Advice for Renting Apartments in Gainesville, FL

Thinking about bringing your pet to Gainesville? Having a pet at your apartment is a great way to feel more at home. Although it is an added responsibility, having a pet can help to reduce stress and improve overall happiness.

It’s important to talk with your roommates before bringing an animal to your apartment. It is also important to make sure animals are allowed. Some apartment complexes only allow certain animals, while some do not allow any at all. Following the rules of your new apartment complex is important. You should become aware of pet guidelines at your apartment BEFORE you move in.

If you already have a pet, you can use Swamp Rentals’ real-time apartment search to see which apartment complexes allow pets and which do not.

Pet preference might also be a part of roommate matching, so it’s important to be honest about your animal with the people you are going to live with. Some potential roommates might be allergic, and it would be unfair to lie about having a pet, and forcing someone to live in undesirable conditions.

If you’re apartment complex and roommates are okay with your pet, make sure it stays that way. Remember he/she is your responsibility. Always feed your animal, and keep it (and things like it’s litter box, etc.) clean. Not only will this help your roommates adjust to your pet, but it is also key to keeping you pet healthy and happy in your new Gainesville apartment!

Looking for a new apartment? It gets pretty hot in Gainesville. So if you want daily pool access, you might want to look for an apartment complex that has a pool.

While there are lots of apartments with pools in Gainesville, you should start by deciding which area of Gainesville you want to live in, and going from there.

Some pools are kept super clean and are only for residents to use, while others have more relaxed rules and still others are at party apartments with huge pool parties all the time. If you are looking for somewhere quieter to live, a party apartment might not be the best choice for you. At some complexes, however, you can choose if you’d like to live poolside, or elsewhere on the premises.

If you are actually wanting to go swimming, it might be a better choice for you to choose an apartment with pool monitors, who make sure only residents or guests of residents are at the pool. This helps to maintain a clean and quiet pool area.

Most important is safety. I have never been to a pool in Gainesville that has a lifeguard. So remember you are swimming at your own risk and be careful!

The problem with reviews about Gainesville apartments is that they are incredibly biased… in a number of ways. Remember, upset renters are 10 times more likely to post a negative apartment review than renters who are happy with their apartments are to post a positive apartment review. This alone makes it hard to trust an apartment review.

Think about it… if you’re happy with your apartment in Gainesville, then what’s the chance that you’d take the time to write a review? If the apartment has delivered what they promised, in most cases, they become an afterthought.

Now, we’ll be the first to admit, not every single leasing agent at every single Gainesville apartment delivers the most courteous service or the most prompt maintenance 100% of the time. People do make mistakes. And there are residents that unfortunately have a legitimate reason to write a negative apartment review. But in our experience, most negative apartment reviews come from tenants who didn’t uphold their end of the lease.

Many times it’s someone who is late with their rent… or tries to sneak in a pet when pets aren’t allowed… or plays music really loud… or has visitors park in resident-only parking. If the apartment management is any good, chances are, they will warn, fine, or evict the tenant. If you’re living in an apartment next to that rowdy tenant, you’d probably want to see him throw out too! In our experience, the vast majority of negative apartment reviews in Gainesville come from people doing just that.

For all of the reasons above, we don’t trust apartment reviews and therefore don’t have them on our website.

By the way, if you found our page because you’re someone who is searching for a website with Gainesville apartment reviews in order to post a negative review… I would highly suggest that you calmly take your complaint to the leasing manager or the general manager of your apartment community. My guess is that they’ll do anything that they can to fix the problem with your apartment or lease. Or they will explain why they cannot accommodate you. Remember… the last thing that an apartment in Gainesville wants to do is run off a potential renter.

Life is becoming more and more on-the-go, it seems like I never have much time to go out of my way and be environmentally friendly. But from recycling to reusing, there are a bunch of ways I found that I can help out the environment without any inconvenience - even while saving extra cash. To make it easy, UF, Shands, and lots of Gainesville employers are placing recycling bins around these days where I can throw away papers or plastics instead of throwing them in the garbage can. Gainesville apartments are joining in as well… most apartments offer paper, glass, and plastics recycling.

In order to save paper, I’m always using scrap pieces and making sure to print using both sides of each sheet. I also bookmark pages on the web instead of printing them out. Little things add up and help cut down on paper costs and waste build-up.

Another way I saved money and cut down on garbage was by buying a permanent set of plates and silverware for my apartment at the beginning of the year. That way, I didn’t have to keep buying plastic utensils and plates and throwing them away after a one-time use. Carrying around a water bottle does the same thing. I drink a lot of water so always having water on me is a must. I fill up my bottle in the morning and keep it full throughout the day, avoiding extra trash and saving money on the purchase of water bottles.

One of the biggest ways I am “green” is by keeping a sand glass timer in the shower. By the time the sand reaches the bottom after turning it, I know it’s been 5 minutes. It’s a fun competition to see if I can “beat the clock”. This way helps me keep my showers quick and saves a load of money on my apartment’s water bill. There are so many ways to be “green” without it cutting into your busy schedule. I always feel good knowing that I’m helping out the environment while leaving me that extra cash I can spend at the mall!

