The Red Oak Life Blog

Ask an Expert:  Ron Dupont

President, Red Oak Apartment Homes, Inc.

5 Things Everyone Should Know About Renting an Apartment

Okay, you have found your prefect apartment.  You are ready to sign the papers and move in.  It’s an exciting time for you.  It’s important to know that what you are entering into is a contract and there are 5 very important things for you to keep in mind.

1.  Lease = Agreement:

By signing a lease, you have legally agreed to the terms and conditions of said lease.  Ignoring these conditions can put you into hot water and out of a place to live.

2. Security Deposit-It’s No Biggie:

Companies ask their residents to pay a security deposit.  Don’t forget that if you leave the apartment messy or damaged, the costs to fix and clean will often exceed the security deposit and leave you with another bill to pay.

3. Noise Happens:

Sometimes noise does happen and I never ask residents to tip toe or whisper.  On the other hand, an apartment is not a place to open a private night club.  Don’t let noise complaints pile up against you.  They can lead to termination of your lease.

4. If You Walk Away From your Lease, It Will Follow You:

Your actions will determine your future.  Skipping out on a lease can ruin your credit- or your co-signer’s credit.  It may also prevent you from obtaining another apartment in the future.

5. Why  Pay Your Rent On Time:

First of all, it’s in your contract.  A good payment history can help build credit and be the start to applying for a car loan.  On the other hand, being a chronic late-payer will only lead to heavy late fees and court costs that add up and damage your credit score.

Ask An Expert Series:
An Interview with Red Oak Apartment Homes Owner: Ron Dupont
May 7, 2013

Interviewer: Ron, Tell us how long Red Oak Apartment Homes has been doing business in NH?
Ron: We started in 1984 with a 3 family house in Hudson, NH. Over the years we have expanded into 8 NH towns and cities and offer over 1200 apartments.

I: What makes your company unique?
R: We have an apartment home for everyone and every lifestyle. We have quiet country settings, urban locations, affordable to luxury styles and everything in between.

I: What are some of the services that you offer to residents?
R: First, let me say that our residents are very important to us. We want to make them happy and make life easy for them every day. Some of the ways we do this is to have 3 leasing offices. Two of them are open 7 days a week with Wednesday evening hours as well. We also have a new, easy to use website. It conforms to your mobile device to make contacting us easy no matter where you are. A third point is our expert maintenance team. We have skilled technicians with knowledge of plumbing, heating, electrical and carpentry skills. They are on call for emergencies 24 hours a day/7days a week. We also have lots of choices for our customers. This includes a variety of locations, prices and apt styles.

I: What are some things a resident can do on the Red Oak Website?
R: Our website is http://www.redoaproperties.com There are several things a resident or a prospective resident can do there. A prospective resident can view all our property locations and see an updated availability list. Our current residents can submit work orders, ask us a question, refer a friend for an apartment or pay their rent on-line. They can read our blog and connect with us on our social media networks.

I: What’s new at Red Oak?
R: We are very proud of our newest properties at Milford Trails and Eastern Trails in Milford, NH. We purchased these properties about 18 month ago and have made a very large investment in improving the buildings, amenities and grounds.

Every day is a new day at Red Oak. I invite you to come and meet our great staff. Let us help you find the apartment of your dreams!