1 Bedroom Apartments Ottawa

Posts Tagged ‘Moving’

When your days are packed with meetings, appointments, after-work exercise and catching up with friends, the last thing you want to fuss about at the end of a long day is your living quarters. 

With time being such a valuable commodity, apartment living frees up your time to spend it how you really want.

Here are some reasons behind why more and more professionals are opting for the low maintenance lifestyle of apartment living.

1. Safety In Numbers

When you lead a busy schedule, the last thing you want to worry about is security back home.  Choosing to live in an apartment, rather than a stand-alone house, offers the age-old adage of safety in numbers.  Most apartments have security guards, which discourages opportunities for crime.  With 24-hour emergency service and an on-site building manager, you can feel secure in knowing you are protected at all times.

Apartments are built with residents’ safety in mind.  Fire safety plans, emergency stairwells and exits, smoke alarms in every apartment and fireproof concrete floors and walls minimize of a widespread apartment fire. As well, the building’s fire panels are monitored 24/7, and should the alarm be activated, the fire department will be there within minutes – giving you total peace of mind when it comes to your safety and security.

2. Convenience at Your Fingertips

Apartments offer you the convenience of having many amenities right on site.  In addition to laundry facilities and plentiful storage space, some apartments also have pools, saunas and convenience stores – great for people who prefer to buy food as needed, rather than shopping in bulk to stock up on weekly items.

All of these on-site conveniences enable you to better manage your time because you aren’t required to go out of your way to get what you need.

Apartments are usually situated near bus routes, allowing you easy mobility and quick access around town.   Because location is a huge factor when considering which apartment to rent, most apartments are established near grocery stores, cafes and pubs to make life more pleasant for the tenants.

3. Enhanced Social Opportunities

Apartments are excellent for people who value self-reliance, but don’t want to live entirely in isolation.  Many apartments contain communal areas such as exercise rooms, recreation rooms, or even party rooms that can be rented out – all of which offer excellent opportunities to meet and mingle with other tenants.

Apartments are very accommodating of guests – most apartments have a visitors’ parking area and some even offer guest rooms.

4. Kinder on the Wallet

Smaller in size than a house,  apartment electricity and hydro bills are usually much cheaper, particularly if you share your apartment and can divide the bills among others.

Apartments are usually rented on a term contract, with a minimum rent period.  This living arrangement suits professionals who change jobs often, or work in different areas of town, and want the freedom to change apartments to move closer to work accordingly.

All maintenance work is paid out of the property manager’s pocket, not your own.  With no long-term overheads, this leaves you financially free to save your money for travel, hobbies or even higher education if you intend to return to studying.

5.  The Good Life

When you live in an apartment, you are not required to look after lawns and gardens.  Nor do you have to fix any problems with leaky faucets, flooded toilets, dents in walls or peeling paint.  Plus, most apartments have 24-hour emergency maintenance service, so if something goes wrong, there’s no need to spend valuable time sifting through the Yellow Pages searching for the right type of repair company. This frees up you up to focus on your professional or social life.

Record high occupancy rates are becoming a slight hurdle for apartmentites in finding a new place to live. If you love where you currently live, the pool, fitness center, closet space, and the neighbor’s dog—then by all means stay—you’re doing great. But if you’re thinking you might like a change when your lease expires— HEADS UP!

Vacancy’s down, occupancy is up. Why? Well you don’t have to be a brilliant apartmentite to clue into the fact that it’s still cheaper to rent than to own. Some journalists are making noise about a housing slowdown. Call me crazy, but when I hear “slowdown” I think of falling prices and that’s just not happening. House prices remain in the middle to upper stratosphere and that has more of us choosing (quite wisely in my view) to rent our homes.

Unemployment’s down, job growth is up. In fact, job growth in Texas, for example, is running at 2.4%. Doesn’t sound like much, but Economists get arrhythmia over numbers like that. Why? Well 2.4% job growth is actually twice the National average, and that’s sucking people there from other states. Bottomline: competition for apartment homes is getting stiffer.

