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The 5 things you need to know before renting your first apartment
Being a landlord I see the same basic things happening to my tenants over and over. It doesn’t seem to matter what age they are or education, there are the basics that they just don’t know. To myself and to people who may have rented previously or own your home these maybe silly but it blows my mind how many tenants have no idea these are things you should know.
- Change your filters- replace that furnace filter once a month or two if its not dirty, this will save you money if you pay your own utilities. The lint in the dryer, clean it out, you clothes will dry faster. Your water filter, just trust me and keep it clean.
- Your garbage disposal is not for garbage!! So important! This is my most paid bill by tenants who didn’t put anything down there as the plumber is pulling out noodles and dirt. Throw your trash in the trash, scrape your plates in the trash, rinse your dish in the sink.
- Don’t plan on mounting a TV to the wall unless you want to pay a drywaller to repair it. When you bolt multiple holes into the wall those are there forever. And the more holes and the bigger they are the more expensive it is to fix them.
- Line your drawers. Not just because it looks cute because do you really want to put your toothbrush next to some past tenants germs. If the place is new you can keep it that way or if its used, trust me you will want to cover up that mess.
- Don’t burn cheap candles, or any really. The smoke residue goes onto the walls and into your duct work and your breathing all of that in. You have to repaint the walls because the residue stains the walls and with so many alternatives why even use them.
These are the easiest things to do but for some reason people neglect them causing themselves a ton of money. For my tenants the lease tells them all of these things and if it causes a service call for one of these reasons it’s their bill.
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How to have balance with kids, job and a life
Something so important to me is balance. Last year it took me a while to figure out what exactly that looked like for me. This blogging journey started back in March which added to an already busy lifestyle of being a mom of two kids. I have 65% of the time with me with, their activities, my full time job as HR for my parents company, and my side hussle of owning apartments. All of the fun that goes along with that and trying to fit in selfcare. Be that being working out, time to myself, cleaning my home and of course my great boyfriend of almost two years now Kyle, doing date night and spending time together.
Mornings
Since starting the #last90days challenge it teaches you to get up an hour earlier which has helped a ton. At first I was using this time to do my Instagram posting and engagement for the morning, but at 5 am you don’t see alot of activity. So I had to change it up and I really didn’t want to workout that early. When I workout I like to read a magazine, scroll social media, or watch tv. I don’t do a rough workout.
After doing the 80 days and doing Orange Theory and all the things for so long I needed a break. Now I am walking on the treadmill for at least a half hour. I do this after the kids get on the bus and I have the place all to myself. During that early hour I now do things for me, like laundry or cleaning or just checking my email. I plan on doing more blogging during this time and that is one of my goals this year.
During the day
After workout is done I get ready and head to work. Sometimes to the apartments to see what needs marked off on the never ending list of to dos. At the office I do HR and all the fun things with it. I manage the payroll and also do the books for myself for my rentals when I get all of my other items accomplished for the day. Lunch lately has been taken at the desk with leftovers or soup. All while trying to get caught up on all my personal bills and emails and if there is time blogging.
Afternoon
Thankfully the mom thing I have down. I have kind of always been a single parent even when I was married so use to doing everything all the time. I did the pickup, drop off, doctors appointments and sports all on my own. So when I did get divorced it was a major shock to the system of having time alone. That is a whole other post for another day. Using a system of when they get home, met them from the bus, doing homework and snacks.
Then activities after that in which everyone goes is part of our quiet time in the car waiting that hour for them to be done. Piper will bring a book or something to do while Will is at practice. Will and I will do flash cards or books or just have some down time while we wait on Piper. This only happens twice a week so far so I am kind of lucky we aren’t running around all the time. Dinner is during or after homework and lately its been Hello Fresh because of the fresh ingredients and so easy to make.
Bedtime
After that its bedtimes, Piper heads to bed and Will and I read books, lately its been Dogman. These are his favorite lately and I love that he is willing to sit and listen to me read them.
Kyle is very understanding of all of my balancing and is there to support me in this wonderful journey. When I don’t have the kids we stay at his place and that can be a nice break. He also joins me in getting up early but he actually does go and workout lol.
