How to Cat Proof Your Apartment

As adorable as kittens and cat proof your apartment , their claws and curious nature can wreak havoc on your clothes, furniture, and linens throughout your apartment. Thankfully, there's much you can do to cat-proof your apartment so your new baby kittens don't destroy all of your possessions. You also need to remove hazards so that your cat is not injured or killed.

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Part 1 of 3: Checking Your Apartment and Changing Your Habits

1

Test your screens. If you open your windows often, check to make sure your screens don't give easily under pressure. Some screens will pop out, letting your cat             escape or even injuring your cat if it falls out of a second- or third-story apartment.

• If your screens do pop out, only open your windows a crack or ask your management staff if they can be changed out.

2

Always check your dryer and dishwasher. Cats have a tendency to go where it's warm. When you're done using these appliances, make sure you close them so that your cat doesn't crawl in and get trapped. In addition, always look inside before you run them.

3

Cover your trash cans. Some cats will decide they want to explore what's in your trash can, either digging out unsavory items that make them sick or knocking the can over. They could also be cut on items, such as can lids. An easy solution is to get a can with a lid.

4

Put the lid down. Cats, especially kittens, can drown in a small amount of water, including your toilet bowl. In addition, older cats may want to drink from the not-so-clean water. It's best just to put the lid down when the toilet's not in use.

5

Check your furniture. If you have furniture that reclines or has a lifting foot, always check underneath before putting it up. Cats love crawling in tight spaces, and you don't want to trap yours

6

Don't leave candles unattended. Cats can catch their fur on fire when they walk by. Make sure you are always nearby when you have one lit.

7

Tell your management about your cat. While you may want to hide your pet to avoid paying a deposit, it's important to warn management about your pet. Because management may enter your apartment in an emergency, they should know you have a pet, so they don't let it out accidentally.

Part 2 of 3: Removing Hazards

1

Check for poisonous plants. Many plants are poisonous to cats. Some are only mildly so, while others can be deadly. Check each plant in your house to make sure they are not poisonous to your cat. It's best to take out poisonous plants altogether, but if you must keep them, put them in a room the cat is not allowed in.

• Some common plants that are poisonous include Aloe Vera, any type of lilies, many types of ferns (though not all), calladium, and many ivies.
• Some non-toxic options for cats include African violets, bamboo, and feather palm.

2

Keep poisonous foods out of reach or put away. You shouldn't have coffee, alcohol, chocolate, grapes, or raisins where your cat can eat them. In addition, you shouldn't let your cat try yeast dough, macadamia nuts, onions, garlic, chives, or xylitol, as they can also cause problems. Though it's common lore that cats like milk, you shouldn't feed it to them because the lactose can cause stomach issues. Finally, avoid feeding your cat extra salt, as she may not be able to process it properly.

• This list isn't comprehensive. Always check to see if a food is safe to feed your pet by using high quality websites or asking your vet.

3

Put up any strings. Strings, such as the ones on blinds, are enticing to your cat. They look like perfect toys to her. However, she can get tangled up in them or even strangle herself. Your cat also might be interested in cords for electronics, which have an obvious risk if she chews on them. Hide them or tie them up high when possible.

• Don't forget to hide strings such as dental floss or yarn. While you can use them to play with your cat, if you leave her unsupervised with these items, she can swallow, which can cause stomach problems.
• If you can't get them out of reach of your cat, you can make them taste bad. Use a cat-safe spray, such as bitter apple.

4

Hide the chemicals away. Cleaning supplies and other household chemicals are often poisonous to cats, and your curious cat may try to get into a bottle if she can find one. Therefore, make sure you keep them put away in cabinets that your cat can't get into

5

Hide medicines. Like chemicals, medicines can be poisonous to your cats. Even if it's a medicine your cat can normally take, it will be a much higher dose than she would need. Unfortunately, your medicine bottles may sound like a cat toy to her, and she may play with it until it pops open. Put them away in a medicine cabinet or cat-proof box, such as one with snap handles.

6

Remove other toxic items. Some common household items are toxic to your cat, ones you wouldn't think about. For instance, mothballs and fabric softener sheets can be toxic. In addition, cigarettes and batteries can also cause your cat problems. Make sure to keep these out of your cat's reach.

