measure the dimensions.If you have a coffee table in your living room, then you will want about a foot of rug visible on each side underneath the table. If you do not own a coffee table, then it is okay if the edge of the carpet fits underneath the front end of the sofa. "The ideal area rug should sit under at least the front third of the furniture that's located in the room," says Tim J. of Kepple's Carpet in Runnemede, NJ.
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LANDLORD RESPONSIBILITIES

2008-07-28T09:24:00.001-07:00

LANDLORD RESPONSIBILITIES
Adhere to state and local codes to provide for the tenant’s health and safety. Maintain structural components and the property in a weather-tight condition. Provide reasonably adequate locks and keys. Provide heat, electricity and hot and cold water. Set water heaters at 120.° Provide garbage cans and arrange for removal of garbage, except in single-family dwellings. Keep common areas clean and free from hazards. Keep electrical, plumbing and heating systems in good repair and maintain any appliances. Provide smoke detectors, and ensure they work properly when a new tenant moves in (tenants are responsible for maintaining detectors). For apartments in New Jersey go to Raritan Crossing. They are pet friendly apartments and New Brunswick NJ apartments . Rentals near Metropark and apartments in Middlesex county. For apartments in central NJ this is the place for you with Apartments in Middlesex County NJ. Raritan Crossing has apartments near metropark, apartments near Rutgers and apartments near Robert Wood Johnson

Earth-Friendly Bedroom Basics

2008-07-23T10:41:00.000-07:00

Earth-Friendly Bedroom Basics
Sleep sustainably in a healthy bedroom that's good for you and great for the environment.By Caren Baginski
Master bedroom in the Green Home Applying eco-friendly style to your bedroom isn't a fad — it's one of the healthiest things to do when decorating your home. Don't let harmful chemicals and toxins take you lying down. Here's how to put up a fight for green in your bedroom.Breathe Easier• Air quality is important because you spend so much time in the bedroom at night, says green architect/designer Michelle Kaufmann, founder and chairman of Michelle Kaufmann Designs. She recommends operable windows for cross ventilation/natural ventilation and HEPA filters in vaccuums.
• Buy a stylish ceiling fan to circulate hot and cool air — and save money on energy bills.
• Choose low/no-VOC paints and stains for walls, ceiling and furniture.
• Wash your bedding each week to cut down on mold, mildew and dust mite accumulation.
• If you're prone to allergies, avoid down pillows and comforters. Instead, look for hypoallergenic — and organic — pillows filled with wool, cotton, millet hulls (99 percent dust free), buckwheat, kapok (a natural seed fiber) and shredded latex.
Choose a Green Mattress and Box SpringInvest in the most important part of your bedroom: the mattress. "Everything you bring into your home has a potential to off-gas, so when you chose products to sleep on, you should look at what they're made of," says Greg Snowden creator and founder of the Green Fusion Design Center.
Choose a mattress that's toxic-free and doesn't contain polyurethane foam and fire-retardants such as PBDEs (polybrominated diphenyl ethers). Animals exposed to PDBEs showed learning deficiencies, and high levels of the chemical have been found in women's breast milk according to PollutionInPeople.org. But you'll have to get a mattress that passes the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission tests for fire, so look to wool mattresses for natural fire-retardant qualities.
Green options include organic wool- and cotton-filled mattresses that are just as comfortable as a chemical-filled mattress. The greenest option is latex. Savvy Rest, a green mattress company, offers organic mattresses made from 95 percent latex (100 percent does not exist) that don't suffer from lumps and gullies over time.
Eco-friendly mattresses are also available from Green Sleep. Zem Joaquin, green blogger at Ecofabulous.com, favors Green Sleep in her home. "The rubber is harvested in Malaysia," she says. "They go and tap the trees like you would for maple syrup and bake it up into nice, fluffy cakes. The comfort is phenomenal."
National Geographic's The Green Guide suggests supplementing your mattress with a natural, untreated solid wood box spring made from FSC-certified wood.
Reuse Furniture and Fabric• Instead of buying a new bedroom set, take a look at what you have and refresh it. TV-dinner trays, a stack of old luggage — even a fallen tree trunk in your backyard can become a nightstand.
• Save gas by shopping locally at thrift stores, antique shops and architectural salvage stores. You can often find old headboards to upholster or paint, giving a unique look to the bed for less. An old door turned on its side and wall mounted is another eco-friendly, and rustic, solution.
• For inexpensive DIY pillows or curtain panels, visit fabric shops and ask for their leftover material scraps. Or, repurpose old blankets and sheets for a comforter that's completely your own.
Buy Organic BeddingWhat is organic bedding? It's sheets and pillowcases made from fibers grown without synthetic pesticides or genetic engineering. But is all organic bedding truly eco-friendly? "Eco-friendly is the overriding umbrella and organic is underneath that," says Kaufmann. "If it's organic but it uses a lot of resources from the earth in terms of how it's made, then it's not necessarily eco-friendly in the holistic sense."
But organic is still preferred when it comes to your health. For example, "consumers don't realize that many bed sheets are typically treated with formaldehyde to make them soft," Snowden says. Avoid this known carcinogen and opt for chemical-free sheets like organic cotton or bamboo. Buying organic doesn't only do you a favor — it's also better for the world, says Snowden. "The cotton industry uses one quarter of all the pesticides that are consumed in the world. For that reason alone, it's important to support organic cotton sheets and bedding." From Target to Ralph Lauren, beautiful, luxurious eco-friendly bedding is everywhere. For maximum softness, look for thread counts from 250-400.
Other tricks: • For blankets, wool is greener than polyester.• Be suspect when you see the words "repellents" or "proof" on bedding labels, which indicate the product has been treated with chemicals. • Organic cotton mattress pads help protect your mattress from dust mites.• Make your own duvet by sewing together two large bamboo sheets.

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What to Bring to an Apartment Viewing

2008-07-21T08:24:00.001-07:00

What to Bring to an Apartment Viewing

By Jennifer Lai, About.com
Arrive at an apartment viewing prepared, so you can focus on fully evaluating the apartment. With the necessary tools, you can better assess whether the apartment's right for you. And if you fall in love with the place, you'll be ready to start the application process.
A special note for those renting in competition markets: it’s particularly important that you come prepared, so that your dream apartment isn't snatched up by someone else.
BasicsDigital cameraA camera is useful for reminding you what the apartment and its surrounding area look like. After seeing several apartments, they’ll start blurring together. Before you know it, you can’t remember which one had the spacious closet and which had the decorative kitchen tiles.
NotepadBring a notebook, too, to jot down notes of each apartment—things you liked and didn’t like. For example, was there a lot of ruckus outside? Or a slow-moving elevator? Write down any notable observations in your notebook.
Checkbook and ATM CardIf you find your dream apartment, you’ll want to begin the apartment application process, which often requires a deposit to take the apartment off the market. Bring a checkbook, for sure, but also an ATM card for brokers or landlords that require cash only. (Note: please don’t hand over money unless you receive a receipt and a signed document, saying you’ll receive the deposit back if you're rejected for the apartment).
Social Security NumberMake sure you know your social security number, which will be needed to perform a credit check. If you plan on using a guarantor, you’ll need their SSN as well. Guarantors are typically used when you don’t meet the minimum financial requirements for the apartment.
Tape MeasurerMeasure the rooms, so you can work out later exactly how much furniture can fit. If the previous tenants are still living there, then you’ll have some idea of dimensions. But if it’s a big empty room, well, it can look deceptively bigger or smaller than it truly is.
For Competitive MarketsIn certain competitive markets, you must go through stringent requirements before signing the lease. For example, in New York City, many liken renting to buying a house. In these cities, you must come to an apartment viewing ready to rent on the spot, especially during the most competitive season—summer. So gather all your materials even before you start looking at listings.
Bank statementsYes, in some places, landlords want to see your bank statements. Make photocopies of at least two bank statements, making sure to black out your bank account number.
For apartments in New Jersey go to Raritan Crossing. They are pet friendly apartments and New Brunswick NJ apartments . Rentals near Metropark and apartments in Middlesex county. For apartments in central NJ this is the place for you with Apartments in Middlesex County NJ. Raritan Crossing has apartments near metropark, apartments near Rutgers and apartments near Robert Wood Johnson.

