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Moving from a big apartment to a small apartment may mean less space, but it can also be a good thing — especially if you’re moving to a better location or will be paying less rent (and less in utilities) every month. If you’re ever in this situation, take note of our 5 ways to downsize when you’re moving to a small apartment…

Start early. If you leave everything to the last minute, there may not be enough time to get organized. Give yourself plenty of time to make your move as smooth as possible.

Take inventory. When you really look at what you have, you may be surprised to find out how much you don’t need, even in a large space. You might even find some things you’ve had but haven’t been using. Either way, once you know what you have, you’ll be able to plan for your move to the small apartment. And don’t just look at furnishings: include clothing, bedding and accessories you have as well.

Make a plan for your new space. Think about your new apartment and try to plan out what will go where. This will help you decide what to take and what to sell or donate. Since you’ll be starting fresh in a smaller home, a great option you have is getting creative with the new space. Consider small-space solutions like shelving and multi-purpose furniture (example: ottomans that can double as coffee tables and extra seating for guests).

Sell, sell, sell. Once you’ve figured out what you do and don’t need, consider selling the stuff you won’t be taking with you to your new apartment. There are plenty of websites that will let you place a free ad, and there’s also your newspaper’s classifieds section. Even Facebook has a classifieds section.

Donate, donate, donate. Have a friend or family member in need? A local thrift store, church, school or shelter? Whatever you do, don’t just send off that nightstand or La-Z-Boy to the dump — someone will probably be able to use it, even if you think it’s unusable or broken. As they say, “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.”

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Late on rent? You’ll want to pay up as quickly as possible and take steps to make sure it doesn’t happen again. Although being late on rent most likely won’t result in the loss of your apartment, you definitely don’t want to make it a habit. It could result in late fees, a very upset landlord, and at worst, eviction. Here are some tips to help you out if you’re late on rent.

Check Your Apartment Lease

Every apartment lease will have a section about late rent. When you find an apartment, it’s a good idea to ask questions about the lease and go over the sections, not forgetting the one about late rent. The lease should clearly state any late fees and on what past-due date they will be charged. These late fees are there for a reason: to motivate residents to pay rent on time. Every lease is different, but sometimes apartments will only charge late fees after the rent is a certain amount of days late. Still, don’t let this make you think you have a few extra days past the due date to pay — rent is due on or before that due date, which is typically the first of the month.

If you’re not paying on time, it’s late — and your landlord could start taking steps to evict you. If necessary, you may want to consider legal assistance in this situation.

Pay Your Rent

You should pay your rent on or before its due date. Keep in mind that your landlord is probably just like you: He or she has bills to pay and needs to pay them on time. Receiving late rent could cause them to be late on their mortgage or other bills, thus incurring late fees. If you’ve been late on rent to the point that you’ve incurred fees, don’t forget to pay those on time, too.

Pay Your Rent On Time Every Time

Take steps to make sure you’ll be able to pay your rent on time every time. You’ll have to examine your budget and your own situation, but some ideas to help you could include setting reminders on a calendar, or even getting a roommate to help cover costs.

Late Rent: A Disclaimer

This article is just meant to make our readers aware of some things that come along with being late on rent — we are not lawyers, and laws regarding tenants and leases vary from state to state. We stress always paying rent on time, and seek legal advice if needed. You can also use the government’s Housing and Urban Development website to research your situation.

One thing to keep in mind about Chicago apartments is that because the cost of living is significantly above the national average in the city, apartment prices may be surprising at first. Still, those on a budget have options and may be able to find very affordable apartments in one of the many suburbs of Chicago.

