Category Archives: Maintenence and Utilities

Protect Your Holiday Gifts with a Home Inventory

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Planning on racking up the gifts this holiday season? In case of emergency, inventory them and the rest of your belongings with an app on your phone.

Will you be receiving new electronics, jewelry or other big-ticket items as gifts this holiday season? And (hint, hint), will you also be getting the receipts?

The holidays are an ideal time to take a home inventory and make sure all your pricey new gifts will be protected in the event of a loss: a fire, a burst pipe due to freezing, a natural disaster or even theft.

A home inventory of all the items you own with information about their value is a good way to prove ownership in the case of a loss. The inventory will assist your insurance carrier if you ever need to make a claim. Yet, according to an Allstate Insurance survey conducted in January, only 39 percent of Americans have ever made a home inventory.

If you don’t fall in that category, here are simple tips and resources that can make the task of documenting and protecting your holiday gifts — and everything else you own — a lot easier than you think.

Start with an app or checklist. A smartphone app can streamline the process of taking a home inventory. Allstate’s Digital Locker helps you quickly photograph and capture descriptions of all your possessions, and then stores the data in the cloud. You can also do it the analog way, with a clipboard and a household inventory checklist in tow.

Go from room to room. Organizing by room will keep you on track. Start at one end and catalog everything you see as you walk through; write detailed descriptions of each item, down to the make, model and serial numbers; and take pictures or a brief video. Don’t forget those new holiday gifts and any items tucked inside drawers, closets and cabinets.

Note what stuff is worth. Part of a home inventory is noting the cost and purchase date of each item. And while receipts are always your best bet, holiday gifts don’t typically include them. Take heart: Interactive tools like What’s Your Stuff Worth? can help you estimate the value of those new possessions along with the value of what you previously owned.

Keep your inventory safe. Once you’re done, find a good spot (or more than one) to store the inventory, along with receipts and any related documents. It should be safe from an event that might invite a claim, like sources of water damage, theft and fire, but also easily accessible enough to retrieve in the event of a claim. If you used an app to create the inventory, consider cloud storage or a thumb drive. Hard copies can be safely stored in a safe deposit box or with a family member or friend.

Now that your inventory is complete, you have a ballpark figure of what it would take to replace your belongings. (Is it more than you thought?) Use this figure as a starting point for a conversation with your agent to make sure you have the right coverage on your renter’s policy.

Also, make a mental note to update your home inventory any time you come into any valuable new possessions. After all, Valentine’s Day is just around the corner.

This guest post comes from the editors of The Allstate Blog, which helps people prepare for the unpredictability of life.

Photo Credit: iStockphoto/tadamichi                    

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Don’t “Brrr”eak the Bank While Heating Your Apartment

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Colder temperatures are here, which could potentially bring higher heating costs. With a little DIY, you can save money on your heating this winter without turning into Frosty the Snowman. Check out these tips.

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Fire Prevention Tips

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Use these tips to prevent fires from starting in your apartment.

Within minutes, a small fire can spread and grow into a deadly fire. But with a few steps, you can protect yourself, your home and your belongings. First, closely inspect your home to eliminate potential hazards. Then, use these fire prevention tips and strategies to safeguard your home.

Apartment Safety

  • Protect your appliances and your home by using surge protectors.
  • Do not overload circuits or extension cords.
  • Check electrical cords for appliances. Cords that are frayed or cracked are potential fire hazards. Unplug the cord immediately and replace.
  • Do not run cords underneath rugs or between rooms.
  • Never place portable space heaters near flammable materials, such as drapery.
  • Turn off space heaters when leaving the room or going to bed.
  • Do not smoke in bed or leave burning cigarettes unattended.
  • Keep lighters and matches out of reach of children.
  • Do not leave candles or incense unattended, and place these items away from drapes, curtains or other flammable materials.
  • Do not store flammable materials, such as gasoline cans or a propane tank, in your apartment.