Housewarming Gifts

2008-07-16T08:53:00.000-07:00

Housewarming Gifts
One nice thing about housewarming gifts is that they don't need to be wrapped. Pull something together, put it in a gift bag or basket, and ring the doorbell.
If you're making a first visit to a family member's new home, you might have had a hand in helping with the move. If so, you might know exactly what they'll need in the new home. If they've moved from a large home to a smaller one, organization supplies might come in handy. But if they're moving from a small home to a larger one, a set of towels for the new extra bath might be practical.
We've come up with some ideas for both traditional gifts and new, fresh ideas. Choose what will best represent you, your friend, and your relationship. Then show up and enjoy a wonderful visit!
A gift for a housewarming gift for newlyweds is simple--just check out their bridal registry and fill in any holes.
Fresh PlantsA new home, even before the furniture is arranged and the drapes are up, looks more welcoming with a live, flowering plant. Plants are better than fresh cut flowers, as they live longer and don't need as much maintenance.
A Wreath for the DoorChoose a wreath for the season, for a holiday, or just in colors that will look pretty on the house. If you get one that will last through the years, include a wreath storage box, too.
A Gift of FoodThere's so much work involved in moving and setting up housekeeping, that anyone will welcome a casserole or full dinner to enjoy as a break from all the work. Something that will go into a microwave and onto paper plates (why not include them, along with plastic silverware?) will make the meal a breeze.
For apartments in New Jersey go to Raritan Crossing. They are pet friendly apartments and New Brunswick NJ apartments . Rentals near Metropark and apartments in Middlesex county. For apartments in central NJ this is the place for you with Apartments in Middlesex County NJ. Raritan Crossing has apartments near metropark, apartments near Rutgers and apartments near Robert Wood Johnson

Decorating

2008-07-14T08:52:00.000-07:00

Decorating
Planning and decorating your first apartment can be baffling and overwhelming. Apartment units or outdated brownstones are often small, sterile and architecturally deprived. But you can transform them into a personal, unique space. Don't be a confused, first-time decorator: Enjoy the adventure.Ponder these seven points as you transform your new apartment into a home that reflects your personality.

A similar style in each room will create flow and rhythm. Photo courtesy of IKEA.1. Develop a point of viewThe trick to creating a cohesive, put-together apartment is to decide what kind of "look" you want. Study magazines and watch home decorating shows to help you determine your favorite style. Rustic? Sleek and modern? Traditional? Country French? Once you find your preference, try to stick to your theme in every room. The similar style in each room will create flow and rhythm, which will give your place a sense of harmony and balance.But keep in mind you're not decorating a movie set—not every detail has to perfectly match. The odd accessory gives your place personality and should tell something about the person who dwells there—you. Avoid creating a "circus" atmosphere by using too many styles, too many different colors and too many patterns. Carrying your point of view throughout an apartment can also make your place seem larger.Select several colors and use them throughout your apartment. Photo courtesy of Collegiatemall.com.2. Choose a color schemeSelect three or four of your favorite colors, and use them throughout your apartment. If you use objects and fabrics of wildly different colors in each room, your place will seem choppy, broken up and visually distracting. For example, if you like blue and white, create a living room that features white walls, ivory slipcovered furniture, blue and white porcelain accents, and light-wood tables and shelves. In your bedroom, you could use a deeper blue and more of it via a patterned bedspread, pillows and curtains. Your kitchen could carry the theme by using blue and white checked curtains, while introducing yellow as an accent color.
For apartments in New Jersey go to Raritan Crossing. They are pet friendly apartments and New Brunswick NJ apartments . Rentals near Metropark and apartments in Middlesex county. For apartments in central NJ this is the place for you with Apartments in Middlesex County NJ. Raritan Crossing has apartments near metropark, apartments near Rutgers and apartments near Robert Wood Johnson.

Renting a House

2008-07-09T08:08:00.000-07:00

Renting a House
Although my topic area focuses mainly on apartment and small unit rentals, most renters find they want a larger place to rent. There is nothing nicer than having a large house all to yourself without the massive down payment and 30-year commitment to worry about. And you still have the flexibility to move out at the end of the lease and find something different. If you have never rented a house, duplex, or condo before, you will find this article particularly helpful. Why Rent a House? If you’re like most renters, you will have almost every nook and cranny of your small apartment cluttered with knick-knacks, collectibles, boxes, and piles of magazines. For these packrats, it appears the apartment keeps getting smaller every year. Eventually, you’re forced to either get rid of all your stuff or find a bigger place. Houses, condos, and duplexes usually have extra storage closets, maybe a garage, and often several rooms. Perfect for all your treasured valuables.
Or, perhaps you are not a packrat but have a large family. A small apartment is not very comfortable for a large family. People like to have a little space. A house or duplex usually have several bedrooms and bathrooms and plenty of space for everyone. Often these larger properties have yards where the kids will love to play.
Or, maybe you have some pets. Most apartment complexes are not friendly to pets, especially to larger dogs or large collections of animals. Finding a private house might be just what you need.
Is Renting a House For You? Renting a house is not cheap. Usually the rent is a lot higher than an apartment. In some cities, renting a house is about the same as renting a townhouse. Of course, this depends entirely upon the location of the property, the landlord, and how eager the landlord is to rent it out. If the landlord hasn’t been able to rent for the past few months, the price is going to come down. However, if the property is in a popular location, the rent is going to rise.
Like most other units of rental, renting a house will most likely require a year-long lease (or maybe even a 16-month lease). If your income might decrease within that timeframe, being locked into a high monthly rental amount might not be a good idea. Most landlords will check your credit and income to be sure you will be able to afford the lease, just in case.
For apartments in New Jersey go to Raritan Crossing. They are pet friendly apartments and New Brunswick NJ apartments . Rentals near Metropark and apartments in Middlesex county. For apartments in central NJ this is the place for you with Apartments in Middlesex County NJ. Raritan Crossing has apartments near metropark, apartments near Rutgers and apartments near Robert Wood Johnson.

How to Survive Moving

2008-07-07T07:43:00.000-07:00

How to Survive Moving
Remember that sometimes you will always feel sad no matter how long you have lived in a place. Have friends from your original home send you postcards, pictures and packages. You can send them small gifts in return (for example, a favorite pack of gum). Make a card or friendship bracelet. Call them on their birthdays. E-mail them with E-cards.
For apartments in New Jersey go to Raritan Crossing. They are pet friendly apartments and New Brunswick NJ apartments . Rentals near Metropark and apartments in Middlesex county. For apartments in central NJ this is the place for you.

