Do You Need to Clean Your Apartment at the End of the Lease?

So the time is coming – your lease is ending, and you are in the process of moving out. You have too many things on your mind, like what and how to pack, how to move everything, and much more. 

Then you suddenly realize that the place is terribly dirty from all the moving around of furniture and other stuff. That's when you ask yourself – do I need to clean everything thoroughly, or is that something my landlord should do?

If you’re wondering about that, we can help you out. In this article, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about cleaning at the end of your lease and whether or not you need to do it.

What Are the Rules of Cleaning at the End of a Lease?

You are probably wondering what the rules state in this case. Do landlords have to clean between tenants? Or is it something that tenants do themselves?

As you can already guess, there are no rules about it unless it's in the lease. That's why you need to check your lease to see who needs to clean the apartment at the end of it. It would be best if you did so because a failure to comply can often result in forfeiting your initial deposit. 

Most landlords opt for having the standard clause when it comes to cleaning. The tenant receives a cleaned apartment, and they need to leave it in the same condition when they leave. That essentially means that you have to do a thorough cleaning of the place. 

If that clause doesn’t exist, you should discuss it with your landlord. It’s always best to part on good terms, so you can offer to clean it or split the costs for hiring someone to do it. The typical cost of a thorough cleaning should be between $100 and $200, so it's not really something that you can't arrange with your landlord.

The Moving Out of Apartment Cleaning Checklist

In most cases, the renters need to clean the apartment on their own, so if you don’t want to hire someone, or you can’t, we have a checklist for you. If you follow it, you’ll end up thoroughly cleaning the apartment and leaving it in the same state you found it. It will be easy; it's just like spring cleaning!

• Clean cobwebs and dust from the ceiling
• Dust the blinds and wash the windows (both on the outside and the inside)
• Clean the light fixtures and change the lightbulbs that have gone out
• Check if the smoke detector is functional and replace the battery if necessary
• Dust and clean all horizontal places in the apartment where dust can accumulate (do the same in hard-to-reach areas)
• Wipe the shelves, cabinets, and pantries in the kitchen
• Clean the fridge
• Clean the oven
• Clean and sanitize sinks and drains
• Clean the bathroom thoroughly and sanitize it
• Clean the carpets and rugs
• Vacuum the floors and mop them afterward (save this as the last step because a lot of dust and chemicals will fall on the floors while you're cleaning the apartment)

Once you're done, make sure you haven't forgotten any of your stuff. That's also an excellent opportunity to ensure you haven't forgotten to clean something. 

When that's done, you'll have nothing more to do, and you can move out and get to your new apartment, knowing that you did everything perfectly!

Can You Rent Out Your Apartment While Traveling?

It doesn't matter in what kind of situation you are – you might be under a lease, or you might own an apartment. Whatever the case may be, you've probably wondered whether or not you can rent out the place when you go for a vacation or when you travel for an extended period. 
You must have at least thought about it, as renting out while you're away is a great way to get some passive income when you're not actively earning. 
 
If you have, then you are now in the right place. In today's article, we'll answer this question and give you the information you need to know before you decide to rent out your apartment.
 
Why Renting While Traveling Is Useful
First of all, yes, you absolutely can rent out your place while traveling. If the apartment is yours, then it’s all up to you, and if you’re under a lease, you can always discuss this with your landlord. 
In the second case, it's vital to discuss this with the landlord and check the lease. In many cases, contracts might already have a clause that allows for subletting, while in others, you can always reach an agreement with the landlord. If you're a long-time renter, they are not likely to say no and put the apartment back on the market all over again. It's much easier for the landlord just to allow you to sublet while you're away. Plus, subletting is beneficial for both them and you.

When you reach an agreement with your landlord, you should make sure that you find a trustworthy person to whom you'll sublet and create a new contract between them and you. That will ensure that everything is in accordance with your wishes. Plus, you'll make sure that the landlord is happy as well. 

All of that is pretty much the same when you own the apartment yourself. The only difference is that you can rent out the place directly and set all the terms and conditions according to your wants and needs.

How to Rent Your Apartment

Now that you are convinced that renting your apartment is the right thing to do, let's talk about how to do it.  
If you're not a big traveler, and you're only doing this once or twice a year for a short time, it's much easier to rent to a friend or a friend of a friend. Since you'll be gone for only a short time, it's better to take the route with less hassle.
However, if you're traveling more often, and sometimes for a very long time, then it's good to consider sites where you can list your apartment.

Booking is one of the most popular sites for people to find a place to stay while on the road.

You can also go for sites like Airbnb – the number one site for listing apartments and houses. There are other sites to consider as well, like HomeAway, Flipkey, RentCompass, and others that can offer better lessees than the top ones. 
Once you list your place, you’re bound to find someone in no time so you can get ready for your trip!

