Posts about Apartments in Baltimore

Early Termination

Continuing with our Lease Agreement Series, this week's topic is Early Termination. Sometimes it can't be helped; your company has relocated you, or a family member has fallen ill. We understand, and we want to make the transition as smooth as possible. That's why knowing the process of early termination is the first step in making the move-out process that much easier. So we're here to help! Your lease agreement reads: In the event you wish to terminate this Lease, or any renewal or extension of this Lease, prior to its expiration date, we agree to permit the early termination upon: (A) You giving to us two (2) calendar months prior written notice of your intent to terminate; and (B) You agreeing, in writing, to pay to us an amount equal to two (2) additional month's rent beyond the end of the month in which you elect to terminate this Lease (the "Lease Termination Fee"). This offer is contingent upon you being current in the monthly rental at the time you vacate, and with the Lease Termination Fee being paid prior to the termination date. But what does this mean? According to the statement above, if you find yourself in a situation where you need to move out early and break your lease (even if you just moved in, or just renewed your lease), here's what it's going to take: written notice (which can be an email) two months before the day you plan to move out. So if your company is relocating you effective March 1 st , we need written notice by January 1 st . you'll still be paying market rent (not your discounted rate, if you received one) for those remaining two months, PLUS pay two month's market rent after you move out. This is the fee required for breaking your lease, and all rent/fees are to be paid before moving out. Reading a document before signing it is a very important step of getting a new apartment, but here at 520 Park Avenue we want to be completely transparent and leave no surprises. We're not here to scam you! If you ever have questions over your lease, please stop in the office or set up an appointment to discuss things. We want you to feel comfortable in your new home and trust that we have your best interests at heart.

Noise and Your Apartment

Continuing with our Lease Agreement Series, this week's topic is "Noise." It happens, and sometimes it can't be helped. Sometimes neighbors are just being rude. We understand, and we want to make your life easier. The lease reads: NOISE and BEHAVIOR: You may not make, permit or facilitate any unseemly or disturbing noises or conduct by the Tenant, Tenant's family, employees, agents, guests and/or invitees; nor do, permit or facilitate any illegal, improper, objectionable, undesirable or immoral conduct or obstruct or interfere with the rights, comforts or convenience of other tenants or Landlord. Tenant will not permit to enter the Premises or to remain therein any person of bad or loose character or of improper behavior. Tenant further agrees not to conduct, give or permit vocal or instrumental instruction or practice. This basically states that you and your guests should keep quiet at all times. It also states that you and your guests won't participate in illegal conduct of any kind. While we most certainly agree with the latter, the former leaves much to the imagination. While nothing in the lease specifies types of noises, common courtesy should always be at the forefront of your mind. But what exactly is considered reasonable? Here are some examples: Reasonable Not reasonable A baby crying Yelling or screaming among adults or children Occasionally hosting a few guests Hosting a party larger than 10 guests regularly Vacuuming/cleaning at reasonable hours Hammering, nailing, or other construction Normal to light footsteps Jumping, wrestling, or "rough-housing" Dog barking occasionally Dog barking consistently throughout day/night Outside traffic Loud activity in parking lots or common areas Since we can't cover all forms of noise, it's important you contact the 520 leasing office to discuss the noise(s) you're hearing and at what time of day they're occuring. Every complaint is handled with complete confidence, so you shouldn't resist a complaint for fear of being found out. We always address the issue with the resident without revealing the source. If you are the source of noise complaints, a noise violation letter will be issued. On the third notice, you may face eviction. Please be courteous of your neighbors and remember that you share a space with several other tenants who respect your privacy and comfort, and expect the same from you. Should you ever have questions or concerns, feel free to contact the leasing office!

Paying Your Rent

Continuing with our Lease Agreement Series, this week's blog will discuss paying your rent. Remember, the lease is important; not only does it serve as a guide for what you can and cannot do, it's the difference between a friendly farewell and possible legal action, or worse, eviction. On page 7, section 30 of your lease reads: PAYMENT OF RENT: Payments may be mailed to our office located at 11433 Cronridge Drive, Owings Mills, Maryland 21117 or at such other address as may be designated by us. You may also pay your rent by enclosing your payment in an envelope and placing the envelope in the Drop Box at 11433 Cronridge Drive, Owings Mills, Maryland 21117. Except as may otherwise be required by law, or by us, all rental payments made by you must be by check or money order. We will convert all paper checks received in payment of rent into electronic items for Automated Clearing House (ACH) funds processing. Such electronic payments will be for the amount indicated on each check and may be withdrawn from your bank account on the same day that your payment is received by us. You understand that a check converted into an electronic item will not be returned to you by your financial institution and will instead appear as an electronic item on your bank statement. If you notify us requesting that your check should not be converted into an electronic item, you must thereafter make all rent payments by cashier's check, certified check or money order. If we cannot post the transaction electronically, we are authorized to present a copy of your check for payment. No personal checks will be accepted after the 5th day of the month, nor will they be accepted if one (1) of your checks, in a twelve (12) month period, is dishonored by your bank. Should we employ a collection agent to institute proceedings for rent and/or repossession of the Premises for non-payment of any installment of rent, and should such rent be due and owing as of the filing of said proceedings, you will pay us the reasonable costs incurred by us in utilizing the services of the collection agent. But what does this mean? For those of you who don't know what an ACH is, it stands for Automated Clearing House, which is a fancy way of processing a physical check to electronic funds. If you prefer to write a check each month, this is to be mailed directly to our corporate office at 11433 Cronridge Dr. Owings Mills, MD 21117, or you can drive there and place it in a drop box. The check is then processed electronically and taken out of your bank account. We only take the exact amount written on your check. Rent is due on the 1 st of every month, but you have until the 5 th before they'll apply the late charge of 5% market rent. After the 5 th at 4:00pm, no personal checks will be accepted for rent, only cashier's checks or money orders. You would be working with the Property Manager at this point, as it they may begin the process of eviction. If we hire a collection agency and proceed with repossession of the apartment, you will be responsible to pay us back for the charges we received from them. But wouldn't you rather avoid all of this nonsense? Pay your rent online! It's quicker, easier, and greener! See next blog for details! 520 Park Avenue

