No More Apartment Relocation Problems

A recent study in the United States found that one of the top stress-causing events in a person’s life, and a top organizational hassle, is moving. Yet, this does not have to be the case. It is possible to say goodbye to your relocating difficulties by using portable storage containers.

What Goes Into Portable Storage Containers?

This depends on who’s seeking to relocate. Are you a business or a residential home? A business tends to store industrial products, while a residence usually needs storage for larger items, such as furniture and the like.

Highest Quality Service for Low Cost

You don’t need to compromise quality for cost. In addition to our high quality portable storage units, we’ll ensure you receive the highest quality of service and care. Our long standing and highly reputable company has been in service since 1977, and relocation is our business expertise. Allow our friendly and experienced staff to help you choose the right containers to best fit your storage needs.

Rent or Buy?

We can help you decide just what will work most efficiently for you, and provide you with the best products for your needs. A general principle to consider is: will you need to use the rental for more or less than two years? If the answer is less, then we believe it is a good idea to rent. However, if you will need it for longer than two years, the best value for your money is to purchase the unit, as your end costs will be close to the same if you buy or rent. Another important consideration is the environment at the storage facility. It is important that it will not cause wear and tear to your unit. Although we provide you with the highest quality, continual exposure to the elements could mean degradation of your unit. If you have purchased your unit, you will be responsible for its care. If it’s a rental, we offer you hassle-free maintenance and repairs.

Choosing to Store on Site Container Rental Units or Fixed Building Off-Site Alternatives?

Convenience is one of the highest considerations to keep in mind when you are deciding what type of storage you will need for your specific situation. An on-site container rental unit means easier and quicker access to your stored items, without having to drive at all. On the other hand, if you do not need frequent access to your stored items, then perhaps the fixed building off-site alternative will work better for your needs.

Take the stress out of relocation! Let us help you decide. We will provide you with the highest quality services. Consultant, Tony Allen, works with businesses and residential customers to find the correct use for storage containers for rent or container offices for your business. Whether you’re thinking about a portable storage container for rent, or purchasing one for a business project, you’ll find their many uses inspiring.

Shedding Light on the Role Apartment Finders Play in the Multi-Family Housing Industry

Why should you use an Apartment Locator?

Simple, for the same reason you would use a Real Estate Agent to sell your home and/or find you one. Since your Apartment Finder is a licensed Real Estate Salesperson in Texas, serving all Houston, DFW, Austin, and San Antonio, TX metro markets, you are using a knowledgeable professional to do your footwork.

Why re-invent the wheel when your licensed, professional Apartment Locator already knows the answers? She or he has already or will spend countless hours studying the territory where you want to live. Plus, even better than buying or selling a home, your use of this licensed professional will not cost you one, thin, dime.

By Texas law, their commission is paid by the owner of the rental property. In addition, most reliable Apartment Finders will pay you a rebate of anywhere from $75.00 to $150.00 shortly after they receive their commission. The amount of rebate is the primary difference among these service specialists.

Landlords and property management companies appreciate the hard work trustworthy Apartment Locators provide. They know that most people would not even be aware of their existence were it not for these licensed professionals. They realize that the Apartment Finder represents you, the prospective renter, lessee, which makes everyone involved mighty happy.

So, even if you know where you want to live, always secure the services of an Apartment Locator in order to get your rebate and find the place you really want.

Dear Mr. Pickett:

I just wanted to say thanks for sending our rebate check in a timely manner. The agent who assisted me was very personable and helped tremendously in explaining the rebate process and what needed to be completed to obtain the $150 reward.

The locator agent I was assigned to made finding an apartment easy. She was very familiar with the area of town I needed and was able to provide us a tailored list of rentals that would meet our needs and wants. I contacted her as soon as my plane landed (around 5:30 pm). Within 20 minutes she had already e-mailed me an accurate list of properties with confirmed pricing/availability and scheduled appointment to visit them. 24-hours later my wife and I were cooking spaghetti in our new loft apartment. It’s been a pleasure working with you all. Thanks for everything!

Cheers,

[Names have been omitted to protect privacy]

ApartmentNinjas Apartment Finders Video Library

Austin TX Apartments – Video Library

Windsor on the Lake (formerly Legacy on the Lake) - Austin High Rise Apartments

Gables Pressler – Downtown Austin Apartments

Houston TX Apartments – Video Library

3525 Sage Condominiums – Houston High Rise Apartments

3333 Weslayan – Houston Inner Loop Apartments

Texas Apartments Blog

This blog is designed to be a forum about apartments in Texas. The blog is sponsored by Apartment Ninjas (Texas Apartment Finders) and the author of most of the posts is the company’s founder, Rick, and our real estate pro, Ninja Blogga. Our internet marketing professional, Adam Shrum, is also active in the forum. One of the primary goals of the blog is a free flow of information about TX apartment rentals. Useful information pertaining to Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, and San Antonio, TX apartments.