So what? Well again, if you are happy where you are- congratulations and stay. But if you’re ready for a change: shop early and shop well. If you’re like me and have certain tendencies of the procrastinatory sort, this may not come naturally. Still it’s definitely the best thing to do.

So seize the mouse! Log on, tune in, and find the right apartment home for you EARLY! If you plan to move this winter, shop now. If you plan to move in the spring, shop now. It’s a free country, there’s no law that says we have to procrastinate. The point is

Apartment Home Living will match you with the right apartment home well before you need to move into it, so you will be set up!

In fact, now is a great time to shop because the winter months are the slowest months in apartments-for-lease-land. You’ll have a better chance of finding what you want. And while you’re out looking for your next apartment, don’t forget to look for signs of intelligent life.

When searching for an apartment for rent many of us concentrate on amenities, features, and price which are all very important things to focus on, but often one extremely important factor is overlooked.  Location! It’s a HUGE deal when you are apartment shopping. Don’t overlook it.The biggest factor in why location is important is saving yourself on GAS. There is no doubt that gas prices can get outrageous from time to time, so having a place that is somewhat close to your work or school is can end up saving yourself some ducats.  The average 15-20 minute commuter can spend a big chunk of their pay in gas per week going to and from work alone. If you live in an apartment within biking or walking distance from school or work, not only do you have the opportunity to be physically fit just from you commute, but you also have the opportunity to save yourself some hard earned cash.  Another thing to factor in when considering location is where the nearest grocery store or shopping center is. If you are having to drive 20 miles to pick up a 6 pack, you are not doing yourself any justice.  Not just that, but what about all of the other little things? Getting your prescriptions refilled, visiting your bank, getting Mittens to the vet, or filling up your tank.  All of these things and whatever else you need to do to get things done daily, should factor into your decision on location. You should also think about the places that you like to hang out. It won’t make a lot of sense to hang out at your favorite spot downtown if you live out in the burbs.  Pick a spot that is close to your favorite hangout.  Then you have the whereabouts of your significant others or your friends and family. You should always take into account their locations in relation to yours. You’d hate to get an apartment that is close to work yet is 50 miles from your girlfriend who you drive to see several times a week.  And if you are that far…she’ll never come see you either. So make sure and pick a happy medium. It’s very important to weigh all of these location factors in when deciding on the best place for you.  If you can find a place that is within a mile from all of these places…YOU ARE SET!!! Good luck and if you have any questions…let us know…We have answers.

Moving into an apartment can be a stressful experience – not just for you, but for your pet as well. Here are a few tips to help make your cuddly critters feel at home in your new apartment rental.

Check the Rules First

Before you move into your apartment with your pet, always check with your landlord and your city department first to see if there are any rules and regulations you have to follow. Some cities and municipalities have specific by-laws that may require you to leash your pet at all times or limit the number of animals you can have in one residence.

In addition, some landlords have their own “in-house” rules regarding pets (such as liability for damages done to the property by animals or rules concerning the health and cleanliness of your pets), while some still don’t allow pets in their apartments at all. Any rules about pets and apartments should be clearly outlined on your lease.

Choose the Right Pet for Your Apartment

Cats, small dogs and birds are well suited to apartment living. However, before adding a pet to your apartment, it is important to consider whether or not doing so is right for you. Especially for those used to living with animals in a larger house, some people may find that living with a pet in an apartment – especially smaller one-bedroom apartments – to be rather undesirable in the long run.

Caring for Your Cat

Most apartment cats become “indoor cats” by necessity. However, that doesn’t mean they’re still not interested in the outside world. An easy-to-install perch or ledge attached to the windowsill will give your cat a nice view of the world beyond your apartment. Also, remember that your cat needs plenty of exercise, and in a smaller living space, that means you’ll need more toys and climbing structures to allow the cat to act on its natural behaviours like stalking, pouncing, playing and scratching.

Devoted to Your Dog

One of the most important issues for caring for a dog is adequate exercise. Unfortunately, this can become quite difficult while living in an apartment. Without a big backyard to play in, apartment renters have to be sure to take time out of their day to take their dog for regular walks. As a general rule, any dog should be given at least two walks per day and a selection of safe toys to keep them physically and mentally stimulated while you’re away from the apartment.

