Hey Apartmentites! Brianne here, your apartment decorating and style expert, and I want to share with you a little insight on making your apartment fit the mold of the motto at Apartment Home Living.

Okay, so at this point I think it is safe to admit that there is a huge variety of things that people “Live 4″ out there, but one specific “live for” is our motto around here and it rings true with just about everyone…(except those sad and forlorned emo-kids.) We (most of us at least) Live for Fun!

So why not let it show in your apartment decorations too? Here are a few simple ideas to help you decorate your apartment to reflect playfulness and energy.

1. Keep the Dining Area Simple - Try a small wooden table and don’t decorate it too heavily. Allow the wood grain to shine and show off the simplicity. Let all the attention be put on the furniture. It becomes cheaper for you and makes a bolder statement. Avoid bulky drapes and let the sun shine through using light fabrics and light colors on the windows. You want you kitchen area to feel fresh and rejuvenating. The light provides energy!

2. Extra Space Can Be Great- If you have a ton of extra space in your apartment, turn some of it into an area for you to do the things that you really enjoy. Whether its a game station or a reading spot, maximize your storage and space possibilities by building shelves to house your favorite games, DVD’s, or books! Nothing says “fun” like having a space that is purely meant to celebrate what you do for “fun.”

3. Mirrors and Candles- So you want to have some really energetic, expressive, and fun walls but not sure how to do it? Easy. Take a bunch of left over or old mirrors and attach them to a wall at varying levels first. Right there, you suddenly have created an “open” feel that goes beyond fun and free. Then if you are feeling like really make the place great. Take a ton of candles (if allowed in your lease) and place them on small shelves in front of each mirror. It gives off a classic almost Victorian type feel in a fun and energetic way!

4. Accent Wall!- Don’t waste the time and energy painting an entire room. Instead, roll one solid (and very bold) color of the most important wall in a room and let it draw all of the attention. In your living room, make this either the wall behind your entertainment center or couch. In your bedroom, make it the wall behind the headboard. In the bathroom, make it the wall with the mirror. Remember…everything on that wall is going to stand out more, so don’t put your ugly old stuff there.

5. Put Your Life Into Your Environment- You should always have your apartment reflect yourself. In fact, it should be a spitting image! If you have a bold, bright sense of humor, using bright colors and letting in lots of light can really help match your apartment to you. One of my friends once framed a dozen different jokes and hung them all throughout his apartment. Everywhere you went…you could have a laugh. If music is your thing, how about framing cd inserts and hanging them throughout. If you can’t express yourself through the way your apartment looks and feels, when can you?!

If you follow these simple tips and have a little fun while decorating, your place will feel incredible in no time with energy and tons of flowing freedom!

For more info on the apartment lifestyle, check out ApartmentHomeLiving.com

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1. Cup of Sugar- The age old “Cup o’ Sugar” routine is a great one and always works. Even if you don’t need the sugar, just pop next door with an empty measuring cup at a reasonable time and politely introduce yourself and ask if you could borrow a “cup of sugar.” This works best at dinner time. Do it any earlier and you’ll just look silly. And don’t stand around talking for too long either, get the sugar, exchange names and greetings, and get back to your apartment. This opens up the conversation route for the next time you pass each other and you no longer have to put your head down and act like you are making sure your laces are tired.

2. The Community Areas- Hit the fitness center, the clubhouse, or the laundry room at your community. Areas that are commonly visited by the other residents. Strike up a conversation with someone who looks friendly and receptive. Who knows, you may make an awesome friend. If you have a dog, take them out walking often. People love making friends with dogs and their owners. Just don’t hang out by the dumpster…that’s just weird…and stinky.

3. Hang Out On The Patio - Get some lawn chairs and chill out on your patio or balcony whenever you have a nice day. Chit chat with the passer-by’s. Just don’t hoot and whistle like a construction worker. Nothing is more offensive and is a very easy way to NOT make friends.

Hopefully, you will have a few new friends in no time and you’ll find that most neighbors aren’t Apartmental like the ones in the video. Who knows, maybe you are my neighbor? Come and meet me!

For more info on apartment living, check out ApartmentHomeLiving.com

Author: The Apartment Dude

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Here’s the happs: Everybody wants to have a wonderfully pristine place to lay their heads. If cleanliness is next to godliness, than entering your new, clean abode should be like a religious experience. So what can you do to insure you’re about to move into a spotless apartment?

I’ve been through this about umpteen times, so I have some pretty solid advice for you. So listen up!

First and most important is a personal visit. Go on a tour of the actual apartment you’ll move into. Or as Kenny Rogers might suggest, “just drop by to see what condition their condition is in.” Any place that shows you an apartment that’s dirty should be a red-flag. Are the walls coated with a fresh coat of paint? Are the counter tops and kitchen floors so glisteningly clean that you want to eat off of them? Have the carpets cleaned? To see an apartment lingering with the stench of cigarettes and carpet that rivals turf after a rainstorm should concern you. You may want to steer your attention to a place that has carpet that makes you just want to take off those shoes, run your toes through it, and breath in that fresh new apartment aroma. That’s more like it!

