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.

First, there’s that dreaded IKEA trip, and then there is the issue of actually assembling the furniture. Trust me; I know the feeling. Although it’s easy to make a list of what you want to do with flat-packed furniture, we believe that when completing a task, you don’t want to go back and correct mistakes. Nobody has the time for that. So, we’ve compiled a list of what you want to avoid instead of what you want to do when building flat-packed furniture.

Now, without further delay, let’s dive in.

1. Ditching the instructions. There is a time and place to prove your independence and trust me; building flat-packed furniture is not the time. Throwing that little pamphlet in the recycling bin is going to be a colossal error and far more damaging to your pride, in the long run, then it will be if you take the time to read it. Taking the time to, for a start actually opening it, and then carefully reading it from start to finish is always the better option than just tossing it the second you open the box. Let’s leave it at; the instructions are there for a reason.
2. Not stopping when it’s broken. If you open the box and find that the headboard is broken, we strongly advise against plowing forward anyways. Your first step should be to contact the company and explain what happened and request a replacement or refund. Even if it’s your fault that the furniture is damaged, you still shouldn’t continue. Not only does it look bad, but it can also be dangerous. Having broken parts of any piece of furniture is potentially hazardous to you, and that’s not a chance you should take.
3. Not following the steps in the right order. It can be tempting to pick the easiest thing on the list to do first but believe me; there’s a reason that they list the order in which you should do things. Although you might get the urge to do things outside of what the manual directs you to, you don’t want to. Only ever change the order of your building if you’ve done the same project so many times that you could do it without looking.
4. Not receiving help. Flat-packed furniture is best done with a team, meaning that if you can get the assistance, you should take it. Not only will this make the task go much quicker, but you’ll also have other opinions to make sure that the job is done correctly and no mistakes are made. It’s overall just more efficient and faster to assemble flat-packed furniture if you’re doing it with a pal.
5.  Not getting the basic tools. You may think that it’ll only take a simple screwdriver to put together your furniture, and some of it might, but you don’t know until you open it and you don’t want to be taken by surprise. I know, just about all flat-packed furniture sellers will insist that you only need what comes in the box (and maybe the occasional wrench), but that’s not always a guarantee. The real flat-packed furniture professionals take the time to invest in the basic tools. This isn’t to say that you have to go all out and get every tool you can think of, just a few basics that you think will come in handy when you’re assembling your furniture. A hammer, some assorted nails and screws, a drill, and a level are all probably a good start to your assembling journey.
6. Not stopping when it doesn’t fit. If it doesn’t fit, it doesn’t fit. It’s as simple as that. Forcing something to fit where it doesn’t fit is a sure way to ruin your piece of furniture. If a peg doesn’t quite fit or the screw is having trouble going in, don’t force it. If this is the case, then you’re probably using the wrong piece. Screws will tend to look similar, with only a slight size difference, and the same goes for pegs. If you find yourself in this position, then take a moment and make sure what you’re doing is correct. Be sure that you’re actually supposed to be using wood or screws and then double-check to make sure you have the right one. If not, you may run into an issue.
7. Not considering hiring someone to do it for you. Okay, I know, the whole point of flat-packed furniture should be that you do it yourself, but sometimes you need help, and that’s okay. Some flat-packed furniture is more difficult to assemble, and when this happens, you may want to consider hiring someone. It’ll save you time, they’ll already arrive with the right tools and know-how, and honestly, it’ll probably look a lot better then it will when you attempt to do it yourself. This isn’t to say that you should attempt DIY, but you should most certainly consider it if a project is getting too complicated and at least think about hiring someone.

Flat-packed furniture is widely used across the world and for a good reason too; it’s affordable and still keeps your home looking classy. Above are seven mistakes that you want to avoid when building flat-packed furniture. These are mistakes that we see happen all the time when people attempt to build flat-packed furniture, and we want to make sure that you don’t have them happen to you. Remember, you should at least consider hiring someone to do it for you; after all, you never know what’ll happen, and it may just be one of your best decisions. We hope this blog post has been helpful and you’ll now know what to avoid when you get back from your IKEA trip!

The post 7 Mistakes to Avoid Building Flat-Packed Furniture appeared first on South Parc Blog.

1. Give Your Kids Time

Tell your kids ahead of time about an upcoming move. Give them 2-3 months notice if at all possible. Sometimes,
moving to an apartment happens on short notice, but always try to give your kids as much time as you can to
prepare for the move.

2. Give Your Kids a Semblance of Control

One of the things that makes moving more difficult for kids that they usually have little say in where or when their
parents are moving to an apartment. Kids thrive on routine, and changes can be scary, especially when they affect
their surroundings and social circle in the way a move does. Giving back a little bit of control to the kids will go a
long way in making the transition smoother for all parties involved. It doesn't take much: if the apartment is nearby,
drive by and point it out to the kids, or if the move is long-distance show the child pictures of their new home. If
possible, let the kids pick out their rooms, or maybe even pick paint colors before moving. Talk about activities you
can do together in the new place, and visit or look up nearby schools, stores, or playgrounds. All these little things
make the new home real to the kids and will help them begin to prepare by imagining their new life after the move.