During the apartment walk-through…

2008-06-30T08:11:00.001-07:00

During the apartment walk-through…
Do all the appliances work? Check all the appliances and sinks to be sure they are working properly. Are there insects or rodents present? If the current tenant is there ask them about the severity of the problem and what is being done to fix it. How old is the wiring? If there are very few outlets or if you see two-pronged switches, it probably is older wiring. This may be a convenience and safety issue. How much closet/storage space is there? Don’t underestimate how much space your belongings will take up. Are there enough windows to provide ample light for your taste and do they open and close properly? Are the rooms big enough to fit your furniture? Take a tape measure with to be sure. How do guests obtain entry and what type of security is in place? If there is an electronic system, test it out to make sure it works. Make sure that the apartment will be cleaned and have the paint touched up before you move in.
For apartments in New Jersey go to Raritan Crossing. They are pet friendly apartments and New Brunswick NJ apartments . Rentals near Metropark and apartments in Middlesex county. For apartments in central NJ this is the place for you.

Don't think you have to define your grown-up style right now.

2008-06-23T04:57:00.000-07:00

Don't think you have to define your grown-up style right now.
"Defining your personal style involves researching the subject of interior design until you find a style, color palette and fabrics you love," says designer Mark McCauley, ASID. You don't have to do all that in your first or even second apartment. Instead, "use your apartment as Frank Lloyd Wright used his home and studio in Oak Park, Ill. — as a place to experiment and try new things. Give yourself a chance to learn what your personal likes and dislikes are." So what if that leather couch turned out not to be the best choice for your apartment living room — it might be fine for a future family room in your home, or make a great donation to a friend (or charity) in need. Apartment life is the time to try on different styles. Be brave, take chances, have fun.
For apartments in New Jersey go to Raritan Crossing. They are pet friendly apartments and New Brunswick NJ apartments . Rentals near Metropark and apartments in Middlesex county. For apartments in central NJ this is the place for you.

What Items Do I Need to Furnish My First Apartment or Home

2008-06-18T09:17:00.000-07:00

What Items Do I Need to Furnish My First Apartment or Home
Stocking your first living space can seem like an overwhelming task, but it doesn't have to be. Use this 5 "S" Space Strategy to help you organize the items you will need to furnish your new living environment.
Before making any purchases, create a list of what furnishings you will need for the below 5 action areas:
Where you Sleep Where you Sit / Socialize (leisure time) Where you Snack Where you Study (work or hobby area) How you will Sanitize Let's break these down even further into a general suggested item list of what can fit in these areas. (This list may not included everything for your specific needs, so add or subtract as needed)
Sleep - Bedroom Bed (frame, mattresses) Pillow & Bedding (blankets, comforter, sheets) Dresser or Storage for Clothing Hangers Night Stand Table Lamp Alarm Clock Telephone Chair Mirror
Socializing / Sitting - Living Room Comfortable Sofa or Chairs Side Tables Table Lamps Entertainment Center or Stand Bookcases / Shelving Coffee Table Coasters Snack / Eating - Dining Room or Kitchen Table (to sit and eat) Chairs (for table or bar) Utensils (for eating or cooking) Plates, bowls, glassware. Cooking Equipment ( pots & pans, spatulas, coffee makers, can openers, blender,etc., this can be lengthy and is left to personal choice)
StudyDesk (with flat surface for writing & the computer)ChairComputerOffice Tools (stapler, pens & pencil storage)Shelving for booksFile cabinetDesk lamp
Sanitizing (Cleaning & Bathroom Supplies) Sponges Duster / Dusting cloths Cleaning Chemicals Plunger Mop Broom Vacuum Cleaner Towels & Wash Clothes
This list should give you a good start at setting up house and on your way to making that house/apartment your home.

For apartments in New Jersey go to Raritan Crossing. They are pet friendly apartments and New Brunswick NJ apartments . Rentals near Metropark and apartments in Middlesex county. For apartments in central NJ this is the place for you.

Rethink Your Rental

2008-06-12T09:49:00.000-07:00

Rethink Your Rental Make a rental space your own on a modest budget by creatively updating your current wares and adding a few new items to the bunch. Check our tips and inspiration below.
Living Room
Think of your apartment as your own -- ask your landlord for permission to paint (offer to repaint when you leave), hang plenty of art, and install draperies. If wall color is off-limits, rethink the furnishings. Use large pieces, even in small spaces, to create interest in place of paint. Trying changing the shape of the room by placing a room divider in a corner -- it allows the eye to flow evenly across the room rather than interrupt it with abrupt corners.
Apple green is stylish without being too trendy. Pair it with a neutral brown sofa -- this custom design boasts clean lines and didn't cost much more than a retail sofa. A $99 IKEA coffee table makes a modern statement (and adds precious storage) in the small space.
It's the little things that make a white-box rental a home, such as adding graphic accent pillows for the couch and a rug to cover up standard apartment flooring. Even something as simple as placing a table lamp on top of a stack of books sends the message that the space belongs to you, not your landlord. If your living room must double as a home office, don't let the work space overpower the room. Opt for spacious filing cabinets topped with an inexpensive sheet of melamine for lots of storage space and minimal impact on the rest of the room. The lamp is a $10.95 thrift store find with a new shade.
Looking for another deal? These floor-to-ceiling drapery panels are sewn from silk shantung found online for only $11 a yard.
Keep office supplies from taking over your work area by storing them on a vintage tray. Adding personal trinkets affords you a moment's distraction while checking e-mail or paying bills.
For apartments in New Jersey go to Raritan Crossing. They are pet friendly apartments and New Brunswick NJ apartments . Rentals near Metropark and apartments in Middlesex county. For apartments in central NJ this is the place for you.

Decorate Walls Without Painting

2008-06-04T09:46:00.000-07:00

Decorate Walls Without Painting - 5 Simple Wall Decorating Tips
Since painting unique wall images may not be an option for some renters, we pulled together 5 wall decorating ideas to help you decorate your cwalls for both your stylish senses and their personalized space!
1. Removable Wall Hooks - 3m makes wonderful wall hooks and other removable wall hanging products that are easily adhered to the walls without leaving behind residue when removed. With the variety of products they offer you can literally find whatever type of hook or gadget you need to make anything hang from a wall. These can be purchased are your local home improvement or hardware store.
2. Framed Posters & Art - When displayed properly, framed family photos can create warmth and most likely are the subconscious objects that make you feel at home in your space. Children love the familiar faces of their favorite book and movie characters. Using posters are a great way to bring these characters to life. The posters by themselves may be suitable, but to please the aesthetic senses, don't skimp on having the wall art framed. If you are interested in keeping costs down you may want to frame it yourself. When tastes change you can reuse the frame and change out the poster. For an added punch add colored mat board to the poster print. If you still need to select wall decor art try our Art & Poster shop.
3. Display Shelves - Thinking tall will also fill your wall space with visual appeal while creating extra storage. Carefully and thoughtfully arrange the objects you choose to place on each shelf, being sure to over crowd each space. Think of the eye flowing over the shelf in an "S" pattern by varying the heights and spaces.
4. Fabric & Starch Wallpapering - This removable technique gives decorating versatility! You can create textures and cover up the ugliest walls. Check out these do-it-yourself instructions for wallpapering with fabric.
5. Folding Screens - If you just don't want to hang anything on your walls, try adding texture by using folding screens. The come in almost every style from Shoji Screens for Asian design to chrome for ultra modern. These are wonderful for studio apartments as they create additional areas.
For apartments in New Jersey go to Raritan Crossing. They are pet friendly apartments and New Brunswick NJ apartments . Rentals near Metropark and apartments in Middlesex county. For apartments in central NJ this is the place for you. promote privacy.

