Apartment Living Blog | Prospect Hall Apartments

The Student Renter's Guide to Finding an Apartment

As a student, looking for a place to live can be stressful. There are many components that go into what the best apartment is for you. While affordability and size can be more important to some, others may prioritize location and practicality. Finding out which place will be the best for you can be confusing. Here are five tips that could help you find the best home away from home. Start Looking Early You will not be the only college student looking for an apartment off campus. The earlier you start , the more options you will have which will make it more likely that you find the one that meets your needs. You can start off by looking on the internet and then going to tour the ones you think are most promising. Search Effectively Make sure your search is worth your time when you are looking for your apartment. It is smart to look at all places you are interested in online and then choose ones you think are the best match to go see. You can use websites like Zillow and ApartmentFinder to assist in your search. Ask Lots of Questions Asking questions will be the key to figuring out if an apartment is a good fit for you. Before you go meet with a landlord, write down a checklist or a list of questions that you want to be answered. Some questions that you could ask are if utilities are included in rent or if there is parking. The landlord is not the only person you should be asking questions. You should also be asking yourself questions as you look at apartments. Ask yourself if the place has enough security and safety features and if the apartment offers enough services for it to be worth the money. Gain the Support of a Co-Signer A co-signer is an individual who takes on the responsibility of completing your payments and covering damage cost if you are unable to do so. Some landlord and property managers require one if your credit rating is bad or if you have none at all. Usually it is a parent or guardian, but it can also be a close relative or friend that is willing to support you. Read the Lease Thoroughly The biggest mistake you can make is signing any contract without reviewing it in depth. Make sure anything the landlord or property manager promised is in the lease . For your protection, be sure all terms and conditions are covered in the lease agreement. Moving to a new place can be a confusing and scary process. However, with these 5 tips, you will find the perfect spot that meets your most important needs in no time.

Apartment Shopping Guide for First Time Renters

Guide for First-Time Renters You’re ready to venture out on your own into your first apartment or rental home. While exciting, the task of finding your new home can be daunting. Here’s how to reduce the anxiety, get yourself organized, and understand common lease terms before you begin searching. Figure Out Your Finances The first step to finding your new home is knowing how much you can afford. Be sure to include costs other than rent such as renter’s insurance, pet rent (if you have pets), security & pet deposits, utilities, internet, furniture, and décor. Typically, experts recommend that no more than 25% of your take-home pay should go to rent. This keeps money freed up for your additional home expenses, as well as for other things you want to do in life. Using a budgeting tool like YNAB or EveryDollar can help you figure out your monthly finances and learn exactly what you can afford. Start Mapping Decide which neighborhoods or areas you’d like to live in above all else. Consider how long your commute will be to work, school, and other activities using a tool such as Waze . Look at WalkScore ratings of the neighborhood to see how much is nearby. If you plan on using public transportation, be sure to find the bus or train routes and look for communities close to the nearest bus stops or train stations. A quick crime check in the area is a good way to gauge your new neighborhood. Calling the local police departments or asking in localized Facebook groups is another good way to get a feel for the area. Make an Amenity Wishlist Decide what you must have in an apartment and what you’d like to have. Create two lists: one for needs and the other for wants. If you’re a student or often telecommute, high-speed internet availability may be a need. Pet-friendly communities are must-haves for those who plan to bring their dogs with them. Features like these should be placed on your “must-have” list. If you’d like to have a pool on site or an on-site gym, these might be good to add to your “wants” list. If you find a great community without these features, it’s possible to find them nearby. Start Searching Use the internet to search for apartments near your location. Using Google Maps is a great way to find an apartment in specific neighborhoods and read resident reviews all in one place. Websites like apartments.com, Apartment Guide, Zillow, and Apartment List are other great resources and allow you to filter results so that only communities within your budget with your must-have features are displayed. Once you have made a list of your favorite communities, schedule tours, view virtual tours, and drive around the areas to get an in-person feel for the exact apartment and communities you’re considering. Ask the Right Questions Make a list of questions to ask your future landlord, but also be sure to ask these questions so you have all the information required to make a decision. Are any utilities included in the rent? What are the average utility costs for the floorplan(s) your considering? Where will you be able to park and how full do the parking lots get in the evenings and on weekends? Where will guests be able to park and is there a limit to the number of guest parking spaces that can be used at a time? How much is the application fee and what is the typical timeframe for approval? What are your pet policies and are there breed restrictions? What is the security deposit? Request a Copy of the Lease Ask for a copy of a lease agreement so you have time to read through it before committing to anything. Spend time reading it carefully, highlighting any clauses you don’t understand or have concerns with. Send an email to the leasing team or landlord with your list of questions or concerns so they can answer and address them. Make Your Decision After your careful research, you’re ready to move into your new apartment! Contact the leasing staff once you’ve decided to move in so your move-in date can be arranged and you can sign your lease. Once you have your new address, you’ll be able to start notifying friends, family, subscriptions, and other organizations of your new address so your mail won’t be held up once you move. Think about any furniture or supplies you’d like to have on hand when you move, and start finding good friends to help you get settled in on moving day (be sure to supply them with food, drinks, and lots of praise for their help)!