Texas Apartment Ninjas

Texas Apartment Types Defined

The terminology used to describe available apartment types in Texas various from city to city. While some terms are common sense and used universally, many others are new to the market and uniquely regional. Below is a glossary of terms widely used in the Texas multifamily housing market that should help take some of the enigma out of your apartment hunt.

Studio Apartments/Efficiency Apartment:

• Studio/Efficiency (Bachelor Apartment) – An efficiency (0-1) apartment, also known as a studio apartment rental, is basically a one room apartment layout. It generally includes a kitchen open to the room and a closed-off bathroom. They can range in size drastically, but studio apartments in Texas generally stay int he realm of 350-475 sq. ft.
• Alcove Studio Efficiency – has an alcove, or unique, separate area or nook for dining, sleeping, or studying, and is generally, larger than a normal efficiency apartment rental. Often times, they are configured in an L-shape.

One Bedroom Apartment:

• 1-1 Apartment rental – One bedroom apartments are meant for a single person or couple in which to live. Under Texas State Law only two individuals are allowed per bedroom. So, if you are married and have a child, you will have to lease a 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom or 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom apartment floor plan. One bedroom apartments consists of a separate bedroom equipped with a built in closet (many times a spacious walk-in closet), a living/lounge area, kitchen and bathroom.
• Junior 1-1 Apartment - Junior one bedroom apartments for rent vary in both layout and size. In Texas, a junior one bedroom usually implies a small one bedroom apartment with they actual bedroom being quite small, fitting at best a queen-size bed and nightstand. A junior 1-1 apartment home could also be a super large studio efficiency. Junior one bedroom apartments for lease are great for students or for those on a budget.
• 1-1 with Den/Sunroom – Generally garden-style in nature meant for a single person or couple featuring a den or sunroom. One bedroom apartments with den/sunroom are ideal for those renters seeking a little more space than your normal 1-1 apartment floor plan or for those who work from home and can use the extra space as an office or study. Many 1-1 apartments including den or sunroom come complete with built-in computer desk or study nook.

Two and Three Bedroom Apartments:

• 2-2 and 3-2 Apartments – Meaning two bedrooms and two bedrooms or three bedrooms and two bathrooms. This type of living is enticing to students and young professionals on a budget looking to split the cost of rent and utilities.

Loft Apartments:

• Lofts in Texas – There are two primary types of loft apartments in Texas: hard lofts (also known as historic or industrial-style lofts) and soft lofts (also known as newly built lofts).
• Hard Lofts in Texas – Offer an authentic “true loft” feel. Residents see value in the history and uniqueness of the building. They appreciate the rough, open feel to the units. Hard renovated unites are characterized by original concrete floors, exposed building support beams, exposed duct work, and open floor plan layouts. Visit our Houston lofts page and check out Post Rice Lofts for a great example of a traditional hard style loft apartment.
• Soft Lofts in Texas – Soft units are built more in an apartment style and feature polished concrete or hardwood flooring, granite counters, over-sized garden bathtubs, and track lighting. Soft lofts apartments provide the savvy renter amenities and features of a luxury, newly constructed apartment community and offer a more refined, upscale living experience. Visit our Austin lofts page and check out Greystar SoCo Lofts for a prime example of soft-style loft living in Texas.

Corporate Housing:

• Corporate Housing Apartments in Texas – refer to any type of apartment rental offering short term leasing for business purposes. Often times, corporate housing apartments will offer residents a “preferred employee” discount to counter the high price rate of renting short term.
• Short Term Lease Apartments – refers to apartments offering lease terms under 6 months, generally 3 months and under. Some apartment communities will even allow month-to-month lease agreements.

Student Housing:

• Student Housing Apartments – Offers university and college students a like a nice place to live at discounted rates. Student apartments are generally newer, offer amenities and features that cater to student life such as built-in study nooks, sand volleyball, complimentary on-site tanning booths, and putting greens. In most cases, student housing apartments are located near a particular university or college, but not always. When the distance between apartment and university/college is lengthy, a shuttle bus to campus will be provided outside of the communities entrance. Visit our Austin West Campus apartments page and check out Texan Pearl for a prime example of student housing in Austin, TX.

Work Studio Rental:

• Work Studio Rental (live/work apartment) – refers to a commercial building where some residential tenancy is accepted. A live/work studio rental has a kitchen and full bathroom with shower. Work studio rentals are popular among artists in Austin, Texas seeking a small space to work near downtown. Browse our Downtown Austin apartments page for a few prime examples of these types of Texas rentals.