What Seniors Should Search While Apartment Hunting

You love your house, but you’re ready to move on. You dream of a small apartment, with less upkeep. You imagine spending more time with friends and no longer needing to drive to get everywhere. But how can you make that dream a reality, without sacrificing your quality of life?

• READ MORE: Apartment for rent in Binh Thanh

Moving to an apartment is a big change for any senior. But if you keep an eye out for some key features during your apartment search, you will find an apartment you love.

Why an Apartment?

Many modern seniors are trading in their single-family home for an apartment all their own. A big house can feel empty if you’re by yourself, and it can be a lot to take care of. Here are some of the perks of renting an apartment:

• It frees up equity to help pad your pockets and supplement your current funds.
• Things to do, places to go, and people to see. One of the best things about apartment living is that there are so many people to meet. Your new neighbors might become your new best friends!
• Your landlord will take care of the building. In an apartment, it isn’t your job to clean the gutters or replace the roof.
• No more yard work. Goodbye lawn mower! You can always create a small indoor garden if you miss getting your hands dirty.

This will be a big change, but for many seniors it is a change for the better.

So now that you’ve made your decision, what should you be looking for in your new apartment?

Location is Everything

• READ MORE : Apartment for rent 

Everyone knows the realtor’s motto: “Location, location, location.” And if you don’t want to drive everywhere, it should be your motto too.

A centrally located apartment means you can either walk or use public transit to get everywhere— no car needed. Imagine how nice it would be to simply stroll to the store with a friend!

Think about everywhere you like to go on a regular basis. See how close each apartment you look at is to everything you need, including:

• Grocery stores
• The library
• Convenience stores
• Your pharmacy
• Your doctor
• Medical facilities
• Parks

If your doctor is too far away to walk to, how will you get there? See what it would be like to take public transit there and back. If you are looking at a senior community, ask if they provide transportation.

What Amenities Does the Building Have?

You will be happiest if there are fun activities to do and plenty of places to meet up with friends. You should keep an eye out for these amenities:

• A pool
• On-site laundry facilities
• Fitness center
• Medical personnel on site
• Outdoor areas
• A café
• Dining room
• Computer rooms

You need to eat, exercise, and do laundry. You want all of those things nearby, preferably within the building itself.

And don’t forget that you need to have fun. Is there a clubhouse where you can play games? A sitting room where you can knit and talk with others? If you have a hobby that you love, be sure to find a place to do it.

Is the Apartment Safe and Easy to Live In?

Your apartment should be a comfortable place for you as you age. Look for:

1. A one-level apartment. It should either be on the first floor or in a building with an elevator. You don’t want to deal with stairs.
2. Grab bars in the bathroom. You will need permission to have these installed. They will help you stay balances if the floor gets slippery.
3. A safe neighborhood. You need to feel comfortable walking around outside.
4. A secure building. Do residents need a key card to enter the building? You don’t want strangers wandering around. Make sure each apartment has a secure lock and deadbolt.

What is it Really Like to Live There?

Nobody can answer that question better than your future neighbors. Talk with them and learn what it’s really like to live there. Think about asking them:

• Do they like living there?
• Is the landlord good at fixing problems with the building?
• Is it quiet at night?
• What is the neighborhood like?
• Do the neighbors get along?

If you decide to move in, you will already know your neighbors. And if they turn out to be rude and unlikable people, you know to keep looking.

Home Sweet Home

Remember when all you needed to do was look in the newspaper for available apartments? Things have certainly changed. But that change means you have more options. Now you can look at pictures of apartments without leaving your house!

In your search, don’t overlook senior apartments that are designed with older adults in mind. They will have a thriving community and they specialize in the amenities you’re looking for. Some senior apartments have flexible levels of care so if you ever need more help, it’s available.

Stay true to yourself and be firm in what you want in an apartment. Before you know it, you’ll find one that’s perfect for you.

4 Ways To Narrow Your Apartment Looking

When you first narrow your apartment looking, the number of options can seem overwhelming. There are some key elements you can look at to help you narrow the field down to the few best candidates, however.

