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You’re all settled in. Great job! But if you think everything’s easy breezy from here, you’re absolutely right (on opposite day). Dealing with landlords, neighbors, supers, and waterbugs can be a hassle. That's why we’ve compiled these important tips to help mold you into the model tenant.

Low-Maintenance Pets that Won’t Break the Bank

By Tory Hoen
9/29/09
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You’ve graduated from college. Maybe you’ve got an apartment, a job, the works. But something is still missing, and that thing may very well be a pet

Top 10 Recession Tips

By Christopher Schonberger
12/18/08
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There is a silver-lining to the news that the US has been in a recession since last year: it means that if you’re reading this, you’re already surviving a recession, so keep up the good work.

Let Your Friends Pay Your Rent

By Stuart Schultz
12/18/08
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A friend of mine just lost his job and is very concerned about making his December rent payment. So what can he do to raise some cash? Throw a houseparty! (We can easily figure out where this road can take us from watching any of the college moves we've come to love.) Surprisingly enough, there's actually a history behind this concept, AND an official name: "Rent Party."

DIY Holiday

By Dan Marley
12/16/08
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We're now entering the peak of holiday season, and you may be struck with the sudden urge to throw a holiday party or just make your apartment a little more Christmasy...or Hannukah-y...or Kwanza-y...or whatever. The good news is, it doesn't have to break the bank. Tiny Tim is in fashion this year, so don't be ashamed to make a budget and check it twice.

Q&A with Harlon Cohen

By Christopher Schonberger
10/15/08
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When it comes to surviving college, Harlan Cohen is the guru that students can turn to with any question, from how to make the most of on-campus opportunities to how to decide whether or not to sleep with the cute lax player from Econ.

Filling Up Your Bookshelves

By Orli Van Mourik
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Quick Tips

  1. A stocked bookshelf is powerful – Don’t underestimate the fringe benefits of a well-stocked bookshelf. It adds some flavor to the décor, creates a source of conversation when you have visitors, and may even provide entertainment if you get the strange urge to actually read.
  2. Impress with eclectic books – An easy way to appear well-read is to stock bookshelves with the lesser-known works of famous authors. Examples: East of Eden by John Steinbeck and Pale Fire by Nabokov. Special bonus points if you actually read them!
  3. Chicks dig poetry - Balance out brawn with a little verse and win major sensitivity points. Time-tested classics: Rainer Maria Rilke, William Carlos Williams, Walt Whitman, and Robert Frost.
  4. Become a word jockey - Reading is the best way to exercise that linguistic muscle. Soon you’ll be dropping “SAT words” like they’re hot and earning a swift kick in the ass from your friends. But at least you’ll be able to rock the Time’s crossword.
  5. Don’t become a literary douche – There are some limits to this whole endeavor, because at the end of the day no one likes a showoff. Never forget that the purpose of conversing about books is to exchange information. Pompously pontificating on Nabokov’s presaging David Foster Wallace’s post-post-modernist/pre-post-structuralist use of footnotes is the second best way to get someone to keep their pants on, right after…“Oh, by the way, I have STDs.”

After graduating college, I found my new Ikean bookshelves filled with nothing but books from various classes in Victorian Lit (all of which were marked with a big orange “Used” sticker) and several well-thumbed copies of US Weekly. Though my collection did manage to

Dealing with Apartment Problems

By Arielle Sachar
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Quick Tips

  1. Document the problem – When something goes wrong, check to make sure that there’s really a problem (maybe the cord was just unplugged). When you’ve confirmed that there’s something amiss, document the issue so that you can easily convey it to whoever will be fixing it and so that you have a record.
  2. DIY – Whenever a problem arises that doesn’t involve gas and electricity, it’s always worth considering fixing it yourself. Read this article or check out websites such as DIY Network to find easy fixes to common problems. But, if you’re even in doubt over safety, call your super or a pro.
  3. The super – When you pay your rent each month, you’re also paying for a super so don’t hesitate to call him when a problem arises. Just perform a little triage before picking up the phone: do you really need the super to switch the light bulb?
  4. Call a pro – If the super is slacking, you’re not confident in their quick fix, or you just don’t trust his abilities, call a pro. Unlike the super, you’ll have to pay the pro. When you move into your apartment, ask neighbors for references to local plumbers, etc., so that you’re prepared.
  5. Practice prevention – Don’t only address problems once it occurs—prevent them before they happen. Be careful with space heaters. Don’t leave trash and dirty dishes out. Don’t overload electrical outlets. Check CO2 detectors. You get the drill.

Life outside the parental nest can be pretty blissful: parties, walking around naked, drinking beer for breakfast. Until, that is, a furry little head pokes out from behind the fridge, the fire alarm goes off, and the sink overflows. The trade-off for fabulous freedom is that when

Do You Like to "Do It Yourself"!?!?

By Chris Zoia
7/14/08
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Global warming and the rising cost of oil are forcing AC users to face a conundrum: kill the environment and your wallet, or perspire to the point that you genuinely find PBR's "refreshing." Luckily, there's a compromise.

The Art of Air-Conditioning

By Joan Mitchell
7/09/08
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Air-conditioning is a godsend in these swamp-ass-inducing months, but anyone who bought a window unit this summer quickly realized that manufacturers don’t waste too much time with aesthetics.

Being a Good Tenant (plus: learn how to tip)

By Julie Fishman
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Quick Tips

  1. Befriend neighbors — You’re probably going to run into your neighbors pretty often whether you like it or not, so make every effort to be respectful and friendly. Just because you don’t think something is annoying and they do, that doesn’t mean they just have to deal with it. Compromise; it’s easier than getting the landlord or authorities involved.

  2. Deal with disturbances – If your neighbors are causing a ruckus, don’t be afraid to do something about it. First, bring it up politely. If that doesn’t work, talk to a landlord or even threaten legal action. Read your lease to see if you have any recourse, and be sure to save copies of communications with all parties.

  3. The super – While your super has a responsibility to do his job, he’ll always respond slowly if you’re a pain. Call him if something related to the building (i.e., not your TV) is broken, or if there’s a pest issue. But don’t abuse the relationship.

  4. Tipping – Around Christmas, give $50 to $200 to the super and $10 to $80 to each doorman you interact with (or check CNN’s tipping guide). Tips go a long way towards making sure that your toilet gets fixed asap. You can also “tip as you go,” handing over $5-20 each time the super helps you out.

  5. Unpaid rent – If you can’t pay the rent, don’t just hope the issue will resolve itself. Call the HUD first, and then your landlord to see if you can work something out. Before you do, read up on the eviction process so you know your rights.

Between a bastard boss, bountiful bills, and a bitching boyfriend, there is enough stress in life. There’s no need to exacerbate things by starting a cold war with your neighbors where you end up blasting “Sexy Back” to counter they’re all-night marathon of Paul Anka’s greatest hits, or by pissing off the super

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