You’ve finally landed the job of your dreams. It allows you to do the work you’ve always dreamed of doing for a great salary and amazing benefits. The perfect opportunity, right? It would be, if it weren’t 200 miles away. You don’t mind moving but have a lease for the next six months. Don’t give up that ideal opportunity until you read over our advice on how to sublet. Subletting means essentially sharing a lease with someone else until it expires. It has its risks but if done properly, it will be possible to move early without breaking a lease. Here are the steps you need to follow to make your sublet experience a success.

Get Your Landlord’s Permission

• Read your lease to determine your subletting rights. If your landlord profusely forbids it, try to explain your situation in writing and negotiate a solution. You can offer to help your landlord find a new tenant, although you are still responsible for the rent until a new lease is signed.
• If subletting is permitted, get your landlord’s permission in writing before moving on to the next step.

Find a Trust-worthy Leaser

• Ask around your circle of friends and co-workers first. If you don’t get a response, post a flyer in a coffee shop you frequent, community center or place an ad in the classifieds.
• Describe your apartment and the dates that it will be available along with your contact information. You can try to advertise for the same rent you are paying but may have to reduce the rate since you are limited in time.
• Interview interested people just as if you were hiring them to work for you. You will still be responsible for the lease so you need to make sure the person who moves in will pay rent on time and keep the apartment well-maintained. Here are some questions to ask a potential sublessor:
  • Where are you employed and what is your monthly after-tax income?
  • Why are you seeking short-term housing?
  • How many people will be living the apartment? Any children? Any pets?
  • Do you plan on having any social events or guests staying at the apartment?
  • Do you consider yourself a clean person? (The person’s appearance is one clue to the answer although it is not a guarantee that their appearance reflects their housekeeping habits).

• Give the best potential sublet candidates a tour of the apartment. Answer their questions as honestly as possible and be candid about any problems. You don’t want the sublessor to back out in a month or two since you will be left to fill in the rent.

Sign a Written Agreement

• Even if you were lucky enough to have a friend to take over your lease, you still need to have a written agreement. You can make one yourself but unless you’re a lawyer, this is not advisable. The Internet Legal Research Group has a sublet form for every state. Go to http://www.ilrg.com/forms/sublease/us/ and print out the form for your state. A professionally formatted version of the form is available for a fee.
• If not mentioned in the agreement, you need to add in a statement regarding the security deposit. Since your landlord is most likely not required to return it to you until the lease is over, you will need to come to an agreement over it. For example, if the sublessor puts a hole in the wall is he/she responsible for the security deposit? If you don’t address it the money will surely come out of your pocket.
• Depending on the terms in your lease and state laws, you may have tenant’s rights over the sublessor. This means you can evict the person if they do not pay rent or in any other way violate the terms of the written agreement. Explain this to the sublessor so that there is no confusion later.
• Make sure the sublessor is clear on when he/she can move in and leave them a way to contact you as well as the owner of the apartment. Leave an emergency maintenance number as well as the place where the rent should be delivered.

Most people don’t think of their workplace as a dangerous place to be.  You go there everyday, you know the people around you and you follow a routine that pretty much guides you through your day.  You worry about someone robbing or attacking you late at night when you’re coming home on the train or hustling through a dark alley.  Think again.  Apartments.com wants you to be safe at home, and at work, and we have uncovered some facts about workplace crime that might surprise you.  Read on for tips on how to protect yourself when you’re on the job.

The Crime Report
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), workplace homicide is the leading cause of death for female workers in the United States and the second leading cause of death for men.  A worker is most likely to be killed if they are in the retail industry (convenience stores, gas stations, fast food restaurants).  The murders usually occur during a robbery. 

Robberies usually occur at night, 8:00 pm to 3:00 am is the most active time frame for these crimes.  This puts those in night retail positions at the highest risk.  It also means that daytime work robberies are rare, but stealing (non-violent taking of others’ possessions) does happen in even the most serene and professional environments.  According to a report by the U.S. Department of Justice, insider theft is growing at a rate of 15% each year.  This means people are stealing from their companies and from their co-workers.

