What to look for in a good rental agent

With a hot rental market in many major city centres, it can be hard to find a suitable apartment on your own with so much competition. This is why hiring a rental agent is a smart move, as they can help you navigate this tricky market. That said, not all rental agents are created equal, and some will obviously be better than others. So, what do you look for in a good rental agent?

Positive reviews and referrals

When searching for the right rental agent for your needs, look to others to guide you. Reach out to friends who used an agent to find a rental. Like many service-based industries, rental agencies (and Realtors who also handle rentals) rely on referrals to build their business. Trust your family’s and friends’ recommendations.

You can also look at reviews and testimonials on third-party websites to see what other people’s experiences were like.

Local knowledge

Many people use rental agents when moving to a new city or town. If you’re unfamiliar with your new city, you want to be sure you’re working with someone who knows the area well. This way, when you describe your ideal neighbourhood and your budget, they will know exactly where to look to find your perfect place.Visit source for more information.


Contact us:
Gottarent.com Head Office
Address: 44 Frid Street
City: Hamilton, ON
Zip Code: L8N 3G3
Phone: 1-888-440-2099

5 Reasons To Rent An Apartment In Toronto

If the Toronto real estate market is unattainable to you, don’t worry. You can still live in the big city – you just have to rent instead of buy. There are a lot of reasons to rent an apartment in Toronto, as it’s an exciting city where all the action happens. And because it’s such a huge city, there are so many places to choose from!

5 reasons to rent an apartment in Toronto:

1. Close to work/jobs

There’s no denying it – Toronto is where many well-paying jobs are. Rather than living the commuter life from the suburbs, live where you work! When you live close to where you work, you can enjoy more of a work/life balance, as you won’t be wasting part of your day driving or sitting on a train or bus.

When looking for an house apartment for rent in Toronto, you can search in the neighbourhoods near your job.

2. Complete communities

Complete communities feature everything you need to live a full and healthy life nearby. These types of neighbourhoods should feature a mix of housing, commercial space, retail, green spaces and other helpful amenities. This concept is not unlike a village — where you have everything you need within walking distance.

It’s harder to find complete communities in the suburbs and rural areas — as things are much farther apart from each other. If you want to live, work and play in one area, Toronto has more options.

Look for rentals in a vibrant neighborhood that suits your lifestyle.

3. Transit

One of the major benefits of big-city living is reliable transit. While no transit system is perfect, compared to smaller cities and suburbs the TTC is more than decent. With buses, subways, and streetcars, you can easily get away with not having a car in Toronto. Click here to continue reading.


Contact us:
Gottarent.com Head Office
Address: 44 Frid Street
City: Hamilton, ON
Zip Code: L8N 3G3
Phone: 1-888-440-2099

Apartment-friendly surround sound

While most would say that a surround sound system is inappropriate for a standard rental apartment unit, but there are ways to make it work in small spaces. You can enjoy quality sound without annoying your neighbours!

Other issues renters face is the inability to structurally modify the space – as it’s rented, not owned. If you’re worried your space won’t accommodate a surround sound system, check out these handy tips to design a system to work for your apartment.

Compact

When shopping for an apartment-friendly sound system, going compact is the key. With today’s technology, bigger doesn’t have to equal better. Get excellent sound quality from compact speakers. Look for wall-mounted speakers to save floor space. If you do hang a speaker on a wall, try to avoid walls you share with neighbors.

You should also look for compact receivers and Blu-ray players and such since you probably won’t have the space for a full entertainment unit. You need equipment that can fit on a small shelf.

Decouple speakers

Decoupling your speakers means removing the speaker from a direct surface. This means that instead of having them sit on the floor, where vibrations can be felt through the floor or wall, you put the speakers on stands or pedestals. Decoupling your speaker can greatly improve your relationship with your neighbours, as they won’t have to listen to or feel your audio.

Hide wires or go wireless

Another complaint renters have about setting up audio-visual equipment in a small space is the abundance of wires. Not only wire unsightly, but they area tripping hazard.

Click here to read more.

Contact us:
Gottarent.com Head Office
Address: 44 Frid Street
City: Hamilton, ON
Zip Code: L8N 3G3
Phone: 1-888-440-2099

Get to know your community

One of the many benefits of renting over buying is that rental apartment buildings are often located in mixed-use neighbourhoods with plenty of amenities. These are complete communities with grocery stores, parks, cafés, shops and restaurants. When moving into a building in a new neighbourhood, take some time to explore and get to know your community.

Walk the hood

Take advantage of walkable neighbourhoods by hitting the pavement and exploring. If you’re in a city, find local transit stops, community centres, corner stores and other hidden gems near your apartment.

If you want to find some green spaces, look for nearby walking paths, trails and parks. If you have kids or a dog, finding a good park within walking distance of your apartment is crucial!

Become a regular

Find a local café, sandwich shop, pub, bakery or restaurant and make it your home away from home. Get to know the owners and staff, and meet your neighbours to better connect to your new community.

By supporting local establishments and building relationships with local business owners, you can really find out what makes your neighborhood special. By finding a place that feels right, you can create a community within your community with like-minded folks.

