The Moving Nightmare – Getting Into A Philadelphia Rental

Posted on December 10, 2010 by admin

Moving to a fresh, new Philadelphia apartment is an exciting time. You are full of high hopes for a new life in a new place and the anticipation itself is fun. Of course, sitting between you and having fun decorating the new place is moving, and for many, that in itself is a nightmare experience.

It is almost easier to move across the country than to move across town because everything is more planned and has to go at one time. Making a local move can sometimes be strung out and less organized than it should be. Moving into your Philadelphia rental can be made easier with a little planning.

Selecting A Mover

While many prefer to get a U-Haul truck and a few friends to help them make a move, it is often less expensive and less physical exertion to just go ahead and get a professional mover to do it for you. If you make sure they are licensed and come with a good referrals, everything can go without any hitches.

Do make certain they are licensed and ask for a copy of their Public Utility Commission certificate. Make sure also that they carry adequate insurance and that you understand completely how any damages or losses work against their policy. And, last but not least, get a written estimate. You’ll need to provide them with information about the logistics of your current building as well as the new one. Things like elevator size and availability, flights of stairs, and how much you are moving are critical to an accurate estimate. There is such a thing as getting a written agreement not to exceed a certain amount, and that’s a handy thing to have at hand.

Be aware of deals on flyers or online. Two men and a truck may sound like a great idea but if they aren’t professional and have no insurance, your move could cost you much more than you thought.

Before The Move

Schedule all of your utility changeovers in advance so the electricity, cable and any other utilities are working the day you move in. It may take a few hours on the phone to get it all in order, but it will be worth it when the transition goes smoothly. Making a good check list is wise. It will eliminate forgetting things when you get busier with the actual move.

Packing yourself is what most want to do, and living with a Philadelphia apartment full of boxes isn’t fun but you save a lot of money and you know where your things are when you get to the new place. The move will be worth it once in the new place but every move is full of anxiety. Just be organized!

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Ending A Lease On A Philadelphia Rental

Posted on December 9, 2010 by admin

The good news is that you’ve found yourself a new Philadelphia apartment. It’s perfect. It’s everything you ever wanted in a place to live. It’s close to work, in a great neighborhood and a sweet monthly rental price. There’s only one problem. You are in the middle of a lease and you have to terminate it.

How hard will getting out of the lease be? It all depends.

Understanding Your Lease

The first thing you do is read your lease – carefully. Most don’t bother when signing it outside of looking for any rigid rules. The lease will give you a good indication of what to expect. Beyond that, much will depend on your Philadelphia rental landlord or property manager. Traditionally, they hold unequal bargaining power when it comes to leases, and you will want to completely understand your lease and any legal implications prior to attempting to break it.

Every lease will have a section devoted to early termination and you may find that there is a set or flat fee for leaving a lease early. Know that in Philadelphia many of these flat fees will not be enforced by the courts, but that doesn’t mean you won’t have to pay for an attorney to find out. What the landlord may receive in court are damages consisting of the amount of rent left on the lease, and that isn’t what you want to hear.

The Good News

Philadelphia rentals are in the middle of a strong market these days, and that’s the good news. The way you end up not paying for the rest of your lease is if your landlord can re-rent the apartment quickly. So if you know someone who has wanted your apartment, now is the time to make them aware that you are moving. The quicker the landlord gets a new tenant, the less likelihood you will have to pay the remainder of your lease balance. If no tenant is found, the property manage or landlord must prove that they’ve tried to find a new tenant and must prove that they advertised before the courts will rule that you must pay your lease balance.

You can retrieve your deposit – if you are leaving the apartment in good order – but it may be delayed until the lease termination is complete.

The Lease Is A Contract

The lease is a legal document, but there are ways to break it. You have to proceed correctly and know the terms and conditions of the lease, and if you aren’t sure, by all means seek the advice of an attorney. The notification of your intent to vacate must be made in writing, and if you are on contentious terms with your landlord, get a lawyer to help you with that as well.

The Philadelphia rental market has many free or nearly free legal advocates within its system, and it won’t be hard to locate one for some advice. Lease breaking is done all the time, but to ensure that you don’t lose the new apartment, you must treat getting out of your old one with some thought. Hopefully, your landlord will just be sorry to see you go but it will go smoothly for you.

