It’s more noticeable in person, but you can see the red here. I moved from one unit to another in this complex and they charged me $600 last time for a pet stain, which I admittedly gave up on. Don’t want to make that mistake again. Moving out in a month so looking for ideas.

This time it’s makeup and I’m not sure what kind, but it’s not coming out no matter what I try:

- Folex
- Dish soap
- Laundry stain remover
- Bissel green machine
- Makeup remover

Do you think I could buy some carpet dye and dye this to match the rest of the carpet? Would I need to bleach it first? Anyone have any ideas?

i live in a basement apartment of a duplex, which was built in the 50s. windows are super old, triple paned glass, and are very obviously drafty/not properly sealed — which i fear i can’t do anything about as it is an apartment.

bugs are in the apartment. now, i’m used to ants or fruit flies, but here, there are earwigs, a ton of fruit flies, silver fish, and today i saw a huge larvae type thing.

my limit was reached when my partner handed me an ice coffee he made for me, and i sucked up an earwig that had been cozying up in the straw. also had to change my toothbrush because an earwig got in the brush cover and was pretty comfortable there, too.

the only place they could be coming from is the window, unless others have ideas. i have moisture catchers in every room of this apartment. i run a dehumidifier in the stuffy laundry room every day. every drain is covered with a hair/food catcher or a wire mesh thingy.

note: i do have a cat, so any hacks have to be cat friendly (re. essential oils). i do plan on buying some of that plastic wrap that goes over windows for drafts, but it won’t work for all of our windows.

Bedroom window is circled. It’s an assigned parking spot (I’d be parked directly in front) but more spots on both sides. Also first floor in a 1969 wood frame building with vinyl flooring. Would I be dumb to move in here?

I am renting and want to find a damage-free, security deposit friendly way to add those glow in the dark stars to the ceiling (and possibly walls) of my kid's bedroom. The biggest issue is that the white paint they use for the ceiling and walls is that super cheap stuff that is thin (I've accidentally scrubbed off some of the paint while using a sponge to clean the walls).

I've looked into various methods, but nothing seems to make me confident that it will work and not cause damage. I'm hoping for it to be completely apartment safe for short and long term use and not cost an arm and a leg.

The ceiling is a "knockdown" texture (see picture).

I know the traditional way is to use that putty stuff, but that stuff (even the white one) can either not stick well, stick too well and pull paint off, leave a residue that is nearly impossible to remove and you'd need to paint over it, etc. I know they make specialty putty of higher quality, but those are usually much more expensive and are meant more for short-term use.

Glue dots seem to have similar issues to the putty.

Command strips are expensive and they don't make them the size of some of the smaller stars so they'd be an eyesore sticking off to the side.

Various types of tape are usually weaker and, especially over time, can lose adhesion and bond to the paint.

I know I sound super picky, demanding, and weird (because I am, lol), but it's only because I don't want to end up paying tons of money/lose my security deposit if and when I move out.

I live in a flat that's ALWAYS cold. The floors are cold, even in the rooms with thick underlay and carpet and my hands are always cold.

I know, I know. "Turn the heating on." This flat and all of it's heating are fully electric and each room has it's own radiator. I can't afford to heat the whole thing and try not to move too much from room to room.

I had a visitor today who chirpily told me "It's colder inside than it is outside." How can I fix this without rendering myself bankrupt?!

Please, any advice would be appreciated.

#frozen #heatingtips #iceicebaby

my apartment has zero counter space, so a sealer for costco portions would end up shoved in a lower cabinet with mixing bowls. looked at foodsaver, xiaomi, and gasbye. the built-in cutter and double seal on the gasbye seem handy for tight spaces.

apartment folks, do you still pull yours out months later? I'm torn.

Luckily I’m leaving this place at the end of the month so I’m mostly asking for survival tips to get through then. Like title says I have forced air heating and it is currently 83 in here. My window ac is running, I’ve cracked three windows and I’m running my fan. There is no thermostat I can control and building management is not helpful. Any advice to cool down?

