Living in an apartment means you might make some friends and meet new people! Make sure you know how to be a good neighbor by learning the proper etiquette on sharing the amenities. Be mindful of others and how your actions can impact them. By cleaning up after yourself, you create a pleasant atmosphere that everyone can enjoy.

1. Dress For The Gym: You wouldn’t try to play baseball without a glove, so don’t try to run on an elliptical with flip flops. It seems like a “no-brainer,” but when you don’t wear the appropriate clothing, injuries can happen. Wear closed-toed shoes, preferably sneakers, to stay safe using gym equipment. Avoid wearing clothes that have inflammatory or offensive statements on them. Everyone has a political opinion, but at the gym people want to let go of the outside world and workout.
2. Don’t Bring Tons Of Friends: Having one workout partner every now and then is perfectly fine, but it’s best to stick with smaller groups to avoid taking up all the equipment in the gym at once. Be courteous of the other members who are trying to get a good workout in. Your neighbors are the ones who pay for the gym out of their rent, which means that they come first before your guests.
3. Keep The Music Low: We all want to jam out while we sweat, but not everyone loves the same music as you do! Keep the music on a lower setting so others can enjoy their music as well.
4. Be Mindful Of Conversation: The gym is a great place to meet people, but not everyone wants to chat. If you’re running low on time and your neighbor wants to catch up, be honest and let them know you are in a time crunch. Offer another time where you are free so that you can talk. Likewise, if you see someone with earbuds in, they may not be in the mood to strike up a conversation.
5. Don’t Drop The Weights: While working out with the free weights, don’t drop or slam them into the ground. Protect the equipment that is there. If you are having trouble controlling the dumbbell, then you should consider going down in weight. The same principle goes for machines. Don’t let a set of weights slam down after a set. Not only is it jarring, but it can break the expensive machines.
6. Put Free Weights Back: You’ve finished your workout – great! Now, make sure to put everything back where you found it. Return everything you used to its original place and turn off any machines and lights that you used.
7. Don’t Hog The Machines: It’s fine to do a workout that focuses on one part of the body, but be aware that others may want to use the same machines as well. Coordinate with them on how to share the machine. Use their time to work as your time to rest, and vice versa.
8. Bring A Towel and Wipe Down Equipment After Use: Bring a cloth towel to keep your sweat to yourself. After using any machine, wipe down with a cleaner and a clean towel. Look at the floor around you. If you have sweat drops on the floor, then spray and wipe it down as well.

No one wants to arrive to a messy, sweaty, or loud fitness center! Get the most out of your workout and keep the workout buddies you make by tidying up and being considerate of others. These are simple rules that make a peaceful area for everyone to workout in. The fitness center is to be shared between everyone, so use the equipment with care.

Our bodies need a healthy balance of different vitamins, minerals, salts, and fluids to maintain good health. Everybody is unique, but we all need the same nutrients to keep us going. These essential vitamins and minerals come from what we eat and drink. It’s ideal to get everything that our bodies need from our diet, but sometimes that is not realistic. Taking supplements and a balanced daily multivitamin can help you retain all of the nutrients that you need. Here are the essential vitamins and minerals you should be taking everyday:

1. Potassium: Potassium is the vitamin that most Americans are missing in their diet. You may see it labeled as “K”. It’s good for maintaining healthy blood pressure. It’s an electrolyte that counteracts salts and sodium, which is why is helps the blood flow. It also helps prevent stroke, maintain muscle mass, keeps bones strong, controls the electrical capacity of the heart, and prevents kidney stones. It’s a vital component in regulating all of the body’s fluids. Without enough potassium, you can experience fatigue, constipation, kidney problems, and weakness. Low potassium can also cause muscles spasms, which is common in athletes. As you sweat, the body expels salts and minerals in your body, which can also include potassium. The top foods that are rich in potassium are lima beans, beet greens, soy beans, sweet potatoes, bananas, tomato paste, and halibut. You can also find it in many daily multivitamin supplements.Magnesium: This mineral is incredibly helpful for women. It’s key to building bones and keeping muscles healthy. It can also contribute to alleviating premenstrual problems as well as migraines. It regulates many enzymes and glucose levels in the blood. Those who have a higher amount of magnesium in their diet are at a significantly lower risk for developing diabetes. Without enough magnesium, you can experience fatigue, muscle spasms, loss of appetite, vomiting, personality changes, and seizures. You can find it in pumpkins, brazil nuts, spinach, brown rice, artichokes, and sunflower seeds.
2. Calcium: Everyone knows about calcium, but are you getting enough? Women can start losing bone mass as early as their late twenties. It’s important to start maintaining good bone health as early as possible. Calcium does more than just make up your bones. It also is an important factor for your nervous system, regenerating muscle tissue, and helps regulate heart health and blood pressure. To get more calcium in your diet, look to dairy products, dark leafy greens like spinach and broccoli, fish with edible bones, beans, and oatmeal. As you age, you need more calcium in your diet to fight against natural aging of muscles and bones.
3. Iron: Iron helps our bodies create more red blood cells. On our red blood cells, we also have hemoglobin, which holds oxygen on it. This is how our entire bodies receive the essential oxygen that we need to live. With more iron, we are able to have more red blood cells, and more hemoglobin on those red blood cells. Without enough iron, you can become anemic, which makes you fatigued, mentally dull, and causes a weakened immune system. You can find iron from eating red meat, white beans, dark chocolate, dark leafy greens, blueberries, and potatoes.
4. Vitamin D: To strengthen our bones, we need vitamin D to bind with calcium. The magnesium helps facilitate bringing the two together, which is why all three are vitally important for everyone’s diet. It can also help in other ways with our brain function and nervous system. There’s also evidence that vitamin D plays a role in our immune health and insulin regulation. Your body can naturally create its own vitamin D from sunlight. When the sun hits our skin, our body’s chemical reaction creates vitamin D, but you can also get this from food. Most seafood and fish contain good amounts of vitamin D, as well as chicken and eggs.

First, look to what you are eating to try and get everything that you need. If you have issues with allergies or issues with accessibility, then look to multivitamins to replace the minerals and vitamins that you aren’t getting. Your health starts with you. Start forming healthy habits in the kitchen.

What’s a home without a pet? Everyone needs a happy roommate who can’t wait for you to come home. It will make you smile, and give you company on weeknights and weekends. Different personalities and different lifestyles are better suited for different breeds. See which dog breed is right for you!

1. Basenji: These beautiful guys are perfect for those who live in small apartments with thin walls. They are barkless dogs who rarely get over two feet tall. They are excellent companions, but they can also be a little mischievous. They need a good amount of attention and outdoor playtime, too.
2. Bichon Frise: These tiny little guys don’t get over one foot tall. They are small, compact, and lightweight, but full of energy. They need to have lots of playtime to keep them out of trouble. They don’t shed like other breeds do, which makes maintaining the apartment super easy. They lose hair similar to how a human loses hair, so the floors won’t be covered in mounds of hair every day.
3. Chinese Crested: These dogs are super loveable little fashionistas. This breed is the perfect housemate for someone who is low energy. They love lazy days in bed, and are great cuddlers. They are very laid-back, and are perfect for the low-maintenance pet parent.
4. French Bulldog: Frenchies make excellent apartment dogs because of their compact size and attitude. They are loyal friends who love affection. They thrive on human interaction, and love a good lap to lay in. They also make excellent guard dogs because they don’t bark unless it’s something warranted.
5. Maltese: Maltese are beautiful dogs with graceful locks of hair. They aren’t shedders, which is great for those with allergies and for anyone who doesn’t love cleaning dog hair constantly. They do have a tough time being alone, however. Separation anxiety from their trusted owner makes them upset, so this breed is best suited for a homebody who has lots of time for this little guy.
6. German Spitz: These robust dogs are intelligent and easily trained. They attach themselves closely with their owners, and distrust any strangers, which makes for a good watchdog. They don’t mind extreme weather, and love to play indoors or outdoors.
7. Yorkshire Terrier: Yorkies are precious little dogs with a beautiful grey and brown coat. They rarely shed, which is perfect for apartment living. They are active, but a daily walk will be plenty for them. Yorkies always come in small packages with big personalities. Expect to be entertained by this one.
8. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel: These are considered a toy breed, but they have the personality of a cocker spaniel. It’s easy to fall in love with these laid-back, easy to manage pups. They are mild-mannered and affectionate towards humans, which makes them the perfect addition to any apartment.