What You Can Do
Always protect yourself, no matter how safe you feel.  If you work in a nighttime retail position or other job where robbery is a considerable possibility, make sure you have access to phones at all times in the event you need to call for help.  Your supervisor should have security systems in place to protect you and post signs that state that no cash is available after a certain time.  If possible, ask for a shift change as soon as you are able.

If you work in an office setting or other position where the public are not allowed to enter, you should take basic precautions.  Lock up your personal belongings, even when you go to the bathroom.  Know the emergency exit procedures and what security protocols are established for employees. 

Be an aware employee.  If you sense that another employee seems overly distressed and/or consistently blames others and denies responsibility, talk to your human resources department confidentially.  Do not attempt to talk to the person yourself about your concerns, even if you know the person well.  A professional intervention may be necessary. 

Report suspicious behavior and trust your instincts.  If you see someone stealing from petty cash, you have an obligation to your employer to report the person.  You and your fellow employees will be the ones to suffer if theft is allowed to continue at your workplace.  If you see a person that looks suspicious in your office, call security and let them do a check.  It is better to be safe than sorry.

Always follow security procedures in your building.  Those being allowed into your elevator or door should be required to show an ID or other proof that they are allowed in the area.  Guests should be required to wear an ID after a check of their identity has been performed. 

Protect your identity by avoiding making personal calls at work, even if you are on your break.  If you must, use your cellular phone in an empty conference room.  Never give out personal information such as your address, phone number, social security number or other identifying information unless asked to on an official form.

Safety is paramount when living in an apartment. Here are a few tips to make sure you’ve got all your safety bases covered.

Smoke Detectors
Smoke detectors are a must. Many city and county laws state that detectors need to be maintained by the landlord; if you don’t know if this is the law in your area, call your local fire marshal and find out. If detectors are required and your landlord is not doing so, give him/her a firm but polite reminder. If that doesn’t work, you’ll need to send a certified letter informing him/her that you are aware of the law and that you will be ensuring that the law is enforced. There should be a smoke detector in each room, especially bedrooms. However, it is your job to maintain the detectors inside your apartment. Check the batteries regularly and make sure it is installed correctly. No excuses!
In the event of a fire, you should make sure that you know what the emergency evacuation route is in your building. If you don’t live on the first floor, find out where the nearest stairwell is and practice an emergency evacuation drill with your family or roommate.

Carbon Monoxide Detectors
According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, carbon monoxide poisoning is the leading cause of accidental poisoning death in the United States. An odorless, tasteless, invisible gas, carbon monoxide can only be found with a detector. Depending on the law in your area, your building may or may not be required to provide these for your apartment. Regardless, this is another detector that you should definitely invest in. Test the alarm to be sure it is loud enough to wake you and be heard from other rooms. If your landlord has installed one or more, test and check their installation just as you would with smoke detectors.

Unwanted Critters
Mice, roaches and ants are probably not your ideal roommates. Many building codes require a monthly visit from a preventative exterminator to keep out vermin, so check with the code commissioner and then enforce this rule with your landlord. When you first move in, look for droppings (yuck) and signs of previous pets—fleas are also considered vermin. The landlord is always responsible for clearing out vermin before you move in, but after that, it is your job to keep the apartment clean and do regular checks for infestations.

Other Lurking Hazards
Before you move in, your landlord should provide you with a list of any potential safety issues.

The federal government mandated in 1996 that property managers must inform tenants if lead based paint was used in the building. This type of paint was used in buildings as recently as 20 years ago and it is the leading cause of potential harm to children in urban areas. This paint is most dangerous when it chips and creates dust that can be inhaled. If you suspect that your apartment contains lead based paint, inform your landlord and allow the legal amount of time for removal.

All stains are not created equal. Here are a few tips on getting out the most difficult stains without ruining your clothing, upholstery, or other fabric and surfaces.

Blood – 1) Rub hydrogen peroxide gently on clothing and furniture to remove blood. 2) Rub moistened corn starch into blood stains on clothing rinsed in cold water. Place clothing in the sun to dry and then run through a normal wash cycle. 3) Cover fresh or dry stains with meat tenderizer and sprinkle on cool water. Let stand for 15 to 30 minutes and then sponge off with cool water. 4) Stains on leather can be treated with hydrogen peroxide, wipe off when the bubbling stops.