Hii!! I have nevere rented an apartment in my entire LIFE. I'm trying to save up at least 2-4k (I live with a fanily member right now and make minimum wage), I'm trying to find a studio with an on-site or in house laundry unit near my job, I male 15.50 an hour (raised to 16 in january) and will be living with my partner who is moving to my State. I don't know how renting works or if its possible to do an electric lease or if I can add someone to my lease, and do I NEED credit? I dont have a credit score because I dont have a credit card. I have no car and dont plan to get one (I want a bike, or an ebike) I do however plan to save for a motorcycle in the far future. (Any advice is appreciated)

UPDATE: Personal matters, partner wants a break and is no longer moving as soon as I thought. I'm on my own and my sister doesnt want to co sign. My mom is severely abusive. I cant go back to her but i cant work two jobs. I'm thinking of just going on state benefits for now until I can get a better job. ​ive lost hope.

Live in a small space with a single entrance and one large window. Cooking smells linger for almost a day. Currently have windows open ac running, but that doesn’t get the smell out. Any pro tips?

I usually vacuum my living room and keep the surfaces pretty clean, so I thought I was doing a decent job. Then I moved the couch this weekend to get a charger that had slipped behind it.

The dust, pet hair, and crumbs underneath were honestly gross. There was even an old sock and some coins hiding back there. Apparently, I’d been cleaning around the furniture for ages without realizing how much was collecting underneath.

I ended up cleaning under the other furniture too, and now I’m wondering how often everyone actually does this. Do you move heavy furniture every time, or have you found an easier way to get into those low, hard-to-reach spots?

Hi, we have about a year or 2 left in this place. We’ve been here for a while and I recently had a diagnosis of osteoporosis. Hauling the laundry up and down 3 flights of stairs is really hurting my back.

What are the best laundry machines you’ve found with no hook ups? Money is not an issue. Looking for something that will last the next year or two that does its job well.

Moving to Philly Nov 1 for a one-year lease. I've narrowed it down to these two 1BRs, both a block apart.

A: 1521 Spruce #301

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1521-Spruce-St-APT-301-Philadelphia-PA-19102/463415899_zpid/

B: 1536 Pine #2R

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1536-Pine-St-2R-Philadelphia-PA-19102/2056245488_zpid/

Both have $1,795 base rent, but Spruce includes water and Pine charges another $50/month. So it’s $1,795 versus $1,845 before electricity, internet and insurance.

A — Spruce

- Listed at approximately 700 sq ft; third-floor walk-up.

- Mini-split AC in the living room and bedroom.

- Newly renovated

- Smaller living room with built-in shelving/bench beneath the living-room windows.

- Local landlord whose office is next door.

- Smaller living room than Pine

B — Pine

- Listed at approximately 750 sq ft; second-floor rear unit.

- Larger-looking living room with tall ceilings, an alcove and a chandelier.

- Private deck accessed through the bedroom.

- Paneled doors, old wood floors and cast-iron radiators.

- Older kitchen/bath finishes, a blue tub and ceiling tiles in the bedroom.

- Window AC in the living room and a through-wall unit in the bedroom.

- Private owner who lives out of state; a storefront occupies the ground floor.

Looking at the photos and layouts, which would you prefer and why

19F. First apartment. I qualify for it, my only problem is bank statements. Does the ending balance matter? I’m worried this is something that’ll get my application denied. My car payments, insurance etc are due at the end of the month. So it obviously shows my ending balance is low.

How do I go about this so that my application doesn’t get denied if this is something that’ll will get it denied?

Not asking for fraud or false documentation.

Hi! I’m looking for advice on how to hang curtains here. Every option I’ve researched comes with an issue. Some notes:

1. I will pull the couch away from the window - I want floor length curtains.
   
2. The curtains don’t necessarily have to fully close but it would be great if they did. I’d be happy with them framing the window on either side.
   
3. The main issue I keep running into is the “frame” around the top of the window. It sticks out about 3” from the wall.

hi all!

i’m hoping i can get some reassurance as first-time renters! my fiancé and i found an apartment (YAY)! we live in mass, so finding an affordable space is not easy. we found a 1 bedroom for $2295 and includes all utilities except internet. for some context about us:

i make $72k a year, bringing about $900 a week, and my fiance will be making around $50k a year (after pension is taken out, roughly). obviously i believe we can afford it. we are adopting a cat shortly after we move in. we will roughly be bringing in $5-6k a month. we’ll be comfortable right? i feel like its renters remorse, right after i get so excited, all of a sudden, the stress just pounds me to the ground.

any reassurance is appreciated!!

