Living in an apartment means being super close to the surrounding neighbors! In most cases, you have neighbors to your left and right, sometimes even above and below you. There are a number of things to be conscious about when living in an apartment, so channel your inner Mr. Rogers and check out our tips to being the best neighbor you can be! Loud Noises We’ll start with the obvious, noisy neighbors! Not all of us are light on our feet, so don’t expect the noise level to be on mute. However, when you’re doing a home workout or perfecting the ‘Single Ladies’ routine, make sure you’re being conscious of your stomping. While we’re on the topic of loud noises, let’s just say this; everyone can respect a good old fashioned party. BUT if you’re hosting, make sure you’re respecting your neighbors when it comes to the volume of your music and your friends; bonus points if you visit them ahead of time to set expectations! Another option is to take it to the streets and have a block party, neighbors invited! Pets We all love our pups, but let’s be honest, sometimes they have a lot to say and barking can be very distracting and annoying to your neighbors. A lot of us have to leave our furry friends at home while we’re at work, so make sure they’re comfortable! Do this by giving them the best pet care and ensuring they have everything they need while home alone. Another…
Photo Cred Refreshing and upgrading your life is what New Year’s resolutions are all about, but what about your apartment? While you make preparations for the new you, don’t leave your space on the back burner. Here are a five things we think you should resolve to do differently this year with your space. Resolve to tidy up more effectively and efficiently Photo Cred According to the Cleaning Institute, though most Americans spend six hours a week cleaning, many don’t know if they are cleaning enough, if they are cleaning correctly or where to focus their cleaning efforts. We recommend spot treatments and maintenance on a daily basis and deep cleaning a section of your apartment once a week–don’t forget things like dusting the ceiling fan or cleaning the baseboards! With small and consistent effort, you’ll always have a tidy place to come home to. If you’re not convinced, here are the best cleaning practices backed by scientific research. Resolve to never be late on bills again Photo Cred Adulting is hard, and worrying over rent, utilities and other bills can really dampen the mood. If you’re no stranger to late payments and skipping a bill to pay on another, we proudly declare, NEW YEAR, NEW YOU! Pro tip: Creating spreadsheets and calendar reminders can help you stay on top of all of your bills and keep you accountable. First, make a spreadsheet of your total expenses: this includes all your bills, debt, subscriptions and survival needs – ie transportation,…
Looking for an apartment can be stressful. Where do I look? What’s important to me? Can I afford floor to ceiling windows and hardwood floors?! Lucky for you, we’re here to help and do the dirty work for you! But why should you use a Smart City locator? To that we say, just keep reading. 😉 First thing’s first, we’re real people! What we mean is, you aren’t getting some computer generated list of generic options–instead you’re talking to a real human who lives, works and plays in Austin! Pro tip: when we get a chance to talk to you personally, the more you tell us about yourself, your life and your priorities, the smarter we get! Then we’re able to create a unique list that is completely personalized and tailored to YOU! Our goal is to crush your wish list and get you more of what you’re REALLY looking for! Photo Cred One more time for the people in the back!! We WANT to know what’s most important to you! Have a dog? (send pics pls). Want to be close to your job or your fav going out spots? Are amenities like a pool and a 24-hr fitness center a must? All of these details come into play when creating YOUR list! Photo Cred Most importantly, WE CARE. Seriously, we do. All of our agents are real, Austin locals who know the city like the back of their hands, who care about connecting people with the space to be…