Your Security Deposit

So you applied for an apartment, and you were approved! Now it's time to read your lease agreement, thoroughly, before signing on that shiny new apartment. But if you're like most of the busy bees buzzing about this city, you didn't have time to read it thoroughly. A glance counts, right? I mean, you touched on the important topics, the rest is just legal jibber-jabber. The lease is important, not only does it serve as a guide for what you can and cannot do, it's the difference between a friendly farewell and possible legal action, or worse, eviction. Let's take a moment to zero in on your lease agreement and discuss it. We'll start with those hot topics you grazed. First, your security deposit. The lease agreement reads: SECURITY DEPOSIT: You acknowledge owing us a Security Deposit to be held by us as security for the faithful performance by you of your obligations under this Lease. We will provide you with a separate receipt acknowledging the amount of Security Deposit paid by you. The Security Deposit, or any portion thereof, may be withheld for unpaid rent, damage due to breach of this Lease or for damage by you or the your family, agents, employees, guests or invitees in excess of ordinary wear and tear to the Premises, common areas, major appliances and furnishings owned by us. It is understood and agreed, however, that even though you paid a Security Deposit, rent must be paid when due, in accordance with the terms of this Lease. You have the right to be present when we inspect the Premises in order to determine if any damage was done to the Premises, if you notify us by certified mail of your intention to move, the date of moving, and your new address. Your notice must be mailed to us at least fifteen (15) days prior to the date of moving. Upon receipt of your notice, we will notify you by certified mail of the time and date when the Premises will be inspected. The date of inspection will occur within five (5) days before or five (5) days after the date of moving as stated in your notice. If we sell or transfer the Premises, we have the right to transfer your Security Deposit to the purchaser, or other transferee, and we will no longer be liable for the return of your Security Deposit. Thereafter, you must look to the purchaser or other transferee for the return of your Security Deposit. This will apply every time your Security Deposit is transferred. Your Security Deposit may not be mortgaged, assigned or encumbered by you without our prior written consent. You have a right to receive, by first class mail, delivered to your last known address, a written list of the charges against your Security Deposit claimed by us and the actual costs, within forty-five (45) days after the termination of your tenancy. We are further obligated to return any unused portion of your Security Deposit, by first class mail, addressed to your last known address within forty-five (45) days after the termination of your tenancy. Our failure to comply with Maryland's Security Deposit Law may result in our being liable to you for a penalty of up to three (3) times the Security Deposit withheld, plus reasonable attorney's fees. But what does this mean? You signed your l ease and paid the deposit, which you expect to get back at the end of your lease. Surely there's nothing that would prevent this from returning to your bank account upon move-out, so you shouldn't have to worry about the logistics of it, right? Unfortunately, that's not always the case. According to the above statement, if you fail to pay rent, damage your apartment (beyond normal wear and tear), or damage any of the common areas, such as your hallway, some, if not all, of your security deposit will be used to pay for the damages or missing rent. What counts as "damage"? See section 17 of your lease. When you move out, it also states that you can be present during time of inspection, to see if any damage was done, but it is not required that you're present. If there are damages, we will send you a list of detailed charges to your new address within 45 days after you move out. We will return the remaining portion, or all of, your security deposit within 45 days as well. If we fail to do our part, we are liable to pay up to three times the amount of your security deposit, plus any reasonable attorney fees. If you transfer your apartment to someone else, the security deposit goes with it. So when you move out, you will not get your security deposit back (we recommend you discuss this with the person taking over your lease). Whenever the transferee moves out of the apartment, they will receive the security deposit back, or will be stuck with any damage charges for the apartment (another good reason to discuss this with the transferee). So there you have it, your security deposit in a nut shell. You should always read a document very carefully before signing it, but here at 520 Park we want to be completely transparent and leave no surprises. We're not here to scam you! If you ever have questions over your lease, please stop in the office or set up an appointment to discuss things. We want you to feel comfortable in your new home and trust that we have your best interests at heart.