When Is the Best Time to Starting Shoveling Snow?

Every time winter comes, and first snows kick in, most people realize that they will soon have to start shoveling snow. Nobody likes doing it; it's downright tedious and frequently hard. What's more, it can even get dangerous due to ice and cold weather.

Snow shoveling also seems like menial work, but it can often get hazardous for you if you don't know when and how to do it. 

The Best Time to Start Shoveling Snow

Everyone who has ever shoveled snow has an opinion on when you should do it. Many will tell you that there is no point in doing it until there's enough of it. Most people will tell you that you don't need to do it if the blizzard hasn't ended. Some will even tell you that there is a precise date when it's best to shovel snow.

So, who is right here? Well, no one, because none of these people have considered the fact that there is a lot more to it if you want to be genuinely effective and if you're looking to avoid getting injured. As we're sure that you want to prevent injuries and be as effective as possible to avoid having to do it all over again very soon, here are a few tips that should help:

• There is no point in waiting for the snow to accumulate as the snow beneath likely will freeze, and you'll have a much harder time to shovel it.
• You shouldn’t start shoveling snow as soon as some of it has accumulated. It’s best to shovel snow as soon as the first snowfall has stopped. 
• Avoid shoveling in low light and during a blizzard.
• Always look to start shoveling snow early in the day to prevent it from building up later.
• You don't have to shovel at all if the snow level is very low, and there is enough sunlight that will melt it very soon. 
• Never start shoveling snow right after you’ve eaten or had a smoke. 

How to Shovel Snow

Now that you know when the best time to start shoveling snow is, all that’s left for you to do is to do it! We can aid you in that as well as there are several tips that can help you do it effectively and thus much faster than usual.

• Always dress appropriately. Your age and level of fitness are irrelevant here, as cold weather can be harmful to anyone.
• Never rush through the shoveling. A lot of injuries occur from shoveling, and they are more common when compared with other activities. It's best to go easy and take enough breaks. You can even stretch before you start to prevent muscle cramps.
• Drink enough water to stay hydrated while shoveling.
• Use a shovel without a sticking surface or spray it with a silicone lubricant as that prevents the snow from sticking to shovel, and you'll have a much easier time shoveling.
• Shovel in one direction and always have a specific place where you’ll throw away the snow.

The Bottom Line

All in all, there is always the best time to start shoveling snow and the right way to do it. If you take the time to heed this advice, you’ll find that shoveling snow can be a much easier task than most people feel it is.

How to Avoid Having Freezing Pipes?

Cold winters with constant freezing temperatures bring a lot of issues for people. Besides the fact that it's challenging to keep yourself warm, it's also difficult to keep specific parts of your apartment warm as well. 

By this, we specifically mean the pipes. A common issue in homes during freezing winters are freezing pipes. Some are not even aware, but the pipes in your apartment can't easily freeze if the temperature on the outside is constantly below zero. This, on its own, might not be as big of an issue were it not for the fact that frozen pipes can easily burst. If you didn't know, bursting pipes are one of the most common property damage causes during winters. 

With that in mind, we wanted to discuss what you can do to prevent your pipes from freezing. Let’s have a look:

Everything You Can Do to Prevent Freezing Pipes

Every time the temperature outside falls below zero, you need to start implementing specific measures to protect your pipes from freezing. 

• Keep the heat up! It's vital to have your heating system on as the inside temperature needs to be sufficiently up to protect the plumbing in the walls from being affected by the cold temperature from the outside.
• Don’t try to save money on your bills by turning the thermostat down during the night. That difference in temperature can be the cause of frozen pipes, so it’s vital to keep the temperature constant 24/7.
• If you are going away for a while (on vacation, for example), keep the heating on. You don't need to keep the home warm; just put the thermostat to 13 degrees, at least. That's enough to keep the pipes from freezing. 
• Allow warm air to circulate the plumbing by opening kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors. If significant parts of your plumbing are within an exterior wall, then this is a must-do thing to prevent them from freezing.
• Let the faucet drip from time to time. It might sound like a weird suggestion, but it's actually the pressure that causes the pipes to burst, not the temperature. By keeping your faucets open a bit, you are effectively preventing pressure from building up in the pipes.
• Seal all holes and cracks around the areas where pipes go through the walls into the interior of the apartment. If you leave these areas open, you allow cold air to circulate freely within the walls. If you can, you should do this on the exterior side of the wall as well.
• Apply heating tape to pipes at a high risk of freezing. Naturally, you should do this only if you can access these pipes. 
• If you’re looking for protection in the long-run, then you should invest in insulation, especially in houses. 