Make sure that you have the time and money to devote to the new member of the family before you bring them home. It’s not fair to them to fall in love with you, only to have to be rehomed. Give them all the love and attention that they need. Remember, first try to adopt from rescue shelters before shopping with breeders!

Every woman is in need of regular girl nights with her closest besties. It’s that perfect time where you vent all of your frustrations, get the best advice, and laugh until you cry. It should be a monthly event to keep friendships close. Going out to eat and hitting the bars gets boring after a while. Forget about the noisy crowds and overpriced drinks. Have a Girls Night In instead!

1. Prosecco Pong: Beer pong is a college classic, but it’s time to pass the torch. Elevate your style and class by trading in your Bud Lites for a fancy prosecco! Use plastic open rimmed champagne glasses for your game. Narrow little flutes will be almost impossible to play with. Divide the girls up into two teams and let each girl take a chance at tossing the ping pong ball. If the competition gets fierce enough, you can host a championship match to give your winning girls bragging rights!
2. Wine and Paint Party at the house: We’ve all heard of the wine and paint parties. They are a blast, and afterwards, you have something fun to hang at the house to remember the fun times. What if I told you, the artist can come to you. You don’t have to leave the comfort of your home to have a great night with the girls! Keep on the stretchy pants, and forget about putting on makeup–it’s time to relax.
3. Make Door Hangers: AC Moore and Michaels have all the craft supplies you’ll ever need. Stop in to one of these stores and have the ladies buy a wood cut that they like. Host everyone over for a tapas dinner and drinks, while everyone decorates their door hangers. Share the paint, glue, and glitter while you make door hanging magic. Every time you come to the house, you’ll get to think of the great night you had with your close friends.
4. Around the World Potluck: Have your group of lady friends bring over a dish that is native to their heritage. If they are drawing a blank, have them bring a family traditional dish to share with everyone. Try to give everyone a dinner specific meal so they have an idea of what to bring. For example, tell one to bring the veggie side, one for the fruits, and another for the dessert. It’ll be a table from around the entire world.
5. Pillow Forts and Movies: You’re never too old for chick-flicks in a pile of plush pillows. Throw every pillow that you own on the floor, and pull out all of the blankets to cover the floor. Get a bunch of popcorn, and tons of ice cream, and fire up a fun movie that everyone can enjoy.
6. Charcuterie and Cheese Boards: Everyone loves a great cheese board. Nothing goes better with cheese than meat and wine. Make a tapas night out of it, and have little finger foods for the entire meal.
7. Pancakes and Pajamas: Sleepovers are not overrated. Keep the fun going the entire night with a girls sleepover! Have a gourmet pancake breakfast in the morning to curb everyone’s hangover. It’ll be a night to remember, until the next one!

All of these are simple, but they are the best ways to really connect to your friends. It’s a quiet setting, where you can talk about whatever’s on your mind and let your weirdness show while you laugh til it hurts. You don’t have to overplan to have a great event. The main thing is having the ladies over. Once they are there, you’re guaranteed to have a great night!

