Category: Renting

Advantages of a Furnished Rental vs. A Non-Furnished Rental

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You’re looking for a rental house, but you’ve noticed that some come furnished while others come unfurnished. Which option is better? Truthfully, both have their advantages, and the answer to which option is right for you depends entirely on your needs and your budget. 

Furnished Rentals 

The main benefit of securing a fully or partially furnished rental is, of course, that you don’t have to purchase furniture. ForRent.com estimated that the average person spends $8,176 on furnishing a new apartment – and that doesn’t even include the cost of decorating. The number is undoubtedly higher for furnishing an entire home. Many renters already own furniture that they can bring into their new home. For those that don’t, though, the cost savings of renting a furnished apartment or home can be incredible. 

There is always the chance that the furniture provided for the rental unit is not to your liking. However this can be easily solved by placing slip covers over furniture and adding decorative accents that are more suited to your personal style. If style is extremely important to you or if you do already own plenty of furniture, it’s probably best to steer clear of a furnished rental. 

Unfurnished Rentals 

If you already own furniture you’ll be bringing with you into your rental, selecting an unfurnished unit is a no-brainer. However not everyone has this luxury. As mentioned above, the cost of furnishing a rental can be steep. It is possible to furnish a rental on a budget as long as you plan properly. Try to shop for furniture from consignment stores, checking local listings on platforms like Facebook marketplace, or even buy from a retailer known for low prices, such as IKEA. Another advantage of renting an unfurnished unit is that you get to decorate it to suit your personal style. 

If you have pets, there is always the chance they could damage your rental unit. If you live in a furnished unit, this could mean the destruction of property that does not belong to you. The cost for replacement will probably come from your deposit, which no one wants. If you furnish your rental with your own items, there is less of a risk you will owe your landlord for any damages. 

Furnished or unfurnished rental? The choice is yours! Check out our own rental units today.

Why Renters Need Insurance

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If you are planning to move out on your own for the first time or maybe you are renting a room, chances are you’re going to need to invest in renter’s insurance. Only a staggering 41% of renters actually have renter’s insurance. Some building managers require tenants to get renters insurance, but many don’t. Just because no one is requiring you to buy it doesn’t mean you should write it off.

What Does Renter’s Insurance Cover?

Renter’s insurance will generally offer two or more types of coverage: personal property protection, liability protection, increased living expenses and guest medical protection. Personal property will protect your belongings in case there is a covered loss, and liability protection can help protect you financially if someone is injured in your home and they file a lawsuit. In the case of increased living expenses, this policy helps cover the cost of staying someplace else after a covered loss renders your home uninhabitable. Guest medical protection is a coverage option that can help pay for medical expenses for someone who was injured at your home.  

What Doesn’t It Cover?

We’ve gone over what renter’s insurance covers, but what doesn’t it cover? The answer could vary based on different circumstances, but we will stick to the basics. Typically, renter’s insurance will not cover damage done by flooding, hurricanes, earthquakes, tornados, sinkholes, pests, or terrorism. When taking inventory of your personal items, it is important to check with your policy to see if a higher-ticket item will be covered in the event of a loss. If not, you may want to raise your coverage limits. Another important note to keep in mind is that if you have roommates, they will not be covered by your policy unless they are directly added onto the policy.

What If I Don’t Own Much?

In the end, you may think that your belongings aren’t worth much, but when it comes down to replacing the electronics, clothing, furniture, and even appliances, the price tag will grow very quickly. If you had a small house fire, this could still lead to thousands of dollars in repairs and replacement if it is needed. As we mentioned earlier, renter’s insurance is there to help protect you in case of the unexpected. You may believe disaster could never strike, but truly you cannot know. 

How Much Does Renter’s Insurance Cost?

As with most things, the insurance rate depends on a few factors and may be different based on those circumstances. These circumstances can be based on where you live, the type of policy you are looking to buy, and the value of the property you are insuring. In general, a basic renter’s insurance policy can cost between $10 and $20 a month, or $120 to $240 a year.

4 Signs You Need a Better Apartment Kitchen

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Your kitchen is where you will spend a lot of time in your apartment. Whether it is sectioned off or open-concept, your kitchen is likely close to your front door and is one of the first things people see when they enter your apartment. Regardless of whether you love to cook, you need a kitchen that is highly functional for apartment living. Here are 4 signs your kitchen is not good enough, and that you should consider searching for a new apartment.