Coffee – 1) Rub denatured alcohol into the stain and then rise with water. 2) Beat an egg yolk, with a white cloth rub the yolk into the stain and then wipe off. 3) Apply a solution of half vinegar and half water and then wash.

Collar Stains – Rub shampoo into shirt collar stains, let sit for 30 minutes then wash.

Crayon - Toothpaste or an ammonia soaked cloth will remove crayon marks from painted walls.

Deodorant Stains – Sponge stain with white vinegar. If stain remains, saturate with denatured alcohol and then launder at the hottest temperature the fabric will allow.

Glued On Labels – Spray (saturate) with wd-40 and use a paper towel to chip away at glue.

Gum – Use an ice cube to harden the gum and then a dull knife to chip it carefully away. Cooking spray will also help remove gum from clothing and from hair.

Heel Marks – Use a pencil eraser to remove black heel marks from flooring. Before washing the floor, rubbing toothpaste on the mark will also help in removal.

Ink, Ballpoint Pen – Saturate fabric with an alcohol based hair spray then blot the stain with a rag (not a paper towel), and then wash as usual. This method may ruin some sensitive fabrics like silk, always spot test this method to make sure you don’t make a bigger mess than what you started with.

Ink, Water Based – These stains will normally come out with an all purpose cleanser like Fantastic or Simple Green. As with the ballpoint pen method, please spot test your fabric first to make sure that the cleanser does not ruin the material.

When the staff at Apartments.com decided it would be a good idea to have some gardening articles available on Apartment Living, it seemed simple enough. Dirt, a flower or two, a watering can, and poof! An apartment garden is born. Then we started doing our research, and were coming across some strange terms. Perennials. Annuals. Germination. pH balance. Suddenly, horrifying flashbacks to high school chemistry filled our minds. If that’s what gardening about, count us out! However, not wanting to be responsible for the downfall of potted plants and herb gardens among apartment dwellers, we decided to forge ahead and create a beginner’s guide to the world of gardening. Yes, we’ve even translated “germination” and explained why you should NEVER refer to soil as “dirt” again. So grab your notebooks and pencils and please raise your hand if you have a question. May your roses be bountiful and your parsley pleasing after consulting this manual!

Lesson 1: Soil is NOT dirt
We were raising our brows in confusion as well, but here’s the truth: Soil is a non-renewable natural resource made from the weathering of rocks. It takes anywhere from 100 to 1,000 years to form just one centimeter. It’s precious stuff! It contains 13 of the 16 nutrients essential for plant growth. Soil also protects air and water quality and ensures human and animal health. Dirt, on the other hand, is the black layer currently forming on your bathroom floor. In gardening, soil or a mixture of soil and other organic materials is used.

Lesson 2: Perennials and annuals are actually opposites
A perennial is a plant, usually a flower that grows and lives for more than two years. They usually produce one flower crop each year. Annuals are plants that have one life cycle a year, from seeds to blooms and back to seeds. Annuals are like used cars; cheaper in the short run but they die very quickly and they’re very maintenance intensive to keep alive.

Lesson 3: Fertilizer is a Super-Charger
Plants, like people, need a wide variety of nutrients to grow. Plants get nutrients through air, water, soil and the decay of other plants that have died. As we just learned, soil contains most of the nutrients plants need, but the small sample you buy at the garden center does not necessarily contain all those nutrients. Fertilizer is the Flintstone vitamin equivalent for your young plants. It fills in any nutritional gaps and helps plants to grow as quickly as possible. Too much fertilizer, however, can harm plants so it needs to be used frugally.

Lesson 4: A hardy plant won’t give up
A hardy plant is one that can withstand the climatic conditions in the area where it is grown. If annuals are the used cars of the plant world, then hardy plants are like the all-weather cars that don’t give up easily. Half-hardy refers to plants that will not survive hard weather conditions, but can survive warm seasons and mild winters. Some experts believe that bamboo is the hardiest plant in the world, which would explain why bamboo symbolizes good health. Some of the hardiest indoor plants include the weeping fig, peace lily, philodendron and the dragon tree. Hardier plants cost more initially but will last longer.