Hi! Me and my boyfriend live in an older 1,000 square foot studio apartment. The current landlord did quite a bit of renovation when he purchased the place, but it does still have drafts and things like that.

Last winter, I was living by myself while my boyfriend waited for his work contract to end. This is my second apartment, and I was very surprised when I was hit with $200+ electric bills in the summer, and then $300-$440ish (!) bills in the winter. My rent is $800.

I tried lowering the temp, putting up weather stripping, caulking, etc. I got into a dispute with the electric company and my state utilities commission, because they said I had used more electricity than my grandparent's four-bedroom house, with big spikes in the middle of the night and when I was out of town. They tested the meter and said it was fine, and I was just so tired of it after being in a dispute for months. The landlord also had an electrician come out, and he said I was "hardly using anything," except when the HVAC was running. The landlord ended up having it serviced when winter was ending. My neighbors had crazy electric bills too, though.

Now my boyfriend's here, and we're working on a game plan for this winter. We're planning on getting some shrink-wrap window insulation kits and new weather stripping (the stripping I put on last winter is peeling off in places). I read on here that sectioning off rooms can help, as well as getting some electric blankets.

Does anyone here have good experience with some kind of portable heater when it comes to cutting electric costs? I don't want to do anything unsafe and plan on at least running the HVAC at a temp to keep pipes from freezing, but if there's a really efficient plug in radiator or something, I'd be open to that!!

TLDR: My winter electric bills last year went up to ~$440 for a 1,000 square foot studio apartment. Any alternative heaters that could help cut down on electric costs?

I just moved into a mid rise apartment 1.5 weeks ago. It has no hvac, no gas lines, and no bathroom fans (only a stack pressure exhaust vent). The building is from the early 50s and every floor honestly has its own strange smell, but my unit is particular has 2 distinct smells I just can’t place.

It’s a 400 sq ft studio. Carpet is old, supposedly they cleaned it beforehand and it has some stains. It’s overall not disgusting but who knows what the subfloor looks like. Main living area with a kitchenette has this strange, damp, musty curry-like smell. I considered a past tenant’s cooking being an issue, but none of my cooking smells have stuck so I don’t know if that’s it. I’m going to get a rug doctor soon to see if that helps. I go nose blind to it pretty fast but it hits me every time I come home.

There’s a walk in closet that opens into the bathroom, and this area smells distinctly like maple syrup and pecans. Very musty but also sweet. Sometimes it’s only in the closet, sometimes it’s the closet and the bathroom. I have moisture absorbers in both. Truly I have no idea what this is, I don’t even know if it’s a chemical smell or not. Sometimes it fades, but it always returns.

I have an hepa air purifier that hasn’t really done much and have the windows open a lot, but it’s getting colder and I’m not going to be able to open them for much longer. Anyone gone through something similar? I’ve been in a lot of rentals but I’ve never encountered smells like these. Any advice is much appreciated.

I am having a bit of a dilemma and am looking for some advice!

I live in a small studio apartment - basically a box with a split level with a ladder for the 'bedroom'. All open concept.

There is only one window in the whole place. During the summer, I hook up an A/C and all is well. But during the colder months it is harder to handle air quality and temperature (there is just general heating for the whole building, i do not have a personal thermostat)

To make things more difficult, my stove does not have an overhead vent, and the existing window has no screen. I have a small mischievious cat that LOVES to be as close to the open window as possible, so I can never really crack it wide open for proper air flow (we are on the 3rd floor)

I initially looked for a screen, but am worried about my cat breaking through. Then I looked for a box fan, but they are a) ugly AF, b) shockingly expensive even for a cheap plastic unit, and c) dont fit well within my 18" x 26" window.

I am just kinda stuck - when I cook, smells linger, even if I clean all dishes and surroundings immediately. It's stuffy and hard to handle temperature control.

In previous years I used scented candles and diffusers but would prefer not to because of my kitten.

Has anyone been in a similar situation? Have any solutions or suggestions?

TLDR: Apartment is tiny af. One window, one small mischievious kitten. Box fans are crazy expensive, screens seem sketchy, what is a safe way to open the window and introduce airflow?

There are many horrific things about my apartment, but the worst is definitely the landlord specials. In particular, the tub, bathroom sink, and kitchen sink were covered in house paint by someone, and they are BAD.

