The good thing about apartment living is that you don't have to deal with the repairs and

maintenance, broken pipes, or busted outlets, and it's very much easier to move anytime you

want than sell a house if you decide to move to another place.

But other things can give a headache to apartment renters, such as toxic roommates, noisy

neighbors, bad landlords, and unexpected rent, increases. Listed below are the things that you

can and cannot do as a renter.

Do inspect the unit carefully upon moving

During the first day of your move, inspect the unit carefully and take note of any flaws that you

can find, including structural problems like water damage or chipping paint and check all of the

outlets if they are all in good working condition. While every mover usually wants to hurry up

and start unpacking, let yourself become more diligent and give ample time to inspect the unit

and snap pictures of anything that isn't right. If you find flaws, the landlord will have to fix all

these and attend to them immediately before you're fully settled.

Don’t be a bad neighbor

Avoid showing a wrong impression to your neighbors; be a good renter who wants to enjoy

pleasant apartment living. Whether these neighbors live in the same building or living in

adjacent homes, show them respect and smile when you run into someone in the hallway or the

street. When it comes to apartment living, if you want to become a good neighbor, you have to

practice a pleasant living in a rented home so that you avoid to interfere with anyone else. Keep

the volume of your music at a reasonable level, don't throw parties very often, and follow the

community's rules.

Do consider getting a roommate

While apartment living isn't easy to afford, you might as well want to consider getting a

roommate. A one-bedroom apartment in San Francisco will cost you $2,400 a month compared

to the national average of just $950 a month. And if you rent an apartment with such a hefty

price, you might as well consider getting a roommate. Just be sure to search seriously for a

roommate and, if possible, make some background check to make sure you'll be compatible.

Live as you own it

Just because you are just living in an apartment, it doesn't mean that you can't feel it like home.

Make sure that you enjoy apartment living by considering that it's your own home. If your lease

agreement allows you to paint the walls or nailing hooks in the walls to hang art, then go for it.

But even if it's not allowed, you can still put a personal touch on the apartment you are renting.

Display things that can make you happy, like hanging a décor, wall arts, and family pictures.

Don't wait to report maintenance issues

If you find some defects with your water, electricity, heating/cooling system, and pests, report

them immediately to the property management as they will only worsen the longer you leave

them unattended. It's always a good idea to report problems immediately as they arise so that

the property manager will call maintenance to fix them.

Do a regular cleaning

The household chores in every living space won't stop once you move in. It's your responsibility

to keep your apartment clean, and you will have to pay the price if you don't. So make sure to

do regular cleaning in your rental space.

It's fine to leave dirty dishes for hours or skip making your bed, but it can make your living space

clean and free from clutter if you get to the habit of doing regular cleaning tasks as it can help

prevent your space from becoming disgusting. Once a week, you do regular cleaning,

vacuuming, mopping the floors, clean the bathroom, wipe down countertops, and clear the

garbage bin as soon as it is full.

Don't forget about your savings account

As an apartment dweller, it may be hard for you to save money as the significant portion of your

paycheck every month goes to the rent, but it's essential to save some money whenever there is

a chance. Make sure you have enough budget to cover your rent, groceries, monthly bills, and

other family expenses. After the expenses are all paid off at the end of the month, and you still

have some money left, keep it as your savings. You should make a list of your monthly

expenses to get a good idea of how much you can set aside every month.

When you live in an apartment, you will have the opportunity to enjoy its perks, but at certain

times you will also experience its shortcomings. To help you enjoy a comfortable living in a

rented home, you need to know these dos and don'ts in apartment living.