by: Christine Zafra
The truth is, of all the parts of the house, the bathroom is the culprit when it comes to high water bills. It makes sense though, because this is the place where most of the faucets and other water outlets are found. If you have leaks of perhaps, your water closet is busted, make sure you have it checked by your local plumber immediately. Also, do not throw tissue paper in the toilet bowl. Another tip is for you to minimize your shower time. You don’t need to spend an hour in the shower just to get rid of the day’s dirt. You can do it in less than 15 minutes (5 – 10 is the ideal time).
Photo taken from http://www.inventiveparent.com
by: Christine Zafra
If you live in an apartment, alone, and your water bill skyrockets every month, better have all your pipes checked. If the plumber didn’t find any leaks, then maybe there’s something wrong with your consumption.
In the kitchen, if you’re washing the dishes, don’t leave the faucet running. Also, maximize the capacity of your dishwasher. You wouldn’t want to run the dishwasher with only 4 dishes inside, do you? That would be a total waste of resources. What you can do is get a sponge and wash the dishes manually. This is another form of exercise.
Photo taken from http://www.smeco.com
by: Christine Zafra
Lastly, your room should be something private. It should only be shared by the both of you. If your room mate gets a little off hand and invites his or her girl/boyfriend over, maybe once or twice is ok. They can even have dinner at your place or maybe, the girl/boyfriend can even stay over the night. However, if your room mate does this all the time, then better get to your senses. Your room is not a dating place. If you find your privacy violated, then better tell your room mate face to face. Tell them to go elsewhere if you cannot anymore find some alone time. Privacy is something precious.
Photo taken from http://img218.imageshack.us
by: Christine Zafra
If you think messy rooms and delayed payment for bills and rental are tolerable for you, then the next room mate problem might make you change your mind.
Your things and your room mate’s are mixed. There is a high tendency that he or she will meddle with yours. Also, if your room mate gets a little complacent with you, chances are, he or she might borrow your things without permission. For example, if your room mate ran out of perfume and he or she needs it for the night, your room mate can just get yours without asking from you first. Watch out!
Photo taken from http://ohmyapt.apartmentratings.com
by: Christine Zafra
Before you accept any room mate to board with you, make sure that his or her credit rating is up. Do a background investigation. The main reason why you are looking for one is for you to lighten the burden of your rental or your mortgage. If you happen to get a room mate who cannot put up with the bills, then your objective might not be achieved. Some room mates are a burden when it comes to paying the rental/mortgage or bills. Look for someone who has a stable job and be wary about those do not have jobs.
Photo taken from http://pro.corbis.com
by: Christine Zafra
If you plan on having a room mate in your apartment, you better be ready about the consequences of having one. Yes, room mates can be helpful in times of (financial) desperation as they do share with the rent fees, but, do you really think they won’t be a mess in the future? Having a room mate can be a dilemma. First, if your room mate can be compared with someone who just relocated from the jungle, expect that all of his or her belongings will be jumbled up. If you cannot keep up with this kind of room mate, then better screen all those who apply.
Photo taken from http://blogs.move.com
Apartments are some of the most fire prone structures around due to the close proximity of units and other factors. Apartment complexes should have proper safety equipment and access provisions such as fire escapes, evacuation routes and fire extinguishers at regular intervals specified by law. If you hear a fire alarm (you should also teach all other people who live with you on what to do) go off, never treat it likely for there may be a fire anywhere in your complex so get out as quickly as you can. If the fire is in your unit, check doors for heat by using your hand on the doors and door handle before opening it to prevent it form burning you. Smoke is by far the worst killer, so if smoke is present, head for the floor and crawl out quickly. If the smoke is too much, use a wet cloth as a filter to prevent smoke from getting to you. Leave the rescue work to the fire department for they have the equipment and training to effectively and safely do their jobs.
Emergencies, Fire Alarms, Fires, Smoke Detectors
There are a lot of fires in apartments complexes all over the world and most of them are caused by neglect and poor maintenance. When you do look for apartments to rent, do check for fire safety equipment such as extinguishers and smoke detectors (they are mandatory by law). Also check for evacuation routes (the building owners should have a lay-out planned and posted for all tenants that is also required by law), and other safety equipment and be aware of their proper use. All houses and other forms of dwellings must have alarms and safety equipment so fatalities are avoided. There should also be a fire alarm for large structures such as complexes and condominiums.
Emergencies, Fire Alarms, Fires, Smoke Detectors
