They also tend to find themselves searching for ways to reduce costs. Not only are people spending more money this time of year due to holiday shopping, event preparations, traveling, and updating their wardrobe, but they also typically spend more money on utilities trying to keep themselves warm, decorate their apartment for the holidays, and light up the winter night.

Living expenses tend to soar during winter, leaving many people struggling to figure out how to pay for their apartment, utilities, food, and more. The good news is, while some expenses such as rent, are set, other expenses can easily be reduced if you know what to do.

Here are 7 easy ways you can reduce utilities costs:

1. Dress warm indoors

Yes, it’s cold outside and it’s cold inside. You want to warm up your house but the more you use your heater, the more you have to spend on your bill. A great alternative to using your heater is putting on a cozy sweater and some nice wool socks. You won’t need to set your thermostat as high if you’re not as cold.

You can put extra blankets on your bed and couch in order to bundle up even more and keep your heater low.

2. Use rugs if you don’t have carpet

Simple as it may seem, putting a rug on bare floor will reduce your heating costs. That is because rugs will trap the heat in instead of allowing it to escape out of the room. As a bonus, you can get rugs that add to your apartment aesthetic.

3. Use energy efficient light bulbs

Using energy efficient light bulbs can greatly reduce the amount of electricity that you use. With LED bulbs, you get a lot more bang for your buck. They require less energy, they are much brighter, and they last longer. Energy efficient light bulbs are essentially a no-brainer.

4. Insulate your windows

You can buy insulation for your windows or put up thermal curtains to perform the same function. Windows that are poorly insulated let heat escape, keeping your apartment colder, and making your heater run more.

5. Unplug your electronics

Any appliance that is plugged into the outlet uses small amounts of energy, even when they aren’t in use. Most people have things that they keep plugged in but rarely use, such as a toaster, a fan, or an extra television. All of the energy used by those appliances adds up and costs you money on your bill.

6. Install a smart thermostat if allowed in your apartment

Keeping the heater on when you’re not home costs you a ton of money. People will be gone for eight hours a day, and they’ll leave the heater running the entire time. Installing a smart thermostat is a great idea. You are able to program it for certain times so that the heat is off while you’re gone each day, and you can program it to turn back on a bit before you get home in order to warm up the apartment for your return.

The problem with a smart thermostat is that not every apartment complex will allow you to install one. You will need to check on the rules where you live. If you aren’t allowed to install one, you can use smart power strips. These power strips will turn off appliances that are plugged into them after a certain amount of time not being used. They won’t help with your heat, but they will ensure that other energy-draining things are turned off.

7. Rotate your ceiling fans

While your ceiling fan can help to keep you cool in the summer, it serves a different purpose in the winter. If you reverse the blade rotation, it will pull the heat up and spread it around your apartment. This allows a little heat to go a long way.

Keep your costs low this winter

When winter comes you have the potential of high energy costs. But they don’t have to be the norm. Follow these tips and ensure that your utility bills are low this winter and your stress is even lower.

The post 7 Ways to Save on Utilities In Your Apartment This Winter appeared first on West Parc Blog.

This seems like a no-brainer, but you’d be shocked how many people skip this crucial step. Your lease should contain everything you need to know, including all of the do’s and don’ts while living there.

Check your lease to make sure you’re allowed to put holes in the walls to hang things or whether or not you can paint the walls.

Even if your lease tells you that you can hang things or paint, there may be stipulations included. It is not uncommon for them to require walls be painted back to their original color or nail holes filled prior to your departure.

Carpets may need to be cleaned before you move out. This may all seem like a pain for you but these small fixes will save you tremendously in the long run.

Paying attention to details and leaving the home in as good of condition as it was when you moved in are both necessary to be sure you get your deposit returned. Always keep a copy of your lease in a safe place that you can access whenever you have questions.

Do A Thorough Inspection of Your Own  

Landlords will usually do a walk-through of the home before you move in. Sometimes they will even give you a document for you to record the condition of the home. If they don’t do this then you can ask them to record any issues that you see, or you can create a record of your own.

Put your phone to good use and record a video or take pictures of the home prior to you moving in. This will give you a time and date stamp showing exactly the condition that you found it in.

Pay attention to any scratches or stains on flooring, holes or dents in the walls, any appliances that aren’t working properly or any other issue that seems out of the ordinary.

Save these findings for yourself and also email a copy to your landlord. Keep these until you move out and get your security deposit back.

