Any renter is likely familiar with the time-honored tradition of the security deposit, a fee (often a month’s rent) paid in advance by the renter to cover any damages made during occupation of a property.
“It’s quite common for landlords to require their tenants to pay a security deposit at the beginning of a lease. And this makes economic sense,” professor Peter Malaguti explains in the Massachusetts School of Law podcast “A Point of Law”.
“Landlords often don’t discover that a tenant has damaged a rental unit until the end of the lease when the tenant is gone and often hard to find,” he says.
“My advice to tenants is that you too should learn the law of security deposits in your state,” he says. “Most states consider the security deposit to be your money and you should take reasonable steps to protect your deposit.”
Below are a few suggestions for renters on how to ensure the return of a deposit.
For renters experiencing a conflict with a landlord, such as a deposit the renter feels is being unfairly withheld, Malaguti suggests consulting a professional. “An experienced landlord-tenant attorney in your state is the person best qualified to render competent advice on security deposits,” he says.
At some point, just about everyone is looking for a roommate. Sometimes it’s as easy as calling a long-lost friend, other times it’s tougher than an overcooked pork chop. If you’ve opened your roommate search to include strangers, there are some very important questions to ask before committing to a lease with someone you don’t really know.
Just to make sure you cover all the bases, make a checklist of important matters to discuss before you meet your potential roomies. It’ll be easier to compare notes later if you ask all the candidates similar questions. Use those below as a starting point, and add your own. Remember, if you don’t ask, you’ll never know.
1. Whaddya got?
It’s important to discuss the volume of belongings a potential roommate will be bringing in, especially if the residence has shared storage space. Discuss furniture and electronic item placement in shared spaces only with serious candidates. You can plan accordingly after you choose a roommate.
2. Are you looking for a new best friend or half the rent?
The above is a surprisingly overlooked question for its importance. You may be surprised to find a new BFF isn’t quite what you’re in the market for, or that a seldom-seen loner isn’t your idea of company. It’s up to you, but it’s certainly a question worth asking.
3. What’s up with your love life?
Love is inconstant, temperamental, and in the case of roommates, up in your face. Don’t be afraid to ask your potential roomie about their love situation, as it’s more than likely the significant other will spend the night at your house at some time or another.
4. Do you have any pets?
This question is a vital one if your apartment doesn’t allow pets. Ask in advance and make sure your candidates understand the policy. If your place doesn’t have such restrictions, it’s still a good idea to ask. People keep interesting pets these days – you never know what could show up at your doorstep.
5. How do you relax?
It’s important to know how your potential housemate spends their free time, as you may find the hobby conflicts with your lifestyle. Does the person ski? Play computer games non-stop? Collect rare poisonous bugs? Drink paint thinner? Whatever the case, you’ll be glad you asked.
Pests such as rodents and insects live in every city in the world and, for the most part, these creatures keep to themselves. A problem arises, however, when these creepy critters seek to set up camp in human homes. A severe infestation is definitely a matter for professional exterminators; but, if the problem is small or you’d just like to keep the creatures at bay, there are a number of simple steps a regular Joe can take to keep a home bug-free.
Mosquitos
In an urban environment, a small backyard or patio can be an oasis for pests. Mosquitos, for example, are an abundant nuisance in Louisiana. Like many creepy crawlies, mosquitos lay their eggs in water; specifically, standing water. Items such as bird baths, buckets, or even ashtrays that collect rainwater act as ideal nurseries for young mosquitos. Mosquito larvae take approximately one week to develop into adults, so it is important to dump out standing water in weekly increments so the buggies don’t have the chance to hatch.
Ants
These tiny creatures, while popular in cartoon form, are the bane of picnic baskets the world over. To combat these weensy kitchen invaders, it is most important to keep countertops clean. If this doesn’t work well enough, shed some light on the situation – literally! A nightlight, plugged in near an area of high ant activity, can be used to confuse and disperse parties of scavenging ants.
Cockroaches
Cockroaches are at the top of the list of creepy household pests. Though these insects have a reputation for indestructability, there are ways to discourage them from setting up camp in your house. Some individuals suggest keeping bay leaves or citrus peels around the house to deter the insects, but these means may be too gentle.