Apartment Risks for Pets

Apartment buildings provide unique risks for pets and their owners. Perhaps the single biggest risk of living in an apartment for rent with pets is the chance that your furry friend will fall from the balcony or jump through a window. If you decide to bring your pet onto the balcony, make sure that your pet is secured with a harness and leash and remember to never leave your pet unattended. However, many owners prefer not to take their pets outside on the balcony at all – this option is perhaps the best approach for accident prevention.

Talk to your veterinarian about living with your pet in a high-rise apartment. He or she will help you to better understand the issues involved.

If you’re renting an apartment, you probably know that a portion of your apartment rent can be deducted from your taxes. However, you might not know that you can also deduct certain moving expenses from your next tax return, including transportation, packing and storage costs.

You Can Deduct Moving Expenses If …

To be able to claim moving expenses from your taxes, your move has to fit in one of the following categories:

·        You moved to your new home or new apartment to start a job or a business, or to attend full-time post-secondary courses at a university, college or other educational institution.

·        Your new place of residence is at least 40 kilometres closer to your workplace or school than your previous home.

·        You moved from one place in Canada to another place in Canada.

Eligible Moving Expenses:

The Canada Revenue Agency allows you to deduct reasonable amounts that you paid for moving yourself, your family and your household effects, including:

·        Transportation costs associated with moving from your old residence to your new one (e.g., gas, meals, and accommodation).

·        Transportation and storage costs for your household effects (e.g., packing, hauling, storage and insurance).

·        The cost of revising your legal documents and driver’s license to reflect the address change,

·        The costs associated with disconnecting and switching over your utility hookups (e.g., cable, Internet, phone, hydro and gas).

·        A maximum of 15 days’ living expenses near new or old residence (e.g., hotels and meals).

·        The cost of cancelling your old lease.

·        The cost of selling your old residence (including advertising, notary or legal fees, real estate commissions and mortgage penalties).

·        If applicable, the costs associated with maintaining heat and power in a vacant old residence.

Expenses That Are Not Deductible:

Although the list above covers many of the costs associated with moving to a new apartment, there are many expenses that are not deductible (including some that are similar in nature to those that can be claimed). These include:

·        A loss on the sale of your previous home.

·        Expenses for work done to make your previous home more saleable.

·        Transportation expenses for house-hunting trips before your move.

·        Mail-forwarding costs.

·        Expenses to replace items such as drapes, carpets and toolsheds.

Be sure to keep all of your receipts and documents supporting your claims – even if it’s not necessary to send them with your tax return, the CRA may want to see them at a later date.

Please keep in mind that the information presented in this article is very general and is subject to change, as tax laws are modified on a frequent basis. For specific details about which moving expenses you can claim, the maximum amount you can claim and the forms you will need to make your claim, be sure to check out the Canada Revenue Agency’s website or meet with a professional accountant.

Here’s how it went down. Last Sunday, my buddy Schultz was over at my apartment. He’s the type of guy that is highly intelligent, but has the common sense of a stapler. He got like a 1300 on his SAT, but can’t match his socks (and even forgets to put on shoes sometimes). Anyhow, he was telling me how pissed off he was that he leased with locator. She apparently kept urging him, with profound glory, to lease at this one particular community. Well, that placed turned out to be a grade ‘A’ dump.

I rolled my eyes because I remember him telling me, literally, the same thing last year, and the year before, and the year before that. Stubborn much? I guess he will never learn. It’s like a toddler’s beloved little puzzle box that has shaped pegs that go into shaped holes. Eventually you should learn that the round peg doesn’t go into the square hole.

Friends, please listen very closely. Here’s a quick thought about apartment hunting: Apartment Locators might seem like a good quick option in finding a place, but they may rush you into picking a certain apartment because they get fat cash when you sign that lease. That’s most of their single motivation—not your happiness. I highly recommend using our personality matching engine at http://www.apartmenthomeliving.com instead.

