“What Renters Want” With Jessica Fiur

My husband and I were recently looking at apartments in New Jersey. We looked at two apartments in a community, and they were nice. Really nice. But I still wasn’t ready to make a commitment to a whole year there, and wanted to look at a few other places first. (To quote Cher Horowitz from Clueless, “You see how picky I am about my shoes and they only go on my feet.”) So we left the community and went to a couple of our other apartment appointments in the area. After we were done, we went to the mall (because when in Jersey…)…

Leases are important—why else would we use them? They spell out the terms of the apartment so that the renter knows all the rules and requirements going in to the agreement, and leases protect the interests of both the property manager and the resident. And, while an important contract, leases are written in ink. Not carved in stone. (See also: “rules are meant to be broken,” and “the bell doesn’t dismiss you, I dismiss you.”) Sometimes, residents might need to leave an apartment before the end of the lease. Of course, this is why there are leases—to prevent this so the…

Have you ever had that moment where you look at someone you thought you had a lot in common with and wondered, “How could she not like _____? Everyone likes that! Is there something wrong with her? Did I ever really even know her?” Well, I’m often that person getting stared at. I don’t care for The Beatles. I can’t stand cheesecake. I hate the movie Top Gun (Goose died during a training exercise! What an idiot!). Oh, and here’s the kicker: I’m not really an animal person. Especially dogs. (I know, I know. Bring on the hate mail. But,…

In multifamily, neighbors are a fact of life. And that’s a good thing. Who else could accept a package for you or call the cops if they haven’t seen you in a few weeks and there’s a weird smell coming from the apartment? However, it’s likely that your residents don’t really know each other, beyond a brief nod at the mailboxes. Well, it’s time to change that. If your residents get to know each other there will be a greater sense of community (and they’ll be less likely to leave). Luckily, this Saturday is Neighborday. Perfect time for some bonding…

In the wake of the Boston Marathon bombing, many are still in shock and want to do anything in our power to help out. In your apartment community, there are several different ways for you and your residents to help the victims of this tragedy and others, to show support, or to help other people in need. Organize a community blood drive. According to the Red Cross, the organization currently has more than enough blood to help the victims of the Boston Marathon bombing. However, there is always a need for blood, and even if it won’t help the people in…

There are many reasons that someone might not get a job. Maybe they didn’t have the proper skill set. Maybe someone more qualified who would accept less money also interviewed. Maybe the applicant showed up to the interview without his pants. But now, someone might not get the job because they’re a smoker. Apparently, many companies are opting not to hire smokers, citing the fact that it raises insurance costs, and that health incentives and even bribery to quit smoking haven’t been working. The interviewer might just ask the interviewee if he is a smoker, and then dismiss him automatically if he…

In poker, people have tells. Like when you notice that whenever someone has a really good hand they start humming. Or when someone else has a really bad hand and they always bet huge amounts to throw you off. Knowing someone’s tell can help you strategize your game accordingly. It’s also apparently really uncool to point out people’s tells because it gives away your advantage. So…um, sorry. Tells aren’t just for poker players, either. The New York Times reported that real estate agents for single-family homes notice certain tells from prospective buyers about whether or not they’re actually going to…

When I was 14, my mom took me to the doctor to get my ears pierced. The doctor pierced my right ear. After that, I got into the fetal position, put my hands over both ears, and with tears streaming down my face, screamed that I didn’t want the left one pierced because the first one hurt so much. My mom made them do it anyway though—she said I would look like an idiot with only one ear pierced. (In all fairness, she was probably right.) A few months later, I took out both earrings and let the holes close…

We all know it’s important to be healthy—but it’s not our fault that broccoli doesn’t taste like french fries. Getting healthy is hard, but if you go about it as a group, people have support and motivation (or they’re shamed out of reaching for that second cupcake. Either way). So why not have some programs in your community to bolster your residents’ health and morale? Not only will these programs promote good health, but they’ll encourage socialization among residents, which, in turn, could lead to retention. Here are some suggestions for some community health initiatives. Have a community garden. If you…