The vast majority of us aspire toward homeownership. But, it’s not always feasible to buy a home. If you plan to move cities within the next five or six years, renting is likely the most affordable option because you won’t be out of pocket closing costs that you don’t have time to recoup. Here are a few tips on how to make your rental feel like home until your name is on the deed.
Clean And Declutter
Cleaning and decluttering is one of the best things you can do no matter where you live. If you lived in your rental for any amount of time, it’s almost certain that you have at least one room’s worth of stuff that you simply don’t need. Spend a long weekend going through your personal belongings. Start in the living room, and then work your way through the bedrooms, kitchen, and storage spaces. If your rental has a garage, don’t forget to clear out unneeded items (think seasonal decorations you never use) in this space as well. If you find that you have more than you can handle, contact Capital Disposal to rent a dumpster so that you can empty out your house or apartment on your own time. Make sure to confirm with your landlord that this is allowed.
Change Addresses
Once you have cleaned and cleared, you’ll have a better idea of how settled you can be in your rental. If you still have too much stuff, now might be a great time to find a new condo, single-family home, or apartment. Look online (Rent.com is a great website for rental information in the Mesquite area) for properties that fit your budget and that have enough rooms for the entire family. You can check for pet-friendliness and for amenities you might want, such as a swimming pool or fitness center on site. There are around 2000 different properties, which range from around $1200 per month to $3000 per month or more, within an hour of Fort Worth. Having the option to narrow down your results can save you a significant amount of time searching.
Modify Without Losing Your Deposit
No matter where you live, one of the greatest challenges that renters face is making their space truly feel like home. You can’t paint, tear down the walls, and you can’t make any permanent changes. But, there are many things you can do to customize without losing your security deposit. These include:
● Create an accent wall with peel and stick wallpaper. According to Home Depot, peel and stick wallpaper is removable and self-adhesive. It won’t damage walls and is an excellent way to change the color of a room without painting.
● Update your bathroom or kitchen instantly self-adhesive tile. Self-adhesive tile is often made out of hard plastics instead of ceramic. It can be easily stuck to existing hard floors and removed much like self-adhesive wallpaper. You can also use self-adhesive tile for a backsplash.
● Cover your furniture. Sometimes, all you need to make your space shine is to change the color of the furniture. But, if you don’t want to buy all new chairs or a sofa, then you’ll have to get creative. If you have any sewing skills, consider creating custom slipcovers, which will also serve a dual purpose of keeping your furniture safe when you eventually and inevitably move.
Renting has many upsides, but it’s not usually a permanent situation. If you want to feel as though you are at home even in a temporary location, you’ll have to get creative. From finding an apartment with all of the amenities you need to changing the look without challenging your landlord, the above
tips can help you settle in until it’s time to find your forever home.
Follow Seth Murphy for more Home Improvement tips.
Capital Disposal
Comments