Bedrooms

2008-05-28T09:07:00.000-07:00

Bedrooms by: Michael Holland
Decorating boys bedrooms with licensed characters and themes is an easy but expensive option. While most children do have a preferred character or theme that they would enjoy having in their rooms, there are more affordable ways to achieve a similar desired result.
Without naming names or infringing upon any boys bedrooms copyrights or trademarks this budget-friendly collection of ideas can help you create an absolutely awesome children’s décor. It has been compiled especially to offer easy do-it-yourself, affordable decorating solutions for boys bedrooms ... with all of the neatest features in boys bedrooms that guys appreciate.
Basics in Boys Bedroom Ideas
Most boys will easily embrace decorating ideas that are a little different or not mass-produced as long as they include similar colors and concepts. He’ll feel good about having something original and special that’s goes beyond the expected boys bedrooms ideas.
This will encourage him to appreciate the idea of being an individual, different and unique from anyone else in the world.
Beyond-the-box ideas in boys bedrooms. (For the guy who loves things that creep and crawl.)
To adults, a bug is a bug is a bug, no further classification required. Boys know bugs like girls know shoes.
Decorating boys bedrooms with insect-laden fabrics for curtains and other linens is a winner with most guys. If he has a favorite insect-character super hero, select colors that match the super hero’s outfit. You could even make a matching pair of pajamas for your child to wear. Be warned though, he’ll want to wear them all day long.
Against a wall or in a corner in boys bedrooms, you can hang any inexpensive netted material in a basic cotton knit.
This provides the perfect lofty perch for any cherished insect-type super hero character.
Out-of-This World Ideas for Boys Bedrooms. (For the guy who loves exploring far-away places.)
Whether your child dreams of soaring through space or diving in oceans, you can create an original décor that matches his dreams.
Paint the walls blue for either of these themes in boys bedrooms you choose. Think medium blue as the starting point. For space themes, you’ll want to radiate towards darker shades. With aquatic themes, you’ll want to go towards the opposite end of the color spectrum and user lighter shades.
Use accents for boys bedrooms that begin with the letter "s" to add true dimension to either of these themes.
Accents with an "S" for outer space ideas: Stars Silvery-moons Spaceships Accents with an "S" for aquatic ideas: Seahorses Seashells Scuba-divers Off-the-Driven-Path ideas in boys bedrooms. (For the guy who’s on the move, regardless of how he gets there.)
Since the invention of the automobile, no dearer sound has fallen on the ear of any boy than that of a finely-tuned engine. This is as true when a boy is six as it is when he’s sixteen, just from a different point of view.
Bring the highway home in style with these boys bedrooms ideas fit for any future driver.
Ride into the sunset by sweeping a paintbrush across a wall. Create center-lines using paint of a different color and you’ve got a winding road.
X marks the spot - if you can make an X you can paint a traffic intersection on a wall. Use wall putty to attach small toy vehicles of various kinds. You can even create an entire city street this way.
For apartments in New Jersey go to Raritan Crossing. They are pet friendly apartments and New Brunswick NJ apartments . Rentals near Metropark and apartments in Middlesex county. For apartments in central NJ this is the place for you.For apartments in New Jersey go to Raritan Crossing. They are pet friendly apartments and New Brunswick NJ apartments . Rentals near Metropark and apartments in Middlesex county. For apartments in central NJ this is the place for you.

Splash Up Your Walls with Pops of Color

2008-05-21T09:53:00.001-07:00

Splash Up Your Walls with Pops of Color
By Columnist Kathy Peterson - KathyPeterson.com
Decorating a rental space can always be challenging especially for an apartment tenant or college student looking to dress up their living space temporarily. But here’s a unique way to add your own personal touch to any interior design. Let’s say you want to add a splash of color to your walls but your landlord or college dorm rules won’t let you paint the walls. So how do you put a creative spin on your own decorative style with little mess or effort? Well when I discovered a fool proof product that sparked my creative juices I knew I had to share it with you.
It’s a unique innovation that makes wall-decorating a breeze. These flexible vinyl peel-and-stick wall art can be easily removed and re-arranged at your leisure without a trace of residue or messy clean-up.
WallPops are offered in a variety of solid colors to work with, such as Lello Yellow, Electric Blue or Purple Perk. Different prints, from Island Fusion to Go Retro, add animation and design to any WallPops creation. The décor is available in 13”- round Dots, 13”- square Blox, or continuous Stripes that measure 6 ½” wide and 16’ long. Take it one step further and cut the vinyl into any size or shape to devise a truly customized design.
I love the fool-proof versatility of the product, particularly for those with an ever-evolving style. Jazz up a dull dorm room, alter your décor to suit the season, or let a child’s room morph as they age with this conformable wall décor. If you want to change your design, just peel off and start over; WallPops are washable, re-usable and leave no residue behind.
Let your imagination be your guide as you explore endless combinations and arrangements to contrive a unique look. Try layering Dots in a few different shades around one another to create a flower effect; you could also outline a door or window with the continuous Stripes variation to serve as a funky frame.
To decorate an entire wall space, create a checkerboard pattern of alternating Blox. Stick with one funky print, such as the Island Fusion floral pattern or the Lots of Dots polka-dot print, and intersperse it with splashes of complementary solid colors. Or mix, match and layer the different shapes and colors if you are looking for a retro style that is all your own.
Look no further than the new WallPops Web site, www.wall-pops.com, to begin brainstorming your very own masterpiece. The fun, interactive site offers a create-a-design feature, as well as innov For apartments in New Jersey go to Raritan Crossing. They are pet friendly apartments and New Brunswick NJ apartments . Rentals near Metropark and apartments in Middlesex county. For apartments in central NJ this is the place for youative examples and helpful tips. Enjoy!