Have you ever walked into someone’s apartment and felt instantly nauseated because of a smell? Whether the odor comes from left over cooking smells, bad perfume or mold; a bad smell can immediately put you in a bad mood. Conversely, every time you smell cookies baking, you probably reflect back on a beautiful time in your past and, in that instant, you feel happy, peaceful and friendly. Smell is our strongest and most immediate sense, yet one that is often ignored. We tend to think about how our home looks and feels more than how it smells. By using scents, you can create a mood that welcomes guests, relaxes, energizes or comforts.

Before we examine the properties of the scents, how do you diffuse them in the air? The possibilities are endless. Some choices are air fresheners (sprays, oils, wall socket adapters that you can pick up at your local discount store), perfume, candles or potpourri. Beware of synthetic air fresheners, as they can affect individuals with allergies. There are a myriad of diffusers for essential oils available for purchase as well. Tea light diffusers work with a candle as a heat source to steam oils into the air. Similarly, electric models are available that serve the same purpose but without the flame. Light bulb rings fit over the bulb, the oil is dripped onto the ring and the heat from the bulb diffuses the scent through the room. For the die-hard, small electric fans and nebulizers diffuse scented steam into the air.

How you choose to scent your apartment will depend on the level of fragrance you want. For smaller apartments, avoid a strong scent that may be overpowering. Spray air fresheners tend to have a strong smell out of the can, but do not last long.

As we all know, we must never leave a lit candle burning when there is no one in the room. Apartment fires are more common that we wish to imagine and in some cases, landlords may not allow candle burning in the apartment at all. Light bulb rings are great for the smaller apartment. They release a subtle amount of scent but are steady as long as you have your light on. Nebulizers work well in dry environments as not only do they scent your home, but they also act as a humidifier.

Once you choose how you’ll scent your apartment then you’ll need to choose your scent. Remember, each person may experience a fragrance in a different way. Although the smell of egg nog may be reminiscent of glorious holidays from your past, your new significant other might attribute that scent to the time he/she drank a little too much at the company holiday party. You won’t be able to know everything about the personal remembrances of your guests but there are some safe bets for scenting your home.

Fragrances fall into several categories. Here, we’ll touch on some of the most popular categories, giving you examples of the types of aromas within each as well as some of the known effects of the scents.

You’ll probably have a million things on your mind when you’re moving into your new place. Probably one of the most important things you need to do, and one that gets lost in the shuffle, or just gets rushed, is to thoroughly read through your lease before you sign it.

Here we’ve provided you a quick checklist to print off and take with you when you review your lease. Make sure you review all these items to ensure a happy and stress-free stay in your new place.

• Check to see when the rent is due.
• Find out where to go to pay your rent, who it should be given to, or where it should be sent.
• What are the late charges for rent not paid on time? -When do these charges begin?
• Exact amount of deposit needed.
• When is this deposit returned?
• How can you lose this deposit?
• Is there a pet deposit? If so, how much is it? When can it get refunded? Can you get this deposit back if you no longer have your pet?
• How soon after you move out is the deposit returned?
• Can you have roommates and what is the building’s policy on adding someone to the lease if necessary?
• What exactly does the rent include?
• Does the rent include any utilities? If so which ones?
• What appliances and/or furniture, if any, are included in the apartment rental fees?
• Is parking included in the apartment rental or is there an additional charge?
• Are there any additional charges for the use of any building amenities such as the gym or community center? If there are additional fees, what are they and if you don’t use the amenities will you still be responsible for those fees?
• What repairs are covered within the lease? If something happens and repairs need to be made by building management, who needs to be called? Are there any charges for repairs not covered in the lease? If so, what are those costs? How quick is the turn around for something to be fixed that is covered in the lease?

Part of living in an apartment is accepting the fact that peace and quiet will never be achievable 100% of the time.  Whether you’ve got rowdy neighbors, an air conditioning system that rattles uncontrollably or your bedroom window faces the street and you’re woken every Tuesday morning to the sounds of a garbage truck, noise is just something that people come to expect when living in a community setting.