A new apartment and roommates is very exciting and should be lots of fun, but it’s important to make time for you AND for your schoolwork. Some things that help me keep track of my time and stay organized are keeping a calendar, with important dates, like when I have a meeting or an exam. Another is to keep a planner. A planner is portable, so unlike a calendar I can take it with me anywhere. Keeping it with me to writing things down as they come up, makes it easy. Instead of having to remember if or when I have other things to do, I can keep my planner with me, so that I don’t overextend myself.

Your new apartment may need cleaning every once in a while, so you can add your day to clean on your calendar. This will make your roommates happy, and happy roommates means a happy apartment. It also means they won’t bug you while you are trying to do your homework or study.

Coordinating schedules with your new roommates may also make your apartment a better place to live. If everyone is aware of each other’s important events, it will be easier to respect each others’ time and space. The apartment is being rented by everyone, and everyone should be able to use it how they please.

Saving up money for college is a great idea, but after moving into a new apartment, you have to pay rent, buying food, books, toilet paper! Money can disappear pretty quickly. It’s important to learn how to live on a budget, but even more important than that, is to actually stick to it.

I had to learn this the hard way. When I got to Gainesville, I felt like I could do anything, and at the time, I had the money to. But money is easy come easy go. Learning to keep track of your money, and only spending it on things you need, will help you to stretch what you have, so it will last you longer.

Another option is to get a part time job. Working on campus is an option, but maybe you’d prefer doing odd jobs. Some apartment complexes even offer jobs to renters to work in their offices or to help with promotions.

Your budget will be very important when it comes to looking for your new apartment in Gainesville. Everyone knows what I mean…. RENT! Rent is probably one of the biggest bills you will have during your time in Gainesville, and you need to be sure you move to an apartment that fits your budget. You need to also consider things like utilities, cable, groceries, etc. Some apartments include things like free wire-less Internet, but others do not.

Make sure when you decided on an apartment, you know what you are getting and how much you are paying for it. Knowing ahead will help you plan your expenses, so you don’t come up short. If you need help finding an apartment within your budget, use Swamp Rentals to search for apartments & set your own price range for rent by the bedroom or by the whole apartment.

I love the beach. But moving to my apartment in Gainesville meant more distance between my beloved ocean and me.

Until I discovered St. Augustine Beach. Only about an hour and a half drive from Gainesville, FL, St. Augustine is a historical town on Florida’s east coast. With great sites and historical monuments, a day in St. Augustine can turn into so much more than your typical beach day.

Another beach that is even a few minutes closer to your Gainesville, FL apartment is Cresent Beach. While the town might not be as interesting or have as much to do as St. Augustine, the beaches are beautiful.

Jacksonville Beach is just north of St. Augustine, about two hours from Gainesville. Jacksonville Beach has great bars and restaurants, in addition to a great and popular beach.

Any of these places can provide you and your roommates with a fun day trip! Get some roommate bonding time in before Fall classes begin!

I was definitely homesick when I moved to Gainesville, but adding decorations to your apartment can really make it feel more like home. My favorite thing to do when moving to a new apartment is to paint my room. I try to pick colors that are soothing or reflect my personality. Not all apartment complexes allow you to paint, so make sure to check with apartment staff before you get started.

You could also put up posters or other artwork in your new apartment. You and your roommates can buy posters that you all like for common living areas.

Another way to make your apartment into a home is to put up pictures of your family and friends. It will help you to feel less lonely being surrounded by the people you care about. You want to feel comfortable in your new home, so try adding decorative throw pillows to your bed and couch for a more homey touch.

The best idea for decorating your apartment is to make it yours. Add things that make you happy and it will transform your new apartment into a place you will want to be all the time, your home away from home, in Gainesville, FL.

If you love the downtown area, why not move there? There are tons of apartments available downtown. With great stores and restaurants, everything could be just a short walk away! And no need to take a cab after going out, you’re already home! Just walk back to your new apartment.

There are lots of great things to do downtown, including shopping, dining, and experiencing Gainesville’s nightlife. Not a party animal? Not to worry. There are great places to relax and have a few drinks (or not) with friends, like the Top, or Maude’s Classic Café. Or go see a play at the Hippodrome, conveniently located in downtown Gainesville.

Rent prices downtown can vary, but Swamp Rentals will help you find the perfect apartment! Enjoy the culture of a big city in your new downtown Gainesville apartment.

Now that Summer A has come & gone, if you haven’t already found a new apartment to rent for the Fall, it’s time to start looking! Sure, you are busy with pool parties and the beach, but you are going to need somewhere to live in August. Swamp Rentals can help you find you’re new apartment in no time, and without cramping your busy summer schedule!

Use our top of the line search system to find exactly what you are looking for, and FAST! It’s free and easy. Some apartment complexes are even offering free stuff or discounts on rent for going on a tour.

I used Swamp Rentals to find my new apartment and it was great. No hassle, and I got exactly what I wanted. The neighborhood guides helped me to learn more about Gainesville areas and figure out which apartment complex would be right for me, including rent prices, pet policies and so much more!

Take advantage of these awesome opportunities and find the perfect Gainesville apartment for you with the help of Swamp Rentals!