Chicago Apartments: Where to Look

Being the third-largest city, Chicago may feel a bit overwhelming at first — it covers 230 square miles! So where do you start looking for apartments? Thanks to excellent public transportation, getting around Chicago can be pretty easy, especially the four main sections: the North Side, South Side, West Side and Downtown. Downtown Chicago apartments put you right in the heart of the city, close to cultural, financial and commercial institutions as well as Grant Park and towering skyscrapers. The most densely populated residential section of the city, the North Side has many high-rise apartments. The South Side is where you’ll find the Museum of Science and Industry as well as the University of Chicago and two of the city’s biggest parks, Washington Park and Jackson Park. The West Side is home to Harpo Studios, owned by Oprah Winfrey, and the Garfield Park Conservatory.

There are many more Chicago neighborhoods you want to be sure to explore when you’re searching for apartments. Lincoln Park, Old Town, China Town and Little Italy are all worth checking out.

Chicago Weather

Chicago is known for being pretty chilly in the winter — lows can  be around 20 degrees Fahrenheit — but summers are nice with highs around 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Because of winds blowing off Lake Michigan, though, weather can change rapidly, and gusts of cold wind are common.

Moving to Chicago

Moving to Chicago is no doubt exciting. Remember, to find Chicago apartments,  you can use our free apartment search tools. Once you’ve found a place to live, you can use our Moving Checklist to help organize your relocation.

Houston Apartments

If you’re planning a move to Houston, start off your search for apartments by thinking about what part of the city you’d like to live in. You may already know where you’ll be working, and maybe you’d like to live within walking distance of your job or be able to take public transportation to get there. Or maybe you’d like to live close to family, or right downtown. Decide what your priorities are for location, and then make a list of what you’d like your new apartment to have, like two bedrooms, under $1,000 per month, apartment gym, etc. Having a list will make it easier for you to compare different Houston apartments and figure out which one will best fit your needs.

Don’t forget: You can use our free apartment search tools to look for apartments, and if you find an apartment by using our site, you can collect up to $200 in apartment rental rewards.

Things to do in Houston

Those who call Houston home enjoy the many things there are to do in the city. For instance, sports fans love going to Houston Astros, Texans and Rockets games. The city’s Theater District offers great restaurants, shops and venues to watch stand-up comedy, music, live theater and independent films. Those who enjoy the outdoors will have a blast visiting all the parks in Houston — there are over 300 in all. In terms of education, there are over 60 colleges, including the Thurgood Marshall School of Law, Rice University and the University of Houston. There’s really something for everyone.

Moving to Houston

If you’ve signed the lease for your  new Houston apartment, congratulations! We’re excited for you. Feel free to use our Moving Checklist before your actual move, and then be sure to take some time after all that unpacking to get out and enjoy all that Houston has to offer. And don’t miss our tips for throwing an apartment warming party.

About Seattle

Seattle’s many features make it a very desirable place to live. A lot of people know it for being the birthplace of grunge music and Jimi Hendrix, and for all the coffee — Starbucks, Tully’s and Seattle’s Best all got their start in the city. Also ranked the most literate city in America (it tied with Minneapolis in 2008), Seattle has the highest percentage of college graduates of any major city in the United States.

Seattle Neighborhoods: Where Do You Fit In?

There’s a lot of ground to cover when you’re talking about Seattle neighborhoods, but we’ll keep it short ‘n’ sweet with a brief overview of some of them to get you on your way. Popular with University of Washington students and staffers is the University District, and there’s also University Heights — both are good options if you’re university-bound. And don’t forget about Belltown, Central Waterfront, Pioneer Square, SoDo, Pike Market and the Central Business District. These lively Downtown Seattle neighborhoods are close to shops, restaurants and pubs, and there are lots of apartments for rent. South City’s neighborhoods — Delridge, West Seattle and Greater Duwamish, for example — also have many apartments available.

Moving into Your Seattle Apartment

Signing the lease and moving into your Seattle apartment means you’re oh-so close to being a Seattle resident. It’s exciting, no doubt — but be sure and get everything in order before move-in day so there are no surprises. Our Moving Checklist is perfect for organizing your move. Once you’re done moving, be sure and explore your neighborhood and start enjoying Seattle!