Under-the-Bed StorageOrganizing Your Bedroom Space

2008-05-15T09:58:00.000-07:00

Under-the-Bed StorageOrganizing Your Bedroom Space© Christy Jones
Apr 22, 2008
Afraid to even look under the bed? Here are some tips for turning that dust bunny haven into a useful storage space.A well organized area under the bed can not only provide much needed storage space, it can also make cleaning easier. With everything in its place, you won’t have to worry about catching the vacuum cleaner on stray shoelaces or random piles. No matter what your budget, from cardboard boxes to a whole new bedroom set, you can make the under-bed area a useful part of your home.
Under-Bed Storage BagsOne of the simplest and least expensive ways to organize the space under the bed is to use storage bags. You can buy low, wide bags specifically made to fit into this tight space. Some are purely plastic; others are partly canvas, but most allow you to see the contents inside and keep out the dust. Bags work well for storing items such as extra blankets, comforters, and sheets that are good to have handy, but not needed every day.
Some bags allow you to compress items into an even smaller space by vacuuming the air out of the bag. For fluffy items like comforters, this can add even more room to store things under the bed.
Under-Bed Storage BinsMany stores sell plastic storage bins that are made to slide under the bed. These are perfect for storing all kinds of items, such as clothes, shoes, or even craft supplies. You may be able to save money by buying several bins at once in a bulk pack.
Under-Bed Stand-Alone DrawersAnother storage solution you may want to try is plastic drawers that are made to be stacked. By putting them side by side instead of on top of each other, you can easily create an under-bed dresser. Some furniture stores also sell stand-alone wooden drawers that are made to slide under the bed. Before ordering them, measure your bed to make sure they’ll fit under the bed.
For apartments in New Jersey go to Raritan Crossing. They are pet friendly apartments and New Brunswick NJ apartments . Rentals near Metropark and apartments in Middlesex county. For apartments in central NJ this is the place for you.

Handy Household Hints

2008-05-12T10:02:00.001-07:00

Handy Household Hints
Some New Tips and Some Old© Barbara Bothwell
May 11, 2008
Mothers pass some hints on to us, some we learn by habit and some, unfortunately, we forget. Hopefully this list will help you to remember.The useful thing about household hints is that they make the work easier and, in many cases, are time-saving. Something which we all need in this day and age. Here are some hints from my collection:
It is surprising that, in this day and age of security minded-ness, we are still asked to dictate our names, addresses and telephone numbers. Often when there are people nearby. Have some business cards printed. It is much safer to hand one over so that the information is simply between you and the requestee and not the rest of the world.Got a problem with chewing gum (or similar substance) on the bottom of a shoe or - worse! - on the carpet or in the children's hair? Don't despair. A piece of ice rubbed over it will harden the substance so that it will then fall off or can be easily picked up.Do you make a list of chores? One that gets longer and longer and longer? Make a second list from the first one, picking out the jobs that will only take five or ten minutes to do. It is amazing how quickly the list gets reduced and you lose your sense of despair.Keep cut flowers fresh by putting just a couple of inches of water in the vase. Cut the stems at a slant, strip off leaves and remember to change the water every one or two days. Each time you change the water trim a little more off the stems so that the flowers can more easily drink. Not only do the flowers last longer, you also don't get the horrible smell of rotting stems.What will they think of next? I recently saw an advertisement for a device to stop one getting electric shocks when touching the car. There is a much cheaper method - touch the metal with a plastic pen such as a Bic.Fed up with continually tidying and cleaning the cupboard under the sink? Buy some foil roasting dishes. That way you can keep the various items in some semblance of order and are able to quickly find what you want. It also keeps the floor of the cupboard clean. And the bottles don't tip over because of the high sides of the dishes.Are you bugged by weeds in the garden path? An easy answer is to spray them with malt vinegar. They quickly disappear and won't begin to reappear for about another six months. But - be careful not to get the vinegar on your plants.And one last one to add to your packing list when going on vacation:
If traveling abroad and taking prescription medication, carry a copy of the prescription with you (or a note from your doctor). Some countries are very strict about which medications they let in. Whether you take medication or simply vitamins, don't throw away the empty bottles - use them to take exactly the right number of pills with you. At the end of the vacation you can then throw away the empties. Now sit down with the list and add your own tips to it. You will be surprised at how many you can add to this list.

For apartments in New Jersey go to Raritan Crossing. They are pet friendly apartments and New Brunswick NJ apartments . Rentals near Metropark and apartments in Middlesex county. For apartments in central NJ this is the place for you.

Renting a House

2008-05-07T09:37:00.000-07:00

Renting a House© Wendy Waid Dec 16, 2001
Although my topic area focuses mainly on apartment and small unit rentals, most renters find they want a larger place to rent. There is nothing nicer than having a large house all to yourself without the massive down payment and 30-year commitment to worry about. And you still have the flexibility to move out at the end of the lease and find something different. If you have never rented a house, duplex, or condo before, you will find this article particularly helpful.
Why Rent a House? If you’re like most renters, you will have almost every nook and cranny of your small apartment cluttered with knick-knacks, collectibles, boxes, and piles of magazines. For these packrats, it appears the apartment keeps getting smaller every year. Eventually, you’re forced to either get rid of all your stuff or find a bigger place. Houses, condos, and duplexes usually have extra storage closets, maybe a garage, and often several rooms. Perfect for all your treasured valuables.
Or, perhaps you are not a packrat but have a large family. A small apartment is not very comfortable for a large family. People like to have a little space. A house or duplex usually have several bedrooms and bathrooms and plenty of space for everyone. Often these larger properties have yards where the kids will love to play.
Or, maybe you have some pets. Most apartment complexes are not friendly to pets, especially to larger dogs or large collections of animals. Finding a private house might be just what you need.
Is Renting a House For You? Renting a house is not cheap. Usually the rent is a lot higher than an apartment. In some cities, renting a house is about the same as renting a townhouse. Of course, this depends entirely upon the location of the property, the landlord, and how eager the landlord is to rent it out. If the landlord hasn’t been able to rent for the past few months, the price is going to come down. However, if the property is in a popular location, the rent is going to rise.
Like most other units of rental, renting a house will most likely require a year-long lease (or maybe even a 16-month lease). If your income might decrease within that timeframe, being locked into a high monthly rental amount might not be a good idea. Most landlords will check your credit and income to be sure you will be able to afford the lease, just in case.
For apartments in New Jersey go to Raritan Crossing. They are pet friendly apartments and New Brunswick NJ apartments . Rentals near Metropark and apartments in Middlesex county. For apartments in central NJ this is the place for you.

General Tips -- The Bathroom and Utility Room

2008-05-05T19:45:00.000-07:00

General Tips -- The Bathroom and Utility Room© Wendy Waid Nov 4, 2001
I have been getting plenty of emails from people asking me about certain tips and hints about various topics. For my dear readers, I thought I would post some of my tips here. Feel free to put your own tips in my discussion forum or email them to me. Everyone loves tips. Thanks. This article is second in the series. Come back again for more tips and hints!
Clarifying Confusion in the Bathroom: The bathroom is one of the dirtiest and most difficult to clean quickly. I receive dozens and dozens of pleas from readers asking for bathroom tips ranging from how to clean to how to repair. For now, we’ll just focus on cleaning and other useful tips for the “throne room”.
Invest in those new sweepers with the disposable cloth covers (like Swifter). Get both the dry and wet cloths. Sweep the floor with the dry cloth to collect all the loose hair, then wipe clean with the wet cloth. Works great! Get a card at your local wholesale warehouse (like Sams Club or Costco). You can find giant-sized cloth refills really cheap there. The toilet paper bundles are usually not much cheaper than the stores. Cover the floors with bathroom rugs. Not only do they keep your feet warm in the cold and clean after showers, but they keep the floors a lot cleaner and make it easier to clean. Simply shake the rug before sweeping. Get a rug that can be washed in the wash machine. You only need to wash these occasionally. To clean the bathtub and counter, get some scrubbing powder. Personally, I found the cheaper generic brands work the same as the more expensive known brands (such as Comet). Sprinkle the powder on the surfaces and scrub with a wet sponge. Works really great on mildew-covered surfaces and those ugly orange rings around the tub. If you have too much mildew build-up or have some areas that are hard to reach (like around the base of a faucet), spray with a wipe-less mildew remover spray. These strong sprays require a lot of ventilation, especially since they have strong odors. Keep doors open and fans on to ventilate. Be sure to spray with water after a few minutes, otherwise the spray might begin to cause damage. Buy toilet paper when it goes on sale and stock up. Buy an extra package of white dish cloths or facial cloths to wipe sinks and counter tops. Use white since the dye on the colored cloths may rub off onto your surfaces. You can find large cheap packages of cloths at Kmart and Walmart.
For apartments in New Jersey go to Raritan Crossing. They are pet friendly apartments and New Brunswick NJ apartments . Rentals near Metropark and apartments in Middlesex county. For apartments in central NJ this is the place for you.

