Category: Renting Safely

Apartment life in Chicago is full of weird sounds. When you pile this many people together in close spaces it's inevitable that the noises of daily life will intrude on each others' peace of mind. This guide lists the most common disruptive sounds and ways that Chicago renters can combat them. It isn't meant to be exhaustive, but I do hope to return to it occasionally as other noises cross my mind. If you are disturbed by a particular sound and want me to add it to the list, just drop a comment below and I'll see what I can do!

Stuff you should report via 311

Airplanes. File a complaint at Chicago Noise Complaint or 311.
Animal Abuse. A little barking is normal, but if you hear constant barking from a neglected or mistreated animal you should give a call to 311 or submit a 311 request. (Select "Pet Wellness Check.")

This is the final installment of a three-part series covering what not to do during an apartment showing. Part 1 covered the biggest mistakes renters make when booking apartment showings. Part 2 provided some things to avoid when first meeting the landlord's agent and looking around an apartment building's lobby. But the meat and potatoes of an apartment showing happens when you get into the apartment, and it wouldn't be a complete series if I didn't cover all the things that can go wrong once you're finally inside.

As before, these are all things that I've seen renters do during apartment showings. While these actions may have meant nothing to them at the time, they weren't little things like leaving a light on. These are big mistakes that ensured that they wasted the few minutes they had to see the inside of their next potential homes.

• Announce to the world that you know that "one trick to make sure your next apartment doesn't have mold" by opening the cabinet under the kitchen sink and peering around. Don't look in any other cupboards or cabinets, nor behind the shower curtain, along the baseboards, or behind furniture.
• If the current tenant is home, ask them to provide their brutally honest opinion of the landlord and building while the agent is standing in the room.

More stupid apartment hunting mistakes right this way!

There's no denying that "green" construction and housing practices have popped up everywhere. In fact, Illinois has long led the country in eco-friendly housing, with the most LEED-certified square footage per resident. Even small private landlords are taking steps to retrofit their properties for the sake of the environment.

It's our opinion that "green" construction should be a top selling point to all renters, even if they think that climate change is a load of malarkey. Modern environmentally-forward housing doesn't have to mean stinky compost heaps and weird fluctuating solar power. Much of it is actually less expensive and more convenient for renters. If it makes it easier for you to stomach, think of "eco-friendly" as a codeword for "better housing." Here's why.

Pro Tip, renters: every sentence that comes out of your mouth in a showing should end with a question mark! Agents and landlords know what aspects of their business are profitable but unpopular. They won't volunteer such information without you asking.

With the goal of helping renters know what to ask, back in December I posted a collection of questions that renters could use during showings. That article focused on the subject of applications and fees. Today I'm back with more questions, this time designed to help you find out about the landlord's maintenance and hiring policies.

One of the biggest causes of friction between landlords and tenants is the quality of maintenance. In my years working in property management, the tenants who had the biggest problems with our maintenance and customer service were the ones who spent their apartment showings just looking at the apartment itself without asking any questions about our business practices.

About Hiring

• What sort of background checks do you run on their staff before hiring?

Read on for more questions!

Growing up in the suburbs, I'd chat with neighbors while out walking the dog or taking a break from yard work. Since moving to the city, I'm not so forthcoming. If a neighbor starts talking to me in the building lobby, it makes me wonder when the stabbing will start. The news industry is determined to make Chicago seem like the most crime-ridden city in the United States. Even if you see no personal evidence of crime in your life, it's easy to fall into the trap of expecting to be the next victim.

This kind of pervasive culture of fear can make renters shy away from interaction with their neighbors. As a result, the first encounter between two city neighbors is far too often a screaming match over small annoyances that have built up and boiled over. Meanwhile, structural problems affecting large groups of renters are never brought to the management as none of renters realize the extent of the damage.

There's a better way to go about city renting. Today I'll be explaining the basics of forming a tenants' association. Renters who participate in these groups can find better safety and great social benefits. Organized renters will also find that they have much more clout when problems arise with landlords and property managers. Read on to find out how to start your own!