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Are you relocating for a new job? Have you chosen to move in with a significant other? If youre a renter who needs to break a lease to move out of an apartment, youre not alone”but it could cost you.

A lease is a legally binding contract between you and your landlord, and if you decide to terminate that agreement early without legal grounds, your landlord can impose penalties. Although every lease is different, you might be subject to fees, have to pay for the remaining months of your lease, or forfeit your security deposit. Even worse, not paying a required penalty could destroy your credit and lead to a lawsuit.

Check Your Lease
If youre considering breaking your lease, find and thoroughly read the rental agreement you signed. Look for an early termination or opt-out clause that specifies rules and penalties. If your lease doesnt have an opt-out clause, you could be responsible for paying rent for the rest of your lease period.

Know Your Rights
There are legitimate reasons for breaking a lease that protect you from penalties. The laws vary by state, but legal reasons might include an uninhabitable property, military duty, a serious illness or domestic abuse. Research your local laws, and if you believe your landlord isnt honoring your rights, consult a tenant union or seek legal advice. Unfortunately, getting married, finding a new job and buying a home arent legitimate reasons to break a lease.

Talk to Your Landlord
One of the best ways to avoid penalties is to be upfront and appeal to your landlords softer side. If you explain your reason for breaking the lease, a landlord might be sympathetic and decide to waive or lessen penalties, especially if youve been a good tenant. Most importantly, make sure to give your landlord as much notice as possible”no one likes being caught off guard. Plus, the longer the notice period, the more time a landlord will have to find a new tenant before you move out.

Help Find a Replacement
In many states, the landlord is required to make reasonable efforts to find a new tenant if you break a lease. However, you could still be on the hook for rent for the remainder of your lease term until a replacement is found, or you might have to pay the entire balance if the landlord doesnt re-rent the apartment in time. Offer to help your landlord find a replacement. In addition to saving you some money, the gesture could make the landlord feel better about the situation and more open to working out a solution with you.

One option is to sublet your apartment to someone whos willing to take over the remainder of your lease. Keep in mind that you could still be held accountable for any damage caused by the subtenant or missed rent payments. Discuss the option with your landlord, and make sure to find a responsible subtenant you can trust, such as a friend or family member.

You could also take steps to find a new renter. Advertise a listing on websites like Craigslist, and ask people in your social media network whether theyre looking for a new place to live. The landlord will need to sign off on the potential tenant, though, and might require background and credit checks.

Get It in Writing
Regardless of what you and your landlord agree on, make sure to get the deal in writing. Include details such as payments, refunds, timelines and any other important terms of the agreement. This could help protect you later on if your landlord has a change of heart and the matter ends up in court.

Breaking a lease isnt optimal, but if new circumstances make you decide to move out of an apartment early, be honest with your landlord and explore your options to avoid or lessen penalties. In the end, though, you might need to accept the fact that you need to pay up.

This article is intended for informational purposes only and should not be construed as professional or legal advice.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

No one wants to think too much about garbage, but its actually pretty important, especially when you move into a new home. Thats because without the right equipment and without knowledge of your towns rules and regulations regarding collection, you can end up with uncollected trash, and a smelly situation.

Know the schedule: Your local townships website should let you know when garbage pickup is in your neighborhood. Its best to put everything out the night before, in case your sanitation workers come very early in the morning. Also find out which holidays affect pickup, and when the makeup day is.

Recycling regulations: Virtually all municipalities have some sort of system involving recycling. Chances are youll have to separate glass, cardboard, and newspaper, but youll need to find out if your town provides receptacles for these or if you need to get your own.

Other rules: Most towns have standards regarding putting your garbage out. For example, if Monday is your trash collection day, you may not be allowed to put your garbage out earlier than, say, 3 p.m. on Sunday.

In the fall, find out when leaf collection is, and if leaves need to be bagged or simply raked to the curb. There also may be limits on the size and weight of garbage cans, and restrictions on the collection of items such as electronics and pool chemicals.

Buy the right garbage can: This may seem simple, but there are a lot of options out there. Obviously, you need a garbage can because putting bags out at your curb is an invitation for animals to invade your trash for food. But wind can knock over cans or blow the lid off, which creates the same situation. Invest in a quality garbage can that is sturdy and isnt easy to tip over, and which has an attached lid.

Special pickup: Lets say you take on a home improvement project, such as installing a new floor or renovating your bathroom. This is likely to create a large amount of trash and debris that cannot be placed in cans. Your town may have regulations as to how to prepare these things for collection, or you may need to rent special bins or receptacles. Otherwise, you may be responsible for carting the materials to your local municipal dump.

Following local trash collection regulations can make your life easier, and help you become a good neighbor.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

What is wabi-sabi you ask? Its an ancient Japanese philosophy and way of life thats ready to transform your living space. At the core of wabi-sabi is the notion that nothing is permanent nor perfect. When applied to interior design, the concept is focused on creating a simple environment that celebrates natural beauty and puts you at peace with your surroundings.

If this sounds like it could be something for you, then here are a few tips to bring wabi-sabi style into your home.

Imperfection is Beautiful

A main pillar of the philosophy is about embracing the quirks and imperfections of life. An antique tray thats chipped or a handmade mug thats slightly lopsided, for example, is not flawed, but authentic. In many ways, its about accepting things that are beyond your control and finding the beauty in them.

