How to Cozy Up your Apartment for the Holidays. . without going home

November 19, 2009 | By Alissa AuthorMy First Apartment

The holidays are coming! The holidays are coming! A lot of folks I know aren’t going home this year because of $$ issues so I thought I’d write a few post about how to make your apartment really embody that home away from home feeling. The first thing I notice about my parents’ house is…

Emergencies Happen. You Need a Great Landlord

October 28, 2009 | By Alissa AuthorMy First Apartment

Living on one’s own, things don’t always go as planned. Might as well just plan on that, actually. But, there are smart ways to plan — like making sure that your landlord is the kind that takes care of business. When I first met my landlord, I took note of how on-the-ball he was and…

Lowdown on Your Tenant Rights in NYC!

October 22, 2009 | By Alissa AuthorMy First Apartment

Signing a lease gives you legal rights. It also gives you legal responsibilities. Do you know what they are? Thanks to New York State Senator Liz Krueger’s 2009 Housing Update — there’s one easy place where you can find out everything you need to know and more. Here’s a thumbnail version. Tenants Are Entitled To:*A…

After a flood the size of Noah’s Ark, I’m getting renter’s insurance!

June 23, 2009 | By Alissa AuthorMy First Apartment

It’s raining, it’s pouring, from…my kitchen ceiling?! Yep, welcome to just a regular Sunday evening at my casa — except for the my-whole-dining-room-table-being-under-water thing. Well, it wasn’t THAT bad, but around 11:30p.m., water started pouring in from about five separate locations. And there was no way to stop it! There were pools of wet everywhere.…

Is your apartment ready for summer? Get on it before it’s too hot to move!

May 27, 2009 | By Alissa AuthorMy First Apartment

With the passing of Memorial Day, no matter what the solar calendar says – summer is here. Hello, half-day Fridays, white shoes, and HEAT. GLORIOUS HEAT! Well, at least if you’re ready for it. How to summer-fy your apartment/life? First, think about your air conditioner situation. Do you have one? Does it work? Is it…

A beautiful apartment is possible no matter its size!

May 13, 2009 | By Alissa AuthorMy First Apartment

Coming from college, many of you might equate a small apartment with the dingy dorm you were were forced to live in with nary a stove for X number of years. I can see where you’re coming from: your new apartment is also tiny and not by choice. But, oh, is it SO different! Sure,…

Beware of Empty Lots Next Door – They Can Turn into Construction Sites!

April 27, 2009 | By Alissa AuthorMy First Apartment

As winter falls away to spring, we can all rejoice for the lyrical song of birds in the trees. And we can all pound our heads against our pillows at the insomnia-inducing screech of fresh construction. In New York, construction can start at 7 AM. OH MY GOD I WANT TO CRY. Why do I…

Since when is it hard to find a subletter in NYC? Since Now!

March 28, 2009 | By Alissa AuthorMy First Apartment

Greetings from the new world. What kind of world, you say? Well, apparently, it isn’t the world of obscene rental costs and banging your head against the wall because you aren’t getting chosen for a Craigslist Apartment. Which, you know, is great and all — unless you’re the one trying to sublet the room you’re…

How to Handle a 3-week House Guest

January 13, 2009 | By Alissa AuthorMy First Apartment

Hello, ya’ll. Are you surviving your January winter tundra? Things seem a bit better this week. I’ve been making conscientious efforts to get out of the apartment more and see more human folk. Also, I have a friend visiting from Germany. And he’s gonna be here for 3 weeks – depressed hosts are SO 2008!…

Trying to Beat the Post-Holiday Blues!

January 7, 2009 | By Alissa AuthorMy First Apartment

I have a case of the January’s. I’m home sick today, but the past couple of days have been real mopey. Perhaps I’m homesick as well. I miss my family and friends from home and don’t feel like I have a great lot to look forward to in ’09. How bad is it? Work is…