How to Avoid Being Scammed When Renting an Apartment

When you’re looking to rent an apartment, the most critical thing you need to be wary of is scams. There’s plenty of people out there looking to scam others, which is why you need to be careful.

If you’re interested in knowing all the essential tips you need that will help you avoid getting scammed when renting an apartment, then read on.

●     The likeliest people to get scammed are those aged 18 to 29

This information is something you should remember, especially if you fall within this age group. It’s most likely because millennials often look for everything online. That’s why you should make sure to inspect everything in person and talk to the landlord to see what kind of a person they are.

●        The money

When it comes to money, there are several things you need to know. The most apparent scams are those involving apartments that are listed well below their market value. Then you have the landlords that are looking for a lot of money upfront. You need to be careful with these because many of such cases can end up being a fraud.

●        False claims about the apartment

Many landlords are not looking to rob you but are still looking to rent you a place that’s not at all worth the money you’re paying. The usual way they do this is by giving false claims about a property that eventually end up being incorrect. That’s why it’s essential to visit an apartment and check everything yourself.

●        Many scammers attempt to rent a place that’s not theirs

Yes, that’s a common thing. Many scammers copy out an ad for an apartment that already got leased. You can avoid this by checking if the condo is listed somewhere else and you can also look at the tax records to make sure that the owner is not someone else.

●        Make sure the place is real

Another reason to visit the home is to make sure it exists. However, sometimes you can’t. If you’re moving from somewhere far away, you can’t always visit a place first. You needn’t worry if you can’t as there are other ways of checking if an ad for an apartment is real. You can check the company or landlord online, and you can also use Skype or FaceTime to see the apartment and the person you’re dealing with and make sure it’s all legitimate.

Additional Advice You Should Consider

●        Using cash is a bad sign for renting.

●        Always use written leases which you can sign. You can sign leases over the web as well, but both parties that sign the contract need to use a valid e-signature service.

●        The lease you’re signing must adequately identify the owner of the place so you can make sure it’s the person you’re dealing with.

●        Always do enough research before signing anything and moving in. Google the landlord or the company leasing the place, and the site itself, as well as the market rates, so you know the home is worth the money.

With all of these tips and advice, you will now know how to spot a scam when searching for a new place to rent.

What Should I Look for When Renting an Apartment?

Renting an apartment is not a simple matter of looking at ads and finding the one you like the most. There’s a lot more to it than that.

As that’s the case, we wanted to give you a complete guide of the things you should look for before moving.

1. Make sure the price is right.

We are sure that you know what you can afford and what you can’t, but you still need to plan your budget carefully.  Consider your income, to ensure it can cover rent and all the other monthly costs, you’ll have, including food. Then make sure a sizeable chunk is left out which you can add to your savings. Also, don’t forget that the whole move and most likely the first entire month will cost you a lot more than the rest of the months, as there’s the security deposit, paying the movers, buying things, and more.

2. Check everything in the apartment before taking it.

You need to properly inspect an apartment before paying for anything, signing any documents, and finally moving in. These things include checking if every appliance, plumbing, and lights work. At the same time, check that everything necessary – the ones you’ll need all the time (electricity, water, the toilet, shower, etc.) are present. Make sure you check that the cell reception is good as well. That’s a common thing many people forget to check. Check if the windows open – it might seem silly, but it’s another thing that people don’t consider and end up without proper ventilation or an escape route in case of a fire.

3. Make sure the heating works

Ensure that the thermostat works well and that the apartment’s heating system is the one you want and need.

4. Check the bathroom and kitchen

These two areas in an apartment are the ones that encounter the most usage and the ones that can sustain the most damage that will reduce their value. That’s precisely why you need to check both of these areas very carefully and make sure everything in them works correctly. Also, make sure that there’s no damage, mould, and more. If you notice something that’s not right, you can easily convince the owner to fix everything otherwise you won’t move in.

5. Be careful with the landlord

If the owner of the apartment appears too eager to rent you the place – be careful. That can often mean that something’s not right. The main thing to know here though is that if the landlord doesn’t seem right to you, then don’t take the apartment. Look for another one.

