Hey Apartmentites! Brianne here, your apartment decorating and style expert, and I want to share with you a little insight on making your apartment fit the mold of the motto at Apartment Home Living.

Okay, so at this point I think it is safe to admit that there is a huge variety of things that people “Live 4″ out there, but one specific “live for” is our motto around here and it rings true with just about everyone…(except those sad and forlorned emo-kids.) We (most of us at least) Live for Fun!

So why not let it show in your apartment decorations too? Here are a few simple ideas to help you decorate your apartment to reflect playfulness and energy.

1. Keep the Dining Area Simple- Try a small wooden table and don’t decorate it too heavily. Allow the wood grain to shine and show off the simplicity. Let all the attention be put on the furniture. It becomes cheaper for you and makes a bolder statement. Avoid bulky drapes and let the sun shine through using light fabrics and light colors on the windows. You want you kitchen area to feel fresh and rejuvenating. The light provides energy!

2. Extra Space Can Be Great- If you have a ton of extra space in your apartment, turn some of it into an area for you to do the things that you really enjoy. Whether its a game station or a reading spot, maximize your storage and space possibilities by building shelves to house your favorite games, DVD’s, or books! Nothing says “fun” like having a space that is purely meant to celebrate what you do for “fun.”

3. Mirrors and Candles- So you want to have some really energetic, expressive, and fun walls but not sure how to do it? Easy. Take a bunch of left over or old mirrors and attach them to a wall at varying levels first. Right there, you suddenly have created an “open” feel that goes beyond fun and free. Then if you are feeling like really make the place great. Take a ton of candles (if allowed in your lease) and place them on small shelves in front of each mirror. It gives off a classic almost Victorian type feel in a fun and energetic way!

4. Accent Wall!- Don’t waste the time and energy painting an entire room. Instead, roll one solid (and very bold) color of the most important wall in a room and let it draw all of the attention. In your living room, make this either the wall behind your entertainment center or couch. In your bedroom, make it the wall behind the headboard. In the bathroom, make it the wall with the mirror. Remember…everything on that wall is going to stand out more, so don’t put your ugly old stuff there.

5. Put Your Life Into Your Environment- You should always have your apartment reflect yourself. In fact, it should be a spitting image! If you have a bold, bright sense of humor, using bright colors and letting in lots of light can really help match your apartment to you. One of my friends once framed a dozen different jokes and hung them all throughout his apartment. Everywhere you went…you could have a laugh. If music is your thing, how about framing cd inserts and hanging them throughout. If you can’t express yourself through the way your apartment looks and feels, when can you?!

If you follow these simple tips and have a little fun while decorating, your place will feel incredible in no time with energy and tons of flowing freedom!

For more info on the apartment lifestyle, check out ApartmentHomeLiving.com

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Cockroaches that sing! They use things in around the basement to make music. It was my favorite scene.

Help answer the question about apartment

If I rent a second apartment solely because it is closer to where I work can that rent be a tax deduction?
I work Mon Tue Thur Fri, I spend All day Sat and Sun in the apartment I share with my wife plus Friday, and Tuesday Nights. The only reason I rent the second apartment is becuse it is where my job is: 75 miles from the apartment I share with my wife, the only purpose for having the second apartment is for me to be near my job. So can I declare the rent on thesecond apartment a "work Expense" on my taxes?

About Author

At AHL Apartmentites have a platform to share their own stories, get great info & tips on apartment living, read Jeff’s entertaining blogs/stories, and have a ton of fun sharing their love of apartment living with others. Don’t forget to go and set up your own MyPlace page to really get the full Apartmentite experience!

You’ve looked up the information on thousands of apartments in catalogs and online. You’ve located the pictures, floor plans, maps, amenities, and details of the places you’re interested in. You’ve compiled the data for 10 communities to finally narrow the field and now comes…The phone call.

The dreaded phone call to find out about specific rental rates and to address all of those “call for specials” that you’ve gathered.

The key to success is in the phone call. The amateur apartment shopper begins the call cold, unprepared, fidgety, and nervous. “Do you have a one bedroom?” or “How much is your two-bedroom?” Apartment Home Living is here to help you be successful at finding the right apartment home by knowing what to ask.

