5 Important Questions to Ask Yourself When Searching For Your Next Apartment Home (That You Haven't Thought of Yet)

My Apartment Home Helps Your Dig Deeper On Your Apartment Search

Looking for a new apartment and moving can be a hard time. It is important to get organized and plan ahead to keep it as seamless and easy as possible. Through our many years of experience, we have come up with a list of commonly overlooked questions that arise when its too late in the apartment search process. Take the following "what to look for" checklist on your next hunt: 

The Arbors at Wolf Pen Creek Apartments in College Station, TX

1. The Devil Is In The Details

What does the property look like from the outside? Many properties neglect to take care of minor things like the parking paint or the weeds in the bushes... It is important to notice every detail that would in theory be very easy to fix becuase if they wont sweat the small stuff, then they won't sweat your requests. Our properties take great care in every detail that most people wouldn't even notice!

2. Where is your apartment going to be in relation to the community?

If you have pets, are you near any open grass areas to take them for a walk? If you don't have W/D connections are you by the clothes care center? Is it easy to explain to friends if you like to entertain? It is important to consider what means the most to you, where you can compromise and where you can't. 

3. Meet your future neighbors

Altamonte Apartments in San Antonio, TX

Establishing a great first impression is a wonderful start to moving into your new home. It is important to respectfully consider that these people will be your neighbors for the term of your lease and have a friendly start. That way if you have any issues in the future, you won't have a problem asking them for a cup of sugar.

4. Test all the outlets

Bring a socket tester and test all of the outlets in the apartment. The management will most likely be more than glad to see you do this, because that way if you run into any problems, they can be immediately addressed.

5. Make a Phone Call

Check for cell reception in your apartment and in the common areas. If you don't plan on having a home phone, it is important to take this measure. Perhaps even consider doing a quick search for what internet providers work in that area and see if it'll be enough for your digital needs. 

Coronado Trails Apartments in El Paso, TX

Your home is arguably the most important setting you spend your time. At our apartment home communities, we make your comfort a very high priority. Our properties are family owned and managed, and we have the highest standards of quality and integrity. You can feel comfortable renting with us and calling one of our communities home. 

Visit our website if you are looking for an apartment in the following cities: 

Austin, TX

College Station, TX

Coralville, IA

Dallas / Fort Worth, TX

El Paso, TX

San Angelo, TX

San Antonio, TX

San Marcos, TX

Urbandale, IA

Waco, TX

Spend Less Time in the Kitchen and More Time Enjoying your Company with these Incredibly Simple Two-Ingredient or Less Recipes!

These Recipes are Fool Proof! 

1. Coconut Cookie Dough Balls

2. Creamy Garlic Broccoli

3. Kiss Pies

4. Nutella Cake

5. Peanut Butter Banana Ice Cream

What's your favorite? 

Amazing Applications for Vinegar - Healthy Living on a Budget

1. Make all purpose cleaners by pouring with equal parts into a spray bottle
2. Clean dirt off your computer and mouse with a little vinegar and a q tip
3. Clean your drains with vinegar and baking soda
4. Wipe away mildew
5. Clean and polish chrome and stainless steel
6. Use as a fruit wash-rinses away germs
7. Erase ballpoint-pen marks
8. Erase crayon marks from clothes
9. Remove stickers and price tags
10. Disinfect cutting boards
11. Restore wood paneling
12. Remove carpet stains
13. Keep car windows frost free
14. Remove candle wax
15. Conceal scratches in wood furniture
16. Get rid of water lines on furniture
17. Freshen your kitchen
18. Trap fruit flies by placing some in a small bowl
19. Wash out your washing machine and dishwasher with 1/2 cup
20. Wash away mildew from your shower curtain
21. Put the sparkle back in your china
22. Remove mineral deposits from shower heads
23. Whiten your grout
24. Clean a coffee maker
25. Remove stains from pots and pans
26. Help bruises heal faster by applying a little vinegar
27. Sooth a soar throat by gargling 1 Tb of apple cider vinegar with 1 tsp of salt
28. Soften your cuticles
29. Clean your toothbrushes
30. Erase scorch marks
31. Unset old stains
32. Soak out blood stains
33. Keep cut fresh flowers fresh
34. Revive your paintbrushes
35. Kill weeds in the yard
36. Peel off wallpaper
37. Clean cloths and sponges
38. Keep unwelcome guest out of the garden
39. Clean counter tops
40. Clean and freshen the smell of the refrigerator
41. Clean and disinfect baby toys
42. Get rid of stubborn bathtub residue
43. Spray vinegar along doorways to keep ants away
44. Treat stained Tupperware stains with vinegar
45. Shine porcelain sinks
46. Pamper your skin by blotting it on with a cotton ball
47. Treat a bee sting by pouring some undistilled vinegar on it
48. Relieve sunburn by lightly rubbing it with vinegar
49. Boil better eggs by adding 2 TB vinegar to the water – keeps them from cracking
50. Make fluffier pancakes by adding 2 TB of vinegar