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The Philadelphia Rental Scene Is Looking Brighter

Posted on December 8, 2010 by admin

There are many areas in the Philadelphia apartment or home rental market that are eyesores. Blighted areas, derelict buildings, broken glass and junked up vacant lots are to be found, and they aren’t a pretty sight at all. In fact, there are more than 40,000 of them in Philadelphia.

Some are more noticeable than others depending on the neighborhood, but one positive thing that is coming out of the tight Philadelphia rental situation is the fact that developers are now looking at these unsightly areas as potential housing options.

The Derelict Becomes Developed

In some ways, it is the tough times that are bringing out the best in Philadelphia real estate entrepreneurs. In boom times, they’d be looking at from the ground up developments with all new construction. These days, some of the vacant or abandoned properties are providing some interest for them. For Philadelphia apartment tenants, it will be an opportunity to find housing that is more interesting and for current neighborhood residents, it gets rid of the eyesores.

Philadelphia has a number of abandoned warehouse spaces, and it is these that are attracting the most attention. A case in point is the old Goldtex factory near City Centre. Long derelict and at times full of squatters, one smaller city company has bought it with the intention of converting it to rental units. Construction of the building has already started after months were spent getting out the squatters and shoring up the massive deterioration that had gone on for ten years. The company’s goal is to have it completed and renting inside of two years.

A Boom To Tenants And Businesses

For local business, this trend is great news. Rather than close because of lack of business or security concerns, they can start to grow again. For Philadelphia rental seekers, it means there will soon be more choices especially in areas closer to City Center. While these apartments may be more upscale ones, it means a good shift in availability all the way around.

Architecturally, the buildings are more interesting in both looks and space than their more modern counterparts, which can be plain vanilla boxes as we are all aware. With offerings in the works that are more like large lofts, it opens up the variety that has not been available. Many of these buildings will also offer great views of the river and open spaces, and can help revitalize entire neighborhoods. Helping to increase the number of Philadelphia rentals, these restorations also help an area become safer. Many have squatters and vagrants and with those crime usually isn’t far behind, and their sheer deterioration can often be dangerous too.

From Big To Small Projects

The real estate developers who are working in this area range from large, established companies to individual property owners. Regardless, there is a lot of work in this type of restoration when a building is beginning to crumble. An round of applause should go up for these folks. They’re improving the skyline with something truly beneficial to the city!

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The Facts On Center City Living

Posted on December 7, 2010 by admin

Center City is home to a huge number of businesses and corporations, but it is also one of the most favored areas for Philadelphia apartments too. It is one of the most dense areas with over 235,000 people there during the day, and nearly 88,000 call it home at night as well.

It is home to the city’s tallest buildings, museums, famous squares and some of the most famous landmarks anywhere in the area.

Who Lives In City Center?

The answer to that question is interesting. A recent study concluded that less than half the people who live in the district actually work there. Many are commuting to the outer suburbs – in a sort of reverse commuting – and the rest work somewhere else in Philadelphia. Around Rittenhouse Square, where the wealthy live, it is thought that nearly a fifth of the residents work out of state or out of the area. It stands to reason why finding a Philadelphia apartment in this area is tough.

One of the reasons the area is so popular is not only for its proximity to venues and shopping but because transportation is so good. A reverse commute by car is against the usual rush hour traffic and is easier. Many Philadelphia apartment tenants can walk to work, and if not can take Septa, Patco or bike. For those who are interested in the arts and nightlife, it also means a savings by not commuting into the area on nights and weekends.

Philadelphia Apartment Choices

Traditional rental apartments are in short supply due to this popularity but there are options. There are about 39,000 rental units in Center City, but that doesn’t include a huge number of condo apartments either. About 2500 units were built to sell, and the recession has kept their sales numbers down. They are now being rented, and can be an alternative when regular rental properties are in short supply.

Apartment prices in Philadelphia have remained steady. Because they were never as over inflated like the market in NYC, they also haven’t changed as much. But the increase in interest toward City Center apartments is pushing the prices slightly. The growth of residents is for the first time overtaking tenants for office or retail spaces, and that’s what makes it more difficult to find a good apartment.

If you want to live in the middle of things, take your time and do a good search for a Philadelphia rental. City Center is fantastic and eventually you will locate just the right living accommodation for you. It may take longer for a search and in looking at apartments, but the rewards are definitely there as exampled by this recent survey. You’ll be joining the thousands who have already discovered what the area can offer in lifestyle.