Oh! Make sure to check out the exterior. Don’t be afraid to judge the book by its cover in this situation. Are the buildings freshly painted? Do stairways or fences need repair? What about the landscaping? If you drive-through at night, did they “leave the lights on for you?” Generally, a very well kept community contains incredibly kept apartments.

You’ve also should check with the people that have been there. Visit with the residents. Ask about their experiences and how management responds to issues or maintenance requests. Then be clear and concise with your future property manager. Ask straight forward questions regarding their cleanliness standards and turnaround time on maintenance requests.

Just an extra hint: If you’d like to have something changed or fixed before you move in, make sure to put it in writing, and give it to them in person. Always remember that when something is in writing, it is usually always remembered!

I’d even go so far as to check an online at Apartment Home Living to see if anyone has posted anything about the place you may be about to call home.

So that’s about it. You follow those simple guidelines and I guarantee that you will end up living in a place that you will love laying down your head and calling “Home, sweet, home.”

Visit www.apartmenthomeliving.com for more information on apartments and living for fun!

Author: The Apartment Dude

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An apartment is very special and personal to any one individual. A place that you can call your own, a place that you can look forward to returning to after a hard day’s work. However, searching for that perfect apartment can be very tedious and there are so many things to consider before you decide on one.

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Saat membeli apartemen, selain harga yang tercantum di brosur, biasanya ada beberapa biaya tambahan yang harus dikeluarkan. Apa sajakah itu?

1. PPNBM (Pajak Pertambahan Nilai Barang Mewah)
Yang terkena PPNBM adalah apartemen dengan luas lebih dari 150 meter persegi atau yang harganya lebih dari Rp 4 juta per meter persegi. Besarnya 20 persen dari harga apartemen.

2. PPN (Pajak Pertambahan Nilai)
Besarnya 10 persen dari harga apartemen. Pajak ini tidak ada batasannya. Berapa pun harga apartemen akan dikenai PPN.

3. Bea Perolehan Hak atas Tanah dan Bangunan dan Bea Balik Nama
Biasanya, dua komponen pajak ini dijadikan satu, dengan jumlah 5 persen dari nilai apartemen.

Jika membeli dengan cara tunai keras, biasanya pengembang memberikan diskon sebesar 15 persen-20 persen. Sebaliknya, jika membeli dengan KPA (Kredit Pemilikian Apartemen) akan dikenai biaya asuransi yang besarnya tergantung pengembang dan bank yang memberikan KPA.

Selain itu, setiap bulan para penghuni akan dikenai biaya maintanance atau service charge. Biaya ini digunakan untuk menutupi biaya pada public area, misalnya biaya lift, listrik, dan AC di lobi. Besaran biaya servis ini tergantung luas unit apartemen yang kita miliki.

Contoh: Biaya maintanance = Rp 10.000 per meter persegi 
Luas unit apartemen = 70 meter persegi 
Biaya per unit apartemen = 70 x Rp 10.000 = Rp 700.000 per bulan

Sumber: Kompas.com 13 Mei 2008

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Another words, I don’t want to show up expecting chicken and find out that half the menu is seafood. So, in essence, I am chicken to show up. Stop with the booing…that’s funny.

Well, apartment shopping is the exact same thing for me. I’m a bit chicken. I need to find an affordable place, but I want to make sure I end up in an apartment that I really like. I want it to match my tastes, my life. Basically, I want it to be perfect.

Not much in life is perfect, so how can I get close?

Tip 1: Think through the specifics
Think through your location: location to family, friends, work and nightlife. Who do I need to live by? Who do I see weekly? Can I stand to commute 40 minutes if it means I save $75 a month? Do I need to live downtown or will the suburbs suffice? Do I go out three times a week, or twice a month?

Think through your budget: financial planners say only 30% of your income should be spent on your housing costs. Not a big problem if you make $6,000 a month. A little bit more of a problem when you make $1,600 a month. What’s your realistic, total budget? And even though I may want a one-bedroom with a den, can I only afford an efficiency?

Think through your pet situation: I have a dog. He’s a miniature poodle. Would I be willing to part with Ziggy? Never. Can I afford to shell out $500 for a pet deposit. Never. Could I afford $250 if I saved up beforehand? Possibly. Think through if you plan on getting that bulldog you’ve always wanted. First, does the community you want to live in even accept pets? If so, how much will the deposit cost? You may need to save up, or bow out.

Tip 2: Research your options
Now it’s time to compare. I like this catalog for a quick reference, but I also like to go online to look at virtual tours and compare amenities. At apartmenthomeliving.com, I can fill out a personality profile that matches me to the apartments that are right. It even goes a step further to find out what else I like. Do I want a pool? Do I work out? You betcha. There’s a match out there and I want to see all the choices.