Kitchen Safety

Laundry Room Safety

  • If possible, have your dryer installed and serviced by a professional.
  • Avoid using a dryer without a lint filter.
  • Clean the lint filter before or after each load of laundry, and remove lint that has collected around the drum of your dryer.
  • Check to make sure the right plug and outlet are used, and make sure the machine is connected properly.
  • If you leave home or go to bed, turn the dryer off.

Smoke Alarms
Make sure there is a properly functioning smoke alarm installed in your apartment. To be extra cautious, install a smoke alarm outside of each sleeping area. These alarms can be battery-operated or electrically hardwired in your home. For renters who have hearing problems, use alarms that include flashing strobe lights and vibration. Test smoke alarms once a month, and replace batteries once a year. An easy reminder is to change the batteries when the clocks spring forward.

Escape Route
Though your apartment may be prepared, accidents do occur. Plan an escape route, and if you have roommates, plan for a safe place to meet outside.Have at least two escape routes planned in case one is blocked.

Photo Credit: iStockphoto/esp_imaging

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Learn about Maintenance Services Provided for Your Apartment Home

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Here is a guide to working with apartment maintenance services to fix problems in your apartment home.

If something needs to be fixed in your apartment home, it’s important to know when to call apartment maintenance services. Here is a guide to working with apartment maintenance services to fix problems in your apartment home.

Be aware of typical maintenance assistance
If something breaks due to normal wear and tear that was part of your apartment space before you moved in (plumbing fixtures, major appliances), chances are the repair is covered as part of your lease agreement and should be fixed by your apartment community maintenance team at no charge to you, the resident. This could include something as small as a clogged drain to something as dramatic as a foam-spewing dishwasher.

If the damage was caused due to negligence or an accident caused by the resident, apartment maintenance will likely fix the broken item, but may charge the resident for the repair or take the cost of the repair fees out of the renter’s security deposit. A broken window, for instance, might fall in this category of repair.

From time to time, the service team may perform regular maintenance or make upgrades to apartment fixtures or appliances. In these cases, the resident should be notified in advance when the maintenance or upgrade will take place.

Always ask maintenance services first
If something is broken in your apartment, always ask apartment maintenance services before trying to fix the problem yourself. Attempting to fix the issue might only make it worse and could even violate the regulations of your lease agreement. When in doubt, it is better to call maintenance services first to help you take care of apartment issues.

Always call in a timely manner
Because problems rarely go away on their own, do contact apartment building maintenance as soon as an issue arises in your apartment home. If you wait for a problem to get worse, you could be liable for more damage done to your apartment. Be proactive and let a service professional make the right call for the situation.

Do, however, follow the guidelines established by your community for requesting maintenance assistance, and use the proper contact method.  If a problem is truly urgent, a middle-of-the-night call might be warranted. If the issue can reasonably wait, respect your maintenance team by waiting for the appropriate time to get in touch based on the situation.

Never feel embarrassed about calling maintenance services
No matter how large or strange your problem may seem, chances are that maintenance services has seen it before. Never feel embarrassed about asking for help! These professionals are equipped to fix your apartment unit break-downs better than anyone else.

Photo Credit: Shutterstock / Kurhan

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8 Tips to Prevent Kitchen Fires

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Prevent kitchen fires by using these eight tips.

Don’t let your next dinner party go up in smoke! Cooking fires are the most common cause of household fires, and you don’t have to own a commercial-sized Viking range to feel the heat. From grease spills to stray dishtowels, even a tiny cooktop in a studio apartment can set a blaze. Follow these eight tips to reduce your risks for an apartment kitchen fire.

1. Stay in the kitchen. This may seem obvious, but, according to the National Fire Protection Association, unattended cooking is the number one cause of cooking fires. If you must leave a stove unattended, turn off the heat and move the pan to a cool burner.

2. Use a timer. Check food regularly, whether you’re simmering, baking, boiling or roasting. Using a timer can help remind you to check on your dish.

3. Keep the stove top clear. Keep dishtowels, oven mitts, paper towels—anything that can catch fire—away from your stovetop.