If you don’t have your health, then you don’t have anything at all. Our diet has fallen into a rut with excess fats and carbs on our plates for every meal. Let’s break out of that cycle and start adding more vegetables to our diet every day. The natural fiber, vitamins, and minerals that you get from vegetables is far more valuable to your body than those empty carb cravings. Here’s a few ways to start to love veggies.

1. Green Smoothies: Your morning isn’t complete without a cup of coffee and breakfast. Instead of a carb-loaded bagel, a green smoothie is a delicious and easy way to quickly boost your veggie intake. There are several different types of recipes to make a green smoothie. You can use kale, spinach, avocado, and add in other fruits and veggies to make it tasty. Pop it in a tumbler and you’re out the door. Here are some great green smoothie recipes to get you started.
2. Mashed Cauliflower: It may sound strange, but switching out cauliflower for carbs is the latest health trend. This white vegetable is almost tasteless which makes it perfect for spicing up. You can add whatever flavors to it that you want, and it’ll go with any dish. You can boil it and blend it up to replace mashed potatoes (which aren’t vegetables, sorry folks!) so you can get extra fiber and vitamins. Want some extra cauliflower recipe inspiration? Here are some great ways to incorporate more cauliflower to your diet.
3. Colorful Frittata: Yay! Eggs! We love eggs. One of the best ways to add flavor and color to your morning plate is by adding a helping of veggies. Toss in some tomatoes, bell peppers, and spinach for some excellent texture and added vitamins. You’ll look like a chef with your beautifully colored plate of red, yellow, green vegetables perfectly paired with your eggs. Don’t forget the bacon!
4. Spaghetti Squash: Pasta one of the most difficult things to give up as you start cleaning your diet. You don’t have to forego the classic spaghetti night as you cut out carbs and gluten. Trade your pasta in for spaghetti squash. It’s a similar texture to angel hair noodles, but with all of the good things for you. Cut your spaghetti squash in half, and season it with olive oil, salt and pepper, and whatever other spices you’d like. Then bake it for 30 minutes or until it’s soft. Then take a fork and pull the delicious squash spaghetti out onto your plate. One half squash will be plenty for one person. Top it with your browned meat, red sauce, and a touch of basil to up the ante on taste.
5. Crunchy Snacks: It’s mid-day and the snack cravings have hit. You want that salty crunch to satisfy your growling stomach. You don’t need any chips; instead, try having carrot sticks with a scoop of hummus. It has that salty savory flavor and the crunch that you love without the saturated fats and empty calories. If you aren’t a carrot fan, then try things like celery, bell pepper strips, or snap peas. Chips won’t tempt you anymore during the day.

As you add more vegetables to your diet, it’s important that you still get enough calories so you don’t break down and binge on all the bad things. We still need calories, but we want them to come from good places. Eat plenty of “starchy” vegetables like carrots, parsnips, and other root vegetables. Also, pair these with good fats like avocados and nuts to keep you feeling full all day. You’ll love your bright and colorful plate of veggies, and you’ll feel like a million bucks!

You’re an animal lover through and through, but you still don’t have a pet. You’ve been itching to adopt a pet, but you’re still on the fence about it. Here are 5 basic things that you need to consider before you decide to adopt:

1. Your motivation for having a pet: Ask yourself why you want to adopt a pet. This can be a tough one to answer, so be honest with yourself. Is it something that your other friends are doing? Do you think it’ll help your chances in the dating world? Is the pet so cute, and you just have to have him? If these are your only motivators, then pump the breaks. You may not be ready for your pet just yet. To adopt a pet, your heart needs to want a constant companion, to love something/someone else before yourself, and you need to have a great deal of patience. Caring for a pet requires personal sacrifices of time and money, as well as love. If you want a pet simply for your own benefits, then you won’t be the best pet parent that you can be.
2. Your time: Pets are sentient beings that need your time, love, and attention. If your job keeps you away from the house for 12 hours a day, then that’s not the best situation for the animal. Dogs need several bathroom breaks during the day, and all animals need proper socialization, attention, and affection in order to be happy and healthy. Leaving them alone for hours on end can make them lonely and withdrawn, and more likely to develop bad habits. Likewise, if you travel a good bit, either have a set plan in place to keep your pet cared for, or wait to adopt until your travel days are few and far between.
3. Your responsibility: This is a difficult one as well. Be honest with yourself on your responsibility level. You have to feed your pet every day and sometimes multiple times a day. You have to take time out of your day to go on walks with your dog, and you’ll need to maintain their health by going to the vet. When your pet gets sick or makes a mess, you need to clean it up. Is this something you are prepared to do? It’s a joy unlike any other to have your furry best friend live with you, but it also comes with some responsibilities. If you aren’t ready to put aside the things that you want to do for what’s best for your pet, then you need to reconsider if adoption is right for you.
4. Your financial situation: Maybe you have all the love and time in the world to give, but if you don’t have the extra money to spend, then having a pet may need to wait. Pets need food, toys, leashes, litter, vet checks, medications, and occasionally the cost of boarding them. Not to mention those unforeseen vet bills when sickness strikes or a costly operation is needed. It can be a strain to pay for these extra things if you are just starting out. Save up some extra money so that you have the buffer zone to be able to pay for the things that you and your pet will need. You will have to care for another being now, and you can’t neglect their basic needs.
5. Space: Do you have the space for the kind of pet that you are looking to get? A large dog breed needs to have more space than a cat. Make sure your living situation will accommodate your pets size and activity level. You might get a small dog, but if they have tons of energy, then they’ll need a yard to play around in. Think about what size your pet will be when it’s an adult, and not just when it’s a puppy or a kitten.

Pets bring unconditional love and joy into any home. You are going to be their sole provider, which is why it’s so important to make sure you’re ready to take on this responsibility before you bring home a floppy-eared puppy. Ask yourself these important questions before adopting to avoid putting your pet through any heartbreak if it doesn’t work out. Love your pets like how you want to be loved, and you’ll have a best friend for life.

The search for love is never ending. In ancient times, there was Cupid and Aphrodite, but now, we have to rely on charm and timing. Our demanding lifestyle leaves us with little time to get to know people, which is why so many are turning to the internet for help. In the past ten years, online dating has spiked and is becoming increasing popular. There are a lot of great positives for online dating, but it also comes with some negatives. Consider both to see if online dating is right for you.

Pros:

1. Great for shy people: Everyone has a slightly different personality, and dating can be extremely difficult for introverts. You could have the best personality, but no one will ever know if you are too shy to say “hello.” The degree of separation that the computer brings eases the fear that shy people have, and makes rejection less painful. One of the main reasons why shy people don’t reach out is because they care deeply about what the other person thinks. To have them reject them is earth-shattering. Online dating has allowed so many introverts to become more bold and talk to people that they would never speak to in a “normal” daily setting.
2. Opens up your pool of potential partners exponentially: As work hours increase, your free time decreases. It’s hard to make time to go out and naturally meet people. As you age, life changes in many different ways.  Your friends move, they get married, have kids, and take on demanding workloads, which makes getting together significantly more difficult. The traditional “mutual friend” meet up starts to become few and far between. With online dating, you open up the world to you. You can find someone who has the same personal beliefs, political affiliations, and passions as you do with the click of a button.
3. You already have an idea of who they are: When some posts a profile, they include a bio of who they are and what they like. You can immediately get a sense of who that person is and if you’re going to be compatible. When you go on your first date, you already have common ground that you can discuss. It eases the awkward pauses and helps you get to know someone faster and on a deeper level.

Cons:

1. Too many options: By having the entire world at your fingertips, you have a wide array of people to choose from, but at that same time–you may get lost in the sea of people. Too many options can make finding “the one” like searching for a needle in the haystack. You can easily get frustrated or overwhelmed with a series of disappointing conversations.
2. A high focus on physical appearance: All you have to go on is a picture and a brief paragraph. You immediately make a decision to message or pass on a person depending on how they look in a photograph. It’s easy to become superficial about who you choose to date when you have little information to go on.
3. Can become a crutch: People who are shy can start to avoid making conversation with people out in the real world because online dating has become easier for them. You could miss out on an excellent opportunity by relying to heavily on dating apps.