Question 1: What size and when?

Begin the questioning any way you like, but your most important question is do they have the apartment you’re interested in available at your target move-in date.

It’s a common misconception that apartments are simply sitting empty, waiting on you to show up to lease them. This is frequently untrue. To work out for you, the community must have the apartment you want in the timeframe you need to move. If it isn’t available, unless you have some move-in date flexibility, you should go on to your next call.

Question 2: Do they take Fluffy?

If you have a pet, this question is as serious as a parent asking if this community will take their child. (By the way, all apartment communities will ALWAYS take actual children. Those little balls of energy are protected under the Fair Housing Act).

Unfortunately though, Fluffy isn’t protected under any laws and it’s completely up to the community if they’ll accept your dog, cat, sugar glider, or monkey. They set the rules regarding pets.

They also set the price to pay for the opportunity to keep your child-pet. Don’t choke if it’s over $300 per pet plus monthly pet rent. That can be a starting point for some properties. So be sure to check and see if you’ll be bringing Spot, then see if someone’s going to have to “spot” you some cash to pay the fees.

Question 3: What’s the #1 reason people love to live here?

This is the best and most straight forward way to find out what makes a community special. Is it the walking trail behind the property? The social atmosphere? The famous pork roast every July?

This question can be a key in setting one apartment community apart from another. The answer may be something that really peaks your interest or may unlock hidden potential in a place you wouldn’t be able to see from a picture or driving-by.

Question 4: How much?

Initially, it’s human nature to stop listening if we hear the price is remotely out of our budget. And yet, seeing an awesome apartment in person may actually sway us that it’s worth the extra cost.

Think about this: Have you bought a car that was more than you set out to spend? Have you paid more for that purse you just had to have (but didn’t know you had to have it until you saw it)? Gone on a vacation where you blew your budget?

Was it worth it? Nine times out of 10…Absolutely. So give cost an open mind before you say no to a place for breaking the bank. You might find it’s perfect in the end and well worth it.

Question 5: Do I qualify?

Asking the price question and overshooting your budget goals won’t matter if you don’t qualify for the apartment anyway.

What is the general qualifying criteria? Making about 3x the rent, having a clean criminal record (no felonies or crimes against persons), and no prior evictions.

What do you do if you don’t meet their criteria? You could keep looking for a place with less strict qualification restrictions or take the gamble of losing your application fee and/or deposit just to see if you qualify anyway.

Question 6: Do you have any specials?

Specials can change from day-to-day, so make sure to ask this question close to last. Remember to keep in mind that some of the best communities don’t have the best specials because they don’t need them. They’re special just for being so awesome.

Question 7: Can I set an appointment to come in?

Don’t you still need to visit to make the final judgement call? Yes you do.

At the end of all the other questions, if you’re still interested, ask to set an appointment to come in and take a tour. Seeing your possible new digs in person more than likely will be the best way to make a decision.

Now you have a little guide of the right questions to ask a leasing professional over the phone, so what are you waiting for? Hop on Apartment Home Living , find a some places in your area, and get on that phone!

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????????????????????????????????????????? A young man moves to the new place. He gradually makes a good relationship with neighbors that live in the same apartment. www.aokijun.net

Help answer the question about apartment

Apartment manager goes inside apartment several times when I am away. How normal is this?
I've been living in my apartment complex for about 1 year now and the apartment manager seems to make an excuse to go inside the place while I'm at work at least once every two months.

He has gone in for such reasons as: Checking water pressure, need to paint balcony even though it was newly painted, need to show to prospective renters of similar apartments, need to show to prospective mortgagers.

Is this normal or excessive?

I feel a little infringed upon.

About Author

As a Managing Partner of Apartment Home Living, Jeff wants to help you find the right apartment by getting to know you. At AHL Apartmentites have a platform to share their own stories, get great info & tips on apartment living, read Jeff’s entertaining blogs/stories, and have a ton of fun sharing their love of apartment living with others. Don’t forget to go and set up your own MyPlace page to really get the full Apartmentite experience!

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

Watch the video related to apartment

I loved this movie since I had been in high school…. here is its trailer!