Your light fixtures involve a fluorescent tube. If changing a lightbulb in your current kitchens involves removing a large rectangular fixture cover, it’s time for a change. A kitchen with track lighting or pendant lighting will modernize the space. And not only will it look more attractive, it will help you to see better when you cook, too. No one wants dim, poor lighting when they’re chopping vegetables with a sharp knife!

Your pantry is small or nonexistent. In some complexes, laundry hook-ups are found in the kitchen. It is great to have in-unit laundry, but this layout sacrifices much-needed storage space for dry goods, pots, and small appliances. More modern or luxury apartments feature plenty of pantry space for you to store the items you need.

Your kitchen has old vinyl floors and outdated cabinets. Old vinyl tiles can have a green/yellow hue that darkens a kitchen space rather than brightens it up. Other times, the cabinetry is simply too similar a shade of brown as the flooring. These days, modern apartments are built with a sharper eye towards design. A faux wood luxury vinyl floor in the kitchen, for example, with grey or white cabinets. This contrast in color creates a more open, airy look in a space that is likely smaller than a single-family home’s kitchen.

You don’t have a dishwasher. This one is a no-brainer. Anyone who has had to hand wash dishes day in and day out knows how tiring it can be. A dishwasher may seem like a luxury, but you can find them in most modern apartments. This is one that should be a “must have” on your list when you go apartment hunting!

If you’re looking for a new apartment after reading this article, we can help! MMC manages a number of great properties across Middle TN, including in Murfreesboro and Nashville. Check them out here!

Moving? Use these 6 Simple Moving Tips

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If you’re about to move into your new apartment, you are most likely stressing about the packing process. For some, packing and unpacking can be a very frustrating event and they absolutely dread moving for this reason. Instead of worrying about your valuables and items, use these 6 simple moving tips to securely pack your belongings and get your old and new apartment ready for the moving process.

1) Wrap all of your delicate belongings such as dishware, glass, and more in clothing instead of bubble wrap.

With the amount of delicate items you may need to pack, the amount of bubble wrap needed can be quite costly. Instead, save space and money by wrapping these items in t-shirts, pajama pants and other soft clothing items. Not only will you save your paycheck, but you’ll also pack two items at once.

2) Label your boxes with the items inside AND the room they belong in.

Instead of having to sift through all of your boxes to figure out what is inside and where it belongs, label this information ahead of time. This will save you time and frustration in the long run.

3) Pack your plates vertically to avoid damage or breaking.

Similar to packing your records, place your plates in a box vertically. This limits the chance of them breaking, and having to purchase an entirely new set of dinner plates upon moving in. Remember to wrap them in clothing to decrease the chances of damage even more!

4) Place small items or parts to hardware, furniture or technology in sandwich bags and properly label them.

Think about how many nuts and bolts are used in your cabinet, or to hang your flat screen TV on the wall! Imagine throwing all of those parts into an unorganized box and having to figure it out upon moving in. Be sure to put these tiny parts in a labeled sandwich bag and pack it near to the piece of furniture or hardware it belongs to.

5) Snap a picture of the wiring placement of electronics before packing or moving.

Your television, gaming console, DVD player, computer system and more use a lot of wires! Instead of trying to remember how to set up the wires in the proper place after moving in, simply take a picture with a camera or your smartphone and then set it up correctly the first time when you move in.

6) Donate.

One of the best ways to reduce the amount of belongings you need to pack and move is to donate any gently used, unwanted items to a local charity, donation center, or other organization such as Goodwill or the Salvation Army. The most commonly donated items include:

  • Clothing
  • Toys
  • Furniture
  • Dishware
  • Books

With these 6 simple tips, you’re ready to pack up and move into your brand new custom-built home! It’s an exciting time, so enjoy it and limit your stress about packing.

If you are thinking of moving and want a nice, professionally managed apartment in Murfreesboro, Smyrna, LaVergne or Nashville, MMC invites you to browse our communities! We hope you can find your new home with us.

