MOVING TIPS, PARTNER LINKS, FACTS
Facts About Apartment Locators
- "Comparison shopping" is human nature, however some people think that they will get different information if they go to different apartment locators or other apartment information sources. This is not the case, IF the requirements you give to all you contact, are exactly the same. ‘Apples to apples’ not ‘apples to oranges’ is the only way to get a true comparison, and, if the requirements are the same, the results will be the same in the apartment finding industry. To sum things up – free apartment locators [apartment finders, apartment hunters] are people like myself, working for a living, just like you.
- We offer our services to you for free as the apartment communities take care of us for assisting them in leasing their properties. We are licensed real estate agents and have a code of ethics that we must adhere to in order to keep our license with the state and our relationship with the property owners as well as our relationship with you.
- It is important for you to be honest and loyal to us, so that we may help you find the right apartment home as well as being able to support ourselves. So please give me a call or send me an email - I know I can find what you are looking for!
I will check availability, current promotions, discounts, and prepare a custom package designed specifically with your needs in mind, which will include directions, discounts, move in specials, amenities, up to the minute prices, maps and floorplans. All Free To You!
Information for Webster, Texas
Information for Friendswood, Texas
Information for Pearland, Texas
Information for Seabrook, Texas
Information for Kemah, Texas
Information for Humble, Texas
Information for Houston, Texas
Four Letters Ease Housing Fears For Some: Rent
Digested From "Four Letters Ease Housing Fears For Some: Rent"
NPR Online (07/23/10) by Joshua Brockman
Though many people may be considering renting, government data shows that they have yet to commit. The vacancy rate for rental housing is currently near an all-time high of 10.6 percent, reports the U.S. Census Bureau. Although home sales decreased 5.1 percent last month, according to the National Association of Realtors, the shift to rentals has not materialized. Changing attitudes are what is needed to boost the rental market going forward. Nicolas Retsinas, the director of Harvard's Joint Center for Housing Studies, observes, "In the past, you rented if you didn't make enough money. You rented if you weren't ambitious. You rented if you weren't sort of smart enough. But as it turns out, as we look in recent years, renting turned out to be a pretty smart thing to do." Indeed, it was a smart move because apartment residents were not saddled with mortgages worth more than their residences. Another distinct advantage to renting in this economy includes having the flexibility to move in order to pursue employment opportunities elsewhere. Even though people who rent do not get the same kind of tax breaks as homeowners, renting may feel more secure in this fragile economy.
The Money Side of Moving
How to Get the Best Apartment Deals
"Of course I am going to find the best deals possible while stayingwithin your price range, and with the amenities that you are requesting if at all possible", however these are some helpful things to consider - and once I know what you want, what you are accustomed to and what you are expecting for your money, I can be much more helpful. Chances are, rent is one of the biggest expenditures in your budgets. Finding great apartment deals with lower rent can do a lot to put more money back in your pocket. How can you find the best apartment for the lowest rent? Read these tips and keep them in mind when I am emailing you the list - be sure to always OPEN up the MEMO sections in your apartment package, that is where I will put the lowest possible monthly rental amount, with any and all specials for lease terms included. If you just look at the "listed prices", you will not be seeing the REAL ACTUAL PRICES, with any possible specials that I have found for you!
Know what you want
These days, many new apartment communities come with a huge amount of possible amenities, from dry-cleaning pick up to on-site massage therapists, some of which are completely free. Though many extras are purely elective luxury, others can save you commute time and money, so choose to pay for services that you would be using outside of your community anyway. An onsite gym, for instance, saves you membership fees elsewhere and allows you to work out any time of day or night, without having to get in your car. Likewise, having access to the community swimming pool gives you fast relief on a hot day, with a chance to meet your neighbors just like Free Internet Cafes, which almost all apartments offer now, are a great way to meet your neighbors and have a free cup of Java! Garages are typically an extra charge, but some come with the price, already included, if you have a pet, be sure to let me know so I can find the most "pet friendly" communities where you and your neighbors may have something already in common.
