Keep Your Things Safe

First and foremost, you want to worry about keeping your valuable's from being water-damaged once you notice the beginning of the flooding. Take everything you can into a room of your apartment that the upstairs water isn't leaking into. Also, consider moving things to your car or asking your neighbor if you can keep things in their apartment until you can handle the situation.

Call the Landlord

As soon as you can, call your landlord or property manager to notify them of the situation. In the meanwhile, seal any ceiling leaks you can and catch the water with buckets or big plastic bins. Try to minimize water damage as much as possible.

Determine the Problem

If your apartment flooded from upstairs, chances are something went awry with your upstairs neighbor. It may have been an overflowing bathtub or toilet, a busted pipe, a leaky fridge or water heater, or some other issue of the sort.

By immediately calling your landlord, they'll probably go up and inspect the cause. The sooner the cause is identified, the sooner it gets fixed. Eventually, you'll be able to start worrying about what happens next instead of scrambling to figure things out while water continues to leak into your apartment.

Have Insurance

Frequently, tenants will be required to have renter's insurance before moving in – not always, but often. Even if it isn't needed, it's smart to get in case of situations like these. Luckily, it isn't too expensive either, just a few hundred dollars a year or less. The point is, if you have renter's insurance, things will end up going a lot smoother.

Your renter's insurance will cover the cost of your damaged belongings such as clothing, jewelry, electronics, etc., and sometimes even appliances under some policies. The renter's insurance does not cover the damage done to the apartment building itself, like to your floors and the pipes, but that will usually be taken care of by the landlord. If you don't immediately notify your landlord when the flooding begins, however, they may try to get out of paying for repairs.

If you don't have renter's insurance, things will be a little more troublesome. While your property manager will most likely replace your carpets and make sure any stains in the ceiling are taken care of, you'll be responsible for replacing your personal belongings.

On the occasions where your landlord does not offer to take on repairs themselves, ask if they can reimburse you for taking the repairs into your own hands – either by doing them yourself or hiring a repair-person out of your pocket. Alternatively, negotiate whether or not you can take the cost of repairs off the next rent payment.

If your landlord refuses to repair anything inside your apartment and your upstairs neighbor was proven to be at fault but refuses to cover the cost of the damage they caused, you can always attempt to take either of them to court.

Natural Disasters

Flooding via natural disaster such as a hurricane or tropical storm may be unlikely, but it happens sometimes. If your upstairs neighbor experiences flood damage due to natural conditions, their water will leak into your home, too, assuming your apartment hasn't been affected by the weather already.

In this case, your renter's insurance may not cover the damage done to your belongings because the cause was a natural disaster and not any fault of anyone in the apartment complex. If you don't have flood insurance, which you can tack onto your renter's insurance, then you may be out of luck, even if your landlord makes the structural repairs.

If your apartment flooded to the point where it's no longer able to be lived in, it might just be time to move. In these cases, you can often end your lease without any financial complications. If you're lucky, you can get a new place within the same apartment complex, but you may have to move out if things get that bad.

Overall, a flooded apartment is a terrible time for anyone, but it's able to be dealt with often than not. By keeping as much safe as you can, fixing the problem as soon as possible, and having the right insurance, you can get back on your feet even after all the hassle. Expect the best, but prepare for the worst, as they say.

The post My Apartment Flooded from Upstairs; What’s Next? appeared first on South Parc Blog.

Read on to learn what is a security deposit.
 

What is a Security Deposit?

There’s more to a security deposit than meets the eye. A security deposit is actually a certain amount of money that a tenant hands to their landlord along with their rent. On paper, this just sounds like you’re giving extra money to the landlord. However, this isn’t exactly the case. Consider a security deposit like a form of insurance. It’s a way of protecting you, specifically your money, in the event that the apartment is damaged or you’re not able to pay your rent.

Another thing you should know about security deposits is that they’re refundable. If you’re a tenant who takes care of their apartment and always pays their rent on time, the company that owns the building will give your security deposit back.
 

How Much Does a Security Deposit Cost?

The cost of a security deposit depends on the location you’re in or looking to move to. Although most places don’t have a set limit for a security deposit, there are a few locations that do, so keep that in mind. Let’s take Kansas for example. Kansas is one of those places that actually has a law set in place where you must pay a set amount for a security deposit. If the place is unfurnished, then you must put down one month’s rent. Or, if it is furnished, you’ll have to pay a month and a half’s rent instead.

Always remember to do some research on the building you’re looking to rent. The company may also charge you a fee of their own if it’s in their policy.
 

When to Pay For a Security Deposit?

You’ll have to pay your security deposit before you move into the building, along with your first month’s rent. However, it’s important to keep in mind that you have to pay the security deposit on time. Failing to do so can end up hurting your chances of securing your apartment.
 

When Does The Company Return The Security Deposit?

