Category: Lighter Side

A handwritten note slipped under your neighbor's door explaining that you're having a holiday party and to “feel free to stop by” is not an invitation. Use only invitations that come in small envelopes, are printed on cardstock, and are delivered at least two weeks before the event.

If you need to make several trips to bring in bags of food from the grocery store, do not prop the front door open. This can cause a draft. Always use the back stairs for this. Continue reading 15 Tips for Preparing and Hosting a Holiday Party from Your Uptight Downstairs Neighbor

Last Friday Jon posted a great list of fun and fancy gifts for the renters on your list. However, as a safety-conscious company, we'd be out of line if we didn't also offer some ideas that were focused on keeping renters and small-space dwellers safe and sound over the coming year.

If Black Friday and Small Business Saturday didn't complete your shopping list (and you've already picked up a few RentConfident Gift Certificates), here are some additional, practical ideas that may be of use.

Adjustable Security Bar ($15)

It may seem unglamorous to give someone a pole for the holidays, but when that pole could prevent a break in it becomes more interesting. Many Chicago apartments have back doors that open directly to an unguarded outside area. These metal bars fit under the doorknob and brace against the floor behind to offer additional security against forced entry. Almost any major hardware store should have them in stock, or you can find them on Amazon. Continue reading Eight Safety Conscious Gifts for City Renters

Happy Black Friday! If you're reading this from your phone in a checkout line, congratulations on your bravery and tolerance. If you're reading this while relaxing in your pajamas at home, congratulations on helping make the world a more tranquil place.

Today I would like to talk about good gifts for apartment dwellers. Of course the best gift for any Chicago apartment resident is a RentConfident gift certificate. However, I know that a lot of renters don't live in Chicago, so until we can expand to other cities, here are some other suggestions.

When I shop for one of these gifts, I follow two rules. 1) I try to make sure that it's either beautiful or useful. 2) Because this person may not share my ideas on beauty and usefulness, I try to make sure that it's not too big – maybe less than one quarter of the volume of those medium-sized plastic storage tubs. That way I know that it's not taking up too much space in the back of their closet.

I've spent the last few days browsing online shops and Apartment Gift Top Ten Lists and jotted down some items that caught my eye.  Mostly they are things that I have and enjoy having or things that I'd like to have. So yes, I did create a gift list for me, and I am calling it a list for everyone who lives in an apartment. That's just how I shop. Are you ready to see what I've found? Continue reading 10 great gifts for your apartment dwelling friends (or apartment dwelling self)

Since it's coming up on Thanksgiving, I'd like to talk a little bit about cooking a turkey. Many of us only cook a turkey once a year or once every few years. It's one of those things that we do so infrequently that we forget how to do it properly. If we don't take the time to refresh ourselves, it can turn into a stressful near disaster. It's the same thing with apartment hunting. So I've made this little chart that explains how turkey cooking can be like apartment hunting. I hope you like it.

Turkey Cooking	Apartment Hunting
Begin thawing turkey in refrigerator.	Begin apartment hunt.
Realize that it's Thanksgiving morning and it takes 24 hours to thaw every four to five pounds of turkey. This turkey is 12 pounds.	Realize that your lease expires in a month and it could probably take six weeks of viewing apartments to find one that's right for you.
Thaw turkey in cold water. Not having a watertight bag large enough for the bird, wrap it in an entire roll of plastic wrap.	Not having a plan of what new sites have launched since last time, schedule showings using any apartment-related site you can find.

Continue reading The Corresponding Pitfalls of Turkeys and Apartments

Dear Pedestrians,

When I walk to the El, I like to have everything planned out. I know when the train is supposed to leave. I know how long it takes me to walk to the station. I know I have to cross a busy intersection with a stoplight, so I know exactly where I need to be when the green arrow appears to be able to cross on that light cycle. While it may sound unhinged, I do in fact plan for all of this.

However, I cannot plan for is how other people choose walk. Some of those "other people" are making my little walk far more difficult that it needs to be. That is why I'm writing this instructional letter for them.

Sidewalk walking is a pleasurable activity, and it's one of the easiest types of walking there is. It's not beach walking or mud slogging or quicksand sinking or moon bouncing. You know what would make it even easier? If everyone stayed to their respective right hand sides when walking. Just like driving. Continue reading An Open Letter to Pedestrians on my way to the El