Here are some factors to consider when narrowing down an apartment search and comparing the candidates at the top of your list.

• READ MORE : SaiGon Pearl Apartment for rent in Binh Thanh
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Price
It may seem like a no-brainer, but remember to compare the total price over the course of the lease, not just the monthly rent. Also factor in whether a particular apartment comes with certain utilities paid, such as gas or water/sewer.

Amenities you’ll useAny apartment community will offer two types of amenities: those inside the apartment itself (porches, fireplaces, marble countertops) and those for the whole community (pool, business center, social room).

If there’s a particular amenity that interests you, see if you can get more details from the apartment management — how much does the valet dry cleaning cost? When is the pool open? How often can you use the concierge service? What are the limitations on the use of amenities?

Layout
Two apartments may have the same amount of square footage, but be laid out in different ways. Choose an apartment that has a layout that fits the way you live. For example, if you like to cook, you will want to pick a unit with a kitchen that is comfortably large enough to spend time in.

If you have a roommate, you might want to factor your different living styles into the layout. If you’re a light sleeper and your roommate stays up late, for example, you probably want plenty of space between the bedrooms.

• READ MORE : Apartment for rent in Binh Thanh
• READ MORE : Apartment for rent

Location, location, location
One apartment may be closer to work, ensuring you a shorter commute. Another may be within walking distance of a grocery store. Still another may be close to school, public transportation or a dog run. Try putting the apartment’s address into Google Maps and measuring the time to travel to important destinations.

With these criteria, you should be able to whittle your list down to just a few choices—enough that visiting them all in person will be manageable.

What should we ask before rental apartments

Choosing a new apartment can be an exhausting process with many variables to consider. It can be hard to know whether you will be truly happy living in a particular location. Besides, if you’ve been apartment hunting for more than a day or two, every place may start to look alike to you.

• READ MORE : Apartment for rent in Binh Thanh 

When you’re committing to living somewhere for a year or more, a little information goes a long way. Take a few minutes to make a list of the things that really matter to you. What makes you really feel at home in a living space? Here are some questions to ask before you sign a lease.

Making a list, checking it twice
To help keep track of different spaces you visit, keep a notebook with entries for each one. Comparing the answers to the questions on your list for each potential apartment will help you decide which place will make the best home — whether it was the very first place you saw last week, or the one you just left moments ago.

Rental cost, convenience to work, school and local attractions and important lease terms will be spelled out everywhere you go. The more personal questions you will want to ask can be found by examining where you already live, or recalling places where you have been most happy living in the past. Daily habits of exercising, cooking, shopping and driving, preferences in home decor, details about the apartments’ interiors and information about surrounding neighborhoods may all come into play when making an informed decision.

• READ MORE : Estella Apartment for rent in District 2

Making yourself at home
If home decorating is a big part of your lifestyle, there are some rules you might want to ask about. What kind of painting, if any, is allowed? Are there restrictions on wall-hangings? What changes must be made if you move out?

Breaking up is hard to doIf you’re considering changing jobs, going back to school or moving in with a significant other in the near future, you might want to think ahead. Find out what your leasing options are (full-year leases, month-to-month leases) and how much notice is required to leave the apartment. This information might factor into your decision. 

Standard amenities are great — the more of them you can have, the better — but making a list of your own priorities and asking questions up front is the best way to find a good fit in your new home.

Here are important questions you may want to ask before renting a new apartment.

While looking at prospective apartments, consider the following:

1. How long is the commute from this apartment to your job?
2. How far is the apartment from major highways or rail stations?
3. How long has the managing company been in business?
4. Where are nearby services you’ll need to use often (grocery store, drugstore, dry cleaners) or want to have close by (hospital, fire station)?
5. What kind of amenities does the apartment community offer?
6. Where will you park your car?
7. Does the community have a pet policy?  Is there a pet deposit? What amenities might the community have for pets?
8. How are general noise levels in the unit you are considering? Is the unit located close to the street or a common space?
9. How is maintenance handled in the apartment community? Is assistance available for after-hours needs at night or on the weekend?
10. How does the apartment community management work to prevent nuisances such as mold or pest problems?