4. Dress for the occasion. Wear close-fitting clothes, and tightly roll up sleeves, when you’re cooking. Loose clothing can come in contact with burners and catch fire.

5. Wipe up spills. Cooking on a dirty stove, or in a dirty oven, is just inviting a potential fire. Grease buildup is flammable; clean your stove every time you cook and promptly wipe up any spills.

6. Don’t overheat your oils. Overheated cooking oil can start to smoke and bubble up, which can cause it to spill out and ignite. Not sure about the smoking point for your cooking oils? Refer to this handy chart.

7: Wait for grease to cool before disposing. Toss hot grease into your trashcan and it could go up in flames! Wait for it to cool before disposing of it in the garbage. Or, better yet, pour it into an old food can before tossing it out.

8. Keep your smoke detector working. A smoke detector is an important fire safety device and your first line of defense. Make sure your landlord has installed one. And make a mental note to change the batteries twice a year, when you change your clocks fordaylight savings time.

If a small fire does erupt on your stove top, you might try to smother it by sliding a lid over the pan; turn off the burner, and leave the pan uncovered until it has cooled. For an oven fire, turn off the heat and keep the door closed.

But, when it doubt, just get out. Too many people have been injured trying to fight fires themselves. Close the door behind you to help contain the fire, and call 911. Renters insurance might help replace your valuables, but it can’t replace you!

This guest post comes from the editors of the the Allstate Blog, which helps people prepare for the unpredictability of life. Follow the Allstate Blog on Twitter, Facebook or Google+.

Photo Credit: Getty Images

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Easy and Cheap Renovations for your Apartment

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Apartment Renovations

Giving your apartment an updated look doesn’t have to be difficult or expensive.

Living in a rental – whether it is an apartment or a rental home – comes with a lot of regulations. Your landlord may not approve of painting over the boring renters’ beige color on your wall, and replacing hardware or updating the kitchen will come out of your pocket. However, you can cheaply and easily renovate and add your personal touch to your rental to make it look like a brand new place. Remember to check with the landlord and read the lease carefully before starting any project.

Painting
Check with your landlord and the lease to see what the terms are for painting. Even if your landlord approves, be sure to ask questions. For example, will he or she withhold your deposit, or will you have to pay a per wall fee if you move out without painting over it? If you receive the OK to paint, choose a color that suits you, but also be sure to choose a color that can be easily painted over when your lease is up (i.e. don’t paint the walls black, dark red, etc.).

Wall Décor
Wallpaper will take a lot of convincing, and it’s a lot of work to put up/take down. A few easy solutions include:

  • Adding vinyl wall decals that come off without taking the paint with it. This is an inexpensive way to add character to your space, and you can take it with you to your next apartment.
  • If you find wallpaper that you want to include in your apartment, add it to the back of a large frame, and place it on a wall in the common living space. This will create a focal point for the room.
  • Another way to add character to your walls is to hang art throughout your apartment. If you’re feeling artsy, paint canvases with a similar theme and hang them up. Or, for an easier solution, wrap a fabric of your choice around the back of a picture frame and hang those up.
  • Curtains and window treatments can also liven up your space. Adding a colorful curtain and bring brightness to a boring white room. Additionally, if you have floor to ceiling panels, it will make the room appear taller.

Area Rugs
Ripping up the carpet and replacing it with wooden floors will probably be frowned upon by your landlord. An easy “renovation” for this is to add area rugs. Not only are they great for adding your personal style to a room, but they can conveniently cover up stains. Additionally, area rugs absorb sound, which is beneficial in an apartment with thin walls. The best part of having area rugs is that you can take these rugs with you to your next place.

Kitchen Counter Space
Lots of kitchens come with little counter space, which is inconvenient. Adding a solid table into the space can create more space and act as a kitchen island. Get one that on wheels or lightweight so you can get it out of the way when not in use. Similarly to the items mentioned above, this can be taken with you when you move.