As with the amount you must pay, when you’ll be able to get back your security depends on the property and who the company is. In some cases, you might get your deposit back within two weeks. In others, you may have to wait as long as two months. However, there is another thing that you need to take into consideration. The company is able to take away a bit of your security deposit. This will only happen if the apartment you were in was damaged or not taken care of. Make sure to keep your apartment in good shape before you move out.

A security deposit plays a very important role when it comes to renting an apartment. However, the way it's handled, how much you have to pay and how much you'll get back all vary on the company.

The post Renting 101: What Is A Security Deposit appeared first on South Parc Blog.

1.Measure Everything

Before you buy anything, take some measuring tape with you to your new apartment. Write down the dimensions of every room, including the hallways and doors. Just because a piece will fit inside the room doesn’t mean you’ll be able to get it in there! If you’re not on the ground floor, measure the elevator and stairwell as well. Inside each room, don’t forget to measure closets, windows and cabinets. It’s not easy, but it will be worth it!
 

2. Make a Plan

Draw out a diagram of your apartment’s floorplan, and label it with the measurements you took. Take inventory of any existing pieces you have, and note their dimensions. You can even cut out scale models of your pieces that can be arranged and rearranged quickly on top of the diagram! It’s a lot easier to move little pieces of paper than buying furniture for your apartment, moving it in, and then shuffling it all around.
 

3. Get Creative

Can any of your furniture pieces do double-duty? When you’re low on space, make everything in your house really count. For example, a daybed with extra pillows or a futon can double as a couch during the daytime. Or a dresser with a chair nearby can also be a desk. Extra chairs can be used as nightstands, and pulled out when you need more seating.
 

4. Cover the basics

If you’re starting from scratch, keep in mind that you really just need three things: a place to sleep, a place to sit, and a place to eat. Just think: a sleeper sofa with a coffee table could be enough! Once you’ve satisfied those necessities, start thinking about storage. Moving is a great chance to evaluate your belongings as well. Are they all really necessary?
 

5. Find what you need

First, remember to take it slow- your apartment doesn’t need to be picture-perfect overnight. As you shop for furniture, bring your room measurements with you. You may fall in love with that big, oversized armchair at the store, but if it takes up half your living room, you might not love it as much at home. For chairs, beds, sofas, and anything you sit on, be sure to try it first and make sure it’s comfortable. Those dining chairs you saw online may look elegant, but if you can’t sit comfortably for more than a few minutes, they might not be the best choice for your home.
 

6. Work with your budget

Ready to start shopping? There are furniture stores in every price range and style, online shops that offer everything under the sun, and big-box retailers that can always cover your basics. On the other hand, furniture can be pretty expensive. If you’re willing to put a little more time and energy into it, scouring garage sales, craigslist ads, and thrift stores can yield some amazing results. As a rule of thumb, mattresses and upholstered pieces should be bought new to avoid bringing unwanted guests into your home (hello, bedbugs!). But for everything else, you can often find higher-quality pieces secondhand for a fraction of the price.

With a little preparation and a little creativity, you’re sure to find everything you need. And last but not least, don't forget to have fun furnishing your apartment!

The post The Ultimate Checklist for Buying Furniture for Your Apartment appeared first on South Parc Blog.

Sometimes the apartment is real; sometimes, it is not. The person posing as a landlord seldom has the right to rent out the space in question.

Unfortunately, apartment hunting can have your emotions running high, and it's easy to be too trusting. Other times you're in a time crunch, wanting or needing to get out of your current apartment as soon as possible due to personal reasons or when in the process of relocating for a job. Being eager to hurry up and get moving can make you vulnerable to scammers. It's also easy to be excited about moving, making you more trusting of a shady landlord.

Finding a new apartment can consume both your time and your energy, and even more so when you have to be on the lookout for apartment rental scams constantly.

At South Parc, a family-friendly apartment complex in Portland Oregon, we've gathered a few tips for you on how to reel in a real apartment with a reputable landlord that isn't trying to scam you.

Always Look Before You Buy

Perhaps this one seems obvious, but you would be surprised to find out just how many renters make up excuses as to why their new landlord can't show them the place, yet.

If you have a landlord unwilling or unable to show you the place they have up for rent, it probably means it's not their place. If you are relocating from far away and can't look at the place yourself, have a trusted friend or family member that's local take a look at it for you.

Stay Away from Sub-leasing

It's almost impossible to verify whether or not the original tenant is allowed to sub-lease to you. It is an easy way to facilitate an apartment rental scam, and it can even get both the original tenant, as well as yourself, evicted if the original lease doesn't allow for sub-leasing.To avoid any issues with eviction, convince the original tenant to add you onto the original lease.

Don't Do Cash Only

Not all landlords that deal in cash run apartment rental scams, but landlords who are up to no good usually do deal in cash since cash will never leave a trace. If your landlord is unwilling to accept anything but cash, do yourself a favor and move along. The same goes for landlords who require wire transfers.