6. Check the walls and the neighbours

The apartment might be great, but that doesn’t mean the neighbours are. Be in the condo for a while when first visiting to see if the walls are too thin which means that you’ll hear everything. Furthermore, see what the neighbours are like. Are they loud? Are they problematic? These things are always important when living in a building with a lot of neighbours.

There you have it, the most important things you need to worry about before renting an apartment. If all of this checks out, and possibly a few other things that might come to mind, you’ll end up getting a great apartment.

Tips on How to Reduce Hydro Bills if You Have Time-of-Use pricing

It’s one thing to try and save money on your hydro bill, but it’s entirely different to do that when you have time-of-use pricing.

This article will give you tips on how to do that, but first, we need to discuss time-of-use pricing.

What Is Time-of-Use Pricing Exactly?

In the simplest of terms, time-of-use (TOU) pricing entails that you’re paying your hydro bills according to a set rate of kilowatts per hour. The prices are different depending on the time of day and the season you’re currently in. There’s a significant difference in pricing between summer and winter.

Most provinces in Canada offer TOU pricing as an option, but in Ontario, it’s mandatory. The amount you have to pay is calculated by the smart meter that you have installed in your home.

As there are a lot of differences in the pricing, thispage can help you see the exact prices for each hour in the day depending on the season.

How to Reduce Your Hydro Bills

●        Find out how much you’re spending

The first thing that you need to do is investigate your bills thoroughly. You want to find out exactly how much you’re paying out when you’re spending it, and on what is causing the consumption. Once you do that, it will be easier to stop turning on the appliances that consume a lot and which you don’t need at the times the electricity is the most expensive. If you want to find out how much energy each appliance uses, you can check an online tool that’s most likely offered by your energy supplier.

●        Use a programmable thermostat

A lot of the power goes to heating (usually about 60% of the annual hydro bill is heating), but many people overspend in that department because they leave the thermostat on for no reason. With a programmable thermostat, you can choose at which times the furnace will work.

●        More ways to save on heating

As for other ways to save on heating, you can also lower the temperature in empty rooms. Furthermore, there’s no need to turn the thermostat as high as possible, because that won’t heat the home faster; it will just give you a bigger bill to pay.

●        Switch to LED bulbs

It might sound insignificant, but there’s still a big difference between regular bulbs and LED bulbs. LED bulbs are a lot more cost-efficient as they use less power and last much longer.

●        Don’t use the ‘big spenders’ on peak hours

Consult the page we gave you to find the exact peak hours when your rates are the highest and avoid using the big spender during those times. By big spenders, we mean the dishwasher, washing machine, etc. You can also start drying your clothes and dishes the good old-fashioned way that doesn’t include you spending even more electricity.

The Bottom Line

That’s about that – there’s not much that you can do to save on power and thus reduce your hydro bills. There are some other smaller things that you can do, but by doing the things we talked about here, you won’t have to do much more in the way of sacrificing your comfort.

How to Prepare Your Yard and Garden for Spring

Spring is almost here, and it’s high time to start preparing your yard and garden and get it ready for the season of rebirth.

There’s indeed much work to do if you want to get everything back to green in time. The winter is always harsh on our yards, mostly because it’s been lying dead under snow and ice for months.

Your lot won’t be back to its fullest glory unless you invest some time and effort to make it so. And with that in mind, we wanted to give you some advice on how to approach this.

Clean Everything Up

The first thing that you have to do is to clean everything. You were probably expecting this, but it’s still a task that has to be done well.

A lot of time has passed, and there’s certainly a lot of leaves, twigs, branches, dead growth in general, and maybe even some garbage. All of that has to be removed, and the best way to do it is with an air blower and collect the remainder with a rake.

Prepare the Ground

If you’re looking to grow some plants, flowers or shrubs, you’ll need to prepare the ground first. Preparation involves several steps.

First, you need to properly aerate the ground to enable a more successful growth of plants.

Then you need to rake the ground and thus make it receptive for growing, as it should be done for most types of plants outside your home.

After that’s done, you can fertilize the area, according to the type of growth desired. Even feed the grass sections. You should also use a pre-emergent and weed-killer. A weed-killer is vital to prevent all the nasty bugs that can destroy plants and grass.