Penthouse Apartments:

• Penthouse Apartments in Texas – A penthouse is an apartment on the top floor of an apartment building, condominium, or high-rise, usually with an extra private balcony/patio or a roof top terrace. These types of apartments in Texas are considered to be top of the line in apartment renting today, offering only the most luxurious amenities and features. Penthouse apartments tend to be located in the most desirable neighborhoods, such as downtown. Visit our Houston Galleria apartments page and check out 1200 Post Oak for a prime example of these prestigious apartment types.

Apartment Ninjas

Pet Friendly Apartments for Rent

Large Dog Friendly Apartments

Your pet is your best friend, almost like a sibling in some cases. People should never have to drop their pet off somewhere else, or give them up completely to move to a new apartment home. As a large dog pet owner I can tell you first hand that you will eventually have to deal with this problem if you lease an apartment. Whether you are a student, young professional, or non-home owner in general you will eventually need to move at some point for a job situation, university transfer, etc. When you’re in the market for a new place, you’ll have to decide what to do with little Neiman the over-weight pug.

Locating a large dog friendly apartment or pet friendly apartment can be difficult to do if you go at it alone. Most apartment communities simply do not accept pets, but it’s changing because more complexes are realizing people love their pets. If prospects cannot keep their pets then the apartments won’t make money on loyal pet owners because they won’t lease. You can always hide your pet when you fill out an apartment leasing application, but eventually management or a leasing agent will see your pet when it goes out to take a dump. At this point, you’ll be evicted or have to pay a hefty fine on top of having to give up your pet in order to continue living there. Take a look at our selection of apartments in Arlington TX, this area has a variety of large pet friendly apartments available.

All of this can be avoided by contacting our Texas apartment locators or by simply browsing our searchable database of TX apartment rentals online. Apartment ninjas are pros at putting together accurate property lists for clients based on specific search criteria. Our apartment finders have access to every apartment community in the state of Texas. Our real estate ninjas can pin-point the perfect apartment residence for you and your pet with a click of a button. An accurate list of rentals will be sent to you within minutes. Hope this helps.

By Your Mother

Large Dog Pet Friendly Apartments

Top 5 Apartment Amenities

Apartment Amenities that Matter – Best Amenities

It’s always good to make a checklist of what amenities you must have in your new apartment home before searching.  I’ve decided to compile a list of the top five amenities I hear requested when assisting clients with their search.  Nearly all Houston Apartments have one or more of these features.

The following should be of some help in creating a list and narrowing down your options:

1.  Washer and Dryer Connections (Full Size W/D Included) – I’m a firm believer that having in unit washer/dryer connections play an important role in your quality of life.  Having to use on-site facilities or worse yet a laundromat, brings a certain feeling of dread.  The task begins with scrounging for quarters followed by lugging a giant pile of dirty clothes down stairs that you hope you don’t get tripped up on.  Then, once you get the load into the machines you can’t leave.  If you do leave somebody could come by and take your clothes out if they need the machine, or they might even steal your clothes!  Avoid wrinkles in your clothes and your life by renting an apartment with washer/dryer included.  I recommend Broadstone West Eighteenth, apartments in Houston Heights, because they have top of line washer and dryers.

2.  Garden Tubs (and/or Walk-in Showers) – Bubble baths are fun. If you think garden tubs are fruity, which they are…Adam, then make sure your unit comes with a walk-in shower.  If you don’t enjoy a bubble bath every now and then, you’re not living life.  If you’re tall like me a regular sized tub just won’t cut the mustard for bath purposes.  A garden tub a.k.a. DEEP DISH tub will leave you with ample room for all your bathing needs.  Some garden tubs now have jacuzzi jets in them which massage you and provide a more relaxing experience.   Whether you’re looking to recreate the Pee-Wee and Francis bath scene or just need extra ledges for your shampoo collection, you’re sure to enjoy a great big garden tub in your apartment.

3.  Resort-Style Pool – There are all types of swimming pools at apartment communities – Olympic, European saltwater, infinity, rooftop, hot tubs, etc.  As long as the complex has some type of pool you should be good.  If an apartment community doesn’t have a pool it usually means they are not too concerned with hosting resident meet up activities.  I think it’s important to mix and mingle with the people who live around you because that’s the easiest way to make new friends.  The Trails at Rock Creek apartments in Northwest Houston have a lazy river that you can tube around while meeting your neighbors.

4.  Gated Access – Feeling safe is the concern I hear most often when finding apartments for people.  For some, gated access is enough, but others want a gate security officer, 24 hr. patrol, and in-home alarm system.  Personally, I feel that the gate itself is probably enough to deter criminals away from Apartments in Houston.  When shopping for an apartment with a gate make sure there is a camera system in place as well.  If someone does break into your apartment, capturing their license plate on tape may be the best way to catch the crook.