Look to Nature

Natural materials convey a sense of impermanence that embodies wabi-sabi. Reclaimed woods, distressed leathers, and stones that have developed a patina are a reminder that life is constantly changing and nothing lasts forever. With age, however, these items often tell a story and become more significant than when they were new.

Live Simply

Wabi-sabi subscribes to the idea that every item in your home should contribute to the overall energy of the living space and make you feel good. In some ways, this overlaps with minimalism because it means you could probably live without all that extra stuff that ends up in piles around the house. On the other hand, you dont necessarily have to strip your aesthetic down to the bare bones. As long as an object holds true value to you, its worth keeping. The goal is for your home to feel calming and evoke nostalgia. Some even describe it as a sense of melancholic beauty.

Ultimately, wabi-sabi is for those who see that true beauty and wisdom cannot be bought, but come with age, and those who apply its principles to their home will be rewarded with a cozy environment thats thoughtfully curated.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

A damaged chimney is a fire hazard. Some problems can be identified by a homeowner, but many are only noticeable to a professional under specific conditions. If you see any signs of a problem, contact a chimney repair company. You should also have your chimney cleaned and inspected regularly.

Common Chimney Problems
Moisture in a chimney or fireplace can cause rust in the firebox or on the damper. Even if you dont see rust on the damper, if its difficult to use or doesnt seal well, it may be rusting. Rust can also cause the flue lining to crack, which can lead to a house fire. A chimney sweep will need a special camera to identify a cracked flue liner.

If water enters brick, it can cause the surface to peel or flake off or to pop out in a process called spalling. Pieces on the outside of the chimney can fall off, and the problem will only get worse if it isnt repaired.

Efflorescence, or white staining on the chimney, is caused by moisture in the masonry. Stains can be cleaned easily, but cleaning doesnt address the underlying issue. If the moisture problem isnt dealt with, the chimney can deteriorate.

If you have wallpaper near the chimney, it can be damaged by moisture. You should have the chimney inspected and repaired.

Shaling is a process in which the chimneys flue lining is damaged and thin pieces of chimney tile come loose and accumulate in the fireplace. Shaling can make the chimney unsafe to use. If chimney tiles are cracked but have not yet started to crumble, you may not recognize a shaling problem, which is why a professional inspection is so important. A shaling flue liner can be replaced with a stainless steel liner thatll last longer.

Damaged mortar joints can quickly worsen. Water can enter cracks in bricks and then freeze and thaw, which can eventually cause the chimney to collapse. Damaged mortar joints may be impossible to spot from the ground, but a professional will be able to identify them through a rooftop inspection.

A chimney crown protects the chimney from rain and snow. If its cracked, water can seep in, freeze and thaw, causing the cracks to grow. Moisture can also seep in between the chimney and liner and lead to shaling and spalling. If the chimney crown is cracked, it and the chimney can be weatherproofed to prevent further damage.

Have Your Chimney Cleaned and Checked for Damage
Many people assume that a chimney doesnt need much maintenance and take it for granted, completely unaware that their homes have serious fire hazards. If you notice any of these issues, have your chimney inspected and repaired. You should also schedule regular cleanings and inspections so problems can be detected and dealt with early.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

As hard as we try, it often seems like there’s never enough space for everything we want to do. However, if you’re a homeowner who finally won the war on clutter, you might be wondering what to do with a now-empty garage.

Here are five great ideas for what you can do to transform your garage:

Home Gym
If you want to work out but hate schlepping to the gym, turn your empty garage into a versatile home gym. Depending on which types of exercise you prefer, you can look online for inexpensive pieces of equipment. You can check out local yard sales or go online to find gently used equipment. You can also invest in mats, free weights and whatever else motivates you to work out.

Playroom
As your family continues to grow, you might find yourself with less wiggle room. If your garage is suitable, you can transform it into a kids’ sanctuary where they can play in the sand, have painting stations and even play on a few low-sitting swings. The key is to make the space as child-friendly as possible, so that means upgrading your garage door opener, if necessary. It’s important if you do use your garage as a playroom that your little ones aren’t able to open the garage door. In addition, don’t forget to pad the floor with high-quality padding and carpeting for your little ones to play on.

Spare Bedroom
If you love to entertain but simply don’t have the room for overnight guests, you can transform your garage into a spare room. But before you start decorating, you need to make sure the space is insulated to keep guests warm. You also want to make sure it remains pest-free. Depending on the space, you might need only a coat of paint and a comfy bed to make your guests feel at home, or you may also need to invest in carpeting.

Office Space
You can use your garage to create the home office of your dreams. Even if it’s only in a corner of the garage, you can liven things up with a fresh coat of paint and new office furniture. Since the floor is probably concrete, you can easily warm things up by using throw rugs around your workspace. The garage makes a great office space because it’s separate from the rest of the home, meaning you’ll have minimal distractions.

Mudroom
If you need a place to store coats, boots and book bags without cluttering up your entryway, use your garage as a mudroom. With a little creativity and elbow grease, you can install wall hooks for everyone’s coats, as well as backpacks. You can also create a space where your family can leave wet umbrellas and muddy shoes outside.

When it comes to making use of an empty garage, there are a lot of things you can do. The key is knowing how to make the most of the space without pushing your budget.

Source: Anita Ginsburg/RISMedias Housecall

Published with permission from RISMedia.