Austin Neighborhoods

There are a ton of very different Austin neighborhoods, so you’ll want to choose carefully based on criteria most important to you, like proximity to your job or school, or just the overall feel of the neighborhood, for example. If you’ll be attending the University of Texas at Austin, nearby neighborhoods like West Campus have a lot of new housing to offer thanks to recent construction. You can also look for Austin apartments on a UT Shuttle route — with a student ID, you can ride these shuttles for free.

Other areas like Hyde Park, Clarksville, Tarrytown and French Place include apartments in historical districts. Families may be interested in renting in suburban areas where, generally, more space can be had for less money. The East Side is a popular pick for those looking to live close to downtown. If you’re looking for luxury apartments, you might have great luck looking in Northwest Austin near the Arboretum area. And South Austin has plenty to offer in terms of funky apartments in lively communities.

Narrowing Down Your Choices

Once you decide on an area, next comes actually finding a place to call home. As we’ve suggested before, making a list of your priorities is a great idea and will help you compare different apartments. For example, if wood floors, a swimming pool and the ability to have a cat are all essential, make note of it so you don’t wind up with something that doesn’t meet your needs.

Enjoy Austin Living

All moved in? Whew — bet you’re glad to be able to put out the welcome mat and relax. Now that you’re settled into your new Austin apartment, you’ll be able to enjoy everything the city has to offer. Take your time and soak up everything, like running on Town Lake, watching the bats, swimming at Barton Springs and shopping on South Congress.

If you’re just getting started on your search for Austin apartments, we’re happy to offer our free apartment search tools — we’re here to help! If you wind up finding an apartment using our site, you can collect up to $200 in apartment rental rewards.

Luxury apartments

These types of living spaces can be found all over the country in cities big and small, and the specific amenities and extras depend on the apartment building. In New York City, Chicago and Los Angeles, for example, it’s not uncommon for high-rise luxury apartments to offer a 24-hour doorman and concierge service. Some buildings even have in-house dry cleaning and trash service. Still, luxury apartments in smaller cities wow residents with DVD rentals, dog run areas, free cable and garages.

Higher Rent, But More for Your Money

While rent for luxury apartments may cost more, you have to keep in mind that you’re getting more. That private gym, the lush landscaping and the lap pool all come at a premium. Plus, there aren’t as many luxury apartments as “regular” apartments, so that also figures into the cost. When you’re searching for a luxury apartment, be sure and weigh the cost with the amenities you’ll be getting.

Renters who’d like their living space to be higher-end should definitely check out luxury apartments, since it’s not uncommon for them to offer unique floorplans, track lighting, crown molding and open kitchens with stainless steel appliances. While the standard wall color for apartments seems to be white or off-white, walls in luxury apartments may be beige or allow you to request accent walls be painted before your move-in day. Be sure to ask your apartment manager if this type of service is available.

Find Luxury Apartments

If you’d like to find luxury apartments, use our free apartment search tools. To help you find your next home, we suggest you make a list of amenities you’re looking for and use it to compare the apartments you view. Take into consideration location, lease terms, rent and what exactly is included with your rent, like access to the apartment gym or concierge service, for example.

Decide if you’ll continue living alone or if you need to find a new roommate. This decision may be best made by taking a hard look at your income and your monthly expenses. Will you be able to pay for all of rent and all of your bills by yourself? If you need a roommate to help pay for these expenses, start looking as soon as you can.

Speaking of bills… are they in your name, or were they in your roommate’s name? Same with renter’s insurance: Be sure you have it.

Inform your apartment manager. Stop by your apartment office or call to give them a heads up that the living situation has changed. Many apartment landlords require this so that they know who is living in which units. And if you wind up getting a new roommate, let them know that too. If your roommate was the person who signed the apartment lease, you should ask what needs to be done.

