Home Office in Small Space

Creating a home office in a small space is a common perplection of many apartment renters. Here are some tips for separating out a place to work and study. - Clean a space that can house your laptop or desktop. - Use your creativity when laying out different plans for paper storage, pen holders, etc. - Keep the area dedicated, don't let other areas of the house fall into your office space. - Utilizing a closet is also a great way to open up a less used space.

Curious Question

When looking over your lease for an apartment, some of the phrases may be new to you. One that we get asked about is a re-letting charge. Using the Texas Apartment Association's definition, a re-letting charge is a sum of money or percentage of the rent that is agreed to cover the property owner's costs of finding another acceptable resident if you move out before the end of your lease term. Good to know!

Discrimination

The Fair Housing Council of Greater San Antonio provides assistance for groups of people who feel they have been discriminated against renting a house or apartment. Who do they protect?

Protected Classes

• Color
• Sex
  
• National origin
• Religion
• Disability
  
• Familial status
• Race
  

In San Antonio, the local ordinance includes “age” as an additional protected class.

They use the Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, along with the Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988, is called the Fair Housing Act.

Avoiding a Rental Scam

There are some points to keep in mind when renting an apartment or home from someone online. The Texas Apartment Association provides this excellent advice. And you can always call us to help with your search! -Compare prices of rental properties in the surrounding area. If it seems like too good of a deal to be true, it probably is. -If you are dealing with a property owner overseas, be aware. -Never pay advance money without inspecting the property yourself. -Protect your personal information. -Do not wire transfer money to an online advertiser.

Fair Housing Review

The Fair Housing of Greater San Antonio can conduct a free review of your apartment to decide if it meets the Fair Housing Act’s accessibility requirements. If you you would like this done or have questions, you can contact the Council at (210) 733-3247.

Some Info on Renters Insurance

Disasters are happening all around us. One of the best ways to ensure you peace of mind is to have insurance. Even renters should have a policy that covers their property should an accident or natural disaster occur. This article is from the insure.com webpage. It has a great basic explanation of what insurance is, what it covers, etc. Always verify your policy covers what you expect, and you can feel confident your valuables can be replaced. Be sure to also take an inventory of your belongings, so that you can be property compensated. What insurance covers - Fire - Vandalism - Theft - Water Damage - Explosion - etc

Budget For Moving

When moving to a new apartment, you need to consider many different costs. For example, you need to consider the cost of renting a moving truck, and having movers if needed. Also, what new furniture and decor you will need in your new place. Lastly, adding up expenses such as turning off and on utilities will help you keep on a moving budget!