Prospect Hall Apartments Celebrates Apartment Onsite Teams Day

Today is Apartments Onsite Teams Day and we want to give a huge shout out to our own onsite team! We appreciate all you do each day to keep Prospect Hall looking beautiful, our residents happy, and make our community the best place to call home in Frederick !

Questions to Ask When Apartment Shopping

Shopping for an apartment is like getting into a new relationship. You first ask the basic questions and then delve into the more detailed information. It can feel like you are looking forever until you find the perfect match, but sometimes it can take time. You probably have done lots of research and narrowed it down to a few contenders. However, before you sign the lease and fully commit to a place, here are some of the top questions that you should get answered to ensure a long and successful relationship with your apartment. Q1: How do I pay rent? Whether it is electronically or delivering a handwritten check to the leasing, knowing how to pay rent is one of the most important things to know. At Prospect Hall, you are able to pay with e-checks, credit cards and cash via MoneyGram. You can view and manage your account any time you want online in our ResidentPortal . Q2: What is the late rent policy? Most late fees are imposed 5 days after the day rent is supposed to be due. However, this is important information to know depending on how you pay rent because you many need to factor in processing time. We fit the standard as rent is due on the 1 st of every month and is considered late at 5pm on the 5 th . 5% late fees are applied on the 6 th of the month. Q3: Are utilities included in rent? Knowing if utilities are included in the cost of rent is essential to budgeting the rest of your finances. It can be the difference of an apartment being affordable for you or not. It should be outlined in the lease and is different for all properties. At Prospect Hall, utilities are not included in rent which can help you budget in other areas. Q4: What is the parking policy? Knowing the parking situation when looking at different apartments could ultimately help you make a decision about where to live. While some places include parking in tenants’ rent, others may not offer parking at all which could end with you paying expensive street parking fees. Permits are required at Prospect Hall , even for guests, but it is first come, first serve. Q5: Do you require renter’s insurance? Renter’s insurance can be good coverage to have in case anything were to happen and some apartments even require it, like us! We require renters insurance and have a company that you can use or we also recommend that you contact your car insurance company because you can sometimes get a discount by having multiple polices with one provider. Q6: How are repairs taken care of? What is the procedure for emergency repairs? Repairs may not occur all the time, but when something does happen, especially emergency repairs, need to be addressed ASAP. No one wants to be stuck without heat in the middle of winter or with a broken water piper on a Saturday night. Some complexes have maintenance available 24/7, while others have a slower response. Whatever the process may be, it is helpful to know this information beforehand so that you are prepared. For non-emergency work orders, we handle them within 48 hours unless a part is needs. For emergency items, these are handled right away and is outlined in our guidelines. Q7: Can I sublet my apartment? You never know when your personal or job may cause you to have to get up and move. If this is something that you are concerned about, knowing that you can sublet your apartment on short notice is an especially important question to ask when searching for an apartment. Here at Prospect Hall, we do not allow sublets. Q8: How far in advance do I need to give notice before moving out? Some places require a 60 notice of move out , while others only require 30. Before signing a lease, it is important to know this information so that you do not get stuck in an apartment that you did not want to be in for another year. We require a 30-day notice before move out.

