When renting a home, there are limited options to customize the home just the way you want it. Unlike owning the property, a tenant can’t make any major renovations. There is also no reason to spend money improving a property when the improvements would only benefit the property owner in the long term. There are small things that can be done, with the approval from a landlord, that is inexpensive and can make your rental unit feel like a home. If your intention is to live in the property for a few years, consider making minor changes like replacing light fixtures to update the look. Here’s how to replace a light fixture: 

Step 1: Turn off the power

You don’t want to accidentally electrocute yourself so go to your breaker board and flip the breakers off. If you turn off just the light switch, there is still a possibility you can be electrocuted. You can also get a non-contact voltage tester pen to test the wires before starting just to be sure you turned off the correct breakers. 

Step 2: Remove the light bulbs

This will allow you to unscrew the light fixture easier and ensure you don’t accidentally break any light bulbs in the process of removing the fixture. 

Step 3: Unscrew nuts and screws

Unscrew any nut or screw that is holding the fixture base to the ceiling box. Make sure to keep the screws somewhere where you won’t lose them, just in case you need them for attaching your new fixture. 

Step 4: Detach fixture

Once you have removed all the screws and nuts, let the fixture drop exposing the connecting wires. Remove all of the electrical tape or wire nuts from the black(hot) wire, the white (neutral) wire, and if present, the green(ground) wire. 

Step 5: Attach new fixture

Use wire nuts to connect the wires from the fixture to the corresponding wires from the ceiling. Connect the black (hot) wire to the black wire, the white (neutral) wire to the white, and secure them with the wire nuts. Attach the ground wire to the ground screw which comes with the new fixture.

Step 6: Connect fixture base to the ceiling box

Gather the screws and nuts that came with the new light fixture. Raise the new fixture and align it with the proper holes and tighten the screws and the nuts securing the new light fixture to the ceiling box. 

Step 7: Attach remaining parts

Once you’ve secured the fixture properly, put in the new light bulbs. Make sure you’re using the correct bulbs recommended for the specific light fixture. After screwing in the bulbs, attach the light cover. The last thing to do is turn the breakers back on and test the light fixture to make sure everything works properly. 

Getting help

This project can be easier if you have someone to help you with the installation. Especially if that person has experience with changing light fixtures. If you are renting an older home or apartment, there is a possibility the wiring attached to the ceiling box may need to be changed in order to prevent overheating and possible electrical fires. If you’re unsure if your home falls into this category, or aren’t comfortable replacing the fixture yourself, you can hire an electrician or contact your landlord and ask for help.

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When it comes to finding great value in a rental unit, first, you have to determine what it is you are looking for in a home. How many rooms do you need? How much square footage are you looking for? What part of town do you want to live in? How far is the commute to work? Is there easy access to public transit? What amenities are you looking for? And most importantly, what is your budget?

The general rule of thumb when it comes to how much rent you should pay is to not exceed more than 30 percent of your income. If rent is 1,500 dollars a month, you should earn at least 5,000 dollars a month. Ideally, you would want to find a rental unit at 20 percent of your income or slightly below in order to help save money. 

Location location location

One way to save money on rent would be to live farther away from the urban center. This all depends on how far you are willing to commute for work and how important living near all the entertainment and amenities of the urban center is to you. One way this can be possible and made easier is if the area away from the urban center has easy access to a train or light rail system which can make travel to the area easy. 

While living far away from a downtown area can give your the most value for rent, there are ways to find a good deal closer to the urban center. One thing to look for is a rental unit near public transit that doesn’t have a reserved parking spot. Because most people own a car, the demand for a unit without parking can be lower which means the rent should be cheaper than units with reserved parking. 

Start searching early

Start searching at least three months before you intend on moving. You don’t want to be put in a predicament where you have given your landlord a 30-day notice and you’re unable to find a place with good value, or even worse, unable to find a place at all. With a constrained housing supply, it is important to exercise even more caution when deciding to move and looking for a new place. This also hinders your ability to negotiate a lower rent. If you do live in a region with a sufficient supply of housing, negotiating a lower rent does become an option. 

Talk to current tenants

If you are looking at a unit in a complex, talk to some of the current residents to get a feel for what you should expect from living there. Find out how much others are paying in rent to see if you would be getting a good deal or if you’re dealing with price gouging. 

Landlords and property managers do everything they can to vet their tenants and there is no reason why tenants shouldn’t be able to do the same for landlords and property managers. You should find out how responsive they are to repairs, how respectful they are of the privacy of their tenants, and if they are reasonable about rent increases when leases are renewed.