Pet Friendly Tips for Apartment Home Living!

 No Yard? No Problem for Fido...

Whether you're a renter or city dweller, living with a yard can come at a premium. The absence of a yard can also seemingly make life for your pet unpleasant, but after six years I can attest that not only can living without a yard be fine, but even fun!

For the past six years my husband and I have lived in Chicago — a city notorious for its lack of yard space. But for each of those years, we've lived with a cat, and most recently added a dog to our family. We keep our cat indoors, so save for a few attempted escapes, it hasn't been an issue for him. Here are some tips we'd reccommend for other pet owners without a yard:

Consider The Level You'll Live On: We currently live on the first floor of our building, and have direct access to the outdoors. This makes potty trips quick, easy and hassle-free. If we lived on an upper floor, I'm sure going outside would be more time consuming and a nuisance. I can't personally vouch for these, but many high-rise dwellers swear by training pads and patches of grass such asPetAPotty to get the job done.

Choose Your Breed With Care: Whether your pet is purebred or mutt, it's important to choose a dog who is well-suited for apartment living and confined spaces. Some dogs need to have a large space to expend their energy and get sufficient exercise. We specifically chose our dog because he is small, well-suited for apartments, and doesn't need a huge amount of exercise. If you insist on getting an rambunctious and energetic pet, just be prepared to give them tons of playtime and exercise, which brings me to my next point...

Give Them Plenty of Exercise: This is where the fun part comes in. Too many people probably rely to heavily on their yard for their pet's exercise. But, having a pet is a great excuse to get outside, explore your surroundings, and meet your neighbors and other dog owners. A good rule of thumb would be at least 2-3 walks a day, and the length of time really depends on your pet's energy level and needs. Also be sure to have a good variety of toys and treats to keep your pets stimulated while at home. If your dog is being crazy, it probably means they're not getting enough walks and playtime (and your neighbors probably aren't too happy either).

Frequent The Dog Park: We walk outside so much more, and LOVE our neighborhood dog parks. We're lucky to have three parks within a half-mile. Dog parks are a great way to let your dog go loose (responsibly) and socialize them with other dogs. We try to go as often as possible (several times a week), and it's not only fun for my husband and I, but our dog also has a blast. Just be very attentive to your dog and others' to prevent any problems and stay safe. Many park systems also require that a dog be registered and have a special dog park tag, so check with their rules and regulations.

Invest in a Dog Walker or Doggie Daycare: If you work full time away from home, hire a dog walker, take them to doggie daycare, or drop them off at a pet sitter. No pet wants to, or should, be left alone for extended periods of time — whether indoors or out — for their mental and physical wellbeing. For us, hiring a dog walker was crucial, particularly when we were house training our dog. We were able to have the walker come for several short walks a day, and now we've reduced it to a longer single walk. Doggie daycare and and pet sitters are great options if you don't want your dog unattended, and if you want to keep them active throughout the day.