When do I start my apartment search? What questions should I be asking? What exactly qualifies as a good deal? These are legit questions concerning apartment hunting. There’s so much that goes into finding a place to call home (at least for a year) and sometimes those little things can slip through the cracks and come back to bite you in the butt later. Whether you’re a first time renter or an all time pro, renting can be tedious, overwhelming and just plain annoying, but we’re here to help! Our Ultimate Guide to Renting is broken down into easy to read sections, especially for the skimmers (you know who you are), and covers everything from pre-search prep to move in day! So, sit back, grab a snack and let’s kick some rental ass! 01. Prep Work Before you deep dive into the abyss of internet apartment searches and start scheduling tours, you need to figure a few things out first: Your budget: What can you comfortably afford with your current income? Apartment complexes typically require that you (or the combined household) make an annual income of 3x the monthly rent. But we gotta go a little further and ask that even if you qualify, would spending $1600 on rent every month starve you to death? …we’re not into that. The size of the apartment: One, two, three bedrooms? Figuring out what size apartment to rent depends greatly on your needs, your lifestyle and how many people will be living there. Roommates:…
We’re all about that new, new. Here’s 3 brand new apartments in ATX that we’re in love with. Guthrie Opening Fall/Winter 2018 Located on the East Side of Austin, The Guthrie boasts boutique hotel vibes with preferred, modern finishes. Floor plans will range from studio units to large work areas with direct street access (for those of you lookin to keep it profesh). Wood flooring, hard surface countertops, pendant lighting and stainless steel appliances are a must, but it doesn’t stop there! Common areas include a clubroom, business center, fitness area, rooftop lounge, resort-style pool with large courtyard. Studios starting at $1,245+. Photo Cred Edison Opening Fall 2018 Located in the heart of East Riverside and only ten minutes from D-Town, this complex gives you the best of both worlds! Offering studio, one, and two-bedroom floor plans; allowing you to choose the home that fits you, your potential roomie, and even your pets needs! *Cough*Cough* dog park and washing station *Cough*! Grab your roomie and take a quick walk over to the Boardwalk at Lady Bird Lake or if you’re feeling extra adventurous Austin Bergstrom International Airport is only a 10 minute Uber away! Availability coming soon. Photo Cred Palo Verde Open Now Southwest Austin is continuously growing in popularity and is becoming one of Austin’s hottest areas to live! Palo Verde brings comfort and style to the hill country without being too far from the hustle and bustle of Downtown! Stainless steel appliances, quartz countertops, under-mount…
Austin is literally packed full of cool places and fun things to do! So, why not make living here that much better by snagging a cool apartment next to your fav iconic Austin spot?! We have the deets on some awesome apartments. Zilker Park/Barton Springs Coldwater apartments are in the middle of it all; Zilker park and Barton Springs are basically your backyard! Equipped with exposed concrete ceilings, wood-style flooring, and stainless steel appliances. This luxury community provides a negative edge pool, access to Texas Rowing Center, and when festival season is upon us; you’ll be in walking distance to ACL and Blues On The Green! South Congress If having direct access to all things Austin is your vibe, then State House On Congress apartments are for you! Offering newly renovated luxury homes with stainless steel appliances, wood-style flooring, and downtown views! You’ll literally be steps away from all of the great food, drinks, live music, and shopping on South Congress!! The Greenbelt Although, The Greenbelt stretches on for miles, Landmark At Barton Creek in particular is perfect for nature lovers who love being close to everyday conveniences! Your apartment comes with sleek black appliances, hardwood-style flooring, and a cozy wood-burning fireplace! If you need to get out of the house, enjoy the dog park, pool, and sand volleyball court! When you live in Texas, it’s important to always be near a body of water, so when your steps away from The Greenbelt you’ll never dread the summer heat again!…
Summers in Texas are HOT, which is an understatement. So hot that unless you are heading to Barton Springs or the lake, you would rather stay inside your apartment all day. So, here are some tips to make your apartment a little more bearable during the summer heat wave! 1. Non-Oven Meals Try to avoid running anything that puts off heat; such as electronics or cooking on your oven or stove. Check out these 10 easy no-cook summer meals! Photo Cred: Jennifer Causey 2. SNOW CONES!! Get a shaved ice maker…because snow cones! Snow cones make everything better. Photo Cred 3. Ceiling Fans = Lifesaver Crank the ceiling fans! Ceiling fans don’t actually cool your apartment down, but they sure make it feel like they do, and that’s all that really matters. Photo Cred: Yours Truly 4. Go Full Vamp Go full on vampire! To keep the heat out, close all your blinds to block any sunlight from coming through the windows. Photo Cred 5. Kiddie Pool, Anyone? If your apartment has a private yard, get yourself a kiddie pool. And if not, ice bath? Photo Cred 6.Arctic Tundra Temps If you’re not one of those people who turns their thermostat to -30 degrees, just to wake up feeling like you’re in the Arctic Tundra; try switching out your heavy bedding with some lighter sheets and covers. No one likes a sweaty sleeper. And if you are one of those people who turns their thermostat down to -30 degrees and…