5.  Non-Carpet Flooring (Stained Concrete or Hardwood Floors, Preferably) – There are three main types of non-carpet flooring – wood, laminate, and stained concrete.  If you have a dog, finding an apartment with non-carpet flooring is almost a no-brainer.  Keep in mind that wood and laminate scratch easily, so if you’re dog is large – 50 lbs. or more – there’s a good chance the floor is going to get scratched up.  I’ve heard of property management keeping entire deposits for scratched floors, so do yourself a favor and find a unit with stained concrete if you have a big dog.  Other advantages of non-carpet flooring are that it’s easier to clean, better for people with allergies (dust gets trapped in carpet), and when shined they make your pad look baller.

If you are in the market for a Houston apartment with all of these features, contact one of our apartment ninjas for a list of the best properties with these amenities.

By Adam Shrum

Must Have Apartment Amenities

Texas Apartment Association Rental Application for Residents and Occupants

Download Your TAA Rental Application Prior to Visiting the Properties

The Texas Apartment Association, Inc. (TAA) is a non-profit statewide trade association dedicated to unifying rental housing professionals through education, legislative advocacy and member services. TAA is affiliated with the National Apartment Association and local associations in 25 Texas cities. Members join TAA and NAA by joining the local affiliate in their area. TAA is the only organization representing all aspects of the rental housing industry with a full-time presence at the state capitol and before more than 20 state regulatory agencies.

Filling out the Texas Association of Apartments Application is a major part of the approval process for your next apartment home. The application normally will ask for your current and past addresses, current and past employment, credit references, criminal history and other information the property owner or manager needs to make sure that you can afford to pay the rent and that you don’t pose any risks to the property or the other residents.

• Application fees and application deposits

• In most cases, you will be charged an application fee to cover the cost of processing your application: running credit checks, verifying rental histories, etc. This fee is non-refundable.
• You may also be asked to pay an application deposit. This deposit does not become a part of your security deposit until your application is approved and the lease is signed by both parties.
• If your application is not approved, the deposit is refundable in most cases.
• Depending on the application you fill out, the application deposit may not be refunded if you are accepted but fail to move-in; you fail to tell the truth on your application, or for certain other reasons.

TAA Texas Apartment Association

Compulsive Apartment Hoarders

Hoarding Syndrome in Apartments

Apartment hoarding has been a well known issue within the property rental community for years.  The popular television series, “Hoarders” on A&E has shed a lot of light on this topic recently.  The show follows the lives of individuals who engage in compulsive hoarding and films the personal crisis they have to deal with as a result.

What is hoarding?  Hoarding a.k.a. disposophobia, is a mental disorder that inhibits a person’s ability to discard or use a significant number of possessions even if they have no worth, are unsanitary, or hazardous.  The keeping of these possessions becomes an obsession for these people and a hole that can’t be dug out of.  Here is a prime example of a Houston Apartment Hoarder who loves Whataburger.  You can see from the images in the prior link that hoarding can turn into a health concern if it gets out of hand.  Those funny smells coming from your neighbor’s apartment might not be their cooking.

The mess that accumulates from hoarding in apartments can be a nightmare for property managers.  Whether it’s piles of books blocking the fire exits or stinky old food seeping into the walls, the acts of these pack rats can lead to big problems in terms of safety or being able to lease out a unit to the next tenant.  I have heard horror stories from leasing agents at Houston Apartments who have literally gagged from the smell when investigating a complaint of a suspected hoarder.  Some of the more sanitary apartment hoarders who collect clothes and paper items wouldn’t stand a chance if a fire broke out.

Everyone’ s heard of the crazy cat lady in Unit B right?  Animal Hoarding in apartments is a specific type of hoarding that is often joked about, but really is a serious matter.  Typically, apartments in Houston have restrictions on how many pets you’re allowed to have.  Some apartments, like Hogg Palace Lofts apartments in Downtown Houston, don’t allow any pets.  Regardless of the rules on pets some people still decide to house 20 cats or 10 dogs.  In my opinion, this is worse than hoarding simple material possessions or trash.  If you can’t take care of an animal you shouldn’t own one, period.  Apartment renters who have an exorbitant number of pets truly need to take a step back and ask themselves if they really can afford the time and money involved in taking care of additional pets.

In summation, hoarding really is a debilitating mental disease.  For those that suffer from this disease, an enormous amount of stress is experienced in their lives and the lives of people close to them.  Unfortunately, pathological hoarding is one of the hardest diseases to manage because it’s actually a hardwired way of thinking in the brain.  If you know someone who hoards be patient with them and offer them help before it gets out of control.  For more information on compulsive hoarding see the International OCD Foundation.

By Adam Shrum

Constant cluttering may be due to a disorder called "compulsive hoarding" which causes people to become anxious when making decision about whether to keep something or throw it out

Compulsive Apartment Hoarding