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Philadelphia Rental Owners Get Federal Assistance

Posted on December 6, 2010 by admin

There’s a new federal grant aimed directly at helping property owners and specifically landlords. It provides a cash infusion toward weatherizing apartments in a way that helps decrease energy bills and acts as a general building or home improvement incentive.

Coming just before the hard East Coast winter sets in, these low interest loans are fantastic for both the property owner and for their tenants.

Loans and Rebates Galore

The new program is a joint effort between the federal government, who supplied $25 million in stimulus money, and a regional program called EnergyWorks offers landlords either rebates on home-energy assessments or less than 1% interest on loans to make energy improvements.

Many Philadelphia rental owners are applying and being granted funding to make their properties more energy efficient. For tenants, this translates to warmer apartments in winter and lower bills because new technology is employed. The opportunity to look at geothermal heating and cooling systems, better insulation and even lighting that is more energy efficient is a bonus for everyone.

Less Bureaucracy And More Action

This new accomplishment is meant to lessen the usual red tape that these types of rebates and loans normally carry with them. The Philadelphia rental owner who applies for them finds the wait time far less than any other incentives that have come down the pike. Add that to the ultimate ability to save money for tenants while the loans are low-interest and tax deductible and there is a recipe for success. Even the commercial loans are coming in with interest rates at no more than 3.5%.

EnergyWorks has a two-fold goal. They want to make Philadelphia rental properties greener while giving the property owner a good incentive to make changes and upgrades to their property. It is estimated that savings for individual properties can be as much as 25%, and over the long term, that’s a savings that is passed on to tenants as well. The loans and assistance can range from complete revamping of current heating and cooling systems to much simpler ways of winterizing.

Promotion And Assistance

EnergyWorks is spending some of the stimulus money to develop a website and an awareness campaign with which they hope to reach as many property owners as possible with the least amount of bureaucracy. www.energyworksnow.com is up and running and a great place to understand how it can help your Philadelphia rental property.

The site has complete information on how your property can be inspected and assessed, and what methods are available to help you with upgrades. While there may be other sites like it, this is the one that is directed solely toward Philadelphians and their property. Check it out. If your Philadelphia rental property could use some help this winter, it may the be the option you’ve been looking for. Stay warm!

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The Other Side Of The Schuylkill – Life In West Philly

Posted on December 3, 2010 by admin

West Philadelphia is one of those ambiguous areas that encompasses a big portion of the city, but for those looking for a Philadelphia rental, it is largely a residential area near the river that is primarily composed of great old row houses.

It is lovingly called West Philly by both long time residents and student residents from Penn. While even portions of Southwest Philly can be included in the neighborhood, for most it is simply the area west of the river.

An Early Commuter Town

It was the Schuylkill bridge that opened up the area in the late 19th Century. Middle class workers were then able to commute by horse or by wagon to the central area of the city to their jobs while creating fantastic neighborhoods of Victorian architecture. By the 1950s, the area was in a decline due to crime and suburban flight my many homeowners, but that seems to be past now. The area has been Penntrified, as it is called. The university has be largely responsible from bringing the area back from the ashes of race riots and urban blight. Now, it is much more common to see baby strollers and young professionals remodeling homes and apartments.

Philadelphia rentals here are either single or two-family houses. You’ll find ornate exteriors, tree lined streets and lawns. Porch sitting is popular in the spring and summer and you’ll see plenty of window-box gardens.

An Energetic Area

The influx of younger professionals and students also makes the mix of restaurants and shopping very good. The backbone of the area is Baltimore Avenue and the diversity there is superb. You’ll find great parks, plenty of culture, and neighborhood bars. Once settled in a Philadelphia rental here, you’ll be checking out the Amish market on weekends and enjoying plentiful Southeast Asian cuisines. You’ll find street vendors and posh boutiques all within a few block radius too.

Live music takes to the streets and is found in many of the bars, and that makes it very popular with a younger crowd, but West Philly is popular with all age groups. It offers a true inner city experience and remains something of a well-kept secret.

Commuting Today

A Philadelphia apartment or house in the area means you have access to easy commuting, and it is another reason for its popularity. Not only are their major subway stops but it has some of the city’s remaining streetcar trolly lines. It means you can work in the City Center and be home in minutes to enjoy the parks, the museums, and the low skyline profile which provides sunlight and air!