Bring the Outside In: If your pet is particularly fond of plants, give them their very own to play with. Cats are notorious for eating plants, but some can be toxic. Check out this list of non-toxic plants, and definitely become familiar with this list of common house plants that are toxic to pets.

BEST All Time Halloween Traditions to Partake in This Year!

Halloween is a childhood favorite, and over the years one tends to develop habitual Halloween traditions. 

1. You are never too old to go Trick or Treating! 

On second thought, it may look a little weird to see a 27 year old asking for candy... Be sure to bring a child 

2. Wear the most outrageous thing you own and call it a costume

Is that you Heidi Klum?

Always wondered what you would look like with purple hair or as a goth? Now is the time to try. 

3. Party Time! 

This holiday is one of the best excuses to throw (or go) to an awesome costume party! Themes galore!!!

4. Scare yourself to the point that you have to sleep with the lights on for the next 3 months with a night full of scary movies. Here is a link to a list of some Halloween movie classics

5. Haunted house or grave yard visits

Pay to allow strangers in horrific costumes to creep out around corners, scream at the top of their lungs, and act mentally unwell to get a reaction out of you. 

6. EAT CANDY!

This one will definitely take you back to your childhood. Halloween is one day a year you have an excuse to stuff your face with delicious green chocolate or candy corn! Here is a link for our health conscious friends for a healthy alternative to traditional Halloween sugar highs. 

Read about the origin of Halloween

Texas Rangers Baseball Game Schedule for August 2014

After a GREAT 3-2 Victory against the New York Yankees last night, who wouldn't get amped up over our Rangers?

Derek Jeter's last tour to Texas was a success with a presidential send off from President George W. Bush

Here is the schedule for August Baseball games 

here
End your apartment search

10 Most Random Objects You Can Turn into Apartment Furniture and Decoration

10 Most Random Things You Can Turn into Apartment Decor

Here are some DIY projects that are destined to be conversation starters. Add something unique and different to your apartment decor without shelling out the big bucks. Here are some projects from around the web that will give you inspiration.

1. London Telephone Stand

Transforming a traditional telephone box will transport you to Europe every time you sit down. 

2. Trash Can

Who would have thought that trash cans could be transformed into amazing chairs?

3. Wine bottles

Your used wine bottles can have a second life as part of an original chandelier.

4. Wheeled pallet

It is not impossible to turn a basic wood pallet into an amazing piece of furniture like this coffee table.

5. Pool table

Your pool table can easily play the role of a dinner table when necessary.

6. Vintage clock

Analog vintage clocks are not a thing of the past: they can not only be used to embellish your walls, but also be transformed into an amazing coffee table with a romantic side.

7. Unicycle

Stabilizing them is obviously mandatory, but once you do that you can have safe and original bar stools made from unicycles.

8. Pickup tailgate

Your porch or balcony could surely use a trendy bench like this one, made of and old pickup tailgate.

9. Old CDs

Old CDs can be used to much more than just wall decoration, they can actually be turned into modern chairs like this one.

10. Old drum barrel

Turn an old drum barrel into a couch, according to your personal style and taste.

Apartment Availability 

Summer Is Finally Here! Take a Look at These DELICIOUS Recipes for the Season - Start Planning Your Memorial Day Weekend with These!

Delicious Tomato Basel Dip from Lemon Tree Dwelling

Homemade Strawberry Lemonade from Place of my taste.

Shrimp Coleslaw Salad from Twelve O Eight

S’more Ice Cream Cupcakes from A pumpkin and a princess.

Berry Summer Salad from Lemon tree dwelling.

Calamari Sandwich from Pink recipe box.

Asian glazed Samon from Six Sisters Stuff.

Coconut Macadamia Mango Crusted Mahi Mahi from Make life lovely.

How to Shop for Your First Apartment Home: Tips to Live By on Your First Apartment Search!

Moving Out of Your Parent's House? Here are a few key pointers to help you find the PERFECT place for your first apartment. 