Be flexible
Sometimes, apartment communities offer a bargain on rent and amenities though their location is less than central. If you are a person who likes to stay in for the night once you’ve returned from work or school, you don’t necessarily need to live in the center of things. Consider whether being a little further from the city hub might be made up for, in square footage and amenities in the suburbs.
New construction
Oftentimes, newly built apartment properties offer especially enticing move-in deals, because they have to fill a certain number of units to begin repaying their bank loans.
Sometimes a property can offer a number of different floor plans with the same number of bedrooms, but with some subtle differences, such as a better view or a bit more or less square footage, let me know if you would like to live in a brand new community where you might be the 1st resident to have ever lived in that particular unit!
Break down the deal
You may find offers such as “first month free!” or even better. I will spell this out for in the MEMO sections, I will pro-rate the free rent offered over the mandatory lease term to get your lowest possible monthly rent! THERE ARE GREAT SPECIALS going on right now and I will find them for you! The location and amenities in the prospective community are also to be considered - remember they can save you money too, gym, internet charges, etc.
HUNT FOR AN APARTMENT OFF SEASON!
Since spring and summer are the busiest rental seasons, you may have more bargaining power when the temperatures drop. Fewer apartment seekers means landlords who might be more willing to bargain. So if you have a choice of when to begin your hunt, hold out for the cooler months.
Be prepared
Come prepared with all of your financial and employment information, rental history, even letters of recommendation if you can get them. It’s much easier to negotiate with your prospective landlord if you are ready to seal the deal then and there.
Splitting Utility Costs with a Roommate
Splitting Utility Costs with a RoommateYou leave the light
on in your bedroom; your roommate talks long showers; and both of you are prone
to leaving your laptops plugged in long after the battery has finished
charging. Unfortunately, the utility company isn’t going to send you bills
neatly itemizing the costs incurred by each of you separately, so how do you
split the utility bills? Here are some
tips for sharing utility costs equitably.
Paying utility bills
First, you want to make sure the bill gets paid every
month. How you manage that is up to you
and your roommate. Many apartment-sharers
end up designating one person to pay the bills, in which case you could lump in
utilities with other shared bills. Another strategy is to alternate paying the
bills from month to month. If you do
this, make sure you have a calendar prominently displayed and reminder notices
so neither of you forgets when it’s your turn.
Splitting utility bills
How do you split the bill?
In most cases, having each roommate pay a proportionate share is the
easiest and fairest method. More
negotiation may be necessary, however, if your roommate works from home and
regularly consumes more power. When
you’re negotiating, agree whether you want to simply split the bill or adjust
it under particular circumstances, such as allowing a credit for a roommate who
was away for a week.
Whose name is on the utility bills?
Whatever mechanism you use for actually paying the bill,
designate one person to set up the contracts, hopefully saving money by finding
better rates. Then you can decide
whether that person has full freedom to act or needs to consult with roommates
before signing with a new cable or gas provider. Either way, if you can make these agreements
well before any money has to be paid, things will go more smoothly for you,
both with your utility providers and with your roommates.
MOVING CHECKLIST
• Executed Lease
• Lease Deposit, if applicable
• Change of Address forms filed
• Temporary Pet Accommodations
• Parking Permit
• Pool Pass
• Security Cards and Codes
• Phone Service
• Electricity
• Water
Hi-Speed Internet/Cable/Digital TV
• Movers (Friends?)
• Rental Truck Reservation/Deposit
• Moving Supplies (boxes, tape, blankets)
MOVING COMPANIES
Warning: You should get a referral from a friend, coworker, or family member due to increased scams with moving brokers and moving companies. I have listed here some movers that I pulled from the local directory . I am simply providing you with these options, and in no way guarantee or warrant the service or any of it's agents or employees.
Local Movers
A-1 Apt. Movers
713 975-0000
AAA Apartment Movers, Inc.
