Turn Your Balcony Into a Retreat

A crispy fern flanked by a flapping towel and a bike with two flat tires—sound like a balcony near you? As close as your own French doors, perhaps? If what you really want is a cozy place to barbecue, or an enchanted and enchanting retreat—no problem. With just the tiniest bit of attention and effort, you can transform even a swath of bleak and cheerless concrete into almost anything. First, figure out what kind of weather your balcony has to withstand, said Elizabeth Blome of Open Window Designs in Houston. A northern exposure will limit plant choices to shade-tolerant varieties, while a west-facing patio will be hard on decorative objects like wreaths and topiaries, which can crack and fade in the hot summer sun. As for that bike—you get to keep it. "Our feeling is that if you want something, we can make it work," Blome said. "So if the bike is a part of your life, it stays—behind a screen or a lattice or a nice big plant." Decide how you want to use the space, said Helene Schultz, an interior decorator who recently tackled a patio in New York and a balcony in the Virgin Islands. And have fun. Whether you're making a private retreat, an outdoor dining room or dividing a large area into several rooms, an outdoor space should spring from your imagination. Jimenez built an Asian garden for moments of reflection."In some ways, the space in a balcony or patio is a bonus, it's unexpected," Schultz said. "You can go with something as simple as plants and a few chairs, or you can unleash your fantasies and be bolder or more playful than you might inside the home." Bold and playful were Edward Jimenez' bywords when designing the spacious balcony of his Los Angeles condo over the course of six years. At 11-feet wide and 25-feet long, Jimenez had a space large enough to be daunting. He solved the problem by dividing it into rooms—one for dining, one for a garden, another as a sitting room. "I wanted it to look like it had always been there, that it was a place that had been cared for by a family over a period of years," said Jimenez, a hair stylist and makeup artist with a large celebrity clientele. He started with a tree and several plants, then added a seating area. When something didn't work, he gave it away and tried again. "I went through so much furniture," Jimenez said, and laughed. "My family loves it—I keep giving them stuff that doesn't fit or doesn't work."

For apartments in New Jersey go to Raritan Crossing. They are pet friendly apartments and New Brunswick NJ apartments. Rentals near Metropark and apartments in Middlesex county. For apartments in central NJ this is the place for you with Apartments in Middlesex County NJ. Raritan Crossing has apartments near metropark, apartments near Rutgers and apartments near Robert Wood Johnson. Central NJ Apartments.

Renter's Insurance FAQ

Have you been wondering about whether you'll be protected if your personal property gets damaged, or if someone injures herself in your apartment?
Read answers to commonly asked questions about renter's insurance and why you should strongly consider purchasing it. Do you have a question that isn't addressed here? Please ask.
Q: Why do I need renter's insurance?A: You need renter's insurance to cover you if any of your furniture, electronics, books, or other belongings get damaged... Read more
Q: Do I need renter's insurance even if my landlord has insurance?A: Yes. Although your landlord almost certainly has property and liability insurance, your landlord's policy doesn't cover... Read more
Q: How much does renter's insurance cost?A: Renter's insurance probably costs less than you think... Read more
Q: Is a good renter's insurance policy hard to find?A: Not at all. Several top-name insurers, such as Allstate, Geico, and State Farm, offer renter's insurance... Read more
Q: What if I don't have much personal property?A: Renter's insurance is still important even if you don't have much personal property because of the liability component... Read more
Q: Do I need renter’s insurance if I rent a condo, coop, or house?A: Yes. Renter's insurance is important as long as you rent your home... Read more
Q: Will I get enough money to replace my stuff if it gets damaged or destroyed?A: That depends on whether you opt for an actual cash value (ACV) or replacement cost coverage policy... Read more
Q: Will I get paid to cover expenses for temporary relocation?A: Renter's insurance normally covers your living expenses if you must temporarily relocate because of... Read moreFor apartments in New Jersey go to Raritan Crossing. They are pet friendly apartments and New Brunswick NJ apartments. Rentals near Metropark and apartments in Middlesex county. For apartments in central NJ this is the place for you with Apartments in Middlesex County NJ. Raritan Crossing has apartments near metropark, apartments near Rutgers and apartments near Robert Wood Johnson. Central NJ Apartments.

