Everyone who lives in an apartment comes across the eclectic challenges of living on someone else’s property. If you’ve never lived in an apartment setting there are some things you might not expect. The water sometimes runs cold in the shower? Mail isn’t delivered directly to your door anymore? Questions you’ve never asked yourself before may arise. The more you know of what to expect the easier transition you’ll have. Have these next tips in mind before jumping into your next apartment.

Tip 1: Form a Healthy Relationship with Your Landlord 

Living on another person’s property comes with its own responsibilities. You can’t paint the walls whatever bright color you desire, your lawn must look neat and maintained, and you might not be able to have pets. Whatever situation you may find yourself in, one thing is certain, a healthy landlord relationship is critical for a comfortable living status. 

Make sure to consistently pay your rent on time and maintain a healthy rent-to-income ratio to form your credibility. This will grow the trust in your relationship and deem you as financially reliable. Always ensure transparency. If you’re honest with your landlord about owning a dog or having an extra person live with you, there won’t be any room for tension. When you start hiding things the situation becomes tricky and can quickly plummet south. Most importantly, make sure to get everything in writing. If you’re having issues, need maintenance help, or need to communicate it’s always safer to send an email to maintain a receipt of the conversation. 

Tip 2: Save On Energy 

Paying utilities bills is highly likely when living in an apartment. It’s a very rare occasion when your rent covers your utility bills and other amenities. To reduce an expensive bill every month, remain conscious of your energy usage. Take steps to not only help the planet but also help your wallet. 

Start by changing the lighting in your apartment. If your space doesn’t already come with energy efficient light bulbs buy some to drastically cut down your bill. This is an easy way to stop a costly problem from expanding. You’re going to also want to unplug electronics when they’re not being used from using energy and becoming this “phantom” power load. Additionally, attempt to cut down on your shower time to reduce your water bill. Continuously seek new ways to limit your consumption since the minor things tend to add up the fastest when living in an apartment.

Tip 3: Make it Your Home

When first moving into your place it may be difficult to make it feel like home. Sprucing up your spacy will make it homey and comfortable to end your day at. Think about a list of essential things you’d like to invest in. Maybe a comfortable sofa is important to you or a warm lavish rug is high up on your priority list. Consider everything you need to really make an apartment your home for a space that’s exclusive yours.

Use lamps, candles, or even a light up diffuser to set the tone in your living room. Lighting can make a compelling impact on a mundane area. Hang some art and display some photos of family and friends to personalize your main living area. For the bedroom, investigate a cozy quilt and display some mementos on your shelving. These two areas are going to need the most attention since you’re going to be inhabiting them most often. Cozying up a space in your apartment might not seem important at first but coming home to a place that doesn’t feel unique to you isn’t the most ideal feeling after a long day. 

Tip 4: Invest In Storage

Renting an apartment means a smaller space! It’s evident from the beginning that you won’t be so free to be messy or careless about your things when there’s not enough space to allow so. Give the matter some order and invest in storage for a piece of mind. Hiding stuff doesn’t fix the problem, tackle it head on with a trip to your local storage store. 

You’re going to want to start with some collapsible chairs. This might seem a bit tacky at first but, they’re cheap and they let you store chairs in small places. You can invest in some nicer ones later, but these give you an idea of how much space you have to work with and what you want your place to look like. Add shelves everywhere. Shelving may be your best friend if you own many books, knickknacks, or small items. A good number of shelves will give your small items a designated area and a nice display space. Find efficient ways to organize your clothes. A behind the door shoe holder can double as a space to put your socks, t-shirts, and even miscellaneous clutter.

Tip 5: Train Your Pet

If you own an indoor pet, they’re most likely house broken and trained to a mature extent. However, if you’re moving from a house with a yard your pet might have a difficult time acclimating to life indoors. An apartment doesn’t have much room for your fluffy best friend so you’re going to have to resort to some proper training. Gather resources from friends and family who have indoor pets. Ask around for tips or references to well-known trainers.

House breaking your pet is critical when living in an apartment, you want to avoid any noticeable stains on carpets as much as possible. If your pet is very vocal and tends to bark or make noise often, having a trainer or a camera will be necessary for when you’re not home to quiet them down. Some apartments have strict rules for rambunctious animals that can vary from a fine to an eviction. Additionally, taking your pet out as much as possible is going to be necessary if you have a larger animal that needs space. This will aid in releases pent up energy and avoid any of your furniture being destroyed or the walls being defaced.

Outro:

Living in an apartment is quite the adjustment for someone who hasn’t confronted this unique living situation. You’re under the rules of your landlord or property manager and now you must behave your best to live in your new space. Remember these tips to make your transition easier when you’re acclimating to your new space.