713 467-6683
3 Men Movers, Inc.
713 869-8783
A Budget Moving Services
713 943-1970
National Movers
Bekins Moving and Storage Company, LLC
713 988-1200
North American Van Lines
281 550-1110
Mayflower
713 512-4800
Allied Van Lines
713 849-1307
Atlas Van Lines
713 856-2300
Insurance
Renter's Insurance
Don't be lulled into thinking your apartment landlord will be responsible for personal property lost as a result of theft, fire, flood or any other reason. Your Texas apartment will not include renter's insurance. You will be required in MOST cases to purchase renter's insurance in order to be approved for an apartment. It is a very minimal expense, typically as low as $10 to $15 per month but it is money well spent!
If your lease does not include a provision for renter's insurance, purchase it from a reputable insurance agent.
Renter's insurance is typically available from all the big underwriters in the Houston and surrounding areas, suburbs, including State Farm, Nationwide, Farmers, and Allstate.
There are far too many listings to recommend on this page, so we politely suggest you have a look through the web or contact me for a referral.
UTILITIES
Houston and surrounding area apartments generally provide outstanding amenities and services. Occasionally, certain basic utilities are negotiable if one is willing to commit to a long-term lease.
Some area apartment property owners include basic utilities such as electricity and water as a lease provision. Such offerings are advertised as "paid utilities". There are very few of those properties to choose from - they tend to be the older communities and the handful that are available typically charge a flat fee, or what is referred as a submetered electric bill which can be, in some cases, lower than typical residential rates!! In the event the apartment of your choice does not include any paid utilities, you can contact the utility companies directly at the numbers listed below.
Electricity
Reliant Energy: 713 207-7777
TXU Energy: 866-CALL-TXu
Phone
ATT, Comcast, Verizon, Vonage and the list goes on. Or visit www.whitefence.com to search all home services and connect your home in minutes.
Gas, Water, Trash, Sewer is almost always submetered and you will pay an additional monthly fee to your apartment landlord.Water/Trash/Gas/Sewer - Ask rental agent for appropriate contact number) Generally you pay the water and trash directly to your property management office and it submetered or individually metered to your unit.
Cable or Digital
Ask your rental agent for appropriate contact numbers for the Cable Television, and or the Hi-Speed Internet or Dial Up Service providers that offer their services for that particular property - they can be different, and most properties are directly tied to certain providers, in most cases offering you the benefits of lower prices for the services of Comcast, TV Max, ATT, Verizon, Clear - these are just some of the typical providers for those services.
SECURITY
Here are some things to think about before you decide on the ideal apartment.
Security is a cooperative effort.
No matter what type of security effort a landlord makes, the apartment "communal" environment dictates that all residents share in the responsibility for effective security and safety. For this to work, you must "know your neighbors".
Many apartment properties feature expensive electronic access control ("card access") at gated parking and pedestrian entrances. Be sure to look for this leasing amenity...
Report Suspicious Persons...
Tailgating is the most common form of unauthorized entry into apartment property grounds. When entering and exiting at controlled portals, be aware of unfamiliar or suspicious-looking persons. Report any suspicious activity to the property security office immediately.
When in doubt, and in the absence of on-site courtesy officers, dial 911.
Safety vs. Convenience
Some apartment properties feature electronic digital keypads to provide controlled entry at gated parking and gated pedestrian entrances. You already know how these security controls work.
While these devices are very convenient, they make it possible for unauthorized persons to gain entrance to the property grounds.
How? The digital keypad "code" is in our heads. It can get passed around to undesirable persons without any record. If you're interested in an apartment property that features digital keypads at gated entrances, ask the leasing agent or property manager how frequently the digital code is changed.
Check Out the Neighborhood
The neighborhood surrounding an apartment property should be a primary factor of consideration for the apartment hunter. The old adage, "look before you leap" definitely applies to apartment hunting.
Emergency
POLICE EMERGENCIES
As stated at Houston Police Online, "The mission of the Houston Police Department is to enhance the quality of life in the City of Houston by working cooperatively with the public and within the framework of the U.S. Constitution to enforce the laws, preserve the peace, reduce fear and provide for a safe environment."
Policing a metro area of nearly 4 million is a big job, as you might have guessed. And the Houston Police Department does an excellent job in performing its mission. The Seabrook, League City, Webster, Friendswood, Pearland, LaPorte, Pasadena, Baytown, Kemah and Deer Park Police Departments are excellent in thier performance as well.