Even for seasoned Philadelphians, West Philly is often a new discovery and makes them fall in love with the city all over again. Get a piece of it!

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The Tough Questions In Tenant Screening

Posted on December 2, 2010 by admin

Finding stable and suitable tenants for Philadelphia apartments is a huge priority for landlords, but slowing down and asking thoughtful questions of even the most desirable seeming applicants can save trouble down the line.

You, of course, want to fill your Philadelphia rental quickly, but there are important things not to even think about skipping in the process.

What Background Checks Tell You

When a great tenant comes along, it is often tempting to not even bother with a background check. Everything seems right and you save a little money, but it is also a dangerous road to take. Trusting your first impression and instincts is certainly a good part of tenant screening, but don’t let it be everything. Think of it in terms of mistakes. If the person ends up being a bad tenant, you could be out costly repairs. Say the tenant has a history of drug problems and trashes the apartment, and you end up replacing appliances, repairing plaster or sheetrock and fumigating the place. That $25 background check will seem cheap in comparison.

Then consider how long it will take to do those repairs and re-rent the apartment. Time is money, and you’ve lost again. Add the headache such a tenant can give you, and then spend that money on a background check!

Taking The Tenant Bait

Another temptation for land lords or property managers in a hurry is the prospective tenant who is so anxious to get into your Philadelphia rental that they offer you cash upfront. A stack of cash is hard to turn down especially if the unit has been vacant for a while, but don’t fall for it. It is the time to ask some pointed questions. Why is that tenant so anxious to move in? Perhaps, he or she is being evicted or is being forced to move for another reason – like non-payment. A good talker can easily prey on your emotions so do a background check to try and verify their story.

Most tenants don’t rush into a rental. They look at the apartment thoroughly, ask questions and spend a little time thinking about it. If your prospect doesn’t even do a walk-through or asks no questions, your radar should trip into action. It might mean they don’t plan on staying long or ever paying rent beyond the first month.

Screening Is Mandatory

While you might save a few dollars by trying to rely on your instincts, in the long run, doing a good background check may save you thousands of dollars and stave off the headache factor with tenants. Your Philadelphia rental is your livelihood and you should be protective of it. The fewer move in and move outs you have, the better your profit margin stays, and that’s just the way you want it.

We all have a heart when we hear sad stories. Just make sure you aren’t basing a business decision on emotions.

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Where There’s Smoke

Posted on December 1, 2010 by admin

With the Northeast winer bearing down, it is time for Philadelphia rental owners to do some important inspections, and there are no more important ones than making sure that every unit is equipped with proper smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

The holidays are here and that means more activity in your buildings. It means more guests, trash and potentially dangerous situations. Taking steps to insure all alarms are working can make it all go smoother in case of an accident.

The Laws Are Explicit

While Philadelphia laws are extensive, they are also confusing when it comes to these safeguards. Smoke detectors are required in all single and two-family dwellings. The property owner must provide them and install them, and they must be tested when installed and before a new tenant moves in. Otherwise, it is up to tenants to make certain they work and that they test them to make sure they work. In larger buildings, there must be a larger system that can be commonly heard.

These laws take the legal onus off the landlord but smart ones check with tenants and even do their own inspections from time to time. A smoke alarm isn’t something anyone thinks about unless there’s a fire or unless the alarm starts beeping to denote low battery life. Most tenants only experience use of the alarms when cooking and creating too much smoke, and many will disconnect them in frustration and never replace the batteries. That can lead to a dangerous situation in case of a real fire. The same is true for carbon monoxide detectors, and winter is especially critical for their proper functioning.

Larger Buildings And Safety Planning

Fire is a big danger any time of the year but more so during the holiday period. Christmas trees, string lights, wrapping paper and any open flames are a recipe for disaster. And, the bigger the Philadelphia rental building, the more extensive escape plans have to be.

Tenants pay not attention to escape signs and plans until it is too late so reinforcement is often necessary. It is a good time of the year to send out reminders to all tenants on fire safety procedures and to remind them to check the batteries in all their detectors. A good landlord will even offer to check them or help out if someone doesn’t know how to replace batteries.

Make sure all of your exits are clearly marked and that your emergency lighting systems are in place and working. Tenants will be having all sorts of holiday get togethers and there will likely be many more visitors in your buildings than is normal. Philadelphia apartments are as vulnerable to accidental fires as are single family houses, and you want to protect your tenants and your property. Being prepared is the first step.