Tip 3: Visit your top choices and enlist the help of friends
Seeing is believing. I know that the product itself is terribly important to me. I have to visit to know it feels good to me when I drive in. I want lush landscaping. I want good lighting in the living room, and a pool with a nightlife around it. I want a clean apartment. I can only find out these details by visiting.

While I’m visiting, do I like my leasing professional? Does she seem knowledgeable? Friendly? Does she answer my questions about maintenance to where I feel comfortable? Do I trust this person? Because this is who I’m going to get on the phone when something goes wrong in my apartment.

And two pairs of eyes are better than one! Do my friends agree this is a cool place to live? Will they visit me here to hang out? Do they agree with what I think?

Make your decision
Finally, decide what’s the best match for you. I knew when I picked Ziggy it was love. I know when I pick my next apartment it will at least be lust! And that can last at least a year. Happy hunting!

Visit Apartment Home Living for more tips on getting the most out of your apartment living experience.

Author: The Apartment Dude

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The great advantage of using the services of a free apartment finder is that the company will have a database of apartments which shows availability. Therefore the apartment finder company will know which rentals are on the market. This way you don’t waste time trying to track down apartments with availability.

Renters can save time and energy using a free apartment finder service by knowing ahead of time which apartments aren’t a good match. The apartment locator helps their clients find apartments that meet criteria such as floor plan, size, amenities, age of the complex and many other specifications.

Apartment finder services can also narrow down choices by geographic area and sometimes even neighborhood. For large cities such as Chicago and Houston where traffic can be an issue, the location becomes increasingly important. Most renters prefer to live within a specific distance to work or school, so they need to be able to find apartments within a certain area. Other renters want to live within certain areas because of the location of shopping, entertainment, parks, or other qualities of the neighborhood such as quietness.

There are some apartment finder services that specialize in condos, townhouses and privately owned residential homes. There may be properties that are managed by the apartment finder service, or are listed in the locator database that are not advertised elsewhere. Therefore renters will be given an opportunity to view apartments that the general public may not be aware of just by viewing the classifieds.

Many apartment finder services offer a free online database of available apartments so you can learn more about the complex before visiting in person. You will be able to see photos of the apartment, floor plans, amenities and other apartment details.

Try using a free apartment finder service the next time you decide to move to a new apartment and see for yourself how much time and effort you will save on your next move. It makes the whole apartment hunting experience easy and hassle free.

By Diane Sims

About The Author
Diane Sims provides information for apartment hunters, and people seeking to buy or sell a home in Texas. More information is available at: http://www.homestx.net/apartments.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Diane_Sims

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There are many sources available today to help you with your apartment search, such as brokers, newspapers, internet, friends and colleagues. Most of the advertisements detail the area in square foot and number of rooms, furnishings and amenities. The internet is a good way to do an apartment search. There are hundreds of websites listing apartments for rent such as http:// http://www.rent.net which is a popular apartment finder.

Apartment Requirements

Note down your requirements in a notebook:

* Parking space

* Keeping a pet

* Specific room requirements like office, studio, a work room, a storage room etc

* Closet space

* Number of bedrooms and bathrooms

* Size of apartment in square feet

* Kitchen requirements like microwave, dishwasher, broiler etc.

* Are the rooms big enough for your furniture, beds, sofas, mattresses, fitness equipment, piano etc?

* Amenities like elevators, intercoms, cable TV, gym, swimming pool, air conditioner, washer and dryer
etc

* Connectivity and commute time to your work place, and availability of public transportation.

* Safety and convenience of neighborhood.

* Decent view and large windows (especially important for those doing indoor gardening)

* Consistent water supply

* Good security

Inspecting the Apartment

Inspect the apartment thoroughly. It is prudent to check out the actual apartment you are going to rent rather than inspecting a sample apartment.

Affordability

The quality of the apartment, neighborhood and amenities have a direct bearing on the affordability of the apartment rental. Most apartment owners also demand a security deposit and a minimum one-year lease.

Roommate

Having a roommate will decrease the cost of the apartment rental considerably. Roommate listings are available in newspapers and on the internet.

Brokers

If you do not have time to conduct an apartment search, then hiring a broker will reduce a lot of burden. However it is better not to pay in advance and pay only after signing a lease. It is also a good idea to research the approximate cost of rent through newspapers and internet in order to avoid being overcharged.

Documents

Good apartments tend to be snatched away quickly, so keeping documents ready may help in signing apartment rental contract earlier. Documents like check book, bank statements, tax returns, employment letter, reference letters, identification such as driver’s license should be kept ready.

Finding a good apartment needs effort and patience. Doing the groundwork beforehand is a must to finding a good apartment at a reasonable cost. Read the apartment rental terms and conditions thoroughly before signing the apartment rental agreement.

By Susan Jan

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Susan_Jan

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