Other questions to ask before you sign a lease:

1. When is rent due, and how do you pay it?
2. How much is the security deposit?  When/how will you get it back?
3. What is the penalty for breaking the lease early?
4. How much notice do you have to give before moving out at the end of the lease?
5. Are there any outstanding maintenance problems that need to be taken care of before you move in? If so, when will they be fixed?
6. What changes are you allowed to make to the apartment?  (For example, can you repaint the walls or hang pictures?)

• READ MORE : SaiGon Pearl Apartment for rent in Binh Thanh 

While you’ll want the community management or landlord to answer most of these questions, you may get additional perspective from your future neighbors or other people who have lived in the apartment community, as well.

How to Look For The Best Apartment for You

Wondering how to look for best apartment for you?

While the idea of the “best” apartment certainly varies from person to person, these tips should help you find the apartment that suits you to a “T.”

Know thyself

• READ MORE : SaiGon Pearl Apartment for rent in Binh Thanh 
• READ MORE : City Garden Apartment for rent in Binh Thanh

Before you can figure out how to find the best apartment, you’ve got to know yourself — your home lifestyle, that is. A good way to start an apartment search is to think about how your lifestyle affects your apartment needs. Ask yourself: what kind of apartment dweller are you?  Do you need a quiet apartment where you can relax or study all day long? Or do you need a place to rest your head at night in between work and an active social life?

When you consider how your lifestyle affects your apartment needs, think about the following factors:

• Rental price. How much money is in your budget for living expenses?  How much can you put towards rent after you pay other life expenses?
• Work. Do you work 9 to 5? Are you in school? How far from work do you want to live?
• Space. Can you fit everything in a small studio apartment? Or do you need several bedrooms to accommodate your family?
• Children. Where is your child’s school located? Is there a safe place for your kids to play outside?
• Social life. What do you do for recreation? Do you like to be near restaurants and shops? Do you like the outdoors?
• Transportation. Do you drive everywhere? Bike? Use public transportation?
• Pets. Where will you walk your dog? How many times a day do you take your dog outside?

All of these questions will help you pinpoint exactly what you need and want in an apartment, which is important. In any given city, you’ll likely have a number of apartment hunting options, so it’s best to know what you want before you search — that way you stay focused and don’t get overwhelmed by choices.

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Set apartment hunting prioritiesThe next step in finding the best apartment is to set apartment hunting priorities.  Once you know what you need from your next apartment, it’s good to get all of your needs and wants down on paper. As you start your apartment search, you can refer to this list to ensure you only consider apartments that meet your criteria.

Organize your apartment searchOnce you determine the location, amenities and price that make up the best apartment for you, an important way to make sure you get what you want is to stay organized. That means planning your moving schedule, taking detailed notes while you are on apartment visits and keeping all of the related paperwork in one handy place. Creating an apartment search file is a good way to stay on top of all of the brochures, references and applications you’re going to accumulate. You can also check out the Apartment Guide Apartment Search Checklist to make sure you do not forget any important steps during your search.

Give yourself an advantage over other apartment huntersKeep in mind that while you’re apartment hunting, so are many others. In areas where competition for the best apartments is stiff, you can give yourself a leg up on other renters. First, have all of your references and application items ready to go so that when you do find the apartment of your dreams, you’ll be ready to submit an application on the spot. You’ll likely also need to have your checkbook with you so can write a check for the application and security deposit. (In many apartment communities, your new rental is not a “done deal” until you’ve handed over this money.)

Take this well-prepared approach to apartment hunting, and you’ll likely find a great apartment in no time. With a bit of research and organization, it may be easier than you imagined to find the best apartment just waiting for you.

Ways to support you nab your first-change apartment in a competitive rental market

In some rental markets, apartment hunting can be as competitive as a job search.

In fact, modern, savvy apartment seekers often visit apartments as prepared as if they’re on a job interview.

If your apartment search lies in a highly-competitive rental market, like Ho Chi Minh City, you may want to employ a few clever approaches to help secure your tenancy.

• READ MORE : Apartment for rent in hcmc

Here are some tactics to help you nab your first-choice apartment and seal the deal on the spot!