What Boomers Want: 3 Ways to Attract the 30%

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Baby boomers are becoming 30 percent of apartment renters, selling their large homes after they become empty nesters. U.S. Census Data gathered by RENTCafe revealed that from 2007 to 2017, there was a 43 percent jump in the number of renters who were over age 60 living in cities with at least 100,000 residents.  Within the next decade, it is predicted that Baby Boomers will make up more than 30 percent of the rental market. What’s great about this statistic for multifamily properties is that Boomers tend to be financially stable and interested in stability. If they choose to rent with you, then it is likely they plan to stay awhile. Here’s what to keep in mind to attract this demographic:

  1. Amenities. Amenities. Amenities. (And a quick, dependable maintenance crew.) In 2018, Forbes writer Susan Tjarksen reported, “Baby boomer renters want a unit maintained for them while they travel: they want their pets watched, they want their plants watered, they want their groceries delivered. So, buildings that provide these services will have an easier time attracting the boomer demographic.” Downsizing is often done for the sake of an easier lifestyle. If your renters see that they can have a beautiful green yard without having to mow or weed it themselves, if they know that should they have a plumbing issue it will be repaired within a reasonable time frame, they’ll be happy calling your apartment complex home. This is why luxury apartments, such as the beautiful and conveniently located Vintage Burkitt Station in South Nashville, are so attractive to older renters.
  2. Community-building gathering spaces. Many boomers are only working part-time, which means they’re looking to fill their schedules with intentional socializing and even on-site programming. That means you want to invest in outdoor patios and grills, furniture that invites socializing in corners, and even regular clubs and lessons on your property. Consider coordinating with area businesses for cooking demos, wine tastings, or Bridge and Bunco nights. And don’t neglect the opportunity for sidewalks or a fitness center. You’d be surprised how well it can double as both a standing appointment and a social hour. “Health-oriented communities are huge, especially for the older and younger groups of renters,” writes Multifamily Executive’s Lindsay Machack. “The fitness center is always the No. 1 amenity.”
  3. Living space with square footage. Some Boomers will have a hard time parting with furniture and keepsakes, which means they may not be willing to adjust to as small of a space as, say, their millennial counterparts. This may make an open concept living space most desirable. You also want to try to offer storage by way of closets, a laundry space, or a garage.

Property Management for Luxury Apartments in Middle Tennessee

MMC Properties, Inc. has years of experience providing top-notch property management for both standard and luxury apartments. To see the difference working with a professional, local property management company can make, please get in touch with us to talk at (615) 849-9006!

Making Your Apartment Pet-Friendly

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Have you brought a furry friend home? If so, you need to make sure that you and your apartment are ready to accommodate a pet. From cleaning to preventing damage to ensuring that they don’t get ahold of your personal items, you must ensure that your apartment is fully ready for your new pet.

Make Sure You’re Within Apartment Regulations

This is your first step. You may balk at your apartment’s pet fee and believe you can get away with not telling management you’ve adopted a pet. You would be wrong. For both your safety and the animal’s, you must be upfront with your apartment management and go through the proper channels. If you are found out, your lease could be voided and you would be forced to vacate your apartment. Not to mention the dangers of maintenance workers entering your apartment while you’re away, potentially letting your pet (which they are not expecting to encounter) escape. After you have your pet deposit and any other paperwork in order, here are some steps you may want to take to make your apartment more friendly for your pet.

Invest In a Great Vacuum

If you’ve added a dog or a cat to your family, it’s time to invest in a strong vacuum. Your new cat or dog WILL shed and cause hair and fur balls to accumulate around your home. Depending on the color of your pet’s hair, it may or may not show up in your carpet and on your floor and clothes. Even if your apartment is small, a good vacuum is a great investment. Hair and fur might be even more visible in smaller spaces.

Take Measures to Prevent Damage

From tracking mud and dirt onto the carpet to scratching the paint on doors and walls, pets can cause a lot of damage in a rented space. That’s why apartments ask for a pet deposit. If your pet caused no damage, you get it back. Who doesn’t want their money back? In addition, you don’t want your apartment to have to actually use the pet deposit since the repairs will take up time they could get another resident into the unit. It’s respectful to them to take the proper measures. This can include spraying furniture with anti-chew spray for dogs, putting double-sided tape on furniture, walls, and doors so cats won’t scratch, keeping your window blinds up during the day, and perhaps even keeping pets out of areas with carpet or putting a rug over the carpet so it’s not ruined in an accident. Rugs are easier to clean than carpet is.

Reorganize Your Space

Do you have a lot of items, electronics, or clothing situated towards the ground? If so, it’s time to reorganize your apartment and put those items higher up on shelves. Your new pet could snatch up your clothes and items thinking they are brand new toys! It’s especially important to make sure all valuable items are kept out of reach!

Purchase Clean Toys and Treats

Some pet toys and treats are known for ripping to shreds, leaving crumbs or even resulting in giant messes. Instead of purchasing these toys, look for toys that will not leave a mess or a trail behind after your dog or cat plays!