Austin is once again topping the list of America’s best places to live as well as producing top-notch apartments for Austin natives and the crazy amount of people who are moving here every day! Summer is the hottest time to move (literally), but what’s cooler than living in a brand-spanking-new apartment? We are here to find you the best places to live and the best deals in Austin! It may be hot, and if you’re a summer mover you don’t have to sweat the apartment finding process, here are three new apartments that are opening up just in time for you! PALO VERDE Southwest Austin is continuously growing in popularity and is becoming one of Austin’s hottest areas to live! Palo Verde brings comfort and style to the hill country without being too far from the hustle and bustle of Downtown! Stainless steel appliances, quartz countertops, under-mount sinks, and walk-in closets; this property is nothing short of high quality. Enjoy your surroundings by the resort-style pool, walking and biking trails, and pet play area. Not to mention, you’ll be less than 15 minutes from Jester King Brewery! THE HANOVER OAK HILL Located in Southwest Austin as well, Hanover Oak Hill could be the perfect new home for you and your furry friend! Equipped with a 13,000 square foot dog park and heated washing station. The community also offers a private screening room, infinity-edge pool with cabanas, and incredible hill country views! Offering one, two, and three bedrooms homes; inside…
Photo Cred Open up your windows and let that Spring air in! We all know that Austin has some killer Springtime weather and that also means it’s the best time to get some deep cleaning done! There is no better feeling than coming home to a clean place and being able to relax. So, put a day aside to get cleanin’! Here is a list of tips that will help you get to those not-so-obvious spots: Pick a room to start in! It may be easier to go room by room instead of doing everything at once. Remember, Spring cleaning is about getting into all of those nooks and crannies you don’t usually get to when you’re just picking up the place. Cleaning can be tedious, so throw on some good tunes and get to it! Dusting Yes, dusting is no fun, but it is a must! Start high, get all of the dust and cobwebs off of the ceiling, molding, and corners. Then move to the middle, wipe down all of your shelves! Make sure you pick up all of your decorations and knick-knacks; that way you get the entire shelf and be sure to clean the decor along the way. Another big one is blinds, they collect dust like crazy, and they deserve a good cleaning now and then. Moving to the bottom, the worst part; baseboards! It makes a huge difference when your baseboards don’t have a thick film of dust on them. You may not notice…
There are so many benefits of living in a renovated apartment. 1) It’s waaaay cheaper than living somewhere brand new, 2) You still have the luxury of upgraded appliances and modern interiors, and 3) The staff is experienced. With renovated places you still get that brand new vibe with insanely cheaper rates and who doesn’t want that?! Here are a few of the cutest renovated properties in Austin that we absolutely adore 78704 City Scene Apartments are completely renovated from head to toe with new EVERYTHAANG. Cute tile flooring, granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, modern white cabinetry, and every unit comes with a private yard or balcony! Located in the desirable 78704 neighborhood and only a 5 minute drive to downtown! This property only has 42 units, so if you’re looking for a smaller/quiet community this spot is perfect! Pricing starting $945, but they’re doing a month free on all units right now! Riverside Everything about the Aspect’s renovations are sleek AF, seriously…total transformation. SO FRESH SO CLEAN. Gray plank flooring, stainless steel appliances, chrome hardware, sparkling quartz countertops, and crown molding give these units a modern vibe. The bathrooms have gorgeous sink vanities, large garden tubs, and walk-in-closets! The amenities got a make-over as well! Enjoy a large fitness center with up-to-date machines, dog park, resort style pool with outdoor lounge and fire pit, gas grills, and google fiber! Plus it’s like a 10 minute drive to downtown! Pricing starting at $1100 for one bedrooms and $1400 for…