Creative Ways to Use a Second Bedroom

Whether you just moved into a new space or have been in the same place for a little while, deciding what to do with an extra bedroom can be tough. In every scenario though, try to think of it as a luxury. You have the freedom to create a little area based on your tastes and needs. The list is endless, but here are a few ideas of what you could do with your empty space. Guest Room This one is probably the most obvious choice, but choosing to create the extra space into a guest bedroom could be the most helpful to you. If you have company that comes to visit a lot and you do not want to keep putting them on the pullout couch in the living room, this use of the extra space could be helpful and comfy. Home Office If you work from home frequently or like to do some work on the weekends, this idea could be very productive for you. It allows you to move into a different area of your apartment and have a place that you can focus. It can give a change of scenery, especially if you do not like to work in your bedroom or living room. Yoga or Meditation Room Need a quiet, calm place that allows your mind to reset? A yoga or mediation room could be the use for you. Having a tranquil area with simple décor where you can completely relax could allow you to get away from the stresses of work and life for just a little bit. Reading Room/Library If you find yourself becoming a bit of a book collector, a library or reading room could be the room you are looking for. A little reading nook could allow you to put in a bookshelf to store your books, as well as provide the space for the perfect reading chair. Art Room An art room could be the perfect place for your creative juices to flow. Creating an art room out of the extra space allows you to have a safe area to practice what you love and keep the actual pieces of art secure and out of the main rooms of your apartment. Workout Room A workout room could also be an obvious choice of how to use your extra space. Depending on how big the space is, you could put a machine or two in it and a couple of weights . Making it the perfect area for you to stay active when you do not feel like leaving your home. Recreation Room A recreation room could range from anywhere between a game room to a movie room. The room could fit a foosball table or have a designated area to do puzzles or play board games. If you do not enjoy games or puzzles, perhaps a movie room could be for you. Throw a bean bag or two into it and hang some dimmer lights and you could have the coziest corner to binge-watch those Netflix sessions.

Find the Best Hiking Trails in Frederick

With summer upon us, getting outside is something that most of us enjoy to release some energy. It is always a nice feeling being refreshed after going outside, but if the walk around the neighborhood is not cutting it, going on a hike might! Here are six, easy to moderate hiking trails around the Frederick area that will get you out of the house and hitting the trails. White Oak Trail This is the shortest trail of the bunch at 1 mile, but also is one of the closest to Prospect Hall Apartments . This relaxing loop is perfect for people of all ages and has wildflowers that you can admire along the path! Difficulty Level: Easy Rocky Stream Bed Trail Loop This is the second-longest trail at 1.3 miles and is in the Frederick Municipal Forest . It parallels a stream and features a beautiful waterfall. Difficulty Level: Easy Brooks Hill Loop Trail This 2-mile loop is located in Monocacy National Battlefield . There is a variety of habitats along the way and offers the chance to see some wildlife! Difficulty Level: Easy Green Ash Trail This is 2.2-mile trail is set in a beautiful forest setting and is accessible all-year-round. It is a little rocky in parts but offers great shade when the sun is shining. Difficulty Level: Moderate Black Locust Trail This 2.6-mile trail is family-friendly and has scenic overlooks for everyone to enjoy the view. The greenery along the route is beautiful and includes tulips, poplars, and lots of mountain laurel. Difficulty Level: Moderate Ballenger Creek Trail Rounding out our list is the longest of the trails at 4.1 miles. It features a river to walk along and has a nicely paved path making it perfect for bikers. Difficulty Level: Easy