However, there are some pretty easy things you can do to lessen the noise level and regain your sanity.

So, the folks living next to you have arguments all night long, or you just might not have the same musical tastes, the first thing you need to do is to talk to them.  Odds are they have no idea that you can hear them.  If this is the case, there’s a good chance they might be embarrassed when you approach them, so there’s really no reason to be nasty with them.  Sure, if you need to tell your neighbors for the tenth time to turn down the Bob Dylan, your patience level might be at its lowest and your frustration and anger level turned up high.  If you’re approaching your neighbors for the first time because you were up all night listening to them argue about whose mother-in-law is uglier or the fact that not putting the toilet seat down causes serious problems, a little tact may be required. 

After you’ve spoken with your neighbors and if you see no end to the noise in sight, you may need to enlist the help of your landlord to serve as an intermediary.  Together, you may be able to comprise and agree on some easy fixes.  Agree to move stereo equipment away from shared walls, lay down carpets to absorb the pitter patter of little feet and determine what period of time is definitely a no no for noise (that means, not working out on the treadmill at 4:00 am, not vacuuming at 2:00 am and not having loud guests over during the week). 

There’s a good chance that the situation will not escalate any further than this, as long as you keep your temper and work towards a solution.  Don’t forget that a little compromise may be necessary.  Avoid name calling, swearing, and other bad behaviors.  In the event that you’re not dealing with a reasonable individual, and the situation becomes hot: end it, document it and make sure you tell your landlord (if he/she is not present).  If you ever are, or feel, threatened, contact the local authorities at once.  If it gets to this point, there’s a good chance that either you or the problem neighbor won’t be living in that building much longer.  And whichever way you look at it, that’s really not a bad thing.

A quick fix to rattling noises, coming from inside the walls (due to electrical or pipe situations, not rodents, yikes!) is to put gaskets behind electrical cover plates.  Make sure your plumbing pipes are insulated on the outside and are not bumping against solid framing.  If you fear that you might have a rodent problem, contact your building management immediately. 

Contact your building management if you suffer from noises from mechanical devices like elevators, garbage chutes, air conditioning units, heating units or garage door openers.  The building management may be able to do something relatively simple, like moving an air conditioning unit farther away from the apartment building walls, to give you back your sanity. 

Building management can also help you if there’s a lot of noise in your apartment coming from outside.  “No Loitering” signs and a couple phone calls to local law enforcement can work wonders to repel unwanted “tail-gaters” from building property. 

Lastly, there are also things that you can do yourself inside your apartment to help absorb sound. 

Use heavier draperies on windows or as room dividers. 
Caulk under your baseboard.
Place thick throw rugs around your room.
Hang pictures or tapestries on walls.
Use felt cushions on the bottoms of chair and table legs if you have tile or hardwood floors.

And if all else fails, invest in a good pair of ear plugs!!  Good luck!

A friend of mine was getting ready to move. She was saving old newspapers for packing for months but when the movers stopped by to give her a quote, they told her that all her items had to be packed in bubble wrap. No newspaper!! With two days before her move, she scoured every office supply store in site to find enough bubble wrap for all her breakables. Why bubble wrap? Who knows? Each moving company has their own stipulations and it’s always best to find them out before the last minute. Ask these questions to potential movers before you make the decision of who to hire.

• Does the mover have a registration number with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Association (FMCSA) and a US Department of Transportation (USDOT) number? Movers who travel across state lines should definitely have these numbers.

• If you are moving long-distance, ask for a quote per pound. If you are moving less than 100 miles, ask for an hourly rate quote. Be sure to ask about any additional travel fees or any other charges. Long-distance moves may incur flight, storage-in-transit or transfer fees that are not included in the rate.

• If you are contacting a large moving service, ask if they hire subcontractors. If so, you should ask for the names and phone numbers of the contractors and contact them yourself. Ask for company name, phone numbers and references.

• What are the details of the mover’s insurance policy? Insurance coverage for your belongings should be provided at no extra cost. The type of coverage the company holds may dictate how you will be required to pack. For example, you may be required to pack all breakables in bubble wrap and upholstered items in shrink wrap. Make sure you ask what policies apply before you hire the company.