911
To report an emergency requiring the attention of the Houston police department, don't hesitate to dial 911.
While other police jurisdictions police surrounding suburban neighborhoods, the 911 emergency reporting system addresses all of the greater Houston metro area.
To review crime statistics in any Houston, League City, Webster, or surrounding area apartment neighborhood, search neighborhood crime stats and follow the instructions.
FIRE EMERGENCIES
HFD Mission Statement
"The Houston Fire Department is a professional organization continually seeking opportunities to serve our community through fire prevention, emergency operations, patient care and excellent customer service."
Today, more than 3,000 firefighters are employed by HFD, including 300 Paramedics, 1700 Emergency Medical Technicians and 362 civilian personnel.
OTHER EMERGENCIES
Emergency Medical Services 911
Emergency Fire 911
Emergency Police & Law Enforcement 911
Poison Control
(800) 764-7661
NATIONAL
National Drug Abuse Hotline
(800) 662-4357
CDC AIDS Information
(800) 342-2437
National Runaway Hotline
(800) 621-4000
Youth Crisis Hotline
(800) 448-4663
LOCAL
Crisis Nursery
(713) 659-7704
Houston Women's Center
(713) 528-6798
Houston Family Health Services
(713) 794-9368
Harris County Youth Services
(713) 664-5701
Child Abuse
(713) 626-5701
Texas Runaway Hotline
(800) 392-3352
Department of Human Services
(800) 252-5400
Texas Parents' Hotline
(800) 554-2323
Animal Control - Harris County
(281) 999-3191
Justice for Children
(713) 225-4357
Depelchin Children's Center
(713) 862-8136
Agricultural Extension Service
(281) 855-5600
PARKING
Apartment parking accommodations vary from property to property. The Houston apartment hunter can expect to find one of the following types of parking situations at every apartment property in Houston. First, How Many Parking Spaces?
The number of parking spaces is specified in the lease terms. Some apartment operators rent additional parking spaces for an additional monthly fee on a space-available basis. Be sure to ask about the availability of extra parking spaces and extra fees if you
own more than one vehicle.
Exposed, Surface Parking - Surface parking used to be the standard, but few Houston apartment properties today offer only surface parking (i.e., "uncovered" parking).
Covered Parking
Several Houston and surrounding suburb apartment operators provide at least one parking space in the lease that is under cover. Apartment communities that provide covered parking usually provide gated security as well, although this is not always the case.
Garage Parking
Newer Houston apartment properties offer individual parking garages for an extra monthly fee. However some are included in the rent and they are usually the more exclusive, higher end luxury properties.
The number of parking garages is usually limited. Parking garages are almost always offered on a first-come, first-served basis.
Guest Parking
Most quality Houston apartments provide a modest number of guest parking spaces.
If you expect lots of visitors, check out the guest parking situation before you sign a lease.
SWIMMING POOL
Almost all Houston apartment properties feature a swimming pool. In addition, many feature a clubhouse that can be rented for parties and other special occasions.
Pool Safety
Pool safety practices are common sense. If a pool activity doesn't intrude on other residents' privacy or present a safety issue, it's usually permitted.
Few if any Houston apartments provide pool lifeguards. Residents use apartment pool facilities at their own risk.
Apartment hunting families can expect to enjoy equal access to apartment pool facilities with an adult family member - always present at the pool or hot tub with their children for thiner safety - always a requirement for anyone under the age of 18 in most cases.
In addition to all the water sports in the Houston area, children's learn-to-swim programs are popular.
FITNESS
The best area apartment properties feature fairly comprehensive exercise and workout facilities for resident tenants - some even include pilates, spinning classes and yoga, as well state of the art equipment that include cardiovascular equipment, treadmills, and free weights.
In the event that the apartment of your choice does not have a workout facility and you are committed to a regular exercise regimen, consider a membership at one of the fitness clubs listed in in the Yellow Pages or on the Internet. Houston and the surrounding area is home to hundreds of fitness clubs.
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