Author My First Apartment
doug

Doug Mack is a writer based in Minneapolis and the author of the travel memoir Europe on 5 Wrong Turns a Day: One Man, Eight Countries, One Vintage Travel Guide (Perigee Books/Penguin). He has lived in apartments large and small, historic and modern, in Minneapolis and Chicago. Visit his web site at www.douglasmack.net or find him on Twitter @douglasmack.
3 Common First-Time Renter Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)
3 Common First-Time Renter Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)

3 Common First-Time Renter Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)

  |   By AuthorMy First Apartment
Moving into your very first apartment creates a range of emotions as broad as anything you’ll find in Oscar-winning film. Drama! Inner turmoil! Giddiness! Apprehension! Triumph! In the emotional flurry of searching, packing, and moving in, it’s understandable if you feel overwhelmed and distracted, and make a few rookie mistakes. Here are some common ones…
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Organizing for Clutter Addicts
Organizing for Clutter Addicts

Organizing for Clutter Addicts

  |   By AuthorMy First Apartment
I’m a big believer in the aesthetic appeal of a bit of clutter. Countertops and coffee tables look naked without a few books or plants; I’m only productive at my desk if I have little piles of notes and research for the task at hand, even if it’s just writing a grocery list. Sometimes, though,…
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Are You Annoying Your Roommate Without Realizing It?
Are You Annoying Your Roommate Without Realizing It?

Are You Annoying Your Roommate Without Realizing It?

  |   By AuthorMy First Apartment
Sure, you don’t think you’re doing anything annoying. You wave a friendly hello to your roommate. You pay the bills on time and even covered whole utility bill when your roommate was between jobs. Heck, you even shared those cookies you baked last week. As far as you’re concerned, you’re a rock-star roomie. And you probably are.…
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Ask Your Landlord For These Extras – You Might Get Lucky!
Ask Your Landlord For These Extras – You Might Get Lucky!

Ask Your Landlord For These Extras – You Might Get Lucky!

  |   By AuthorMy First Apartment
When you think of apartment-building amenities, you’re probably thinking of the sort of flashy things listed in bold-faced text in the building’s marketing materials. POOL! ROOFTOP DECK! ON-CALL DOG-WALKERS! But just because your new apartment is a bit more basic doesn’t mean you can’t get a certain level of VIP treatment. There may be other…
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How to Throw A Fantastic Party (Without Risking Eviction)
How to Throw A Fantastic Party (Without Risking Eviction)

How to Throw A Fantastic Party (Without Risking Eviction)

  |   By AuthorMy First Apartment
Come summertime, the mind turns to certain Hollywood-crafted daydreams. Leisurely picnic brunches by the lake. Long naps in hammocks. Tall, glistening glasses of lemonade. Pulsing house parties that gather momentum and last long past intended ending time. Those first three don’t have much to do with apartments, but let’s talk about the last one. Is…
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How to Take Your Landlord to Court
How to Take Your Landlord to Court

How to Take Your Landlord to Court

  |   By AuthorMy First Apartment
Note: We’re not lawyers, and this story should not be considered legal advice in any way. Laws and legal proceedings vary by city and circumstance and may be very different for your case. Please consult your own local laws and your own lawyer or legal adviser for guidance relating to your own situation. A while…
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Things You Need For Your First Apartment: The Ultimate Checklist
Things You Need For Your First Apartment: The Ultimate Checklist

Things You Need For Your First Apartment: The Ultimate Checklist

  |   By AuthorMy First Apartment
You found an apartment, you signed the lease, you wrote the check. Congrats, you’re now all ready to move into your first apartment! Except, wait a minute, you’re not. You need things to put in the apartment. And what, exactly, do you need? Here’s a handy checklist of things you’ll need (or at least want,…
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Historic vs. Modern: Which Type of Building is Right for You?
Historic vs. Modern: Which Type of Building is Right for You?

Historic vs. Modern: Which Type of Building is Right for You?

  |   By AuthorMy First Apartment
In Part 1 of our series on different types of apartments, we compared the pros and cons of renting in small and large buildings. This time around, we’ll compare historic and modern apartments. Selling Points of Historic Buildings The most obvious difference between historic and modern buildings is the general sense of character and aesthetics.…
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Small vs. Large: Which Type of Apartment Building is Right For You?
Small vs. Large: Which Type of Apartment Building is Right For You?

Small vs. Large: Which Type of Apartment Building is Right For You?

  |   By AuthorMy First Apartment
It’s rare that apartment-hunting ends in love at first sight, that swoon-worthy abode that is available, affordable, and has all the features and amenities you want. Very rare. More often, the hunt comes down to weighing the pros and cons of a few good-but-not-perfect options. This can be especially tricky when the apartments aren’t really…
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Where to Stay in a New City While Apartment Hunting
Where to Stay in a New City While Apartment Hunting

Where to Stay in a New City While Apartment Hunting

  |   By AuthorMy First Apartment
Sometimes, it’s just not possible to find an apartment before you arrive in a new city. Maybe you got a sweet job offer, but it required you to drop everything and get there immediately. Maybe you totally meant to find a place a long time ago, but, well, kept putting it off. Or, perhaps you live a…
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