Moving into an apartment, advice?

[Tokitoki]

also it's easier to move in on the ground floor.

My god this... The stairs leading up to my front door on the second floor were just wide enough to walk up. We had to swing the couch over the railing and driveway in order to get it into the apartment. 2/3 of the couch was just hanging in the air. Luckily it was a smaller couch. I can't imagine getting a full-size couch into that place.

For the downstairs we had to get it back out the same way, but easily walked it in the back door to the bottom floor.

[Iono]

Pivot, pivot, pivotttt!!!!!

[Corrderio]

Take note of how many windows there are, if you live in a cold area you don't want too many windows during winter since a lot of heat will escape.

This so much. My apartment has a sliding door to the balcony and 2 windows (1 for each bedroom) and my heating is pretty expensive since the seal is pretty poor so a lot of heat is escaping. I'm debating on getting some tarps to seal them up myself (since screw sunlight) but I'm not sure how to go about that and not damage the walls.

[Tokitoki]

This so much. My apartment has a sliding door to the balcony and 2 windows (1 for each bedroom) and my heating is pretty expensive since the seal is pretty poor so a lot of heat is escaping. I'm debating on getting some tarps to seal them up myself (since screw sunlight) but I'm not sure how to go about that and not damage the walls.

They have film to seal the windows to prevent heat from escaping. I'd also suggest the insulated blinds that pull down rather than the ones that can be tilted up and down to let sunlight in. Put one into the bedroom of the new apartment the second night and it made a significant difference.

[Aylee]

Most important thing is have everything in writing! Something breaks give them a piece of paper saying it's broke and make then sign something acknowledging that it is broke and needs repair.

[Corrderio]

They have film to seal the windows to prevent heat from escaping. I'd also suggest the insulated blinds that pull down rather than the ones that can be tilted up and down to let sunlight in. Put one into the bedroom of the new apartment the second night and it made a significant difference.

Nice. I'll have to check out the hardware stores when i get my next paycheck

[archibaldcrane]

Get renters insurance - super cheap especially when tacked onto your car insurance policy, sometimes it comes out to being literally free.

[Tymon]

I haven't posted in a bit since I was busy with a massive fucking ice storm.

I chose the ground floor because my grandmother is near the complex. It's the reason I chose this location and I wanted it to be easy for her to come over and get inside.

The sliding glass patio door has blinds but I'm going to buy a drape to put in front of them for more coverage. It probably looks better anyway.

Renters insurance is a good idea. They recommended it. My mom works for state farm anyway, kind of stupid not to get it.

edit; I assume I can buy a charley bar at home depot or something right? Never had a sliding door before

Also the tubs are stained as hell and look pretty nasty. I'll clean them obviously but what's the best thing to completely purge anything bad looking/living in there before first use? Sink too probably, toilet seems fine

[Aylee]

Comet works wonders for me and is cheap as hell. Get the mind with bleach in it for whitening

[Sepukku]

I heard the best way to protect yourself when transferring to a new place is pick the biggest, baddest dude there on the first day and just go berserk on him. No one will mess with you after that

[vagus]

Don't need a charley bar. Just buy a hockey stick from CL and cut it to size.

[Acevalefor]

Screw spending money on anything to block your sliding door. Go find any rigid durable item and cut it to length. Problem solved. 2x4, 1/2" dowel, angle steel, etc. These items can all be found on just about any construction site or any commercial store in the back scrap pile. I'd be willing to bet that your place of employment, if you work in retail/industrial/commercial anything, has something that would work.

[BaneTheBrawler]

old broomsticks hoooooo

[Viq]

old broomsticks hoooooo

This is what I used when I had a sliding door in my old apartment.

[Elizara]

Me, if I needed a security system, I'd prefer a certain Louisville Slugger. (AKA. Wooden baseball bat.)

I live with 2 brothers so I'm not that paranoid however. ^^ If I got so I could get on my own, I'd get one tho!

[Meresgi]

Get renters insurance - super cheap especially when tacked onto your car insurance policy, sometimes it comes out to being literally free.

Most places require a 100k min policy now it seems. At least all the ones around here it's required after looking around over the weekend.

Think me and the wife found a place, third floor which kinda sucks but stairs are wide. Also has a wood burning fireplace in it and only costs about $20 more a month then another place we were looking at. Plus side is the deposit is $99 if we get in by the end of this month and they waive our 1st months rent as well. Other place also wanted like $350 deposit for the dogs and $350 fee for the gym/pool (gym wasn't even all that great so fuck that).

After working in contracting for these housing places for a bit a year ago, I look a lot at how the house has been kept up by the maintenance staff. One place we looked at the vanity had rough edges on it, some of the outlet plates didn't even go to outlets, I think they just put them there instead of having to real do the drywall and the carpet was coming up a bit near the kitchen. Not expecting pristine amazing shit, but for $1300 a month, you're shit better at least look good on first glance.


Anyone have tips on where to pick up cheap computer desks/futons/other random furniture? I know craigslist is sometimes a decent source and so is the GoodWill.

I heard the best way to protect yourself when transferring to a new place is pick the biggest, baddest dude there on the first day and just go berserk on him. No one will mess with you after that

No man, you go take a shit on all your neighboors doormats, so they know it's your territory now.

[Laugana]

Pivot, pivot, pivotttt!!!!!

Ha ha ha! I have a lift in my building which was great for virtually everything except 3 Billy bookcases from Ikea. Everything else was wheeled into the lift using a trolley from work (even the sofas fit on it). But my brother went spare when we were trying to get my bed round a corner into the bedroom. I would say turn it this way and he would go the opposite heh.

[Brill Weave]

Screw spending money on anything to block your sliding door. Go find any rigid durable item and cut it to length. Problem solved. 2x4, 1/2" dowel, angle steel, etc. These items can all be found on just about any construction site or any commercial store in the back scrap pile. I'd be willing to bet that your place of employment, if you work in retail/industrial/commercial anything, has something that would work.

I used an old plumbing pipe to block our sliding door. Good luck bending that thing.

[Tymon]

Bump only have one more question.

The door is metal, or at least it's not wood. Only has a flimsy looking deadbolt, knob isn't lockable. Anything extra I can do to secure that? Chain lock ain't happening, it's not a wooden door.

[Anoat]

If your landlord pisses you off, when you move out, be sure you do this. (Only if you don't care about your security deposit.)