Visit source to read more.

Contact us:
Gottarent.com Head Office
Address: 44 Frid Street
City: Hamilton, ON
Zip Code: L8N 3G3
Phone: 1-888-440-2099

The nitty-gritty of credit scores

For the most part, renting an apartment begins with an application process. Not only do you need to disclose your current income, but you also have to provide personal information such as your social insurance number (SIN). Your SIN is used to access your credit score.

Your credit score comes into play whenever you’re making large financial commitments, such as buying a car, applying for a loan or renting an apartment. For the latter, the property manager and landlord want to make sure that you can handle the monthly rent and that you don’t carry a lot of bad debt that would impede your ability to pay.

If you’re worried that your low credit score will reflect badly on your rental applications, consider doing what you can to improve your financial situation before applying. It’s important to note that you cannot fix your credit score overnight. You need to be consistent over a period of time for it to reflect positively.

Pay down credit cards (and bad debt)

While using credit cards is the easiest way to build credit, it can be the single cause of destroying it, too. It’s all about how you use credit that determines whether it’s an asset or a curse. First of all, use credit only if you can handle the debt load. This means use credit only if you can realistically pay your minimum balance (or more) down each month. If you can keep up with your monthly payments and aren’t relying on credit to live, you should be able to balance it.  

View original source to read more: http://apartments.gottarent.com/the-nitty-gritty-of-credit-scores/

Contact us:Gottarent.com Head OfficeAddress: 44 Frid StreetCity: Hamilton, ONZip Code: L8N 3G3Phone: 1-888-440-2099

15 Minute Meals

Life is busy and sometimes there just isn’t the time to cook an elaborate dinner. Easy meals don’t have to be microwavable – you can use fresh, healthy ingredients to create a delicious homecooked meal in no time!

While summertime is traditionally barbecue season, not all apartment dwellers have the luxury of a balcony grill. That doesn’t mean you can’t still enjoy a hot grilled meal – ready in 15 minutes!

Enjoy the best of outdoor grilling inside with this amazing chicken recipe:

15 Minute Blackened Chicken

Ingredients:

• Boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1 tablespoon paprika
• 2 tablespoons salt
• 1 tablespoon garlic salt
• 1 tablespoon dried parsley
• 1 tablespoon of onion powder
• 2 tablespoons black pepper
• Cayenne pepper, to taste
• 1 tablespoon dried oregano
• Oil or non-stick cooking spray

Instructions:

• Place the chicken breasts between too sheets of plastic wrap and pound out flat, or filet
• Mix all the spices and seasonings together to make a rub
• Place the chicken on a plate and rub with oil or spray with cooking spray on one side
• Spoon your blackened seasoning over the chicken and spread around. Use approximately ½ tablespoon for each piece of chicken. Add more or less for varying degrees of spice
• Flip the chicken over and repeat steps 3 and 4
• Heat up a cast iron skillet on your stove top till it’s very hot. You can buy ridged skillets that will give you those classic grill marks
• Place the chicken in the hot cast iron pan and cook for 5-6 minutes per side.
• Don’t move it in the pan, so it will develop that signature black crust
• Once both sides are done, remove from heat and cool it for a few minutes before serving
• Serve with rice, noodles, steamed vegetables, or sliced on top of a fresh salad

Voila! You have grill-style chicken cooked to perfection in less than 15 minutes! Make sure you open some windows and turn on a fan, so you don’t set off your smoke detector!

If you’re looking for your first apartment or are thinking of moving, find your perfect place on Gottarent.com. Find listings of apartments for rent in your preferred neighbourhood. Are you looking for a 1-bedroom? 2-bedroom? A bachelor? Search for apartments and find your new place. Soon you’ll be throwing a housewarming dinner party to celebrate!

Go green: Adding life to your apartment through plants

One of the downsides to living in an apartment building is the lack of a private yard and garden. While some buildings may have a community garden for residents, most do not. That said, you can still flex your green thumb and keep plants indoors all year round or outdoors on your balcony (if you have one) during the warmer months.

A touch of green can add a nice pop of colour to your apartment, plus having houseplants can help improve the air quality.

Here are some ideas on how you can incorporate plants around your rental apartment!

Choose apartment-friendly plants

When choosing indoor plants for your apartment, you want to look for species that thrive in containers. Different types of plants work in different lighting situations. If you want a plant that’s easy to care for and will work well in indirect sunlight, opt for a cactus. Cactus plants don’t need a lot of water. In fact, during the cooler months, they require water less than once a week. Cacti are trendy right now, so not only will they add some life to your apartment, but they will also become a piece of decor.

Another resilient houseplant is the snake plant. Part of the succulent family, the snake plant is tough and can survive in practically any environment. Like cacti, snake plants can live in dry soil and need minimal watering. They can also tolerate low light, so even if you live in an older building with small windows this will still work for you. Visit source to read more.

Contact us:
Gottarent.com Head Office
Address: 44 Frid Street
City: Hamilton, ON
Zip Code: L8N 3G3
Phone: 1-888-440-2099