DIY Halloween Costumes

Sick of spending way too much time googling DIY costume ideas? Well, you're in luck. We spent hours scrolling through every corner of the Internet to dig up the most amazing and creative costumes so you don't have to. Keep reading for DIY costume ideas - they range from outfits you can put together in minutes to projects that only advanced costumers will be brave enough to tackle. Bag of Jelly Beans What you need to do : Get a clear trash bag, cut holes for your arms and legs to fit through. Print the nutritional facts on the back of the costume, just like what you see on the backs of candy bags. Fill up the bag with colored balloons for the jellybeans, and tie up the trash bag near your neck with a ribbon. Mime What you need to do : Get some cheap white face paint, and paint your face with it. Wear black clothes or a striped white and black top if you have one. White gloves will complete the outfit, but they aren't necessary. Derek Zoolander What you need to do : Get a patterned headband, blue eyes (or contact lenses), and an arresting gaze. Dark eyeshadow and purple lips preferred Mugatu What you need to do : Wear a gray sweater with the word "Mugatu" in black stuck on it. Find black cloth for the collar, end of the sleeves, and midsection. Don't forget a white stuffed dog. The hair is really important as well, so you might want to invest in a wig Mary Poppins What you need to do : Get a black umbrella, long black skirt, white collared button-down shirt, red bow tie, white gloves, black pantyhose, and a black hat. Home Improvement Wilson What you need to do : Get popsicle sticks to make the fence, beige floppy hat, and a brown plaid shirt. Jellyfish What you need to do : Get a clear umbrella. You can use all kinds of materials as the stingers, such as thin strips of bubble wrap, string, ribbons, or fabric Lady Gaga What you need to do : Get different shades of face paint and eye shadow, and watch this YouTube tutorial . Grumpy Cat What you need to do : Get white face paint, lots of brown eyeshadow, and a sponge for blending. Wear a white outfit, brown cat ears, and a brown tail. Comic book character What you need to do : Get bright color clothing and comic book makeup . Pippi Longstocking What you need to do : Get wire and ribbons for your hair. Don't forget to dot your face with freckles Men in Black What you need to do : Wear a black suit, put on shades, and you'll have your top secret Men in Black costume Trolls What you need to do : Gel up your hair, and spray it with temporary hair color. Wear a nude top, some colored shorts (or go all nude, if you prefer!), and you'll have a really cool-looking troll entourage. Firefox What you need to do : Get an orange outfit that includes furry orange ears, a tail, and fingerless gloves. You also need a globe, which you can make using an inflated ball and painting it. I choose you, Pikachu! What you need to do : Get a yellow outfit and felt and cardboard to make the ears and tail. Don't forget to paint your cheeks red! Vincent Van Gogh What you need to do : Make sure you do a good job painting your face so you resemble a painting. Complete the look by painting your outfit. Napoleon Dynamite Deb What you need to do : Get a pale pink- and white-striped polo shirt, side ponytail, pink fanny pack, and a plastic box with plastic jewelry. Lamb Chop & Shari What you need to do : Get a lamb puppet, big permed hair, and a colorful blouse Quailman What you need to do : Get a green sweatshirt, red cape, khaki shorts, white briefs, and a brown belt TSA Agent What you need to do : Construct a "gate" for people to walk through, and wear a light brown button-down shirt and dark brown pants. 520 Park

Betta Fish Perfect for Apartment Living

A Betta Fish Can Be the Perfect Apartment Pet! You might have seen or even felt sorry for the brightly colored and elaborately-finned fish kept in small cups individually at the pet store. These beautiful fish, called Bettas or Siamese Fighting Fish, are popular pets and intelligent animals that can thrive in an apartment setting and make great company. If you've ever thought about getting a pet, but don't want to commit to taking it for walks every day or cleaning a litter box, consider a Betta fish. They're smart, require very little maintenance, and are relatively inexpensive to care for! Caring for Your Betta Fish in Your Apartment Contrary to what many people think, Bettas require space and stimulation and can't survive for very long in that plastic cup they came in from the pet store - or even in a small goldfish bowl. It's important to remember that these fish aren't just for decoration - they're living creatures that need your daily care, even if that care is minimal. Here are some facts you may not have known about caring for these fascinating fish: For every inch long your fish is, he will require one gallon of water. Most Bettas require at least a 2 to 3 gallon tank to be happy. Bettas do require a tank with a filter, air pump and thermometer. Bettas prefer a water temperature of around 72-82ºF and need clean and flowing water. Provide stimulating items for your fish to explore and hide in. Plants, rocks, and decorations are all good ideas to include. Just make sure you're choosing non-toxic items specifically for fish tanks! Bettas can't survive on regular fish food. Make sure you're buying food specifically formulated for Betta fish! Clean your Betta's tank regularly and use clean, filtered water. Many pet stores sell water purifier specifically for Betta fish. Bettas do not necessarily have to be kept alone! Females can be kept together, and males can be kept with other species of fish. Just remember the one inch of fish per gallon rule! While we know Baltimoreans love their dogs, we here at 520 Park understand not everyone is a fan. Sometimes it's simpler and cleaner to adopt a fish instead. And don't worry, there won't be a pet rent associated with your Betta Fish!