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Artists In Flight To Philadelphia Rentals

Posted on November 30, 2010 by admin

New York City may be the art capital of the world, but it is Philadelphia that is seeing a huge influx of working artists. The steep rents of the New York City area make survival difficult and finding a space to do work even harder. NYC artists have long been pioneers into rough areas, but they end up gentrifying and becoming expensive. For many, the solution lies in the Philadelphia rental market.

Better Rents A Train Ride Away

It is nothing new for artists to seek cheaper and roomier places to make their work, but the recent interest in Philadelphia is farther afield than most NYC artists had thought about. The Philadelphia rental market offers much greener pastures. It has a number of empty factory or old manufacturing buildings that are appealing to artists. The situation is similar to SoHo thirty years ago.

These large loft spaces offer an option for both living and working and at much less rent than in NYC. There are even networks set up online for information and help in making the transition from city to city. It helps them not only locate spaces but also helps them network into finding new part time jobs as well.

Philadelphia And The Arts

For the moment, New York will likely remain the place where art is presented, but it may fall out of favor for where art is made in this country. It’s simple economics, but it is also favorable for Philadelphia that it already has major museums, its own arts scene and is overall a very supportive city for the arts. Its many universities and galleries create a great atmosphere for incoming artists and it is relatively easy to find others in the community.

While many spaces on the Philadelphia rental market will be buildings that have already had some renovation done on them, there is also the opportunity to get into ones that still need updating for living in them. Philadelphia property owners, who don’t have the funding to convert these old buildings on their own, will rent to artists knowing that they’ll put in their own improvements. It’s a good situation for both parties.

Putting Romanticism Aside

New York City is for artists what Paris has always been for writers. A mecca, a type of romantic notion of making work in a great city. It’s a notion that has lasted for years. But the economic recession has put a damper on it, and now there’s the practicality of being able to afford to even pursue art. The Philadelphia rental market is one of the top alternative choices. There’s affordable space and a better life style to be had, and these days, it’s in Philadelphia. If you are struggling to make ends meet and still do your work, do like many other artists have done – take a train down to Philly and check out what’s available. You may be surprised.

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Philadelphia Rental Cohabitation In Bliss

Posted on November 29, 2010 by admin

You and your boyfriend or girlfriend found the perfect Philadelphia apartment, and you moved in together. Sounds wonderful and simple until one or the other of you look around and realize that the apartment doesn’t feel like your home.

In any relationship, it often happens that one person is interested in decor more than another, and it can be assumed that that person will be either male or female. There are people who just go with the flow – until it bothers them, that is.

Making A Home For Two

One of the best things that can happen is a good conversation about decorating the new apartment – before you move in! You can learn a lot about your future mate in the process, too. Don’t just take ‘ oh, whatever is fine’ as an answer. Even guys who only want to watch football or gals who come with a lack of enthusiasm for anything but trendy clothing will ultimately have an opinion. Working it out in advance and making a plan can help.

Discuss how you both think you would like to use your new space. In today’s Philadelphia rental market, the prices are steep, so affording a two bedroom may be out of the question so working with a one bedroom apartment is what you’ll need to do. Talk about whether you will really want to do much entertaining at home or whether the dining room area is better used as a home office. Or if one or the other of you have a collection of some kind, where will it go and how will it work into the whole of the living space. If one of you is a neatnik and the other a slob, talk about ways in advance to compromise.

The Logistics Of Coupledom

Starting out a life together in a new Philadelphia apartment is the optimal way to go, but it doesn’t always happen that way – especially if one of you already has a great place. In either case, there are decisions to be made and editing of belongings to be done and it should be done prior to a move.

Buying furniture is always a true test, and it can’t all be the taste of one part of the couple. Most men like furniture sturdy, comfortable and not precious. Many women, on the other hand like delicate and beautiful lines for their pieces. A compromise is on the horizon, and if you can’t see your way to one, hire a decorator to be the buffer and to put together a look you both like and could live with.

If you both already own furniture, take some time to discuss what must be weeded out to work in the new apartment. Put things in storage for a while until you are sure if you have hesitations. Creating a comfortable home for two after one has lived on their own for a while can be difficult. The best approach is openness and a lot of conversation.

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