Is your current apartment too small or not right for you and your pet? Check out the many communities MMC has to offer in Murfreesboro, Smyrna, LaVergne and Nashville.

Simple Tips for Adding a Guest Room to Your Apartment

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Whether you have a one-bedroom apartment or three-bedroom, you can still create a space that guests will want to use when they come to visit you. Here are some tips for making your apartment guest room feel like home.

Comfort is Key

The most important feature in a guest bedroom is (you guessed it!) the bed. If you have a spare bedroom, you can create a nice guest bed without breaking the bank. Look at consignment shops or online resale services such as Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace to find a gently used bed frame. If you’re able to, purchase a new mattress for the guest bed instead of repurposing an old one you already have. If you have a one bedroom apartment, you can still make room for guests by adding a sleeper sofa or even purchasing a blow-up mattress. Sleeper sofas are great because they are multi-purpose and won’t take up storage room like an air mattress would. Modern sleeper sofas have cleverly disguised mattresses and look just like normal sofas.
Make sure you use soft and breathable fabrics for the bed linens. No one wants a houseguest who didn’t get any sleep. Do a trial run by sleeping on the guest bed yourself for a night or two. By doing this, you can make sure the bedding is comfortable and there is nothing that may cause your guests discomfort.

Like a Hotel, but Better

Another top tip for creating a guest room is to base it off of the best hotel you’ve ever stayed in. What made the stay so memorable? One thing you can easily do to make your guest room (or “room”) feel like a 5 star hotel is to focus on the little things. Just like a hotel, you want your guest room to be a home away from home for visiting family and friends. It’s important to stock the room with anything your guests may have forgotten, such as extra blankets and robes, clothes hangers, toothbrushes and toothpaste, toilet paper, soap and shampoo, a hair dryer, and even extra phone chargers. If you do not have a separate room, you can still keep these items on hand for guests who visit.

Keep Them Entertained

Guests need entertainment as well as comfort. Add a shelf with a few books or magazines on various topics. Make sure to provide a bedside light so guests can comfortably do their reading snuggled up under the blankets. If you put a TV in the guest room, consider leaving your streaming services logged in and create a “guest” user for them to browse on. Last but certainly not least, don’t forget to write the Wifi password in a place that’s easy to find!

One, Two, and Three Bed Apartments in Murfreesboro and Surrounding Areas

If you need a new apartment in a professionally managed community with room for guests, look no further than MMC Properties.

Using Technology to Protect Your Apartment

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If you rent an apartment, even if you have renter’s insurance, you can still take steps to protect your possessions. Technology is constantly changing and improving, and (as long as it is permitted by your complex) there are now some rather impressive and very effective systems available to protect your apartment and its contents. 

Smart Doorbells

This is not your average doorbell. A smart system features a camera that can show you who is outside your door – even if you are not home. Many smart doorbells also allow the resident to speak to doorbell-users via intercom. Since thieves will often knock or ring doorbells to check if an apartment is occupied, being able to see and speak to any visitor, threatening or not, is an attractive security advantage. If you are able to respond to the potential thief, making them think you are home, they may well leave your apartment alone.

Smart Locks

In our modern age, no one should be leaving a spare key under a doormat or plant – especially at an apartment complex where anyone could be watching. These common hiding spots are the first place a burglar will look, and unless you check the spot every day your key could be stolen, copied, and returned without you ever knowing. A smart lock system gives you the ability to lock and unlock your exterior doors from anywhere at any time. Many systems allow you to check the status of your locks remotely, and some will alert you to any attempt to tamper with the lock. You can also create codes for people you need to let into your home. It is important to note that your smart lock system will need strong encryption and two-factor authentication (such as a passcode and a fingerprint) in order to be safe from hackers. As with any alteration to your rental, make sure you check with your apartment management team to ensure smart locks are allowed, and to notify them in case the maintenance team needs into your unit.

Video Monitor Systems

Similar to smart doorbells, a video monitoring system allows you to check up on your apartment even when you’re far away. However, these systems take the surveillance a step further since they can monitor any areas of your home that you wish – your only limitation is where you can set up a camera! If you want to install cameras that give you views out of multiple windows, you can do so, and you’ll be safer for it. Some video monitoring systems even allow users to set up virtual boundaries and the system will alert you if the boundary is breached. Again, it is important to notify your complex that you have set up these safety measures.

