RENTCafe rental blog

Automate your apartment with WeMo

Kombucha — Thu, 16 May 2013 20:42:44 +0000

If you’ve ever thought it would be sweet to have a fully automated apartment, where you could control your appliances and devices with just a click or two of a button, such a future may have arrived. For $49.95, an innovative gadget called WeMo, which comes to us from the innovative minds at Belkin. They’ve [...]

It’s allergy season – how to survive and thrive at home

Latte — Tue, 07 May 2013 16:17:00 +0000

The signs are always identical: watery eyes, running nose, that dreadful sensation for your nose that continuously asks to be scratched, as well as that scratchy throat, and sneezes… bless you! You suffer from allergies, and there are two ways to deal with them, learn to live with them or try to treat them. Treatment [...]

Tips for improving cell phone reception in your apartment

Macchiato — Thu, 02 May 2013 21:52:55 +0000

Getting good reception for your cell phone in your apartment used to be a matter of convenience rather than necessity but that is changing: the residential landline telephone is headed for the endangered species list and cell phones and mobile devices are picking up the slack. So what are your options if your home reception [...]

No time for spring cleaning? Declutter, the easy way

Java — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 21:18:42 +0000

Spring has sprung, and with it comes the need for a cleaner apartment. Household clutter can creep up on you quickly. Everything is tidy for a while, then there are a few things out of place no big deal, next thing you know you’re ready for your own episode of Hoarders. Here are some tips [...]

5 Amenities you don’t want to miss living in Chicago

Macchiato — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 13:00:23 +0000

If you’re new to the city or just relocating to another part of town, be sure not to miss the best of urban living in Chicago. Most renters know exactly what they want in a new place and are ready to pay a premium to get those coveted amenities. Developers have become responsive to the [...]

Late winter means it’s time to think about your garden

Earl Grey — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 14:00:09 +0000

Spring is just about knocking at the back door again, which means it’s time to start thinking about your spring plantings. It may seem a little early (even for warmer climates) seeing as how there is still a chance of frost and freeze, but there are a few things that need the extra head start, [...]

3 Green retrofits for which your landlord will likely foot the bill

Eiskaffe — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 13:00:10 +0000

In order to get what you want from the landlord, it helps to understand what you landlord wants from the property: increased value, increased profits, and the ability to rent out the space long after you’re gone. Any modification to the unit that will prevent the landlord from receiving those results will likely be denied. [...]

Furniture arrangements that can improve relationships

Eiskaffe — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 12:00:01 +0000

If your relationship with your partner or roommates is suffering, reconsidering your furniture arrangement could bring forth notable improvements. Some relationships, particularly the longest ones, seem to grow stagnant overtime. It’s a common problem that most of us don’t take seriously but it can lead to serious long-term problems. Relationships also hit other bumps in [...]

Find clues about your new community with a simple social search

Eiskaffe — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 16:39:57 +0000

Before signing the lease, it’s a good idea to check up on your apartment community’s social media presence. Discover what social media can tell you about your future home. It’s common to do an online search before making any decisions these days. Selecting a new apartment is no different. Browsing the property’s website and social [...]

Fort Worth’s West 7th keeps growing, but an end is in sight

Earl Grey — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 14:00:00 +0000

With the construction from the 7th Street Bridge going on, residents and patrons of this recently hip area of near-downtown Fort Worth are grumbling through traffic and construction with visions of awesomeness to come. As little as five years ago, the area consisted of a few scant strip malls, a couple dive bars and Montgomery [...]