Insist on a Lease

If a landlord insists that you don't need a lease, move along. Even in states that allow oral agreements to be legally binding, insist on a written lease. Also make sure that both homeowner and tenant sign this contract, and get a full copy of the lease

Know Who You Rent From

In the same vein as making sure the landlord has access to the property, making sure the landlord can prove homeownership is essential to avoid apartment rental scams. Don't take anything but documents with your landlord's name, and don't believe that the papers will be sent later.

If it Looks Too Perfect

If it looks too perfect, it probably is. If an apartment seems extra nice, and is going for several hundred dollars less than you were expecting to pat, be aware that it might be a scam. The same goes for listings that are worded differently but still has the same pictures. Scammers often borrow text and pictures from existing ads.

Don't Trust the Middleman

Make sure that you aren't walking straight into an apartment rental scam by meeting your actual landlord in person when looking at the apartment you want. Don't accept the word of a middleman. The middleman is especially common on platforms like Craigslist, and this includes property managers.

Don't Forget to do Your Research

Verify as much info as you can, both about the landlord and about your apartment. Running a reverse image search in Google of the pictures in the ad is a good way to find out if the place you're looking at is allready listed in other places. Also google real estate agents or companies if that is who you are dealing with.

The Price

Look into your area. Notice the average housing prices and see if your new place fits the monthly rent at your new place or not. Also make sure to verify with the landlord that the rent price will in fact be what was listed in the ad.

Talk to the Tenants

If the apartment you are looking to rent has tenants that currently live there, talk to them before signing the agreement. If you can get a hold of previous tenants that don’t have to worry about talking badly about the landlord, that is even better.

Thankfully, not everyone is out to scam you. As long as you stick with common sense and the abovementioned tips, chances are you will find a legit apartment to rent, without getting scammed out of your money. Good luck!

The post How to Avoid Apartment Rental Scams appeared first on South Parc Blog.

You don’t want to find yourself taken by surprise right when you’re about to make this life-changing move, especially financially. Ensure that you’re thoroughly prepared to make your move by learning the ins and outs of all that is required when you rent, including how to save money for an apartment.

Craft a Budget

Before you get an apartment, it’s imperative that you know how much you can spend on it each month. Many people look at their income and look at the price of rent somewhere and just decide they can afford it. They don’t take their current expenses or their up-coming expenses into consideration and end up biting off more than they can chew.

Not creating a budget is the first step towards not making rent each month, which creates a landslide of bad financial mistakes. Avoid that trouble by sitting down and creating a budget before you even start looking at potential apartments. This will help you to know your limit so that you don’t even start looking at things that you can’t afford.

Here is a simple way to create a budget:

• Write down your income each month
• Write down all of your monthly expenses, which includes things like recurring payments, groceries, gas, and entertainment
• Write down your anticipated monthly expenses (this includes things you will be paying once you have your own apartment that you might not currently be paying, such as electricity, gas, water, and internet.)
• Subtract your current and anticipated monthly expenses from your income

Whatever you have left is the amount you could potentially pay on rent. It’s a good idea to give yourself a little wiggle room for life, and not to spend every last cent on rent.

Once you know what you can pay on rent each month, you can begin using your budget to save the money you need for the move. Take the money that you budgeted for rent and save it. After only a few months of saving, you’ll have the money that you need to make the move.

How much money to save for the actual move

Many first-time renters don’t account financially for the cost of actually moving into the apartment. Other than first month’s rent, there are a number of expenses that need to be saved for in order to get into your new place. Let’s take a look.

• Security deposit

The security deposit is a pretty big expense and anywhere you move is going to require one.

Most places have new renters pay a security deposit that is the same as one month’s rent along with the first month’s rent, but some actually have renters pay first, last, and the deposit. That means that if you’re renting a place that costs $1500 a month, you’re going to need anywhere from $3000-$4500 in order to move in.

• Pet deposit

Some apartments allow pets along with a pet deposit. If you’re going to be bringing Fido along with you into your new home, find out the amount needed for the pet deposit ahead of time and add that into your calculations.

• Renter’s Insurance

Renter’s insurance protects you and your belongings as a renter and is required by many property management companies. Even if it’s not required, it’s a good idea to get some anyway. It’s cheap and if the unforeseen happens, it can be a life-saver.

• Administration costs

There are often fees associated with various aspects of renting, and even applying for, an apartment. Most property management places will have you pay for a credit and background check. Be prepared to fork over some cash when you’re applying and preparing to move.

• Utility deposits

You’ll need to have utilities put in your name and most utility companies require a deposit when you do. Some companies will even require an installation fee. There are many costs associated with getting your utilities set up, so make sure that you are well-prepared for them.

Take your time

When you’re ready to get your own place, impatience definitely sets in. The last thing you want to do though is jump in when you’re not financially prepared. Take your time and save the money that you need to make the move easy on you.

Give yourself time to buy the things you need as well, such as furniture, kitchen tools and utensils, and even decor. Don’t rush. Take the time that you need in order to find the perfect place and move in without stress or unforeseen expenses.

The post How to Save Money for an Apartment appeared first on South Parc Blog.