Tag Archives: apartment inspection

Five Things To Do Before Adopting a Pet For Your Apartment

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puppy

Sure, the puppy is adorable--but are you really ready to adopt it?

Adopting a pet is a big step that many people make impulsively at the sight of an adorable animal. To be sure that you’re ready to adopt a pet to join you in your pet-friendly TriBridge apartment, you’ll want to take these five steps:

  1. Assess the situation. Are you ready for a pet? Pets are expensive, take a lot of time, and require a lifelong commitment. Be sure that you’re ready to give a proper home to a pet you adopt.
  2. Do your homework. Before adopting a dog, be sure that you’ve researched the breeds. Breeds have different energy levels, grooming needs, etc. Find the dog that fits your life style.
  3. Before bringing an animal home, spend some time with them at the shelter to see if your personalities mesh.
  4. If adopting a puppy, be sure to tell your neighbors. It’s better to let them know ahead of time, as the puppy’s night time cries will make a lot of noise as they get used to their new surroundings.
  5. Talk to a vet. A vet will tell you what medical expenses to expect upfront with your new pet and will help talk you through the process.
Follow these steps to start a great new life with a pet in your TriBridge apartment!
Photo via Flickr. 

Apartment Cleaning Tip: Baseboards

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apartment baseboards

Baseboards don't have to be the worst part of your cleaning routine: Here are a few tips to make them easy.

Neat Freak, or just a tidy housekeeper? At some point, whether it’s daily or once a month, everyone cleans their apartment. While vacuuming, dusting, and mopping come natural to us, other cleaning projects slip our minds, and those are the ones that, when we move out or choose to do our spring cleaning, we are surprised to find filthy. Baseboards are a commonly forgotten cleaning project that, when left alone, can build up unsightly bits of dust and other small particles that came through your apartment. Usually baseboards prove difficult to clean thanks to their location at the bottom of the wall, but we have a few helpful tips to lighten their burden on your cleaning habits:

  • For the ones that are easily accessible, spray a sponge mop with your favorite all purpose cleaner, then run it along the baseboards.
  • All-purpose cleaning wipes are usually quick remove grit and grime without too much scrubbing, so consider using those to get your baseboards shining.
  • Use a dryer sheet to clean your baseboards or after you’ve scrubbed; they leave a light coating that helps repel dust.
What are your quick cleaning tips for your apartment? Share your tips in a comment.
Photo via Flickr. 

Winterize your TriBridge Residential Apartment

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I decided to go and get the window kits for H and my roomsAlthough most people do not consider southern winters as true winters, temperatures get pretty cold from November through February. The coldest weather occurs during January and February. I didn’t expect the cool air until late October, but we are feeling it in certain cities in the South. Right now, the breezes are nice.

If you like to save money and stay warm during the cooler months of the year, I have a few tips for you. Last year, I covered my windows with durable plastic. The process is easy and everything you need is explained on the window kit package. Visit Wal-Mart, Lowes, Home Depot, and Ace Hardware to find these window kits. Another way to save energy and increase heat requires reversing your ceiling fans and closing air vents to rooms you do not use. If you have a guest room but no guest, close the vents in that room.

MovingToday also suggest testing your smoke detector for safety reasons. You should also know proper procedures for your gas or wood fireplace before using it. I have one more tip for you; I have a door dog for my interior and outer doors. It is a foam filled cloth that blocks the cool air from entering a room and the warm air from escaping a room. Have a warm and safe winter in your TriBridge Residential apartment.

Image courtesy of Jinx! via Flickr

Preparing your home for the Fall season

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The first day of fall is less than a month away. The wind will begin to blow, temperatures will drop, and you will begin exchanging your wardrobe.

Folded clothes
Of course, you will not pack all of your summer clothes away immediately. Still, you must figure out how you will store your summer items before you fill your apartment and your closets with your fall jackets, sweaters, and pants. Do you have a designated space for your stored items?

Some apartments have a storage closets. Some TriBridge Residential apartments have walk in closets, so they are large enough to store items at the top or in the back of the closet. Those properties in warmer areas of the south, might not store summer clothes at all. Do you still wear shorts in the fall if you live in Florida or Texas?

Those of you who have patio or balcony furniture, Fox News suggests that you wipe the furniture and vacuum it before storing it in a dry place. Home Making Organized suggests reviewing your clothing before storing them. You do not want to use space storing items that you no longer want or can no longer wear. Put those items in a bag or box to donate or sell.

It also suggests cleaning your clothes before packing them away in storage containers with cedar chips or cedar blocks. You can purchase storage containers and cedar blocks at Wal-Mart, Target, Big Lots, Dollar General, or other discount stores.  Placing a cotton or lavender scented sachet will also keep your clothing smelling fresh. Packing the items neatly will also provide space to pack more items.

Image courtesy of Jon Yu via Flickr

Apartment Checklist: What to Look for Before Signing a Lease

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Apartment ChecklistAfter searching for a new apartment and exhausting all of your resources, it seems like you have finally found the community that is perfect for you.

Now what?

There are several things you need to do and check for before moving into a new apartment or community. First of all, you want to tour the actual unit you will be renting. While touring the potential apartment, check for the following items:

  • Plumbing: Faucets, toilets, and pipes should all work correctly.
  • Safety items: Smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, and fire extinguishers should operate correctly and be readily available.
  • Appliances: Oven, microwave, refrigerator, and anything else offered by the community should function properly.
  • Doors/walls/paint: Doors should have no trouble closing in their frames. Wall cracks, peeling, or a combination of the two may need repairs or be a sign of water seepage.
  • Electrical: Lights should work correctly. Bring an item to plug into the outlets throughout the unit to ensure they work properly.

The main thing to remember is not to rush through an apartment inspection. You want to make sure you are comfortable and safe for as long as you live in the community.

Once you find an apartment/community that meets all of your needs, just run through this checklist, and you will be good to go!

What are some other tips for inspecting a potential apartment before signing the lease? Share your suggestions by leaving a comment!

Image courtesy of Damon Duncan