I want you to compare places, be happy, and actually find the home you want to live in. So, grab your square peg, get on our website, and we’ll help you find the square hole or the right apartment. I want you to be happy and not insane. If anything…I want you insanely happy!

Visit ApartmentHomeLiving.com for more information on apartments and living for fun!

Fees will range depending on the rules set by a particular community, but as a general rule you will find the following fees in place at most apartment communities. Be sure and keep yourself a handy copy of your lease agreement as that little packet of paper should contain information on all the fees that you may have to watch out for. We, at Apartment Home Living.com, have put together a list of the most commonly seen fees and fines to put you in the know of where your money may go.

1) Application fee- On some properties it’s low, some it’s higher. Some even waive this fee as a move-in special, so be sure to ask. This is a one-time fee when you apply for an apartment, but still a fee none the less.

2) Deposit- This isn’t technically a fee, but is still a cost to factor in when moving to a new place. In most cases deposits go up proportionally by the size of the apartment, but the amount determined for the deposit ranges from community to community. If you are looking to save some cash in this area be sure to shop around at different places and find out what the deposits are. If you are lucky, you might even find a $0 deposit special and not have to pay a dime here.

3) Pet Fee/Deposit- Chico may have only been $20 from the Wal-Mart parking lot when you picked him out of that litter of tiny barking black and brown muzzles, but he may set you back $200, $500, or even $750 for a pet fee/deposit. Sometimes you will even find that you may have to pay a monthly pet rent to keep little Chico at your apartment. A pet fee or pet rent is usually non-refundable, while if only a pet deposit is required you may have a chance of re-cooping that money as long as Chico doesn’t do any damage to the apartment. Usually the cost of cleaning the carpet will more than likely be taken out of the pet deposit however.

In terms of fees or rent pets are sometimes negotiable. There may be factors that help influence the cost related to your little mongrel. If Chico’s a cat, De-clawing may give you a lower rate. A lot of communities are more flexible on their rules regarding cats. Make sure and ask lots of questions and weigh the options.

4) Late Fees- Invest in some sticky notes to remind you to pay your rent on time. Unfortunately, there are generally hefty fines accessed every time your rent is late after a certain period of time as defined by your lease. It can go up to $50 a day in some cases, with usually a maximum amount at some point (right before you’re evicted). So it’s very important to get that rent in on time.

5) Garbage, Patio Fees- You should try to always keep trash from sitting by your door or on your porch. Many communities access fees for unkempt property, including trashy doorsteps and patios. Saving a little spending money and getting a little exercise is definitely worth the extra steps to the dumpster.

If your community offers a trash pick-up service, make sure to only leave trash outside of your door on the designated days. Putting it out on the wrong day may end up in a fine.

6) Feces Fine- Walking the dog around the community’s courtyard, make sure to pick up after the dog. It’s much better to bag now than beg later.

7) Parking Fee- Most apartment communities include free parking stickers, but occasionally some do have fees to obtain one.
Key/Lock Replacement Fee- It happens to all of us at some point in our lives. We lose our keys. Most apartments will access a fee to replace a lost or stolen key as well as an additional fee to change the door lock for your safety.

9) Noise Violations/ Fines- Having a bunch of parties? If the neighbors complain about the noise to the police, you may be looking at a hefty noise violation ticket. The apartments may also have a fine or other type of corrective action for noise pollution. It’s important to have a lot of fun, but try to keep the noise down a little.

10) Redecorating Fee- After you move out, if the apartment isn’t left in the exact condition it was when you moved in there will more than likely be a redecorating fee. Usually this is deducted from your initial deposit return amount and covers and repainting, carpet cleaning, general apartment cleaning, etc that needs to be done after you leave. If you extensively damage the apartment while living there, you may be looking at charges that exceed the deposit amount. The best advice is to clean like your mama would approve before you move out.

While these seem the most common fees and fines found amongst the growing number of apartment communities, there may be additional ones to be aware of. Make sure to look over the lease well and discuss any concerns with the leasing agent before you sign it. The best way to avoid fees is to know about them first.

For more info on this and many other apartment issues visit Apartment Home Living.com .