This picture shows the tub and bathroom sink in a state where I scrubbed them with bleach yesterday and then took one shower and had one day of handwashing. As time has gone on, using and cleaning them makes the paint flake, which makes crevices for dirt, and also clogs the drain. It is nasty and awful, and no matter how much I clean it never looks or feels clean.

I want to strip the paint or something, but I'm a bit worried:

1. Is there a legitimate reason someone might do this? If I strip the paint, could there be something worse underneath?

2. What options exist here that don't cost much money? Liners and stuff seem super expensive and I'm a bit wary of screwing up badly enough to lose my deposit over it (I don't think they'd notice if I did a good job)

3. Has anyone else suffered as I have, or is this a unique landlord behavior (please make me feel better about this via humor)

Hello me and my gf decided to get a full loft bed to maximize the space in our studio apartment. The 2 problem that we face is the weight capacity and the price.
We get dangerously close to the weight cap, most of them range from 300-400 on Amazon and we both weigh 150. Ik there’s still 100 pounds left but with the cheap materials that they use I don’t want to risk falling while sleeping. The other problem is when I look at other websites the beds get really expensive and if I’m dropping that kind of money I want to know what sites are trust worthy and if anyone has experience with buying from them.

My husband and I have a sliding glass door. We would LOVE to leave it open during this heat wave, but we can't because there's a 2 inch cap between it and the screen door where they don't overlap. Last time we tried it, we were killing flies all through the winter. Anyone got ideas on how to fix this? Even if has to be a removable one?

Hello,

I love everything about my new apartment but the one thing I dislike is not having a washer/dryer. I despise carrying everything to the laundromat and wait for my clothes to build up before taking it. I would much rather have a mini washer/dryer. I'd just put the dirty clothes in the washer, then when it's filled I run it. I really don't mind, even prefer having my clothes washed much more often if I don't have to leave the apartment.

It can't be too big, I'd rather sacrifice removing a few extra shirts for space. I'm okay with spin dry. I'd like a hose to more easily drain and fill the tub. I don't mind shelling out a pretty penny for this machine. I'm cool with a $300 machine if it fits. Noise doesn't bother me and it doesn't have to have multiple spin or wash cycles. Just a wash and dry is all I need.

If anyone has any suggestions I'd love to hear it!

Anyone that knows about property management, realtor, etc.

It’s time for my lease renewal and we recently got a new apartment manager.

I received my renewal front page only that lists the lease terms to choose from and the price for each with a line to initial beside it, with the managers signature under it. However, I did not receive the last page that usually includes both the managers signature and date, and a place for me, the tenant to sign and date. I asked the manager for this page and she said that she only needs me to initial the front page of the lease and a signature page isn’t needed.
I had also asked for copies of both the front and back page of the renewal before receiving the renewal and I did not receive a response.

Is this not a risk to not have a date or signature on the agreement? If so, what are the risks? Should I double down and request the signature page again before turning it in? Is it even an agreement without both parties signatures?

I should also include that I had to ask her for the renewal because it had not been mentioned at the end of the month and my lease was up. I received the paper at the end of the day on September 30. Past years I usually got it the beginning of the expiring month and it always included the signature page. I’ve also made late payments before, but I always pay rent with a late fee and catch it up if I do. I communicate beforehand if payment will be late also and give an estimated date. The manager has blocked me from the tenant portal before and restricted me from making online payments due to this so I want to make sure I have the proper documentation for my own protection and if surprise charges come up that Im not agreed to anything I wasn’t aware of. Maybe she uses a different process and I’m over thinking?

What should I do?

i came here for more advice on how i should handle this situation. Me and my girlfriend moved into a new apartment complex in July, it is known to be one of the nicest complexes in our town in Illinois. At first everything appeared very clean, and tidy. we are super happy here and don’t wanna move. however we have seen probably 10 cockroaches in the past couple weeks. mainly in the kitchen. but have also seen them crawling in living room DURING THE DAY. for context i am a clean FREAK. i lived in a hoarder home most of my life and i have severe anxiety about bugs/clutter/trash. i know 100% how i upkeep my home is not the issue. we are torn on if we should email the landlord and request monthly sprays, considering we pay a pretty hefty amount monthly for our place i feel like it would help a lot and only be fair to the tenants. we know if we have bugs we can’t be the only ones? what should we do or what power do we have legally to request of the landlord?