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WHAT FEES CAN YOU EXPECT WHEN RENTING AN APARTMENT?

Jan 28, 2019

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When you need to rent a house or apartment, there are some fees you need to keep in mind when you are saving up to move.

  1. Application fee: Prospective landlords want to make sure you can pay the rent in a timely manner. Nobody wants to put someone in a situation that he or she cannot afford. Thus, many landlords will check your credit report for bad debt and evictions. The national average for these fees range from $30-$55.
  2. Security deposit: landlords are entitled to collect a deposit to hedge against any damages to the property. This deposit will be applied to any extra repairs, utilities and cleaning done after you move out that is beyond normal “wear and tear.” Check your state for guidelines. For example, in Ohio, landlords have 30 days to process these deposits and the deposit is usually equal to one month’s rent. If it is more than the monthly rent, you are entitled to receive interest on the extra.
  3. Pet fees or pet deposit: if you have a pet, be expected to pay extra monthly rent or a separate deposit to account for any damages your pet might add to the house or apartment.
  4. Document fees or bad credit fees: some landlords might require fees for extra work in doing paperwork or if your credit score is below a certain threshold.
While these fees are standard, there is one fee you should never pay— that is a fee to view a property. This is a classic scam— usually there is not a property to even see. So if someone asks you to wire or send money in advance, don’t do it. This is illegal and unethical.

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What to do Before Your Moving Day

By Wendy Myers • 04 Feb, 2020
Now that you've signed your lease, it's time to go through a moving checklist: 1. Contact your current landlord to set up a move out time. You might need to schedule a walk through or exit appointment. 2. Contact your new landlord to set up a time to receive keys, establish procedure to pay your rent and deposit, and find out moving procedures. 3. Set up your utilities, including electric, gas, trash, water and telephone/cable/internet. 4. Change your address. You can do this easily at usps.com/move 5. Collect boxes and start packing! Enlist help from friends and family for your moving day or call a moving company. 6. Clean your current house or apartment thoroughly for the next person. 7. Relax! You have it all under control. Now it's time to move furniture and decorate your new place!

National Soup Month

20 Jan, 2020
January 20: National Soup Month It makes sense that January is national soup month. After all, what better way to stay cozy than to wrap up in a blanket and eat hot soup and crusty bread for dinner? And if you have a cold, then chicken noodle soup or broth is the best way to get nutrients and warm your insides. My kids love it when I make pizza soup in the crockpot or take the time to make Italian wedding soup with mini meatballs. I’m always looking for new soup recipes, what is your favorite soup?!

Happy Rubber Ducky Day!

By Wendy Myers • 13 Jan, 2020
January 13: Rubber Duckie Day Everyone loves the rubber duckie—the iconic yellow rubber toy is a favorite with children and adults. Even Queen Elizabeth II is rumored to have a rubber duckie sporting a crown in her bathroom, sparking a national obsession with rubber duckies a few years back in Great Britain. January 13 is Rubber Duckie Day because a 1973 Sesame Street episode showed a calendar with Rubber Duckie’s birthday reported as January 13th. So today, enjoy a nice bubble bath with a rubber duckie or purchase one for a special person in your life!
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