Renting a bachelor or studio apartment is a great choice, especially for students and young professionals, as these apartments can be incredibly affordable and convenient. Despite these advantages, however, many potential renters still can’t get over the lack of living space available in a bachelor apartment for rent.

Yes, the apartment might be small (compared to other one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments), but that doesn’t mean you have to think small! Here are just a few of the things you can do to open up the space and make your bachelor apartment look bigger than it really is:

Simplify Your Life

If it’s your first time renting a bachelor apartment, you’ll probably have to take a hard look at everything you own and decide what you really need to bring with you to your new apartment. Remember, space is at a premium – there’s no room for extra junk that will just sit around.

Put a higher priority on items that can save space by performing multiple functions. For starters, consider your bed. Is there enough room in your apartment for both a bed and a couch? Or would you be making better use of your space by combining the two items with a futon or convertible sofa?

While you can’t bring everything you own into your new apartment, you can keep it elsewhere. Many apartment buildings have onsite storage lockers, and most cities have numerous self-storage facilities to choose from.

Stack ‘Em Up

When it comes to making more space in your apartment rental, stacking is key. For example, if you decide to keep your regular bed, try putting it on risers and buying a set of under-the-bed storage containers – doing so will save space on your shelves as well as in your dresser and closets.

Speaking of the closet, stacking is key here, too. Adding multi-tiered shelves will give you more space for towels, shoes, and well, pretty much anything. Adding a behind-the-door organizer that hooks onto the top of your closet door will also give you a multitude of options with minimal space requirements.

As an extension to the stacking concept, you could also install a shelf that runs along the wall through your entire apartment (be sure to ask your landlord or building superintendent before doing any serious installations, of course). This type of shelf is great for storing books or various knick-knacks at eye level, simultaneously showing off your collections while keeping them from being cluttered elsewhere.

Keep It Clean

Of course, it’s important not to add too much to the walls – if there isn’t enough empty space, the room will feel crowded and small (even if the space is technically being put to good to use). Instead of cluttering the walls with shelf after shelf, you might also want to try to use mirrors and lighting, which will make the apartment appear bigger and brighter.

Living and Working from a Bachelor Apartment

Whether you’re a freelancer, entrepreneur, or small business owner, turning your studio apartment into viable office space is extremely important.

An efficient home office doesn’t have to be in its own separate room. Both desktop and laptop computers are getting smaller, and cell phones are becoming more and more versatile. Wireless technology is quickly becoming the norm, meaning you can fit your equipment anywhere it needs to go – even into the smallest of makeshift workspaces.

You might not have room for a full-size desk inside your bachelor apartment. No need to worry – you can set up a drop-leaf table with a chair alongside it. When you’re ready to work, just open up the table, pull up the chair, and turn on your laptop.

If you need to borrow space from a bedroom, it’s important to separate your work life from your home life. You can do this by tucking your laptop into an armoire, or by setting up a folding screen or room divider between your desk and your bed.

In the end, creating more space in a bachelor apartment is all about making some sacrifices, thinking smarter, and being creative. And remember, it’s not how big the space is – it’s what you do with it that counts.

My last apartment was fantastic…beautiful hill country views; a swimming pool that looked more like a resort in the Caribbean than an apartment community’s; awesome monthly parties where I actually made friends…in essence, the perfect apartment community.

Unfortunately, I rented this apartment at the height of a booming apartment market economy…so with a teeny, tiny special. Oh well. I often thought it was worth it when I lounged by that pool.

Times Change

Well, times and markets change. In fact, each market, submarket, city, and neighborhood can yield totally different concessions and specials. So just asking a friend what special he got may not cut it.

An apartment community’s special could be totally different from up north in a suburb to down south in the heart of the city. Pricing and specials depend on surrounding apartment construction, overall occupancy, floor plan occupancy, desirability of the area, and of course, that ever increasing interest rate pushing more and more people to stay in apartments. It can make it all quite confusing.

Where can you find specials?

So where can the average joe go to find out apartment communities’ specials? How about the web?

