10 Ways To Fit A Home Office In A Small Apartment

Living in a small apartment can be met with a few challenges, and let’s be honest, limited space is one of them. When dealing with this challenge it can be easy to think that something as essential as a home office is out of reach. However, just because something is challenging it doesn't mean it is impossible to achieve. Below we show you ten clever and creative ways to fit a home office into a small space. 

1. In a small corner next to the dining room table

2. In a corner next to the fireplace

3. Next to your living room couch

4. In the corner wall next to the end of the bed

5. Next to the bed in the form of a nightstand

6. Inside a cleared out coat closet

7. Inside a hallway corner

8. Behind a sofa as a sofa table

9. Next to an open window

10. Underneath the stairs

We hope you found these ideas helpful to creating a home office in your small apartment. If you or someone you know is looking for an apartment to call home, Apartment Experts would love to help! We have been leading the way in apartment locating in Austin for close to 20 years. Our experienced apartment locators answer phones 7 days a week. Call 512 339 4411 today, our locating service is free of charge.

Apartment Living: Affordable Toy Storage For Small Spaces

If you are a parent to a young child or children, you know the challenges that come with keeping everything organized and in its place, especially toys! Add living in an apartment to the mix and the challenge is doubled, as you most likely have limited storage space to work with. Below we cover the problem of toy storage in small spaces and affordable ideas and solutions that might help. Happy organizing!

Add your own shelves to a corner of the room to create a reading corner - Threshold 23” Picture Ledge - $12.99

Add hooks horizontally to hang matching baskets for toy storage - Cosmos Heavy Duty Coat And Hat Hook 10 pack - $39.95 - Large Round Woven Plastic Storage Basket - $16.99

Add second shower curtain rod with hanging baskets for bath toy storage - Achim Home Furnishings Shower Curtain Rod - $13.00 - Stainless Steel Shower Caddy Shelf Storage - $23.99

Add crate storage to your walls with a simple DIY - Hand Made Modern Wooden Crate $13.99

Check out this DIY on how to create your own crate storage shelves here

We hope you found these tips helpful in getting your apartment organized! If you or someone you know is looking for an apartment to call home, Apartment Experts would love to help! We have been leading the way in apartment locating in Austin for almost 20 years. Our seasoned apartment locators answer phones 7 days a week and our locating service is free of charge. Call today 512 339 4411 today!

Roommates: Splitting Rent, Bills, And Everything In Between

Sharing an apartment with roommates, where you can split the rent and bills, can be a great way to cut back on expenses. However, we know that things can get a little tricky when it comes to splitting rent, utilities, and other expenses equally. As a way to alleviate some of that stress and make things easier for you, we found some great options that will help make crunching those numbers a whole lot more precise and efficient.

• Rent: The Splitwise rent-splitting calculator - Input information on room size, windows, closets, and other factors, and let this calculator do the work for you.
• Utilities: Split a bill calculator - Invite your roommates over your phone to join the split-a-bill calculator, add in the dollar amount for each bill and your roommates will get a total of what they owe!
• Furniture: The Splitwise furniture calculator - If you have furniture and appliances that your roommates are using everyday, you can calculate how much they should pay for the use of those things based on the age and price of the furniture and the appliance.

Apartment Experts wants to help you enjoy your renting experience, and we hope you found these tips useful. If you are currently looking for an apartment to call home, we would love to help you with that too! We have been leading the way in apartment locating here in Austin for close to 20 years. Our experienced apartment locators answer phones 7 days a week and our locating service is of no cost to you! Call today at 512 339 4411.

How To Decorate Your Patio For The Holidays

We understand that setting up your patio or outside area for the holidays can sound like a daunting task when you are living in an apartment. But just because you are working with limited space, doesn’t mean you can’t add a little holiday cheer to the outside of your home. If you would like to know about some easy and budget friendly options for doing just that, keep reading!

Holiday Plants and Flowers - Bring life and color to the outside of your home with the simple, yet effective, option of holiday themed plants and flowers. Some popular choices are poinsettias, white amaryllis, Christmas cacti, and mistletoe. Most of these options can be purchased at your local grocery store. They can be placed in front, by, or on your door, and are relatively easy to maintain.

Holiday Lights in Old Wine Bottles - Get your patio looking Pinterest worthy by putting Christmas-tree lights into renovated wine bottles. You can line up bottles that are the same color and size for a uniform look, or you can bunch together different sizes and colors. Get creative and have fun with it.

Small Artificial Christmas Tree - Add a small artificial tree to the center of your porch and watch it be the piece you have been missing. There are several options that come with lights that you simply have to set up and plug in. If you have kids, let them join you in adding baubles and ribbons. Make it a family affair. Then, whenever you look out your window, you’ll be reminded of the holiday feel.

Holiday lights on Porch Railing - Finally, grab a couple boxes of Christmas-tree lights and intertwine them up and down your porch railings for an aesthetically pleasing look that will brighten up the outside of your home. You can use traditional colored lights, or switch things up with different colored lights.

Check out our Pinterest Board for decorating on a budget here

We hope you found these tips useful in setting up your patio. If you are looking for a new apartment to call home this holiday season, Apartment Experts would love to help. We have been leading the way in apartment locating in Austin for almost 20 years. Our experienced apartment locators answer phones 7 days a week and the service is free to you! Give us a call today at 512 416 8100.

Considering Moving?

If you are considering a move, read this valuable article from the Texas Apartment Association.

"Cost of Moving

I need to move. What's it going to cost?

Whatever your reason for thinking about making a move, you need to keep in mind the costs you're likely to have. Factor these costs into any decision you make about moving.

• Have you fulfilled the terms of your lease?
  • If you move out early, you'll probably be responsible for various charges described in your lease, and any damages to the property.
  • These may include a reletting fee (a charge to compensate the property for costs it will incur in trying to lease your apartment to someone else) and the full amount of rent due during the remainder of your lease term. (If your apartment is rented to someone else, you'll get credit for any rent paid that would have been due during your initial lease term.)
• Have you considered costs you'll incur for new deposits?
  • If you'll be renting somewhere else, you'll need to pay another security deposit, and any animal deposit if the property allows animals and you have a pet.
  • You may also have to pay deposits for utilities if you are moving to a new town or changing providers.
• Have you factored in costs for transferring your existing utilities and services?
  • If you are moving within the same utility service area, you may still have to pay a fee to transfer your service or establish service at your new location.
• Have you added up the hard costs of moving?
  • You may need to hire movers or rent a truck or other equipment to make your move.
  • You may also need to buy boxes, packing materials, tape, and other supplies, or offer food and drink to friends you enlist to help you.
• Have you considered other costs you may incur?
  • Will you need to kennel a pet during the move, or stay in a hotel while you look for a place to live or wait for movers to arrive with your belongings?
  • Will you spend money on meals, phone calls, or other items while you wait to complete the move?
• How much time will you invest in moving?
  • Will you need to use vacation time or sick days to make the move, pack, and unpack?
  • If you are self-employed or don't have paid vacation or sick leave, can you afford to miss work?"

We are also happy to answer any questions or concerns you might have. Check out our website and leave the hassle of locating to us!

Check Out Our Brand New Apartment Locating Video!

Apartment locators, a little bit myth and little bit mystery... Okay seriously; if they even know that apartment finders exist, many people still don't fully understand the apartment locating industry or how it can help them. We are on our second video helping to answer people's questions on how apartment locating works and what they can expect from their apartment finder! Check it out!