Help answer the question about apartment

Apartment manager goes inside apartment several times when I am away. How normal is this?
I've been living in my apartment complex for about 1 year now and the apartment manager seems to make an excuse to go inside the place while I'm at work at least once every two months.

He has gone in for such reasons as: Checking water pressure, need to paint balcony even though it was newly painted, need to show to prospective renters of similar apartments, need to show to prospective mortgagers.

Is this normal or excessive?

I feel a little infringed upon.

About Author

As a Managing Partner of Apartment Home Living, Jeff wants to help you find the right apartment by getting to know you. At AHL Apartmentites have a platform to share their own stories, get great info & tips on apartment living, read Jeff’s entertaining blogs/stories, and have a ton of fun sharing their love of apartment living with others.

As apartment dwellers, we “Live for Fun.” Looking for some ideas to inject a little more fun into your lifestyle? Now you’re talking. Here’s a list of what makes apartment living fun, from A to Z…

Apartment living = freedom.

Balconies. Sublime.

Community events to socialize and spot the neighborhood hotties.

Dinner parties with neighbors and friends. No place like an apartment to find your inner Rachel Ray … or Emeril … or just nuke a Hot Pocket and kick back on the couch.

Extreme apartment makeover? Chose your own style, décor and feng shui that puppy.

Fact — you can (and should!) protect your stuff with renter’s insurance.

Gotta get some exercise? Hit they gym. It’s right downstairs.

Have a drink. Invite some friends. Hang out.

If it’s broke … not your problem! Maintenance will fix it.

Just a hop, skip and jump away from shopping centers, restaurants and of course “Targét”.

Kitchen with a fully-stocked snack cabinet? Heaven.

Laundry services? Convenient in your place or, if you share a laundry room, hide those skidmarks!

Many apartment communities are pet friendly. Bring a pooper scooper and you’re golden.

Nightly summer BBQ with fun-loving gang from upstairs and down the hall. Dogs are on!

One night stands in the privacy of your apartment? Aweeeesome.

Pool, fitness center, complimentary breakfast and tennis courts. Plenty of apartments offer these great

services. Find one!

Quality movie nights, TV show fan club groups and board games (no shame in “Taboo”). Be a kid.

Rock star parking directly in front of your building.

Sex. Fact: Apartment dwellers get it on more. Did we mention sex?

Trash pick up at your door or just down the hall ….take the smell outside!

Use your space as a fitness factory. Grab those free weights and sweat to the oldies in privacy.

Visitors welcome 24/7-or not. It’s your place, your rules.

Wireless internet signals picked up from your neighbors. They’re clueless.

Xebec is an actual word that starts with X. We could have gone with x-ray or xylophone but everyone does that.

You can walk around naked and no one will ever know. Remember, blinds closed please.

Zzzzz…in your own bedroom, complete with an attached bathroom and walk-in closet. YES!

Want to become part of this elite group of fun-loving apartment dwellers? What makes you happy is very much about you. That’s why Apartment Home Living offers an online matching service to fit your specific needs.

Live for fun. Visit www.apartmenthomeliving.com ApartmentHomeLiving.com and click on our “live for fun” tab to see other ways people are living for fun in their new apartments. Then join ‘em!

Watch the video related to apartment

Vin and Aaron score a super cheap apartment, and soon realize why. More @ FNDfilms.com

Help answer the question about apartment

If I rent a second apartment solely because it is closer to where I work can that rent be a tax deduction?
I work Mon Tue Thur Fri, I spend All day Sat and Sun in the apartment I share with my wife plus Friday, and Tuesday Nights. The only reason I rent the second apartment is becuse it is where my job is: 75 miles from the apartment I share with my wife, the only purpose for having the second apartment is for me to be near my job. So can I declare the rent on thesecond apartment a "work Expense" on my taxes?

About Author

As a Managing Partner of Apartment Home Living, Jeff wants to help you find the right apartment by getting to know you. At AHL Apartmentites have a platform to share their own stories, get great info & tips on apartment living, read Jeff’s entertaining blogs/stories, and have a ton of fun sharing their love of apartment living with others.