Using Room Dividers in a Studio Apartment

2008-05-01T10:10:00.000-07:00

Using Room Dividers in a Studio Apartment Using Room Dividers in a Studio Apartment Using Room Dividers in a Studio Apartment From Jennifer Lai,Studio-living is a unique experience. It offers the convenience of walking from one living space to another by simply moving around one or two rooms. Such easy access can, of course, be both a blessing and a headache.On one hand, tidying up and putting items away becomes a quick chore. And preparing a snack during your favorite television program is easily accomplished.On the other hand, living out of one or two rooms can be mentally distracting. How common is it to experience the urge to check email while lying in bed, simply because the desk is in plain view? I'm sure it's very common. Then there are disturbances, such as the pile of dirty dishes in the sink, that worm their way into your thought process while working on an important document, simple because the dishes are in plain sight (or smell).These distractions are the bane of studio living (aside from the small space). But they can be minimized, and one of the best ways to do this is to seperate the spaces visually with room dividers.I suggest starting off with the bedroom or the office, since these are two areas where mental distractions are the most unwanted.The cheapest way to divide a room up is by arranging the furniture in a way that creates distinct spaces. Using rugs in addition to this helps create visual focal points.If your studio is oddly shaped, and you are left with little choice in furniture placement, don't worry. This is where room dividers come in. The three most common room dividers are:Curtains. You can buy curtain panels or a piece of cloth and clip-on curtain rings. Then hang the curtain from a rod that attaches to the ceiling. Sheer fabric is recommended for small spaces, since it will allow light to filter through. For your bed, you can even create a canopy.Bookcases. Backless, free-standing bookcase that look pleasing from both sides make excellent room dividers. And they have the added benefit of acting as storage. Place the bookcase between two of your living spaces and place objects that look please from both sides on the shelves.Folding screens. Folding screens are a good choice, because they are flexible and versatile. You can easily move them around and play with the furniture arrangement. Plus they don't take up much space.
For apartments in New Jersey go to Raritan Crossing. They are pet friendly apartments and New Brunswick NJ apartments . Rentals near Metropark and apartments in Middlesex county. For apartments in central NJ this is the place for you.

10 Tips for Small SpacesFrom Fred Albert

2008-04-28T09:58:00.000-07:00

10 Tips for Small SpacesFrom Fred Albert,Time-Tested Advice From AFMA Helps Make Small Spaces BiggerThe 87 percent of Americans who describe their home as small to medium in size know the importance of using every square inch to maximum efficiency. Rather than making their space look bigger, people want a cozy, intimate feel and prefer to use their space wisely and get the most out of it. "One of the great things about small rooms is that they help us think creatively about the way we live," said Jackie Hirschhaut, Vice President of the American Furniture Manufacturers Association. "Furniture is a true complement to a small abode – it helps you maximize your space by providing function, comfort and style."
AFMA suggests the following tips for ways to increase square footage without building on an addition:
Go Vertical Consider tall furniture rather than wide to preserve precious floor space.
e taken advantage of the valuable space under the bed – in style. Use decorative boxes and storage bins to stow out-of-season clothing, wrapping paper, sporting goods or anything else.
Retractable Doors When shopping for an armoire or entertainment center, look for ones with retractable doors to provide more space when the doors are open.
Try the Kids' Department Youth furniture is designed to fit into smaller rooms but also accommodates adults just fine. Have a small guest bedroom or a little alcove office? A child's dresser or desk might be the perfect fit.
Rollin', Rollin', Rollin' Many pieces of furniture have wheels – whether it is a sofa, a coffee table, a storage shelf, kitchen table or an ottoman. Enjoy extra mobility and function with a wheeled piece of furniture that is fashionable and practical.
Don't Leaf It Out If a full-size dining room table is just too big for the dining area, ask your retailer about one with removable leaves.
Accent It A mirror is always a nice accent to any room, but especially a small one. Mirrors add light and depth when space is limited. And the right accessories will highlight one's personal style and enhance the intimacy of a small space.
For apartments in New Jersey go to Raritan Crossing. They are pet friendly apartments and New Brunswick NJ apartments . Rentals near Metropark and apartments in Middlesex county. For apartments in central NJ this is the place for you.e the intimacy of a small space.

Subletting your Apartment

2008-04-17T20:04:00.000-07:00

Subletting your Apartment (Rate this article)You’ve finally landed the job of your dreams. It allows you to do the work you’ve always dreamed of doing for a great salary and amazing benefits. The perfect opportunity, right? It would be, if it weren’t 200 miles away. You don’t mind moving but have a lease for the next six months. Don’t give up that ideal opportunity until you read over our advice on how to sublet. Subletting means essentially sharing a lease with someone else until it expires. It has its risks but if done properly, it will be possible to move early without breaking a lease. Here are the steps you need to follow to make your sublet experience a success.
Get Your Landlord’s Permission
Read your lease to determine your subletting rights. If your landlord profusely forbids it, try to explain your situation in writing and negotiate a solution. You can offer to help your landlord find a new tenant, although you are still responsible for the rent until a new lease is signed. If subletting is permitted, get your landlord’s permission in writing before moving on to the next step. Find a Trust-worthy Leaser
Ask around your circle of friends and co-workers first. If you don’t get a response, post a flyer in a coffee shop you frequent, community center or place an ad in the classifieds. Describe your apartment and the dates that it will be available along with your contact information. You can try to advertise for the same rent you are paying but may have to reduce the rate since you are limited in time. Interview interested people just as if you were hiring them to work for you. You will still be responsible for the lease so you need to make sure the person who moves in will pay rent on time and keep the apartment well-maintained. Here are some questions to ask a potential sublessor: Where are you employed and what is your monthly after-tax income? Why are you seeking short-term housing? How many people will be living the apartment? Any children? Any pets? Do you plan on having any social events or guests staying at the apartment? Do you consider yourself a clean person? (The person’s appearance is one clue to the answer although it is not a guarantee that their appearance reflects their housekeeping habits). Give the best potential sublet candidates a tour of the apartment. Answer their questions as honestly as possible and be candid about any problems. You don’t want the sublessor to back out in a month or two since you will be left to fill in the rent. Sign a Written Agreement
Even if you were lucky enough to have a friend to take over your lease, you still need to have a written agreement. You can make one yourself but unless you’re a lawyer, this is not advisable. The Internet Legal Research Group has a sublet form for every state. Go to http://www.ilrg.com/forms/sublease/us/ and print out the form for your state. A professionally formatted version of the form is available for a fee. If not mentioned in the agreement, you need to add in a statement regarding the security deposit. Since your landlord is most likely not required to return it to you until the lease is over, you will need to come to an agreement over it. For example, if the sublessor puts a hole in the wall is he/she responsible for the security deposit? If you don’t address it the money will surely come out of your pocket. Depending on the terms in your lease and state laws, you may have tenant’s rights over the sublessor. This means you can evict the person if they do not pay rent or in any other way violate the terms of the written agreement. Explain this to the sublessor so that there is no confusion later. Make sure the sublessor is clear on when he/she can move in and leave them a way to contact you as well as the owner of the apartment. Leave an emergency maintenance numbFor apartments in New Jersey go to Raritan Crossing. They are pet friendly apartments and New Brunswick NJ apartments . Rentals near Metropark and apartments in Middlesex county. For apartments in central NJ this is the place for you.er as well as the place where the rent should be delivered.