If you do find a reputable property management company, you can always search their site, like Ziprent, to see the available units they manage. 

Do a walkthrough

Before you sign any lease, make sure you do a thorough walkthrough. You’ll want to make sure everything is working properly and you won’t get stuck with nonfunctional aspects you may then be held responsible for. Here’s what to inspect: 

• Check all the lights, faucets, and toilets throughout the unit to make sure they are working properly
• Check for any kind of infestation in the unit. Look in storage spaces and in cabinets for any sort of droppings, dead bugs, or chew marks. 
• Check all the outlets to make sure they work. One way to do this is with a cell phone charger. 
• Check all the safety equipment like smoke detectors and fire extinguishers 
• Check all the doors and windows to make sure they open, close, and lock. 
• Check all the appliances to make sure they’re working
• Examine the floors and walls for any damage. This will help ensure you don’t get charged for any damages.
• Take pictures of any potential issues with your phone to document them with your landlord/property manager before signing the lease.

Everyone wants to make their home feel like a home. Unfortunately, as a tenant, you are limited in your ability to make your home just the way you like it. Since you don’t own the property, there is no reason to spend money on big upgrades since you may not be there for long.

There are minor changes that can be made to make your home feel like your home. One quick and inexpensive option is to mount your TV on your wall. This is a simple task that can be done on your own but is beneficial to have a second person to assist you. 

What you will need

• Stud finder
• Level
• Paper template (optional)
• Pencil or masking tape
• Tape measure 
• Power drill
•  drill bit
• Philips head or flathead screwdriver
• TV mount
• Included mounting hardware

Selecting the right position

Ideally, you’ll want to select a wall where the TV can be centered in front of the seating area. You’ll also want to select a wall with an outlet and access to the cable or satellite. With smart TVs and the option to cut the cord and just use streaming services, it can allow for more options of which wall to choose.

You’ll also want to make sure you’re positioning the TV at the proper height and distance from the seating area. This will depend on both your TV size and the height of your couches and chairs. You’ll want to position the TV at around eye level. Some TVs attach to the wall mount at the bottom of the TV, and others at the center. You’ll want to figure out which one your TV is before deciding where to install the wall mount. 

Find the studs

The drywall won’t be strong enough to hold the weight of the mounted TV. You’ll need to find the studs in order to mount the TV. You can use the knocking method if you don’t have a stud-finder, but a stud-finder is the best option and they are inexpensive. Once you find the studs, mark the location with a pencil so it can be erased later. 

Mark drill location

Once you have found the studs, you’ll need to mark the location where you need to drill the holes. You can use a level to make sure the holes are all aligned or you can trace the bracket on a piece of paper and use that as a guide for where to mark the holes. If you use the paper, be sure to double-check with the level to make sure it isn’t slanted before marking the wall. 

Double-check with bracket

Before you drill the pilot holes, you’ll want to make sure they are properly aligned with the bracket. Place the bracket flat against the wall to see if the pencil marks are in the correct position. Use the level to make sure there is no slant as well. 

Drill the holes

You’ll want to check with the instructions on the wall mount to make sure you’re using the correct drill bit. Once you have the correct drill bit, drill the pilot holes. 

Attach the mounting plate

Your TV will have designated holes in the back where a mounting plate can be screwed on. Some TVs have them towards the bottom, and others in the middle. You’ll want to lay down a clean towel on the ground and lay the screen side down flat. Get the property screwdriver and use it to connect the mounting place to the TV.

Make sure you don’t tighten the screws too much as this can ruin the TV. Tighten them just enough so they are secure, but not as right as you possibly can. 

Install the wall mount

Now that you have the pilot holes ready, place the mount over the holes and use a screwdriver, power drill, or ratchet to secure the mount against the wall. You’ll want to make sure the mount isn’t loose or wiggling in any way, but you’ll also want to make sure you haven’t tightened it too much. If the mount is warped or bent, that means it is too tight and you’ll need to loosen it up a bit. 

Attach the TV to the mounted bracket

Now that the mounting plate has been secured to the TV, you’ll need to attach the mounting plate to the wall mount. This is where having an extra set of hands can be extremely helpful to make sure you don’t damage your TV. Be sure to live the TV by the bottoms and the sides, and don’t put any pressure on the screen. 

Be sure to follow the specific instructions based on the wall mount you bought. You will need to elevate the TV to the level of the mount or slightly over so it can be dropped in. Once you have done that, there will be some level to secure the mounting plate to the mount. That will involve either a clip or a screw of some sort. 

Connect the TV

The only thing left to do is to connect the TV to the power source and any cable box or video game system which needs connecting and you’re done.