Websites like Apartment Home Living.com are proud to showcase apartment community’s starting rates on all floor plans offered, as well as their randomly changing specials, to help each renter determine the starting specials at communities. Just look on the left side of each of our ads, underneath the main photo. There are such a variety of specials out there. You’ll find things like $0 deposits, $300 off first months rent, and free application fees.

Sometimes, these specials are on top of already great specials that individual communities offer when you call or walk-in. So you will always want to call each community that you’re most interested in to see if the floor plan you like features an individual special. You might get lucky.

Summer = specials big and small

As summertime arrives, specials will become less frequent. It’s a great idea to hop online, complete an apartment search engine’s personality matching search, then check out your matches. Most sites will list specials, so you’ll know what you are looking at.

Many properties may list “call for specials.” Don’t be aggravated by this. Accept it as up-to-the minute consistency. Many specials do change day to day and week to week, as different floor plans change in availability.

This is your best avenue to begin the discussion process as to what exactly sets this community apart and why you really may want to check it out before deciding completely on price alone. Check out our other article on what to ask when you call.

Then call. You never know—your favorite place may be priced right where you need it—and right when you need it.

For more tips on apartment hunting and living in apartments check out: Apartment Home Living.com

I am excited to try out one of those new culinary pseudo-classes that let you show up and prepare your own meals that are supposed to last you for about a month.

The only reason I have hesitated is I’m a bit of a picky eater. I don’t care for vegetables, and I also don’t care for seafood (an unpopular decision in this era of sushi, so I tell people I’m allergic).

Another words, I don’t want to show up expecting chicken and find out that half the menu is seafood. So, in essence, I am chicken to show up. Stop with the booing…that’s funny.

Well, apartment shopping is the exact same thing for me. I’m a bit chicken. I need to find an affordable place, but I want to make sure I end up in an apartment that I really like. I want it to match my tastes, my life. Basically, I want it to be perfect.

Not much in life is perfect, so how can I get close? Tip 1: Think through the specifics

Think through your location: location to family, friends, work and nightlife. Who do I need to live by? Who do I see weekly? Can I stand to commute 40 minutes if it means I save $75 a month? Do I need to live downtown or will the suburbs suffice? Do I go out three times a week, or twice a month?

Think through your budget: financial planners say only 30% of your income should be spent on your housing costs. Not a big problem if you make $6,000 a month. A little bit more of a problem when you make $1,600 a month. What’s your realistic, total budget? And even though I may want a one-bedroom with a den, can I only afford an efficiency?

Think through your pet situation: I have a dog. He’s a miniature poodle. Would I be willing to part with Ziggy? Never. Can I afford to shell out $500 for a pet deposit. Never. Could I afford $250 if I saved up beforehand? Possibly. Think through if you plan on getting that bulldog you’ve always wanted. First, does the community you want to live in even accept pets? If so, how much will the deposit cost? You may need to save up, or bow out. Tip 2: Research your options

Now it’s time to compare. I like this catalog for a quick reference, but I also like to go online to look at virtual tours and compare amenities. At apartmenthomeliving.com, I can fill out a personality profile that matches me to the apartments that are right. It even goes a step further to find out what else I like. Do I want a pool? Do I work out? You betcha. There’s a match out there and I want to see all the choices.Tip 3: Visit your top choices and enlist the help of friends

Seeing is believing. I know that the product itself is terribly important to me. I have to visit to know it feels good to me when I drive in. I want lush landscaping. I want good lighting in the living room, and a pool with a nightlife around it. I want a clean apartment. I can only find out these details by visiting.

While I’m visiting, do I like my leasing professional? Does she seem knowledgeable? Friendly? Does she answer my questions about maintenance to where I feel comfortable? Do I trust this person? Because this is who I’m going to get on the phone when something goes wrong in my apartment.

And two pairs of eyes are better than one! Do my friends agree this is a cool place to live? Will they visit me here to hang out? Do they agree with what I think? Make your decision

Finally, decide what’s the best match for you. I knew when I picked Ziggy it was love. I know when I pick my next apartment it will at least be lust! And that can last at least a year. Happy hunting!

Visit Apartment Home Living for more tips on getting the most out of your apartment living experience.