Want your landlord to see the energy-efficient light?

2008-04-14T17:28:00.001-07:00

Want your landlord to see the energy-efficient light?The BiteRelationships with crotchety landlords and ladies can be anything but heavenly. Give 'em a few eco-tips that speak to their bottom line (hallelujah!), and you'll be one step closer to domestic harmony. The BenefitsA greener home-sweet-home. Improvements like more efficient appliances and eco-flooring benefit both you and your landlord.Better for the earth. Energy Star washers use 50% less energy than conventional ones, and eco-paint won't emit nasty stuff into the air.A 'lord that smiles down upon ya. Higher property values and lower bills (35%+ savings with energy efficiency) will win you points.Personally SpeakingJen's friends with her old landlord in DC, and he recently sent her an email saying that after a year of making her suggested small changes, the savings are now racking up. He made no mention of any rent rebates though... damn it.
Wanna Try?Surefire tips for getting on their good side:
AC - new air-conditioning and even shade trees can lower energy bills.CFLs - replacing regular incandescent light bulbs with CFLs in common areas can reduce lighting bills and require fewer changes.Efficient Windows - windows account for 25%-50% of a home's heating/cooling losses.Energy Star Appliances - more efficient appliances save big on energy and water.Low-Flow Johns - newer toilets like those with a dual-flush system (with a low-flow flush for number 1 and a regular-sized flush for number 2) save as much as 6 gallons per flush.Cabinets, Countertops, Flooring and Paint - eco-versions help increase LEED green building credits and raise property values. More Energy-Saving Tips - post on a public bulletin board in your complex.
For apartments in New Jersey go to Raritan Crossing. They are pet friendly apartments and New Brunswick NJ apartments . Rentals near Metropark and apartments in Middlesex county. For apartments in central NJ this is the place for you.

New Jersey apartment market boosted by NYC exodus since Sept. 11

2008-04-10T10:31:00.001-07:00

New Jersey apartment market boosted by NYC exodus since Sept. 11 - Brief ArticleReal Estate Weekly, Feb 6, 2002 E-mail Print Link Marcus & Millichap Real Estate Investment Brokerage Company recently released its Apartment Research Report for the Northern & Central New Jersey markets. The report indicates that the exodus from New York City in the aftermath of Sept. 11 has given the New Jersey apartment market a boost, according to David Thurston, regional manager in the firm's Fort Lee office.
Following are some of the most significant aspects of the report:
More Articles of Interest Report: NJ apt market...Kushner Companies...Legg Mason Dorman &...Andrew Previtali -...Campus' $50m college... Most Popular Publications in Business Business WireBlack EnterpriseReal Estate WeeklyLos Angeles Business ...Communication WorldMore » * Job growth is forecast to be stagnant in 2002, but new office and residential developments will aid in sustaining the long-term health of the local economy. In addition to job relocations to New Jersey from across the Hudson, new building construction has led to continued job formation in the region in certain locations. While manufacturing jobs in Newark dipped by more than 5% in October 2001 on a year-over-year basis, the F.I.R.E. sector experienced solid gains of 3% during that time frame.
* Apartment construction had begun to slow by the end of last year, and the forecast is for a moderate building season due to the current economic climate. Although apartment construction has continued throughout Northern and Central New Jersey, the pace has slowed somewhat due to economic constraints. As a result, the number of units completed over the next 12 months will fall.
Demand from residents across the Hudson may spur increased activity this year, however, particularly by mid-year as the economy begins to stabilize. Permit activity decreased in 2001 across Northern and Central New Jersey by more than 13%. Construction activity in Jersey City actually increased, as demand from local residents for luxury rental units near the Hudson priced at a discount to Manhattan rents continued to lure developers.
* The local market will be one of the few in the nation that experiences a decline in vacancy this year. Unlike most other areas of the country, and despite the difficult economic times, Northern and Central New Jersey should experience a decline in average vacancy rates over the next 12 months. Once construction slows in Hudson County and the market begins to stabilize, average vacancy in this submarket will be among the lowest in the region. At present, Bergen and Morris counties are the tightest in the area and have experienced vacancy levels below 2%.
* Rents are forecast to grow by an average of 3% over the next 12 months as residents migrate across the Hudson and bring additional competition to the local rental market. Surprisingly tight market conditions amidst a difficult economic period will lead to rent growth of roughly 3% over the next 12 months. New properties in Hudson County have pulled up the overall rents in the market and the new luxury product that has been coming online in the area will continue to bolster average rent gains for Northern and Central New Jersey.
* Values will rise as a result of strong market fundamentals. Low vacancy and strong rent growth will increase values by an average of 4% in 2002. The majority of sales have historically involved older Class C properties, but with the development of new high-end properties as well as the redevelopment of older properties, the local apartment market is in the midst of a renaissance. Current low interest rates allow for more aggressive bids by investors; however, rates are likely to increase as the economy begins to rebound by mid-year. Average sales prices will be higher in the beginning of the year and then taper off slightly by the end of 2002.
COPYRIGHT 2002 Hagedorn PublicationCOPYRIGHT 2002 Gale Group

For apartments in New Jersey go to Raritan Crossing. They are pet friendly apartments and New Brunswick NJ apartments . Rentals near Metropark and apartments in Middlesex county. For apartments in central NJ this is the place for you.