Take inventory. If your roommate moved out and took most of the furniture, you may want to look at replacing some of that stuff so you have your own. Similarly, you can take this opportunity to organize and clean your apartment — it’ll help you be prepared if potential roommates come by to check out your apartment.

Keep your roommate’s mail in one place and communicate with them a time — maybe once per week — where they can come by and pick it up. If they moved far away, you might need to send them a package every so often with all their mail. Talk to your roommate about this to figure out the best way to handle it.

These are all just suggestions for what to do when your roommate moves out to help make the situation go a little more smoothly. If you’re moving out soon, be sure and use our free apartment search tools to find your next home.

Sharing an apartment with a friend

Living in an apartment with a friend can put stress on your relationship, so it’s important to take steps to ensure that you don’t lose your buddy when you gain a roomie. Here are some tips for doing just that:

Don’t Be Afraid to Talk

So your roommate leaves a mountain of dishes in the sink after dinner every night.  Think she’ll get the hint if you wash them?  Think again.  You’ll start feeling resentful doing double duty and your roommate will likely not even notice.  In situations like this, it’s much better to talk about it.  Don’t hesitate to establish some rules about things like cleanliness and quiet time.  You don’t have to do anything draconian, like write them up and post them everywhere, but talking about what your expectations are with your friend, especially before you two move in together, will make any future disputes much simpler to defuse.

Do Apartment-Oriented Tasks Together

This can really help alleviate the pain of things like chores and decoration, since both you and your friend are invested in getting the task done.  Not only does doing work together ensure that you’ll both be splitting the load, it also makes it easier to get done.  After all, you’re hanging out with your friend!  What’s not to like about that?

Compromise, Compromise, Compromise

Here lies the crux of any successful roommate pairing: You have to make sacrifices.  If you’re used to living in an ice box, while your friend’s more accustomed to sauna temperatures, you two will likely have to split the difference and keep the apartment at a middling temperature.  If you’re a neat freak and your friend’s a complete mess, you’ll need to become a little more lax with your standards, while your roommate will have to pick up after herself a bit more.  Obviously, you’d rather have everything exactly your way, but compromise is just part of being a good roommate, and you wouldn’t want to be anything less than that to your friend.

Have a roommate but need an apartment? Our apartment search tool makes it easy to find your next home.

Get Renters Insurance

There’s a reason so many people stress the importance of buying renters insurance: When you need it, you’ll be so glad you have it. We’ve talked about renters insurance here before, and we’ll say it again: it’s something you should really have if you’re renting an apartment. While your landlord most likely has insurance, your possessions will not be covered should a disaster happen.

Be Prepared

Take time to prepare for an earthquake so you’ll know what to do if one ever happens. Here are some of the things FEMA recommends doing to protect your family, yourself and your property (to see the full list, visit their website):

• Use lower shelves to store large or heavy things, and fasten shelves, mirrors and large picture frames to your walls
• Use low shelves to store bottled foods, china, glass and other breakables. You could also store these things in cabinets that fasten shut
• Know where the safe spots are in your apartment: under a sturdy table, against an inside wall
• Hold earthquake drills

During an Earthquake

Part of being prepared is knowing what to do during an actual earthquake. Stay calm and stay safe. If you’re indoors, FEMA recommends that you “drop, cover and hold on.” Drop to the ground, take cover (get under a sturdy table or sturdy piece of furniture) and hold on until the shaking subsides. If you are unable to find a sturdy piece of furniture, crouch in an inside corner of the building and use your arms to cover your face and head. You should stay away from windows, glass, outside doors, outside walls and anything that could fall. Remember not to use elevators and stay inside until the shaking stops.

If you’re in bed when an earthquake happens, FEMA advises to stay there and cover your head with a pillow — but if there’s something like a light fixture that could fall on you, move to the closest safe place.

Just a reminder: If you’re looking for a new home, ApartmentSearch.com has great tools to help you search for apartments.