The final step is to plant the seeds of everything desired. However, each thing has its place in time, which is why, for example, you shouldn’t seed for grass until fall. If you can’t wait to spruce up the area, then it’s better to use sod.

Most vegetables, on the other hand, won’t overgrow at this time, so you can start them inside and then replant them outside when the weather improves. But some other plants like bulbs and perennials are much more natural and can be grown quickly; you only need to water them enough.

Take Care of the Trees

Trees are naturally different, and they thus deserve some bit of individual attention. If you’re not familiar with how to trim and cut them, it’s best to hire an arborist to check the trees thoroughly and trim everything that should be cut back.

It can often happen that a branch of the tree is dead, and when that happens, you need to cut that branch down. If you don’t, it can easily break off and could accidentally hurt someone.

So, that’s about it. There aren’t many different steps that you need to take; it’s all about doing it carefully, with love, attention, and making sure that you’re doing everything you can for your yard and garden to look great when the nice weather starts.

Can Landlords Ban Smoking Marijuana in Rentals?

As of October 2018, marijuana has become legal in Canada. That means that everyone can now possess, sell, and consume the product freely, as you do with any other product.

However, there are some smaller stipulations, amendments, and whatnot, and what’s more – there are differences from province to province.

With that in mind, we’re here to talk about the rules on smoking marijuana in rented apartments so you’ll know how it works in each province and if the landlord can forbid you from using it.

The Most Important Rules

First of all, it’s worth noting that some rules do exist and can limit your interaction with marijuana.

●        The minimum age for smoking is 18, while in some provinces it’s 21.

●        Marijuana can be smoked throughout Canada, but some provinces ban smoking in public places, but not in private apartments and homes.

●        In all provinces (except for Quebec and Manitoba) you can grow up to four plants.

Smoking in Rented Spaces

In general, the rule is that you can smoke cannabis in private residences. But when it comes to rentals, if your agreement forbids smoking indoors, then that most likely applies to marijuana as well.

In most provinces, the law allows the landlords to ban smoking, and many have opted to do so because the smell of the smoke lingers and this makes them do extensive cleaning and renovations before the next tenant moves in.

The Rules in Each Province of Canada

●        Ontario

The landlord can only ban smoking of marijuana if it affects the neighbours.

●        Quebec

Growing is prohibited altogether, and most landlords had the option to make changes to their agreements to ban smoking.

●        British Columbia

Smoking is allowed, as long as the landlord hasn’t banned it in the agreement. However, this ban can only be imposed on new tenants in new contracts. Landlords cannot make old tenants accept changes to their agreements. Furthermore, plants can be grown but mustn’t be visible from public spaces. 

●        Alberta

Alberta has a law that allows landlords to set rules for what is and what isn’t allowed in their properties, and these rules can include smoking of any kind. You need to check your agreement as many landlords have already changed them before the cannabis law took effect.

●        Prince Edward Island

Landlords can prohibit smoking and growing in their property. Smoking of marijuana is also banned in public spaces.

●        New Brunswick

Landlords are free to impose bans on smoking and cultivating. It stems from the fact that the term ‘no smoking’ is all-encompassing in this province.

●        Nova Scotia

The law gives the right to landlords to amend the agreement to forbid smoking and cultivating marijuana.

●        Manitoba

We already mentioned that growing marijuana is illegal, but smoking in public places is as well. Landlords also have the right to ban smoking in their properties, which includes marijuana as well.

●        Newfoundland and Labrador

Landlords are free to make restrictions on smoking marijuana in common areas, on porches and balconies.

●        Saskatchewan

Landlords can change their policy on smoking and cultivation in their properties. It’s estimated that most of them have already done so. Furthermore, smoking is banned in public spaces as well.

Who Is Responsible for Specific Problems in the Rental Apartment?

Living in a rented apartment is a breeze, as there aren’t as many things you need to worry about as in your own home. Mostly, the only problem in a rental are some unforeseen circumstances like damage, broken devices, pests, mould, and things like that.

Naturally, the very fact that these things happen is not the biggest issue, as all of it can be dealt with patience and effort. The real problem lies in the fact that most people don’t know whose responsibility each of these problems is.

Do you have to fix the problems or is it the landlord’s duty? Each problem is unique, and only one of you is responsible for it. Let’s take a better look at who is in charge of each issue.