A great photo and an award winning bio will never replace a genuine smile and positive attitude. One of the most attractive things to anyone in the dating world is finding someone who cares for others. Before you jump online and start making profiles, consider why you want to start dating, and who you are looking for. The best place to start with online and offline dating is knowing yourself.

The Essex Chase Apartments want you to feel at home with all of the modern touches. These new luxury apartments are decked out with the latest home trends in a quiet community. One of the most convenient factors is its great location next to the interstate. It makes getting to work and back, or shopping and dining in the surrounding area so much easier. 

Essex Chase is an excellent option for you and your pets. You’ll love all of the care that they took into making the apartments cozy for not only you, but for your best furry friends, too. Friendly staff are ready to help walk you through any issues that you may have, no matter what day of the week or hour of the day.

Apartment Amenities at Essex Chase

1. Washer/Dryers: Essex Chase gives the convenience and privacy to its tenant with a full sized washer and dryer in every unit. You don’t have to save your quarters, or transport loads back and forth to a communal laundry mat.
2. Granite Countertops and Backsplashes: Granite adds that extra element of class to the kitchen that elevates these apartments into luxury.
3. Stainless Steel Appliances: A quiet dishwasher, a powerful microwave, and electric oven all in the beautiful stainless steel.
4. Walk-In Closets: No matter who you are, or what age, a walk-in closet is a big selling point. Storage space is always in short supply, especially in apartments. Essex Chase gives you large closet space without sacrificing space elsewhere.
5. Hardwood Floors: They’re simple, but so elegant. Hardwood floors make the room feel welcoming and warm from the color down to the touch.

Community Amenities at Essex Chase

1. Heated Outdoor Pool: Enjoy the water longer with the heated outdoor pool area. The spring and fall weather won’t deter you from putting on your bathing suit and getting in some laps.
2. Barbecue Grills and Patio: You won’t have to sacrifice those tasty ribs. Grill up anything that your heart desires with one of the on-site patio grills. There are multiple stations so several folks can grill at once.
3. Fitness Center: The fitness center is complete with cardio equipment, free weights, yoga, and more. Watch your favorite shows while you get the blood pumping, or tune into a workout video to workout alongside expert trainers.
4. Dog Park and Doggie Wash: There’s also a fenced in area that’s designated for dogs to play. Your pup can get to know his neighbors and have time to explore the great outdoors. Afterwards, you can give him a great bath in one of the doggie wash stations. Save your bathroom, and take advantage of the easy-to-use tub system to get your dog the best bath. Bathing him won’t be a chore anymore.

Where you live is more than floorspace and the walls that separate you; find a place that welcomes you, your family, and your pets. From the interior features to the exterior amenities, Essex Chase has thought about all of the little comforts that make you feel at home.

You have a new apartment, but it’s getting a little lonely. You don’t have the space for a dog, so a cat would be a perfect fit for you. Before you bring home your new pet, think about a few things to get your house ready. Cats are simple and low maintenance pets, but there is some effort that is involved.

