If you’re like most of us when we got our first apartment, you dumped everything in the living room in boxes, called it good, and just lived out of boxes for a few days. After that, depending on your personality type, you either got up and put everything neatly where it belongs (you sick minded person, you) or you just kind of let everything gravitate where it was supposed to go slowly, naturally, over a long period of time, following the natural evolutionary order of things (you slob, you). Renters insurance? That can wait. Utilities? Well, hopefully you didn’t make them wait, or you’re probably reading this at the local coffee shop while waiting for them to turn your power back on.

Seriously, though, most people rent several apartments over the course of their lives as their needs change, they move, or they just decide it’s time for a move. From there, many people go on to rent or buy a house. It’s important that you develop good habits early, since your reputation can follow you as a renter, especially if you live in a small community.

Don’t get me wrong, technically and legally no one’s going to turn you down for an apartment because you’ve been messy in a different apartment. In many communities, though, landlords know each other, and it doesn’t take long for your reputation to go before you. While no one will tell you that’s why, if a landlord has a choice between several tenants, reputations can make a big difference.

When you move into the apartment, put things away as you unpack them. It’s a lot easier that way. If you’ve found yourself living out of boxes for a while, set a day aside and spend it organizing and putting things away. Of course, you’ll want to make sure dishes are done every day and laundry is at least put in a hamper.

Once things are put in their place, it’s a snap to keep an apartment clean. For most people, spending ten to fifteen minutes every day to pick up any clutter than may have been left around (newspapers, magazines, toys, or whatever) is more than enough to keep things neat. On top of that, a couple of hours per week to do deep cleaning and your apartment will always be ready for landlord or company alike.

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