Furniture
Sometimes just moving furniture around will make your space feel like new. Changing the layout can also add space to the room. Take a few room measurements and furniture measurements to accurately place the furniture where you envision it going.

Hardware
Other items you can take with you to your next place are hardware pieces. You can replace your kitchen hardware quite easily. All you need is a screwdriver and replacement hardware. Keep the current ones in a box so you can put them back when you move out. You can find interesting knobs and pulls from craft stores and stores like Anthropologie or Urban Outfitters.

Photo Credit: iStockphoto/TommL

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10 Cheap Ways to Keep Cool in Your Apartment

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Woman staying cool with a fan

Cool off this summer without blowing your budget.

Photo Credit: iStockphoto/chrisgramly

To keep cool this summer, you could blast the air conditioning nonstop, but that will leave you with cooling bills that may give you the chills – and not in a good way.

Whether you don’t have an indoor air conditioning system or just don’t like those sky-high cooling bills, you can keep the heat at bay during the summer in a number of inexpensive ways. If you’re already running the ceiling fans, wearing shorts and living on the bottom floor of your house or apartment, here are some new ways to keep cool during the dog days of summer.

1.  Kick back with popsicles. Don’t just eat them, lie on them. These inexpensive (usually a few dollars for a box of 100), multi-colored popsicles in pull-apart plastic packaging make an excellent, icy, body-conforming raft. After they’re frozen through, lay a connected row of them (unopened) on your bed, lay back and chill out. When they melt, put them back in the freezer and repeat. You might want to put a towel over them when they’re first out of the freezer to avoid the shocking cold.

2.  Freeze your sheets. Place your sheets and pillowcases in the freezer a few hours before bedtime, and make your bed with them right before you get in. They might stay cold enough long enough for you to fall asleep in soothing, cool comfort.

3. Take a cool bath or shower. If the thought of getting into a cold bath makes you sweat, fill it first with lukewarm or room temperature water, and get in. Gradually let the lukewarm water out and refill it with cold water until you’re in a mostly cold bath. You’ll feel cool for a long time afterwards.

4. Eat cool foods. Don’t give yourself a reason to stand over a hot stove or even to let the stove warm up the room. Instead, eat cold things that don’t have to be cooked, such as salads with iceberg or romaine lettuce, radishes, carrots and tomatoes, precooked shrimp cocktail, celery stuffed with cream cheese or storebought egg salad, watermelon and cucumber slices dipped in hummus.

5. Wear cooler clothes. If you’re home alone and have the moxie, go without clothes or walk around in your underwear or a bathing suit. Otherwise, wear natural fabrics such as linen, cotton and silk. These breathe better than man-made materials, such as rayon, polyester and other artificial fibers. Athletic wear is an exception and can wick moisture away from your body.

6. Cover your windows more. Ideally, you should replace your blinds with aluminized blinds, but if you can’t, start by placing cardboard cut to size and covered in foil in your windows, at least on the windows that face the sun during the day. They may not be aesthetically pleasing, but the aluminum reflects a lot of the sun’s rays. Or, if you can’t stand the idea of cardboard in your windows, purchase lined drapes to insulate the room.

7. Supercharge your desk fan. Fill empty soda bottles or milk jugs almost to the top with water and freeze. Fold a towel, place the frozen bottles on the towel and position your desk fan or box fan behind the bottles, facing you. As the ice in the bottles melts, the air cools around them, and the fan will blow that air at you.

8. Drink ice water. Cooling down starts on the inside, so downing several glasses of ice-cold water will really put the chill on. Drink one ounce of water for every two pounds of your body weight. For instance, if you weigh 150 pounds, drink at least 75 ounces, or a little more than nine eight-ounce glasses, of water per day.

9. Use mint or menthol products. Smear cooling topical ointments with medicated vapors (such as Vicks VapoRub) or peppermint lotion on your skin. Bathe with peppermint soap, use lip balm with peppermint oil and brush your teeth with something minty. Mint refreshes the skin and leaves a nice cooling sensation.