1. Keep the Litter Box Clean: This is one of the top priorities you need to have as a cat owner. It’s not the prettiest job in the world, but it is necessary. You need to keep your cats litter box clean. If not, the litter can get out of hand very quick. In an apartment, the space is smaller and smells are hard to avoid. You don’t want to constantly feel like you are living in your cat’s litter box, so clean it out about once a day. Make it a simple habit to scoop, sweep, and refresh every day to keep you and your cat happy.
2. Everything is Shared: There isn’t a table top or a countertop that your cat can’t access. Keep that in mind when you are decorating. If you put several breakable items on a table next to a window, something will get knocked off as your cat tries to cat some sun rays in the morning. Either fasten down the things that you want to keep out on display, or replace them with less breakable items. For example, you could use plastic picture frames instead of glass.
3. Vacuum Hair: Cats shed constantly, which means that you’re constantly covered in it. Keep a little mini vacuum on hand so you can hit the surface that you sit on, like the sofa. Vacuum up the entire floor and surfaces about once a week, if not more. If your cat lets you, try brushing your pet with a special comb designed to pull out loose fur. It’s great for your black slack, and it will help Fluffy not have as many hairballs.
4. Give Them Space to Play: Even older cats need a space to call their own. You may have a small apartment which is new territory to your cats. It’s easy to think that they just need a little box and a few mouse toys to be happy, but cats need their own space, too. Especially when relocating to a new area, it’s important for them to have a homebase for them to retreat to. Make it something dark, covered, and warm so that they feel protected and safe. They also need to have some floor space to run around and chase their tails every now and then. Bond with your little fur balls by playing with them. When they get all of their energy out, then they’ll sleep better through the night. If they sleep better, then everyone sleeps better.

Every cat is a little different, and each one has their own personalities. Some cats are friendly and love to talk, others like to sit and watch you have a great time. Either way, when you follow these simple tips, you and your little kitty will be the perfect roommates together.

It’s always fun looking for a new place to live. You get to search out beautiful new places, and let your imagination run wild as you picture yourself by the apartment’s brand new pool. Before you sign any papers, there are a few things that you need to take note of. There are so many things that go into making the big decision to move. Don’t only base your decision on the new countertops and spacious bathrooms. Think about the practicalities of safety, money, and the perks you’ll get to enjoy.

1. Safety:
   • Security systems: Apartments are a community. There is safety and danger in numbers. It’s important to look after you and your family first. Take note of how the interior security system is set up. Is there an automatic lock to the main entrance? How is each apartment secured? Do they use a keypad with a code, or do you need a specific key to enter? Does each apartment come with an alarm system or do you need to install that on your own?
   • Smoke detectors: Look for smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, and other safety alarms. They should be in the hallways as well as in the apartment rooms. Look for sprinklers and ask about fire escape routes.
   • Parking lots: Are the parking lots well lit? Look for broken glass and debris laying around. Broken glass can indicate a recent break-in. If there is debris and trash lying around it can tell you about who your neighbors will be. If people care for something insignificant like a parking lot, then they will care about the big things in the apartment complex.
2. Fees:
   • Pet fees: There are usually extra fees that aren’t listed online when you see the apartment rates. As you’re viewing the apartment, ask about those little extras that can start to add up, so you know if it fits in your budget. Some apartments don’t allow pets at all. Ask if they accommodate pets, and if so, what is the monthly, or yearly pet fee?
   • Parking fees: Depending on the location, parking can be difficult to find. Some apartment complexes offer parking, and others don’t. First ask to see if there is a designated parking area for your building. Then, ask if there are assigned parking spaces, or if it’s on a first come, first serve type basis. There may an extra fee if you want a designated space.
3. Added Perks
   • Floor space vs. Price: Floor space is one of the most sought after things while looking for an apartment. You want to find the most floor space, for the least amount of money. Do a little number crunching to see if you are getting the best deal for the floor space.
   • Amenities: Most apartments offer a few extras to set them apart from other complexes. The amenities are nice, but it does cost some for the upkeep of them. Most of the time the amenities are built into the rent price, but some apartments let you opts in or out to use the amenities. If you want to use the community pool, ask to see if there is an extra fee for access.

First and foremost, your safety should always come first. Ask hard questions to the staff to get an understanding of how safe the area is, as well as, how much effort they have put into keeping their tenants safe. Second, you don’t want to be surprised by the first month’s rent, so make sure there aren’t extra fees that you hadn’t considered. Last, but not least, enjoy all of those new perks once you’ve settled in to your new home!