3. Try to Schedule Your Move During The Summer

If at all possible, try to schedule your move during the summer months, after the school year has ended. Moving to
an apartment during the summer, lets kids start the new school at the same time as the other students. It's easier
to make friends at the beginning of the school year than it is later on when friendship groups form.

4. Be Positive About the Move

Kids look to adults for clues on how to manage their feelings during changes like moving to an apartment. Moving
is stressful and challenging for most parents, but try to focus on the positive aspects of moving when your child is
in earshot. When children see that you are excited and positive about the prospect of moving, they will be excited
and positive too.

5. Keep the Move Fun

There are lots of games you can play with your children to make the moving to an apartment more interesting for
them. Older kids can help label or even decorate moving boxes. Younger children might have more fun if you
make up a silly moving-song in a familiar tune, then you can sing it together as you pack and move. You can also
let children help pack, and hide little surprises in between the things they are packing, like small toys, stickers, or
even candy. Making a moving day playlist that you can play in the car, or moving truck, as you drive to the new
apartment is also a fun idea.

6. After the Move

As soon as you are moved into the new apartment, make finishing your child's room a priority. It can be difficult for
children to feel at home if their room is full of packed boxes, even if their bed can be slept in. It is a good idea to
limit other changes during the move. If your child is about to outgrow their bed, for example, consider letting them
keep the old bed until they are settled in the new place, and then make the changes in furniture. If possible,
decorate and arrange furniture in your child's room in the new apartment to look like their old room. Children often
feel safer when they are around things that are familiar to them.

Hopefully, these tips will make moving to an apartment just a little bit easier, if not downright fun, both for the kids,
and the adults involved.

Happy moving!

The post 6 Ways to Make Moving to an Apartment Easier On Your Kids appeared first on South Parc Blog.

Neighbors that don’t honor the social contract or rules for noise levels in apartments can be a nuisance or even destructive- noise can keep our quality of life down in the dumps, it can lead to sleep deprivation, and can be really destructive to someone who’s just trying to live their life. Most residents aren’t aware of how much sound travels in their apartment home and how that may affect the people around them. If your neighbors are noisy, here are a few ways that you can properly address them:

1. Consider Normal Apartment Living Noise

   Before you raise your hackles, consider the time of day and the type of noise that you’re hearing. When you’re living in an apartment community, some noise is unavoidable and very often, it’s unintentional. Use your best judgement- heavy walking traffic during the evening and loud music in the middle of the night are not typical apartment noise.

2. Block Out Unwanted Noise

   So you have noisy neighbors, but it’s all ‘normal apartment living’ noise. Use a ceiling fan or a sound machine to drown out the noise of every-day life with your neighbors. With a sound machine, you can often choose what type of noise you’d like to hear and they’re all much better than your neighbor’s footsteps!

3. Don’t Ignore The Problem

   Dealing with the issue promptly can eliminate any bad feelings or further problems. Don’t make the situation worse by directly confronting your neighbor– stomping on the floor or banging on the ceiling will just make someone feel defensive. South Parc’s office staff is available to assist you with noise complaints. Simply call our office during business hours to discuss excessive noise so we can assist you in properly handling the issue.

Strategies to Avoid Noise Altogether

1. Aim for the top floor

   If noisy people were considerate human beings, they would volunteer to live in the lowest units of any given building. They’d understand that dirt has no feelings and doesn’t care about high heels and loud music. However, if they were considerate, they probably wouldn’t be noisy neighbors. Most of the time, the people who are loud like having balconies and a view. Aim to balance your distance from the ground and the quality of your neighborhood and building.

2. Whenever possible, deal with property managers or landlords and not real estate agents.

   Your realtor has no skin in the game when it comes to showing you an apartment. Real estate agents dive in to show a place and make whatever promises they feel like to prospective tenants. Their commitment ends the second they get their commission. Once they’re paid, they’ll often tell you to take up any issue with your property management company.

3. If peace and quiet is important to you, tell your landlord in the beginning.

   Your landlord isn’t a yes/no machine. They’re people and as such, feedback is crucial to tap into their resources. If you want a quiet place to live, say so. When you tell them, pay close attention to their reaction- are they relieved? Do they suddenly look suspicious?

   You can tell a lot by the little things that people say that would seem otherwise innocuous. Things like “This is a city. There’s going to be some noise.” Or even better, “This is a really young community.” These are all red flags.

   Ask questions about your upstairs tenants. Do they have kids? Are they single? Young? Pets? Become a detective and ask good questions. There is not yet a renter’s rights law that adds stipulations to leases for opt-out if your neighbor has hardwood floors and two peg legs. By making your preferences clear upfront, you put the ball in the landlord’s court. If they recommend that you apply, you’ve set the expectation that you can approach the landlords about once you move in.