Another suggestion is to stash catnip around the house. Nepetalactone, the active ingredient in catnip, is an incredibly strong roach repellant. Stash sacks of catnip around the house or mix catnip and water, boil, then pour the liquid into a spray bottle and spritz in problem areas such as bathrooms and kitchens. Do not, however, use this method if you have cats.
If you’ve seen more than a few roaches in a certain area, you may wish to try boric acid. Cockroaches won’t be deterred by boric acid, but this is good; a cockroach will unknowingly haul boric acid back to its nest over and over until the chemical finally kills the host insect and subsequently the rest of the nest. While boric acid isn’t terribly toxic to people, individuals with children or pets should restrict use of the compound to out-of-reach areas like cabinet tops.
If one’s home is a castle, the bathroom is surely the all-important throne room. As such, it is only appropriate that this space is outfitted with finery befitting a king! Luckily for modern gentry, the amenities available for one’s bathroom are markedly more posh than medieval. Consider adding a few of the gizmos below to your throne room to add a little royal treatment to your daily routine.
The warmth and tranquility of a soothing hot shower are qualities likely to put one’s mind at ease. With the chattering of the day’s activities locked securely outside the door, the bathroom provides a haven for the mind to wander at leisure. As such, you might have a great idea or two, too, while you’re relaxing. But what can you do with an idea you have in the shower?
Two words – waterproof notepad! AquaNotes has designed such a notepad, complete with suction cup backing to secure the pad to a shower wall. There’s even a pencil included with a suction cup holder to mount alongside the pad.
Liquid is the favored state of soap in the modern day, but the Kikkerland company has introduced a gadget for the bathroom that may just change the tide. The Suction Soap Holder Magnet is designed just for bar soaps. This handy gizmo consists of a suction cup, to be attached to a smooth surface, and an arm with a cap type fixture at the end that suspends the bar of soap. Say goodbye to gooey bar soap messes!
The company that brought the Roomba vacuum cleaner to the modern world, iRobot, is now tackling the toughest room in the house with their robot cleaning machines. The Scooba 230, which retails for just under $300, promises to eliminate 97 percent of common household bacteria on surfaces including linoleum and tile. The Scooba 230 does need to be filled with a special iRobot cleaning solution, but like its Roomba brother, the Scooba 230 is designed to scoot under cabinets and around toilets for the utmost in robot-delivered cleanliness.
Most renters will attest that storage space in an apartment or rental property is always a hot commodity, especially in homes shared by one or more people. For this reason, creative storage solutions are a must.
While plastic stacked bins are available at giant retailers across the nation, an overabundance of such contraptions creates an unappealing look. Before rushing out to the nearest Target or Wal-Mart to buy a collection of bins, consider trying a few of the decorating tips below to add extra storage and personality to your living space.
Desk blotters and other monstrously large calendars are fantastic for keeping dates straight at the office. A bulky item like that can be impractical for the home office, however, and can be an unwelcome reminder of work at home. For a more free-spirited scheduling system, pin up a string and hang seven clothespins, each featuring a day of the week, and hang your notes on corresponding days. The system is more visually appealing than a monotone calendar and you can add or interchange notes to your heart’s content.
Repurposing an everyday home item for another use can open up a world of decorating possibilities. A clean, out-of-use toothbrush holder can be great for holding pens on a desk, for example.
An antique breadbox can be converted into a charging station for electronic equipment. First, create a hole in the back of the breadbox. Hide a surge protector strip in the box, pulling out only enough cord for the prongs to reach the intended socket. Next, cut a piece of sturdy paper or cardboard to fit the interior of the box. Cut slits for cords for your various pieces of equipment and label each slit with the name of the tool (e.g. cell phone, Bluetooth, etc.) that will be charged. Pull only the connector through the labeled opening to leave the mess of tangled cords behind the paper and out of view.
Wicker baskets find their way into everyone’s collection of home décor items. These eponymous decorating staples have a million and one uses in the home. For example, hang a pair of baskets, labeled with monogram letters, on the back of a shared bathroom door or near the front door. These baskets will help roommates keep important items separate. Wicker baskets can also be used to organize kitchen spices, living room or bathroom reading material, laundry, and towels.
1st Lake Properties | P. O. Box 73709 | Metairie, LA 70033 | info@1stlake.com