Dress for the apartment you want
Remember the old saying “dress for the job you want?” It applies to your apartment search, as well.

If you’re first-choice apartment is in a swanky high-rise building, then ditch the Saturday sweats and dress up for an in-person visit. A variation of the same rule applies if you are hoping for a hip pad in an up-and-coming neighborhood. Skinny jeans, flannel shirt and nerd chic glasses might help your future landlord visualize you living there. Within reason, do what it takes to look like you are the perfect fit for the new space!

Over-prepare

Most folks who land great jobs do their homework, carefully studying the company they are interviewing with. This is a “best practice” you might co-opt to convince a property manager that you are the right person for their apartment community.

Come prepared with knowledge about the community. Use apartment search engines like Apartment Finder as a resource to study the amenities and features the community offers. Then let the leasing agent know how much you value those options. You can also use sites like Yelp to learn more about the neighborhood and rave about how much you love restaurant X and coffee shop Y. Community managers may well appreciate your knowledge — and compliments!

• READ MORE : Apartment for rent in Binh Thanh 

You can also borrow this job search tip: bring a cover letter to introduce yourself. This will get a property manager’s attention and help him or her remember you after your initial tour.

Think like a networkerOnce you’ve made a positive first impression, you might dig a little deeper to make a personal connection with the landlord. If the decision comes down to two renters with similarly positive credentials, the landlord might choose the one he feels most comfortable relating with.

Think like a networker. As in business networking, you should ask questions and then really listen. Keep your ears open for commonalities with the community manager. You might be from the same hometown, have attended the same college, or share the same favorite restaurants. Develop a rapport with the property manager by paying attention to and highlighting these details.

Follow up with a friendly thank-you
Best behaviors for job hunting — and apartment hunting — include a proper “thank you.” Once you’ve nailed the interview, send a note to thank a landlord or apartment community manager for their time, perhaps mentioning specific things you like about the apartment. Be sincere, and let them know it’s your first choice.

• READ MORE : The Manor Apartment for rent in Binh Thanh

Because time is of the essence in apartment searches, email might be your best form of communication, though it never hurts to drop a handwritten note in the mail. (Even if the note arrives after you’ve signed the lease, your community manager will be glad she chose you!)

Remember your rental reputation
Of course, all of these strategies rely on the basis that you are prepared to be an excellent resident. Keep in mind you must also meet any legal apartment community requirements, including perhaps passing a credit check, to be the best candidate for an apartment that is in demand. You may be asked for referrals from former landlords, as well.

If you are confident, prepared and sincere, however, you’ll likely have a much better shot at nabbing your favorite apartment on the first try!

How to choose best rental apartment

Sometimes it seems there are so many details to consider when choosing an apartment that it’s hard to hone in on a final decision. There are many angles that might make one new apartment seem more appealing to you than another.

• READ MORE : Xii Riverview Apartment for rent in District 2
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Search carefullyThe first step in choosing the right apartment is to search in the right way. Be sure that you record the details of the apartments you visit in a binder that contains all of the property’s stats, your notes, photos and answers from the landlord on whatever questions you have.

Know your priorities — and stick to them!The most important aspect in making a choice is knowing what is really important to you. By putting your apartment priorities down on paper, you’ll know what to keep in mind during your search. Considerations may include location, how much rent you can afford and the type of apartment you’d prefer. When you’re ready to choose an apartment, consult your priority list, note how the contenders match up and narrow your choices to a very few.

Get a second opinion

If you are looking for a new apartment with a roommate, your task may be easier as you’ll have someone to evaluate your choices with. If you are conducting an apartment search solo, on the other hand, you may need to call in some reinforcements. Bringing a friend or family member along is always a good idea, or you can tag a trusted person to go over the notes and photos from your hunt to help you decide.

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Choosing the right apartment feels like such a weighty decision: what if you choose the wrong one and feel stuck in an unhappy situation? Though you can’t control every variable of life in your new apartment, you can be as careful in your selection as possible. Use your instincts to guide your direction, but remain clear-headed about what you want and need and you’ll likely determine the best apartment choice for you.