10. Go somewhere cold. You don’t have to go to the Swiss Alps to cool down; instead, hang out somewhere for awhile where someone else pays the air conditioning bill, such as the library, grocery store or a friend’s house. You can also dive into a public pool. Indoor farmers markets are notoriously cold; check out the fresh fish section or dairy aisle for extra blasts of cold air.

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What to Do If Your Apartment Floods

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Sink overflowing

Don't panic if your apartment floods. Know who to call and how to fix the damage.

Photo Credit: iStockphoto/Maica

Before you move in to an apartment, you should protect yourself from floods and other damage inflictors such as fire and theft, by purchasing renters insurance. It is relatively cheap, depending on your selected policy, and will cover damages and replacements of items in your apartment (and your car). Unlike most other types of insurance, renters is not required by law. However, it is highly recommended and many landlords require it to move into their properties.

Protect yourself from flooding by first noticing and reporting any leaks resulting from rain or an appliance. Insist that the problem is addressed quickly, and follow up by ensuring that the leak does not occur again with the next rain, appliance use. Also be sure to check ceilings for leaks, as water can often spill out of higher apartments and leak into yours.

If flooding from rain begins unexpectedly or an appliance in either your apartment or a neighbor’s breaks and begins to leak or flood, immediately move all items away from the water. Move any transportable values, such as computers, to your car, a neighbor or friend’s house or at least another room. Also, call the office and inform a manager of the issue immediately. If you can seal leaks, do so, and try to contain the water with plastic bins or barriers.

When it is time to fix the damage, landlord insurance will usually cover the building itself, including the carpet and provided appliances. Your renters insurance will typically cover damages to your personal property, as long as flooding is included in your policy. However, if you have previously informed your landlord or apartment manager of a leakage or risk for flooding and no action was taken, the complex may be responsible for covering your personal property as well as structural damage.

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Saving Money on Utilities

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Saving Money on UtilitiesWhen it comes to monthly expenses, there are some costs you don’t think can get lower, like a utility bill. But with some awareness, a bit of effort and a few phone calls, you might be surprised at how much you can knock down utility costs that once seemed set in stone.

Shop for the best rate
Though you may not have a choice in who handles your water or electricity, some apartment communities will give you a choice in which gas company you can use. Gas companies are always competing for your business, trying to undercut the other’s per-therm price. Many carriers even offer cash incentives for switching over and/or programs that let you lock in a per-therm rate.

For phone and cable, there are also savings to be had. Take a look at your bill and examine all the features that come with your service. If you have channels you don’t watch or phone features you don’t need, call your service provider and see if you can go with a simpler plan at a cheaper rate. Or investigate other providers to see if changing companies will drive down the price.

Look for bundled deals in which your phone, cable and DSL are handled by a single company and you could significantly cut your bill. Another option is to do away with your land-line entirely and use your cell phone instead. Don’t forget to shop for the best cell phone plan as well.

Waste not, pay not
The most important thing to keep in mind when becoming conscious of how much water and electricity you use is that there are always ways to use less…of everything. Energy Star appliances, low-flow toilets and water-wise showerheads are just a few things you can install to cut water use. Rain barrels and buckets in the shower ensure that you won’t have to visit your garden hose to water those plants.

Wash larger loads of clothes and use cold water instead of warm and you’ve just saved energy and water! Also, try minimizing the settings on your dishwasher. Do you really need to use the heated drying, extra rinse and tough scrub cycles?

We are accustomed to having computers, lights, televisions and stereos on even when we don’t need them. Turn things off when you’re not in front of them and turn out the lights in the rooms you’re not using. You’ll be amazed at the satisfaction, savings and welcome silence these simple efforts provide. (For more ways to save water and electricity, read Five Easy Ways to Conserve Water and Reducing Energy Costs.)

It’s really not hard to cut utility costs, even those you assumed couldn’t budge. With some awareness and effort, your consumption and monthly bills will begin to drop.

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