Key Takeaways

As you can see, there’s a lot that you can do to protect your pipes from freezing. The most important thing you need to do is keep the heating on, and the suggestions here should prove to be an adequate bonus. 

Which Energy-Saving Appliances Should You Consider for Your Rental Apartment?

When renting an apartment, it's vital to try to keep your costs minimal. The rent is always a big part of your monthly income, and it's fixed, so it's best to try to save money on other things.

Instead of eating less or buying less of the things you want and need, you can also save on bills. Sometimes, this solution is much better, as you'll be consistently saving every month.

With that in mind, we wanted to give you a list of energy-saving appliances you should consider getting if you're going to save money in the long run. Let's take a look:

LED, CFL, or Halogen Incandescent Lightbulbs

On average, most households spend around 5% of their energy on lighting. It sounds small, but it adds up when you combine it with other energy-saving methods. Plus, it's not really a problem to get any of these energy-saving lightbulbs. Yes, they are more expensive than regular ones, but they last much longer and consume less electricity.

If you opt for the best option, which is LED lightbulbs, you'll spend 75% less energy on your lighting needs than you usually do!

Energy-Saving Kitchen and Bathroom Appliances

The kitchen is usually packed with appliances that suck up a lot of your monthly energy usage. If you cook a lot, you're probably spending even more than you think. The same goes for the bathroom.

Instead of doing a minimal amount of cooking and washing, you can get new energy-saving appliances. Some of the appliances you can swap for their energy-saving counterparts are:

●        Clothes washers

●        Clothes dryers

●        Refrigerators

●        Freezers

●        Dishwashers

Each of these spends from 10% to as much as 50% less than their non-energy-saving counterparts. When all of that is combined, you can see a drastic decrease in your monthly expenses.

You can even get air purifiers and dehumidifiers that are energy-saving and save even more on your bills.

Energy-Saving Electronics

Consumer electronics amount to as much as 15% of the total household electricity use. What’s more, that number is only growing as we are all increasingly using these devices (smartphones, laptops, desktop computers, TVs, etc.).

When buying any of these devices, it's essential to take a look at the amount of electricity they use. Then you can opt for the version that sucks up less energy.

Key Takeaways

If you manage to get all of these appliances, or at least as many as you can, you'll end up saving thousands of dollars each year on your energy bills. That's, without a doubt, a very significant amount of money, so it ends up being entirely worth it.

You don’t have to get all of the appliances listed here right away. That will probably end up costing you more than you will eventually save. The key is to always opt for an energy-saving appliance or device whenever you have to buy a new one. Eventually, most of your appliances will be energy-saving ones, and you’ll be saving a lot every month.

How to Increase the Chances of Your Rental Application Getting Picked by the Landlord?

If you're searching for a rental apartment, you're bound to run into a well-known situation that begins with finding the perfect place. Everything is in order, and you want to move in immediately.

There’s just one problem: there are other applicants as well. You know you'll be devastated if the landlord eventually picks someone else, and you know there's nothing you can do to change the outcome.

However, there are ways of increasing your chances. That’s precisely what we wanted to discuss in today’s piece. Let’s see what you need to do to increase your chances of the landlord picking your application.

 

Know What the Landlord Wants from the Tenant

If you want to increase your chances, you need to provide what the landlord is looking for in a tenant. In our many years of experience, we've noticed that landlords always want three things:

1. To know that the tenant will treat the property as if it was their own and call the landlord when any issues occur.
2. To be sure that the tenant will make their rent payments on time.
3. To be certain that the tenant will fulfill the term of the lease.

Now, we know that you will say that you can definitely do all three. We know that, but the landlord doesn't. You need to find a way to assure them that they can expect these three important things from you.

What landlords care about is stability, as all of these three things point out. It doesn't matter what your application looks like and what it says. What matters is that they can see that you will provide them with the stability they want. It's far easier for them to find a single tenant who will pay their rent on time, take care of the place, and be a stable source of income for the landlord for a long time, rather than running from tenant to tenant.

Be Financially Responsible and Be Able to Prove It

Naturally, they will want to see that you are stable in financial terms as well:

●        You need to have a good and stable job.

●        Your salary needs to be at least three times bigger than the rent – it shows the landlord that you are applying for a place and a lease you can genuinely afford with your income.

●        You need to have a perfect credit history and good employment records – it all further proves that you are financially responsible.

Additionally, if you have recommendation letters from previous landlords, you’ll have a massive plus on your side.

If you are a student without a job, for now, you still have big chances. All you need to do is prove to the landlord that you will be able to pay your rent. By getting a suitable guarantor who is willing to show their income to the landlord, it will be almost the same as having that income yourself.

At the end of the day, all the landlord wants is to feel safe and happy with the tenant. If you show them that they will feel like that with you, then the rental is as good as yours.