Electricity bills are one of the major expenses for most households. According to an estimate, an average consumer spends almost 7 percent of their annual income on energy. This percentage may increase in the not so distant future given the fact that retail residency electricity rates have risen at the rate of 4 percent over the last 10 years, a trend that experts expect to continue for coming years. Whether you live in a luxurious Tuscany rental apartment or rent a modest one bhk flat in any city of the U.S., keeping a tab on your electricity bills must top your priorities. To help, the post lists some easy ways you can follow to check energy costs. Take a look. 1. Use Energy-efficient Lighting Options  You can save upto $75 every year by replacing your Tuscany Apartment home’s five most used electrical bulbs with Energy-Star rated models. Some energy-efficient lighting options to consider are- CFLs, and LED bulbs. These bulbs last much longer as compared to conventional lighting and consume 25-80 percent less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs.    2. Make Minor Adjustments to Your Rental  Your HVAC system’s efficiency heavily depends on the effectiveness of its heat registers. Make sure they are unblocked at all times. Allow natural lighting and heat in your home, by keeping coverings of south facing windows opened during the day. If you have drafty doors, use a rolled up towel or a door snake to block cold air from entering your apartment. For better insulation, use window storm kits. Related read - 5 Cost-effective Tips to Turn a Rental Apartment into a “Home” 3. Use Smart Power Strips  America loses $ 19 billion every year due to energy vampires or electronic devices that when switched-off still consume substantial electricity by going into standby mode. These appliances account for almost 4-5 percent of energy used in an average home. Using power strips that turn-off electric devices connected to them after a set time period can help lower these costs. 4. Use Your Kitchen Appliances Effectively If your dishwasher uses a heated dry method to prevent water spots from accumulating on the dishes, disable it. Instead use a rinsing agent that coat the dishes making it difficult for water to stick to the surface. To heat water, use your microwave instead of stove. For even heating, match the burner to the pan.  Epilogue  Following these simple yet effective and inexpensive steps can help you cut down on your energy costs. Clean the coils of your refrigerators and other appliances regularly. Adjust your water heater (if your apartment has one). Talk to your landlord about energy-efficient measures such as wrapping pipes, and installing insulation. ...read more

Many renters with pets find it difficult to get along with strict pet policies of their landlords. While some rental policies include defined pet restricted areas, others impose fine if the pet’s behavior infringe the guidelines. Many renters are unaware of these policies and, therefore, overlook this aspect of renting when looking for houses for rent in San Angelo, TX or any other place. Such type of ignorance may lead to cause inconvenience for both - owner and renter. To help avoid these issues, the blog discusses some key measures you must consider when looking forSan Angelo apartments for rent. 1. Pets Rules and Regulations   Many houses for rent in San Angelo, TX or any other place have pet policies in place, which usually put a limit on the number of pets renters can have. Any violation or deviation from the accepted norms can attract heavy penalty or complete eviction (in case of repeated occurrences). It is therefore, important that you understand pet regulations before taking an apartment for rent. Many apartments would require you to sign a Pet Addendum, which outlines specific rules and regulation. In case, your rental doesn’t have such arrangement, ask for a copy of pet policies in written to avoid conflict of interests in future. 2. Building Design, Location, and Layout   Hyperactive pets need space to run and jump around. People with naughty pets usually need a bigger home, with more square footage area as compared to renters who don’t have pets. Check the interior design of the building and opt for a rental that has broad walking spaces and rooms, especially if you have a rottweiler, German Shepherd or any other big breed dog. Also, chose an apartment located away from airports, and train stations as pets are sensitive to loud noises. 3. Pet fee   Many apartments would want renters to pay a pet fee which helps in recovering insurance costs should their furry friend causes any damage. Depending on the apartment’s policy this fee may be refundable in full, partially refundable, or non-refundable. To avoid confusions, it is advisable that you understand the specifics of the arrangement before signing the rental agreement. 4. Pet Friendly Amenities Many San Angelo apartments for rent include pet friendly amenities such as pet spas, pet parks, and pet recreation areas. Some apartments also have collaborations with pet-based businesses including local pet stores, groomers, and dog walkers and provide substantial discounts to renters with pets. Finding such an apartment would help you pamper your furry mate in a hassle-free manner. Final few Words   While some rental property owners impose complete restriction on pets, others ban certain breeds of pets in their rental units. Some may even demand a hefty deposit for having a pet in their property. Make sure to enquire about these regulations before choosing an apartment for rent in San Angelo or elsewhere.Read the rental agreementcarefully before signing on the dotted lines to avoid any future confusions. Last but not the least, before you move in make sure to visit your landlord with your pet and take them for a walk to help them socialize and interact with their new surroundings. ...read more

Being a kid, it is acceptable if you have kept mum instead of confessing an issue to your parents, such as breaking something expensive. But that shouldn’t be the case when you grow up, especially when you are living as a renter. Whether living inWindmill apartments in San Angelo, TXor elsewhere renters must bring the issues to the notice of their landlord, whether or not the issue or mishap was their fault. Not informing your landlord about issues may lead to conflict of interest and ultimately eviction. This blog post discusses four such issues that you shouldn’t keep from your landlord. 1. Pet Adoption As standard policy, rental windmill apartments leases often do not contain any clause for pets. Some tenants, however, sneak in pets without knowing whether or not their rental lease allows them to do so. You must understand that sneaking pets may get you  evicted or levied with a heavy fine. You must, therefore, inform your landlord and seek his approval, before getting a pet. That way, your landlord may modify the lease to include pet. 2. New Roommate Landlords often conduct a background check of prospective tenants before renting their apartment. If you decide to bring in a roommate without informing your landlord, it may lead to eviction. Reason being, your landlord has not screened the sub-tenant or your rental lease doesn’t include co-renting, which leave them suspicious of your new roommate. You need to have your landlord’s approval before you decide to get a roommate. 3. Bedbugs Problem Although this issue may seem trivial to bring it to your landlord’s notice and resort to DIY methods to get rid of the nasty critters. Which in turn may lead to defacing the property. Tenants may also choose to hire professional help, but end up paying additional cost for the extermination besides rent. As tenant you must understand that the landlord is liable to pay for the extermination cost. You only have to pay in the scenario, when there is a proof that it was you who brought the bedbugs in the house. You must, therefore, inform your landlord about the infestation right on time. 4. You lost your key In case you lose your apartment’s key, your landlord will provide you with a spare key, against a minimal fee. Or you can go for the change of the lock. Changing the lock also incur additional charges. You must ask your landlord for the spare key or keep him in the loop when getting the lock changed. Wrapping UpMany tenants think that once they have signed the lease, they own the apartment and do whatever they want to, without informing or seeking permission of the landlord. Windmill rental property owners in areas such as San Angelo TX, are very particular about screening their tenants and keep a watch on their activities. As a tenant, it is your responsibility to take good care of your rented windmill apartment,  and inform your landlord of any issues cropping up before it is too late. ...read more