Which Problems are the Landlord’s Responsibility?

You want to be a great tenant, but you also want to know what obligations your landlord has towards you, as it shouldn’t all be on you.

In general, most of the repairs needed in the unit fall to the landlord’s domain. They are the ones responsible for them.

That means that the landlord has to fix anything doesn’t work correctly anymore, or replace the things that are completely broken. The rule naturally applies only to everything that came with the place – the unit itself, appliances like the fridge or the stove, and more.

It doesn’t matter what the contract says, as this has to do with the law in Canada that states that these things are the landlord’s responsibility.

All of this means that the landlord needs to worry about the repairs and maintenance of additional things like:

●        The plumbing, heating, and electricity

●        Everything in the common areas of the building

●        All infestations like bugs, rats, etc.

●        Serious mould issues

Of course, if the agreement you have with the landlord mentions something else that’s their responsibility, then it is, and you should refer to it to find out.

Which Problems are the Tenant’s Responsibility?

The landlord makes most repairs and changes, but small replacements like changing the lightbulbs are the tenant’s responsibility. As long as it’s something that can be done quickly and easily by the tenant, it’s your responsibility, but if it requires some special handling and assistance from others, then it isn’t.

Any routine maintenance or cleaning is naturally the tenant’s responsibility. Also, if you do any minor damage during your stay – it’s you who has to take care of it, as well as minor mould issues. When it comes to some more significant damage, as long as you cause it, it’s still up to you to fix it.

Furthermore, it’s worth noting that it’s up to you to maintain outside areas that are exclusively used by you. If others use it, then it’s no longer your responsibility.

It’s worth noting that you need to respect anything mentioned in the agreement, as long as it is according to the law.

If any problems do occur, it’s always good to talk with your landlord and have an open discussion, because as long as a positive relationship is maintained, everything will work out well. It can even happen that the landlord goes out of their way to help you because you’re a great tenant!

How to Commute by Bike in the Winter

In some environments, it’s already tricky enough to bike commute even in the best of weathers. But what if you add a whole lot of snow and ice on the streets, freezing temperatures, and cold wind blowing in your face? It seems that bike commuting in winter is reserved only for the most courageous.

Honestly, winter bike commuting is not for everyone because not all have the mental and physical strength required for it. Luckily, there are some precautionary measures you can take to increase your odds of a successful bike commute and to make it as comfortable as possible.

Gear

You’ll often hear all kinds of excuses for avoiding bike commuting once the snow starts falling. Most of them are directed towards the gear, so people often say that their bike is not good enough or they lack some other part of the equipment.

Fortunately, this isn’t as much of a problem as it may sound. You’ll need to choose appropriate tires (wider and chunkier) for a better grip to avoid sliding. Let some air out of them to get more traction, and make sure your pedals and shoes have a good grip.

When it comes to storing your bike, you can keep your apartment clean with a bike cover. You want to keep the dirt off your carpets or furniture. As an off-season cyclist, you’ll be picking up more dirt along with the snow while commuting.

Clothing

Make the wrong choice when choosing your clothes for winter bike commuting, and you’ll curse the day you came up with the idea of doing it in the first place. You can’t make a mistake here - the secret is in layering.

Our mothers and grandmothers always used to remind us that the secret of staying warm is in wearing multiple layers of clothes. The same applies to bike commuting in the winter. Naturally, the principle is the same, but the actual realization is a bit different. The layers worn when biking should be thin, but warm, allowing you to move freely and protecting you from moisture.

Sharing

Bike share programs have gained popularity recently, and rightfully so. There are no downsides to bike sharing – it’s convenient, it’s eco-friendly, and it’s even safer than regular biking. It turns out that you’re less likely to be in a traffic accident this way.

Bike sharing is convenient and practical, and in most areas of the world that implement bike sharing, all you have to do is own a smartphone. Everything else is at your thumb’s reach. Now, you might think that all this luxury comes at a price, but bike sharing is quite affordable. When you compare it to other forms of public transport, bike sharing wins every time.

By using bike share, you won't have to think about the gear in the way you used to when the bike was your own. It's merely the best way to commute in the winter if you think that you've got it in you to succeed.