Full-Service Security Companies

There are many companies, large and small, that offer full-service security systems. These companies will often install the system for you and take care of most of the monitoring themselves. If you don’t feel comfortable with the DIY approach to home security or are not able to access something like a smart doorbell camera from your cell phone, a full-service company may be a good option for you.

We hope you never need the safety measures that these technological devices afford, but it can give you great peace of mind to know they are there.

Why You Should Rent an Apartment In A Growing Area

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When it comes to renting an apartment, several factors can determine which community is right for you. Whether you are looking to be close to schools, fun activities, or to save on rent, sometimes the best place to rent an apartment is an up-and-coming area with a lot of promise.

There are many benefits to renting an apartment in a growing area on top of the existing benefits of apartment living. No matter what you are looking for in an apartment, do yourself a favor and check out the communities in an emerging neighborhood; they have a lot to offer!

Lower Prices

The most obvious benefit of renting an apartment in a growing area would be lower costs. The more established areas that are in the most convenient locations will have higher rental costs when compared to neighboring areas that are still developing. With a less popular area comes fewer nearby shopping and amenities and perhaps longer commutes to work, so be careful and do your research. The positives can, however, outweigh the negatives. 

Growth Is Exciting!

Being a part of a growing area is very exciting. You will be well established and familiar with the area as you watch it grow from trendy part of town to a highly sought-after neighborhood. This can happen fast, even if you only live in your apartment for a year.

Usually located near larger cities, growing neighborhoods are never far from the action. As larger cities fill up and more people come to the emerging neighborhoods near them, the shops, restaurants, and other activities shortly follow. More than just things to do, smaller, up-and-coming neighborhoods each have their own unique character and culture.

Renting Can Be Smarter Than Buying

The opposite of what everyone always tells you, renting a house or apartment can indeed be smarter than buying a home. If you are unsure whether you want to remain in the area you’re currently in for years to come, you should not be buying a house there just for the sake of buying a house. A general rule is that if you want to stay in an area for 5 years or more, it might be best to buy. However, if you do not want to stay that long, if you’re a college student, or if you just are not ready for all of the extras that come with homeownership, renting is probably the path for you. 

Rentals In Murfreesboro, Smyrna, La Vergne, and South Nashville

For rentals at great prices in growing areas of Middle Tennessee, check out our communities!

Thanksgiving Safety Tips

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Most of us see Thanksgiving day as a time for joy. Making memories is the only thing on our to-do list while we kick off the holiday season with good food and family. However, believe it or not, Thanksgiving is one of the most dangerous days of the year for those that host it. With all that cooking, socializing, and drinking (sometimes too much!) happening in the same place, tragic accidents occur every year on this otherwise great holiday. Keep reading to learn more about how to protect your apartment or rental home when the festivities start.

Prevent Cooking Fires

Nothing stops the festivities cold turkey like a fire. Unsurprisingly, cooking is the leading cause of home and apartment fires on Thanksgiving. Make sure you don’t leave cooking food unattended. If you’re frying a turkey, first make sure your complex allows it. Then make sure to keep the fryer outdoors and away from all structures that can catch on fire. Ask your apartment manager to check your smoke alarms beforehand to ensure that they’re in good working condition in case a fire does break out, know where your fire extinguishers are, and keep baking soda close by to nip flames in the bud. 

Diminish the Risk of Injury

Of course, burns are a likelihood on Thanksgiving, but the chances of a scald or burn can be reduced by refraining from wearing loose clothing or dangling sleeves while cooking, and keeping children at least 3 feet away from the stove at all times. 

Also be cautious of which family member gets to wield the large carving knife, even if they swear they’re the man or woman for the job! Remain aware of who has been drinking, and be prepared to discreetly reduce the flow of alcohol if it appears that some folks have had more than their share. These may sound like obvious warnings, but knife and alcohol-related accidents are two of the biggest reasons for emergency room visits on Thanksgiving!

Secure Your Doors and Windows

Hosts aren’t the only ones who need to watch out for their homes on Thanksgiving. Break-ins always increase around the holidays because burglars know that people are less likely to be home. If you have to travel for Thanksgiving, especially if you’re gone for several days, be sure to set your burglar alarm if you have it, put lights on timers, and let the apartment staff and trustworthy neighbors know when you’ll return so they can report any suspicious activity to the police.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Remember, Thanksgiving is a day to enjoy. Remain vigilant of safety concerns but don’t forget to have fun with it!