• How long has the moving company been in business? Of course, there are excellent movers who have only been in business for a few months and questionable movers who have been in business for decades. In general, look for a service that has been in business for at least three years.

• Ask for references and find out if there are any current complaints in mediation or if there have been any in the past. (The company probably won’t provide details but should mention outstanding issues). You can also check out the mover yourself through the Better Business Bureau or consumer-advocacy sites www.movingscam.com and www.movingadvocateteam.com.

• When can the mover come to your current home to give you an estimate? Estimates vary from rates because they are based on your specific location. By having the mover come to see your current and future home, you will avoid possible last-minute fees for extra stairs or moving heavy furniture.

• What forms of payment does the mover accept? Many movers will only accept cash or money orders.

• How do you stay in contact with the mover? Make sure you have a way to contact the company up until the day of the move and throughout the moving process.

So you think you’re already the expert pumpkin carver?  Here are a couple helpful hints that even the most professional pumpkin designer can benefit from:

Use an ice cream scoop or a melon baller instead of a spoon to remove the guts from the inside of the pumpkin.

Try cutting out the bottom of the pumpkin instead of the top.  You can attach the candle to the bottom with a toothpick and then, when your pumpkin in carved, place the pumpkin on top.  This makes lighting the candle much easier.  It also works great for pumpkins that are really skinny and tall.

Use Christmas tree lights instead of a candle.

For an even brighter light, line the bottom and back of the inside of the pumpkin with aluminum foil.

Experiment with other kinds of lights inside the pumpkin.  Try a glow stick or bicycle reflector light. 

Get a pumpkin with one side that is very flat.  Use this side as the bottom of your pumpkin.  Carve the pumpkin with the stem as the nose.

Make warts, teeth, ears and other assorted features out of some left over pumpkin meat taken from the inside of the pumpkin.  Attach these to the outside of the pumpkin with toothpicks.  Cut a circle of flesh from the inside of the pumpkin and attach it with a toothpick inside the eye socket.  When lit from the inside, it will look like the pupil is floating inside the eye.  Spooky.

For some interesting effects, play with the guts.  Leave a few dangling on the inside of the pumpkin to give a “cobweb” effect or pull some out of the mouth for a grosser effect.  If you do leave in any of the guts, use an electrical or other non-flame light for the inside.

Add dry ice inside the pumpkin for a spooky fog effect.

To completely avoid burning the top of your pumpkin, light a large candle inside, put the top on, wait 10 to 15 minutes and remove the top.  You will see a brownish ring on the inside of the pumpkin.  Make a small hole around that ring in the lid of the pumpkin to let the heat and smoke out.

When you finish carving your pumpkin, wipe the inside, outside and edges down with Vaseline or oil to keep the moisture inside the pumpkin.  Be careful with the candle flame, however, as some oils can be flammable.

For a creepy glowing effect, carve out the flesh on the inside of the pumpkin, but leave the skin on.  When lit from the inside, it creates a very cool effect.

To make carving the pumpkin easier, when you draw your design, pierce the skin with toothpicks, or make small, short incisions with a knife in the skin of the pumpkin. 

To give your pumpkin a little color, scrape the outside with sandpaper.  Then wipe it with a cloth that has been soaked in water tinted with food coloring.

Don’t forget, when you cut the top from your pumpkin to empty it, cut the edges on an angle so that it doesn’t fall down inside the pumpkin.

If your pumpkin is beginning to dry out and you would like to preserve the life of your creation, dip the pumpkin in a bucket of water (or the bathtub).  If your pumpkin is very dry, monitor the amount of water that it soaks up.  If it soaks too much, it can begin to break apart, especially if there is a lot of detail to the carving.

To prevent discoloration, dip your pumpkin in a solution of 1 part vinegar and 1 part water for about 5 minutes. 

Sprinkle cinnamon, allspice, cloves and even apple peels inside your pumpkin.  When lit, the spices will fragrance your apartment beautifully.

Don’t stop at just carving pumpkins.  Try a turnip, gourd, melon, orange or squash too!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!