Chandalier Style

2008-04-07T18:12:00.001-07:00

Chandelier StyleBy Columnist Kathy Peterson - KathyPeterson.com
Editors Note: Don't be afraid to decorate your space, but please be sure to check your rental guidelines before starting any project that requires changes to the landlords property.
Lighting can make or break a room and in most cases, we tend to place light fixtures on table tops, floors and sometimes the wall but let’s not forget about the ceiling too!
With today’s hot new looks for overhead lighting, there’s no excuse to brighten up your space with a new, vintage or modern chandelier.
I really like the look and feel of these charming black and white chandeliers. Even though they resemble traditional style chandeliers, the fresh new spin on design with the basic black and white colors really creates a sassy style that can set the stage for any room.
Okay—so you’re renting and your landlord isn’t willing to let you install an overhead lighting fixture yourself because of liability or because theirs no overhead electrical connector. Or maybe it’s because the landlord doesn’t want to go out-of-pocket to hire an electrician or handyman. I could go on and on! But whatever the case may be--- you can certainly work your way around this dilemma! And it’s easier than you might think!
Now this isn’t brain surgery or anything new but as a renter, we can sometimes forget to “look up” and think about creative applications to include overhead lighting that easy to do.
So what’s the solution? Ceiling hooks! They come in so many sizes and styles and are a great way to suspend a pre-wired chandelier that you can plug into any wall outlet. Simply drape the cord and chain from the ceiling to the wall then plug it in! Wall brackets that are longer in their reach can also be a helpful solution for hanging a small chandelier as well.
Don’t forget your balcony! It’s always nice to have a little extra low wattage lighting on a small balcony. Lighting up this space can extend the size of the connecting room from the inside to the outside so consider using plant hooks that are especially made for railings. Simply hang a small chandelier on the hook to shed a little more light. You’ll be surprised what a little chandelier can do in the most unlikely spaces! Enjoy!
For apartments in New Jersey go to Raritan Crossing. They are pet friendly apartments and New Brunswick NJ apartments . Rentals near Metropark and apartments in Middlesex county. For apartments in central NJ this is the place for you.

How to Make your Room Look Larger

2008-04-02T09:20:00.000-07:00

How To Make Your Room Look Larger by: Olivia Filipetto
Small rooms can feel confining and uncomfortable. Luckily we can utilize certain design concepts that fool the eye and make our rooms seem larger. Try these inexpensive decorating tricks to make your rooms live bigger.

1. Use Light Colors
Light and brightly colored walls are more reflective, which will help to maximize the effect created by natural light. This does not mean you have to live with white walls. There are a wide range of light colors paints available, such as light green or cream beige.
Once you've chosen your wall color, choose your trim and moldings colors. Paint your trims and moldings in either the same hue as the walls, or a lighter color. Lighter objects appear closer while darker or shadowed objects appear further away. When you paint your moldings a lighter color, the wall appears further back - thus making your room appear bigger.
Now, don't be worried that your room is going to be bland and uninviting, bolder and darker colors can be be used in furniture, artwork and accessories.
If your colors are already dark, try to move the darker colors to a 'background' role while maximizing your neutral white or ivory. Be careful when using wallpaper. Solid colors are the safest, with tiny patterns taking a close second. Whatever the wall color or finish, we recommend the ceiling in a small room be painted stark white to maximize brightness.
2. Mirrors
Mirrors can have a favorable impact on a room's appearance. A large mirror in the room will reflect light around the room. The mirrors also reflect both natural and artificial light to make a room brighter during the day and night. They bounce light deep into the room, making it appear larger. This is especially effective with near a window so the outdoors can be reflected.
Use glass-front or mirrored cabinet doors to make spaces feel large and uncluttered. Large, expansive mirrors over vanities, mirrored wardrobe doors or a floor-to-ceiling wall of mirrors (combined with our decorating suggestions) can make even the smallest of spaces seem larger.
3. Arrange Furniture At Angles
Arrange some of your larger pieces of furniture at a angle. You don't have to place the furniture at an exact 45 degree angle, often a lesser angle looks best if you can balance the look with another furniture piece.
Setting your furniture at an angle works because the longest straight line in any given room is it's diagonal. When you place your furniture at an angle, it leads the eye along the longer distance, rather than the shorter wall. As an added bonus, you often get some additional storage space behind the piece in the corner, too!
4. Scale Furniture
Keep furnishings in scale with the rooms. In small rooms, use slim rockers, open-back chairs or a simple sofa or love seat rather than overstuffed furnishings to avoid overpowering the space.
There are stores that deal exclusively in furniture for apartments and mobile homes. Despite its slightly smaller size, scaled-down furniture can be beautiful. An open headboard is best for a small room. When furnishing, keep the view at eye level unobstructed. Taller furnishings should be placed at the end of the room opposite its main entry.
For apartments in New Jersey go to Raritan Crossing. They are pet friendly apartments and New Brunswick NJ apartments . Rentals near Metropark and apartments in Middlesex county. For apartments in central NJ this is the place for you.

2008-04-01T18:46:00.001-07:00

Report: NJ apt market slowed - New Jersey apartment market - Brief Article - Statistical Data IncludedReal Estate Weekly, Sept 4, 2002 E-mail Print Link Marcus & Millichap Real Estate Investment Brokerage Company, the nation's largest real estate investment brokerage firm, recently released its Apartment Research Report for the Northern and Central New Jersey market, which finds that the apartment market has slowed along with the surrounding economy, but market fundamentals are still strong.
"Northern New Jersey's popularity among apartment investors continues due to its low construction, high occupancies and overall stable performance," comments David E. Thurston, regional manager of the firm's Fort Lee, N.J., office. "In the short term, the current economic slowdown has harnessed rent and price growth, but market fundamentals and the long-term outlook remain positive."
More Articles of Interest Hilton...Apartment seekers...Fedders acquires 80%...Tom...David Cronheim... Most Popular Publications in Business Business WireBlack EnterpriseReal Estate WeeklyLos Angeles Business ...Communication WorldMore » Following are some of the most significant aspects of the report:
* Local employment will rebound in 2003 after ending this year down only 0.5 percent. In 2001 the Northern New Jersey economy managed to maintain marginally positive growth and a stable employment base. This is somewhat deceiving, however, as job losses in many sectors were camouflaged by a 5 percent increase in F.I.R.E. sector employment between September and December. New York-based firms that had to leave Manhattan to find temporary facilities in Northern New Jersey caused this largely short-term increase.

* Apartment construction is slowing throughout the region although rehab projects continue in Newark. Apartment completions throughout the market should total less than 3,000 units, with three out of four of these projects being constructed in the Newark MSA. The downward trend of construction should continue into 2003. Total multi-family building permits totaled less than 2,500 units in 2001, the lowest level since 1998.
* Despite low single-family home affordability throughout the region, new home sales have impacted rental demand. Not known as a particularly affordable single-family housing market, new home sales have dampened rental demand. Affordability rates vary from a low of 37.2% in the Jersey City MSA to 58% in the Newark MSA, compared to 64% for the overall United States. However, historically low interest rates are pulling tenants out of the rental market into the first-time home-buying market.
* Rents are stable across the market, except for high-end units, which are experiencing concessions and weak demand. Overall, rents will remain relatively flat through year-end but with owners raising rents in rent-controlled markets. Once the economy shows signs of healthy growth, rents will start to climb again.
Rents in this market, like occupancies, have remained relatively stable since last summer. Currently, luxury units have the weakest rent performance and are experiencing concessions and some rent declines.
* Sales prices continue to rise as available product is very thin in the market. Apartment prices continue to rise, in some submarkets significantly, due to the lowest inventory of product in many years. Buyer demand and a low inventory of investment properties will continue to drive prices slightly higher during the remainder of 2002. However, if interest rates and/ or energy costs rise significantly, price levels will stabilize or could even begin to erode.
For a copy of the complete Northern-and Central New Jersey Apartment Research Report, as well as reports on 27 other markets nationwide, visit our website at www.marcusmillichap.com.

For apartments in New Jersey go to Raritan Crossing. They are pet friendly apartments and New Brunswick NJ apartments . Rentals near Metropark and apartments in Middlesex county. For apartments in central NJ this is the place for you.