Assuming you have not caused any further damage, this will ensure you aren’t blamed for a prior tenant’s issue and receive your deposit back upon moving out.

Clean Up After Yourself

A little bit of scrubbing goes a long way! Spend a few hours giving your home a little TLC before you turn in your keys.

Leaving a home dirty can open the doors for cleaning fees and repair costs. Pay special attention to the kitchen and bathroom where grime and grease tend to congregate the most.

Most ovens have a self-clean option that you can put on while you tend to the other areas that need a little elbow grease. Scrub the fridge, microwave, and inside pantries and cabinets.

Be sure to get the shower and scrub the grout to remove any mold or mildew. If you have never dusted your baseboards, now is the time!

Check under the kitchen and bathroom sinks for any stray items you may have missed. Renting a carpet shampooer from your local home improvement store is another good idea. These are usually pretty affordable, and they can help make the carpets look a lot more presentable in a short amount of time.

Repair small nail holes and don’t leave any of your belongings for the landlord to deal with. Take everything with you, including anything you may have had in storage like a garage or attic.

Try to leave the home better than you found it. Your landlord will thank you and you’ll be happy you put forth the extra effort when you get your security deposit back.

Take Pictures

Document the condition of the home once you move out just like you did when you moved in. This is especially important if you live with roommates and you have to move out before they do.

Document your room and everything you’ve done to keep the home in the condition you found it or any upgrades you may have done. Speaking of upgrades- always get permission from your landlord first.

Be present when your landlord does the final inspection if it’s possible. This will ensure that you can answer any questions they might have or dispute any discrepancies in their findings. Remember, document it or it didn’t happen.

Be A Nice Person
 

Just be a decent human being. It’s really simple! Remember that golden rule from when you were a kid? Treat others the way you want to be treated.

 If you have been a good tenant and not given your landlord or neighbors any problems, then chances are you won’t have anything to worry about. Clean up after your pets, keep your music down, clean up after yourself and pay your rent on time. Courtesy and kindness go a long way.

The post How to Get Your Security Deposit Back appeared first on West Parc Blog.

Making sure you have the finer details of your finances in order when it comes to your new apartment will help you avoid surprises and secure a new apartment that is comfortably within your budget.

Here are 5 questions to ask the landlord before you rent an apartment.
 

1. How much is the monthly rent?

OK, this may seem obvious, but it's important. Don't assume that you know the monthly rent because of something you saw online. The rent for apartments within a complex can vary a lot based on location, floor plan, and other factors like recent updates or renovations.

When you figure out which unit you like best, ask about the monthly rent for that particular unit – including the floor its on and the position it's in in the complex.

If you have pets, you should also inquire if there's an additional monthly pet rent fee.
 

2. What does (and doesn't) the rent include?

Different apartment communities have different policies when it comes to amenities. Make sure you know what is and is not included for categories such as:

• Parking
• Utilities
• Laundry
• Gym access
• Common area use/maintenance
• Trash and recycling services

Also, be sure to ask if there are shared community fees that get added to your monthly rent bill. Some communities will divide up the utilities for shared use spaces like the pool and gym area between residents each month which can add up!
 

3. What is the required deposit?

Apartment deposits vary wildly because of a variety of factors. Everything from state and local laws to property management company policies to your personal credit history can affect how much you have to pay up front to rent an apartment.

Ask what is required for a security deposit, damage deposit, and (if you have a furry friend) a pet deposit. Also, ask how it's applied (i.e. is it held and refunded after 12 months or applied to your last month of residency).
 

4. What is an average utility bill?

If your utilities are not included in your rent, then ask how much an average utility bill will be for the unit you're interested in. Many properties will have this type of information available, but you may need to reach out to the utility company if they don't.
 

5. What are the ways you can pay rent?

An increasing number of apartment communities are offering online payment options that allow you to pay rent with a debit card, credit card, or e-check. Some even offer automatic bill pay so you never pay late. You should also ask if there are processing fees for any of the available payment methods. This will help you avoid those little fees that can really add up over time.

Don't be shy about asking these financial questions when you're apartment hunting. It may feel a little uncomfortable to talk about money, but it's important for your financial health. Apartment leasing staff expect and are ready to answer these types of questions so you have all the information you need to make an informed decision.

The post 5 Money Questions to Ask the Landlord Before You Rent An Apartment appeared first on West Parc Blog.