4 Steps to Renting the Perfect Apartment and other Real Estate

By Larry BellerWhen people are looking to buy real estate the old adage is “Location, location, location.” When you are looking to rent an apartment or other types of real estate that is also a major criteria. In addition to location there are other things to consider when you plan on renting an apartment. The list is in no particular order of importance, or rather the order of importance is your personal choice. LOCATIONSince renting an apartment is where you will be residing, location is the first criteria when you are in the market. Location of the apartment has a different meaning than when you are buying real estate. Location in the rental market is usually shorter-term than a possible long-term real estate investment. The ease of commuting to your job is obviously an important factor in an apartment rental. You will have to decide on whether you plan on using mass transit to work or you will drive and then the highways and parkways are the important factor. The neighborhood and the apartment complex are also an important factor that comes into play so you will feel comfortable in your surroundings. PRICEThe cost of the rental apartment is usually the biggest deciding factor. Unlike a real estate investment, when you are renting an apartment you are thinking about how well it will suit you in the short term. Another factor in price is the security deposit.AMENITIESAn often overlooked item when you are looking at apartments to rent are the amenities. These include washer and dryers, dishwashers and other useful things in a rental home. Some apartment complexes have gyms, pools and playgrounds on-site. These extra amenities are an important thing to consider when you look at the overall price of the rental unit. If you have a gym membership, for example, you can deduct that cost from your rent as a way of making the apartment more affordable.
MANAGEMENTYou want your apartment rental to be your home and part of that package is the management. Often, on-site managers are easier to work with since they are, well, on site. Maintenance issues should be fixed in a timely manner and the management of the apartment complex should be pleasant. Speak with other apartment renters of that building to see how the management rates.
CONCLUSIONThis article is a broad overview on what you should be looking for when you are looking to rent an apartment home, or other piece of real estate. When you focus on these important characteristics: Location, Price, Amenities and Management, you will make a good choice in finding the perfect rental apartment, or other real estate. For apartments in New Jersey go to Raritan Crossing. They are pet friendly apartments and New Brunswick NJ apartments. Rentals near Metropark and apartments in Middlesex county. For apartments in central NJ this is the place for you with Apartments in Middlesex County NJ. Raritan Crossing has apartments near metropark, apartments near Rutgers and apartments near Robert Wood Johnson. Central NJ Apartments

Finding the Right Apartment for You

Finding an apartment can be hard work, so make sure it pays off by making a good choice. First thing is first to finding an apartment, where to look first. The greatest tool I have found for finding an apartment is apartment hunters. They are really a great service. Either by going online or more conveniently, to an agent at a location in your area you can get a great source of listings for free.
They will even make a booklet up for you with a map to point out each of the prospective apartments in the area you want to live. You give them your price range, how many rooms and amenities you are looking for and they can easily narrow a search for you. They make their money from the apartments paying them to be in their listings so that they can provide this service to you for free. Apartment hunter's have now done a great deal of work for you.
Now it is time to look at apartments. It is important not to impulsively make a life changing decision like where you will live for at least the next year, so look around a lot. Before you sign any lease make sure you have seen the apartment you are going to be living in and read completely the lease you are signing. Also, make sure to ask the hard questions, like about bugs and everything else you are interested it.
Make sure you look at the faces of a few residents to see if they look happy or not. The most important decision making tool though, is the online review. If you have now narrowed down to only a few places you want to move look online to see reviews of these apartments. See what problems other people have had, if they have had trouble with bugs, noise, or bad maintenance.
Apartment searches aren't always the easiest, so make sure you do your research before you decide. Always keep away from impulse decisions and be very very sure before you make a final decision. Whatever decision you make, be confident, before you take a lease and sign it.For apartments in New Jersey go to Raritan Crossing. They are pet friendly apartments and New Brunswick NJ apartments. Rentals near Metropark and apartments in Middlesex county. For apartments in central NJ this is the place for you with Apartments in Middlesex County NJ. Raritan Crossing has apartments near metropark, apartments near Rutgers and apartments near Robert Wood Johnson. Central NJ Apartments.