There comes a time in everyone’s life when it’s time to move on. Time to leave home, time to graduate from college, time to take a job somewhere different. No matter why you’re moving on, you’re going to need somewhere to live once the move’s been made. Now, if the idea of picking an apartment seems as daunting as pulling a jumbo jet with just your pinkie finger, never fear. As an experienced (and successful) apartment shopper, I’ve got the process boiled down into a few basic steps to make the process as easy as it can be.

1. Money, money, money. Before you even start shopping, figure out your budget. What can you afford? Remember, this isn’t just in rent, but in renter’s insurance, water, electric, cable, your car payment and insurance, what it’ll cost you to travel to work, to eat, savings, student loans, etc. Take that number on rent and housing bills and cement it in concrete in your mind. You can compromise on a lot of things, but don’t ever let your wallet be one of them.

2. What are you looking for? Once you’re sure about your price range, figure out your list of wants and needs. Here’s an example of what my list looked like.

Wants	Needs
Open floor plan	2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
2 sinks in master bathroom	No more than 25 minutes from work
Top floor of building	Pool and fitness center on site
Garage	Lots of storage

 3. Do your homework. Before you seriously consider anywhere, do some causal shopping (if you can visit the area) and use the Internet (we used apartments.com) to get an idea of what’s available in your area and price range. Eliminate places that don’t match your “Needs” column and develop a list of the places you want to seriously consider. Then, build your Binder.

4. The Binder: Your apartment search Bible. Each place to be considered should have its own section. In the section for each one, put any materials collected in the casual shopping phase, like publications given to you at the leasing office, floor plans, etc. At the front of the binder was a notebook for taking notes during the formal shopping phase and a checklist of wants. The more checks a place got during our visit, the higher up on our list it went.

5. Then, it’s time to shop, seriously. Devote at least two days to visiting different apartments and plan to spend 45 minutes to an hour at each one. When you get there, take your license (they’ll need to show you places) and bring your binder with you. People will either be aghast or impressed, but either way, they’re more likely to take you seriously. Typically, the leasing agent will show you the facilities and take you to see a model or a vacant unit and talk with you about the complex. Take pictures on your phone and notes in your notebook. If you see something you like, request a quote based on your availability. Prices can fluctuate literally from day to day, but the quote they give you traditionally lasts 48 hours so you’ve got time to decide.

6. And the winner is…After a long and exhausting shopping trip, go get a nice dinner, have a glass of something you enjoy and consider your options. Consider the materials in each section, your checklist at the front of the Binder, your notes, your pictures and the gut feeling you had when standing in the apartment. Weigh each of these variables carefully, then make a choice. Pick the one that’s right for you, fill out the application (most are online) and get ready for a lot more paperwork. But, in the meantime, congratulations! You’ve found an apartment!

This may look like a lot to go through, but trust me, it’s worth it in the end. You’ll be so grateful for your Binder and that you took the time to work your way through the process. It’ll all turn out great in the end and before you know it, you’ll be saying, “Home sweet home” in your new digs.

Here is a great place to Start

Looking For An Apartment For The Fall? Check Our Availability Here!

10 Places You'd Rather Be Sitting Right Now

1. In this sunken alcove garden in New Zealand.

Twitter: @Earth_Pics

2. In a carboat in Switzerland.

Fabrice Coffrini / Getty Images

3. On this tiny peninsula in Mykonos, Greece.

kivotosclubhotel.com

4. In a sea swing.

Caroline von Tuempling / Getty Images

5. In this glass-walled library in Germany.

Flickr: guillaumefavre

Photo by Guillaume Favre.

6. In this rooftop hot tub in Gothenburg, Sweden.

stebbinghousedesing.blogspot.com

7. In this glass floor ocean cottage in the Maldives.

starwoodhotels.com

8. In this cave pool in Satorini, Greece.

katikies.com

9. Floating in a swimming pool movie theater.

1.fourseasons.com

10. Rowing through a cave in Kefalonia, Greece.

Dave Porter Peterborough Uk / Getty Images

With a really good book.