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.

Apps To Furnish Your Living Room For Under $1000

Renting an apartment can be a very convenient option if you are saving for a home, going to college, or trying out a new job in a new city. All of which require working within a budget. We know that furnishing your place is no exception to your set income, which is why it can sometimes be a frustrating process. The good news is technology is making it easier to find quality furniture at a good price. Check out the apps below for some of the best options on the market for getting you connected to excellent and affordable furniture in your area!

1. Offer up - This app is free to download, and upon sign up asks you in a how many mile radius you want your search to go. Meaning you will only see the options that are convenient for you to purchase. There is a rating system on the app, so you can get an idea what sellers you want to purchase from. You can pay the price requested, or you can put a bid in for a lower price. All communication is done through the app, which means that you don’t get pesky emails cluttering up your inbox. Your phone will simply send you a notification when a seller has responded to you.
2. 5 Miles App - This app is described by being a garage sale without the hastle. We all know you can find good quality furniture at a great price during garage sale season. Yet this app goes all year round. Some features of the app include the option to choose how many miles from home you want the app to search in and the ability to offer a lower price than the price listed

Check out our pinterest board here for ideas on decorating your living room!

We hope you find these apps useful in finding furniture in your budget and area! If you are looking for an apartment in a certain price range and location, give us a call at 512 318 2504. One of our seasoned apartment locators will find you a home in no time. And the service is free to you!

ATC Spring Newsletter

The Austin Tenants' Council publishes a newsletter that has some great information regarding renting in Austin. Click to read here.

Peace and Quiet

Needing some peace and quiet? Did you know that it is your right as a tenant to have some? According to the Texas Attorney General's website you have a right for "quiet enjoyment." Below is an excerpt from their website.

Peace and Quiet

Your rights as a tenant include the right to "quiet enjoyment," as it is called in the law. This means the landlord cannot evict you without cause or otherwise disturb your right to live in peace and quiet.

If other tenants in your building are disturbing you, you should complain to the landlord. The landlord has a duty to see that you are protected from other tenant's wrongful behavior. Of course, you may not disturb other tenants, either.

Except under certain circumstances and subject to certain conditions, a landlord may not interrupt utilities to a tenant unless the interruption results from bona fide repairs, construction, or an emergency.