Tips & Tricks for Renters

Close up of a person holding a pen and signing a document to illustrate a lease renewal.

10 Things to Know About Lease Renewal: A Renter’s Guide to Making the Right Move

Across the U.S., more renters are choosing to stay put rather than move. Unless relocation is absolutely necessary, staying often…

Electrician wearing orange safety gloves using a screwdriver to install or repair electrical wiring in a wall outlet, illustrating essential electrical safety tips for safely handling home electrical projects.

Essential Electrical Safety Tips Every Renter Should Know

If you’re renting for the first time or living in a shared apartment, chances are you don’t think much about…

Couple inspecting kitchen cabinets during an apartment tour with a real estate agent, checking key details during peak rental season.

5 Key Things to Focus on During an Apartment Tour in Peak Rental Season

The high season for renting often feels like a whirlwind of activity. With demand surging and competition heating up, renters…

Close-up of a real estate agent handing over house keys to a renter-turned-owner above a signed agreement, after using their right of first refusal.

From Renter to Owner: Understanding the Right of First Refusal

If you’re a renter and your landlord suddenly tells you the apartment or house is going up for sale, it…

A person using an apartment inspection checklist to document the condition of a rental.

A Renter’s Guide to Documenting Your Apartment’s Condition Before Moving In

Moving into a new rental apartment is a fresh start, but it can come with challenges if you don’t take…

A neon post-it on a notebook with the "pay rent" message written on it to illustrate a late rent notice.

How to Handle a Rent Payment Delay Without Hurting Your Credit Score

Budgeting and making sure you always pay your rent on time can be stressful. Whether it’s due to a temporary…

Skyline view near the Tidal Basin in Washington, DC—an area popular with renters and easily accessible via the city’s public transit system.

Public Transport in Washington, DC: Best Options for Renters

Renting in the nation’s capital definitely has its perks — and chief among them is having access to one of…

A young person hugging a large dog on a sunny afternoon.

Breed Restrictions: What Should You Know When Renting With Pets?

Pets are family, and your four-legged buddies are a big factor in major decisions, including renting an apartment. The entire…

Application Process Couple Moving Couch

A Step by Step Guide Through the Rental Application Process

You’ve taken the first steps to renting an apartment: You’ve looked at apartments online, scored walkthroughs in and around the…

average utilities costs by state

What Are Apartment Utilities & How Much Will They Cost Me?

This article was updated in May 2025. What Is the Average Electric Bill? Tips for Saving Money on Your Electricity…

Neutral-toned living room with a beige sofa, modern art, open drawers, a jewelry box on the table, showing signs of burglary and highlighting the importance of theft protection.

What You Need to Know About Theft Protection

Feeling safe where you live is one of those things that makes everyday life run more smoothly. When you know…

Young couple greeting neighbor who is introducing herself to neighbors, and welcoming her to the building.

The “Meet Your Neighbors” Strategy: How to Introduce Yourself in a New Building

There’s something both exciting and nerve-wracking about those first days in a new apartment. You’ve unpacked the basics, figured out…

A smiling couple sits on a couch, using a tablet and holding a document to compare renters insurance policies.

Keep Calm and Compare Renters Insurance Policies for Your Apartment

As a renter, you’ve probably heard about renters insurance and its benefits. If you’re considering getting covered, knowing how to…

Relaxed man sitting on a grey sofa in his living room, enjoying fresh air after opening the windows, as a tip for spring home maintenance.

Spring Into Action: 8 Home Maintenance Tips Every Renter Should Know

As spring rolls in, it’s time to shake off the winter cobwebs and give your apartment some much-needed TLC. While…

change of address form

Moving Soon? Here’s What You Need to Know About Changing Your Address

Are you heading to a new apartment? If so, we know that moving out of one apartment and into a…

Person using a smartphone placed on a desk, learning how to file a renters insurance claim form online.

How to File a Renters Insurance Claim and How Long It Takes to Get Paid

As a renter, securing renters insurance at the start of your lease is a wise precaution. After all, “life happens,”…

A diverse group of individuals embracing while gathering outdoors in a community event, showcasing good neighbor etiquette.

Mastering Neighbor Etiquette: Unspoken Rules of Shared Spaces in Apartment Communities

Living in an apartment building can be a great way to experience city life, meet new people, and enjoy the…

Hands of a renter typing on a laptop and applying for multiple apartments at once.

Can You Apply for Multiple Apartments at the Same Time?

Searching for a new apartment can be stressful, especially in a competitive rental market where you’re up against several other…

Bills for an apartment with utilities included, including gas and electric charges, alongside a calculator and pen on a white desk.

Are Utilities Included? A Guide to “All-Bills-Paid” Apartments

In your search for a new place to live, besides the rent itself, apartment utilities are an important cost to…

A family, including a mom, dad, and children, entering a spacious, modern, and light living room full of cardboard boxes. The image shows a backside view from behind. The scene represents a renter with children moving into their new home.

Questions to Ask as a Parent With Kids When Looking for a Rental

There are few things harder than raising a child and finding that perfect rental might be one of them. Okay,…

New modern apartment building in a green area.

Should You Rent in a New or Older Apartment Building?

When searching for your new happy place, one of the biggest decisions you’ll face is whether to live in a…

A renter's hand holding an apartment key with a small house keychain, with a modern apartment building in the background.

Tired of Waiting on Landlords’ Approval? Fast-Track Your Rental Application in 10 Easy Steps

Finding the perfect rental apartment can feel like winning the lottery — until you realize how quickly those “perfect” listings…

A woman using a calculator while reviewing financial documents at a desk, with a laptop and a pen in the background.

How Much Renters Insurance Do I Need? Figuring Out the Right Coverage Amount

You just signed the lease contract for an apartment and all your stuff — from furniture to electronics — is…

prorated-rent-featured

The Nitty-Gritty of Paying the Fair Amount: Prorated Rent Explained

After spending days, weeks, or even months looking, you’ve finally found a rental apartment or house that fits your needs…

A woman sitting on the floor near a couch, holding a mug and looking at a modern fireplace with a burning fire, with a stack of firewood beside it.

10 Heating Safety Tips to Keep You Warm and Worry-Free

Picture this: It’s a cold winter afternoon and you’re enjoying the warmth of the little fireplace in your apartment’s living…

Red frozen pipe with icicles hanging from a bent section, attached to a red brick building during winter.

How to Prevent Frozen Pipes: Winter-Proof Your Apartment Like a Pro

When winter hits, it’s not just your hands and feet that get cold — your apartment pipes can feel the…

A stack of boxes, piled one on top of the other, near the inner entrance of an apartment complex.

How to Navigate Apartment Package Deliveries

Online shopping has completely changed how we shop, offering amazing convenience. But this boom in e-commerce has also created some…

Illustration of navigating challenges and finding solutions, symbolizing the process of breaking a lease early.

Here’s What You Need to Know If You Want to Break the Lease Early

When renting, breaking the lease on your apartment can feel like a big step — and it’s not always an…

Young man moving in new home among boxes having doubts, with a confused face expression.

Should You Stay or Should You Go? A Renter’s Guide to Lease Renewals in 2025

As your lease expiration date approaches, you’re faced with a crucial decision: Should you opt for a lease renewal or…

winter holiday decor for apartments

Holiday Decor Burn Out? Avoid Decision Fatigue With These Tips From Interior Designers

If you find yourself struggling to find last-minute decor ideas, you might be burnt out from all the noise surrounding…