4. Don’t take up your neighbor’s offer to swing by their party.

   There’s an unspoken rule among noisy neighbors: the best way to keep a neighbor from complaining about your party is to invite them to the party. Don’t do it! The next time you complain, the noisy neighbor could mention that you didn’t have a problem when you were over knocking back beers a few days ago. Be polite, but keep your distance.

5. React strategically to noisy neighbors.

   You have to approach noisy neighbors with an action plan. For the first offense (make sure it’s an actual offense like a late-night party) you should talk to the neighbor themselves or go straight to the landlord. Keep in mind that this puts a damper on your neighbor relationship from the beginning, but who cares if they’re stuck on icy? You didn’t move here to be their friend, you move to sleep, eat, bathe, and hang out with people you already know.

   If this doesn’t stop the noise or the neighbor disagrees that they’re causing a problem, deal only with management going forward. It’s now become a battle over where your neighbors’ rights end and yours begin and this is really a job for a mediator. Send emails when the problem is happening to establish a paper trail and become well-acquainted with the language in your lease.

   Don’t call the cops on your neighbors over noise. It’s a poor use of police resources, but not only that– it basically escalates your negotiation into a war.

The post The 3 Best Ways to Handle Noisy Neighbors appeared first on South Parc Blog.

Regardless of the reason, it’s important that you make your space feel like home and transform it to your liking since we spend a lot of time in our kitchen.

When working on your kitchen aesthetic, you should be cautious before making any significant changes. Some of these might be against your landlord’s wishes, so make sure that you always ask the landlord for their permission before making any major changes to the space. You want to get your rental deposit back!

1. Maximize Space

   Cramped kitchens are one of those things that will quickly irritate anyone. In order to combat poorly designed kitchen spaces, take advantage of the vertical space. A lot of people forget that the large vertical areas that exist in their kitchens and it’s definitely a mistake on their part.

   There is a ton of available vertical space in most kitchens. Use stackable shelves either on the walls or on top of cabinets to help free up some space.

   You can also use space in other rooms to maximize your available kitchen space by extending your countertops to the adjoining room.

   Another idea is to add much needed space by getting a moveable island or kitchen cart. These wheeled additions to your kitchen space can help you properly utilize the entire space by freeing up premium counter space or food preparation or appliances that you use on a daily basis.

    

2. Organize Your Kitchen

   After you’ve taken the time to free up space, you should spend your energy on arranging your home decor, fixtures, and utensils. Organizing your kitchen can absolutely transform it to look neat and tidy.

   In order to organize your kitchen, you need to make sure that you have only the essentials on your counters. Make sure that unnecessary items have a place where they’re put away so they don’t take away from your kitchen space.

   Another idea is to hang pots and pans on the wall with a rack to free up space in your kitchen. This offers more counter space and adds an aesthetic charm to your space. Pegboards with hooks can provide extra space to store essentials and additional cookware.
    

3. Add Artwork

   By placing art in your kitchen, you can transform your boring kitchen into a cozy well-decorated space. Rental kitchens tend to be plainly designed without anything on the walls.

   Adding your own personal flair can change the aesthetics of your kitchen and make it more inviting. It also presents an opportunity to add some of your personality into your new space.

   Adding art in your kitchen will improve its look and make it feel more like your space.
    

4. Add Plants to Your Kitchen

   Struggling to bring your new kitchen to life? Putting plants in your space could be the answer you’re searching for.

   It’s a fairly cost-effective easy way to add some flair to your space- adding a plant can easily improve the look of your rental kitchen. Even better? Pick out a few herbs and you can incorporate them into your cooking, completing the entire space in a rather appropriate way.
    

5. Change the Lighting

   Bad lighting is the difference between you being in love with your space and making homemade meals often or you ordering takeout more frequently. Coming home to a poorly lit kitchen after a hard day at work is less than ideal and you’ll find yourself avoiding the space often and seeking alternatives.

   If you can’t change the lighting, make the best of the lighting you do have with crafty placement of mirrors. Mirrors will reflect the light and help light up your food prep space.
    

6. A Fresh Coat of Paint

   Older paint with scratches everywhere is a complete eyesore to come home to in any situation. The good news? You can easily rectify this by giving your space a fresh coat of paint. Nicely painted walls can completely transform your kitchen.

   Note: many landlords take zero issue with tenants painting their kitchen, but you should always ask before you make any changes to the walls. By getting permission, you secure and protect your deposit so it makes its way back to you in the future.

   Choose a color of paint that matches well with your flooring and other items. Simple colors like white or grey can completely change the aesthetics of your kitchen. Make sure to test samples before you decide on a new color and permanently change the color of your walls.
    

While moving can take you in any direction at any time, the one thing you shouldn’t have to compromise on is a mediocre rental kitchen. You can make easy changes that will improve the look of your kitchen and make it feel more like yours and not a generic apartment kitchen.

These ideas should help make it easier for you to create your own space that’s functional and well-organized.

The post How to Make The Most Out of Your Rental Kitchen appeared first on South Parc Blog.