By Kelsi Karruli For Dailymail.Com
Published: 08:52 EDT, 22 August 2022 | Updated: 09:46 EDT, 22 August 2022
As rent prices soar across the country, renters are sharing their savvy tips to ensure you get your security deposit back, while also revamping your space - from filling holes in your walls with soap to using tape to decorate - these renter tips ensure you save money no matter whether you're moving in or out.
From getting your security deposit back to upgrading your studio apartment, TikTokers are revealing their budget friendly hacks.
Rent prices across the country were up 23 per cent in the second quarter of 2022 from the same period of time in 2019, as landlords everywhere have begun taking advantage of work from home migrants.
According to data from Axios, landlords are capitalizing on the pandemic flight, which is now reversed and sending everyone back to major cities.
And with inflation surging to a new 40-year high of 10.1 per cent, people across the country are struggling to find ways to save money.
Luckily social media users have come to the rescue, sharing their affordable tips to help you save money in your home.
Users shared hacks which showed them covering their holes with toothpaste to get their deposit back
FOR THE RENTER PREPARING TO MOVE OUT
Moving can be stressful, and when you're juggling trying to find a new place and pack your things, you often forget the last minute things that can save you from loosing your security deposit.
Landlords may use a tenants security deposit for any cleaning or repairs necessary to restore the renter's space to its original condition.
And with landlords cashing in on the aftermath of the pandemic, many are becoming stingy when it comes to returning deposits.
Renters are sharing the things you should know whether you're moving in or out to help you save.
According to Legal Assistance of Western New York, if you move into you're apartment after July 14, 2019, landlords are required to offer you an inspection of the apartment, with you present.
The inspection should happen before you move in and your landlord's agent should be present.
Prior to this inspection, you should make a checklist of the areas in the apartment and make sure there are no damages prior to moving in. You should also ensure you take photos to have a record of everything just in case.
Renters are also sharing their tips that are helpful when you're moving out.
One renter, Elise, 19, who goes by @oprahsharvestday on TikTok, shared her hack in a viral video and showed herself using a $1 bar of soap to fill the holes in her walls
Use $1 bar of soap to fill holes
One renter, Elise, 19, who goes by @oprahsharvestday on TikTok, shared her hack in a viral video.
She showed herself using a $1 bar of soap to fill the holes in her walls.
Elise then smoothed over the holes, now filled with soap, to hide them and users couldn't believe their eyes.
Her video garnered over 900,000 views and thousands of renters shared their own experiences in her comments section.
The renters admitted they use 'white out, nail polish and toothpaste,' to cover up the holes in the walls.
While another user even admitted to using 'ranch.'
One user shared three different ways she uses dryer sheets to clean her apartment; she said she uses dryer sheets to remove and repel dust, polish stainless steel and remove lint
Pick up dryer sheets to clean up dust and polish stainless steel
Besides their savvy tips to cover up holes in the walls, users also shared cleaning hacks to ensure the landlord doesn't knock any money off from your deposit before giving it back.
Users also took to the social media platform to share a cleaning hack that doesn't break the bank.
If you have extra dryer sheets lying around, you're in luck.
One user shared three different ways to use dryer sheets that had nothing to do with the dryer.
The user, who goes by @neat.Caroline on TikTok, shared she uses dryer sheets to remove and repel dust, polish stainless steel and remove lint from her lint trap.
The video impressed users who were looking forward to using the hacks during their next pre-moving deep clean.
Mix baking soda and vinegar to create multi-purpose cleaning product
Another tip to help save you money while cleaning is made from two items you can find in your pantry.
By mixing together baking soda and vinegar you can bring your surfaces back to life with a deep clean that ensures your landlord won't keep any of your security deposit for cleaning.
Another budget friendly hack to help you save money and decorate is to switch out the knobs on your cabinets using command strips
One user showed how they cut command strips and placed them on their cabinets for this hack; they then stuck their knob to the command strip and transformed the cabinet
Another user shared renters should slice up a wine cork and add it to their furniture to avoid scratches on their floors
FOR RENTERS WHO ARE MOVING INTO A NEW HOME AND WANT TO DECORATE
If you're renting an apartment you know the struggle that comes with plain white walls, dull-looking appliances and an apartment that lacks personality.
Many renters don't bother decorating or revamping their rental space into a cozy home in fear of loosing their hefty security deposits.
But, thanks to renters sharing their favorite DIY decorating hacks, renters can transform their once sluggish spaces into charming homes while making sure they don't forgo their fee.
Since paint can be messy and expensive, many renters recommend using stick on wallpaper to level up your space.
If you're renting an apartment you know the struggle that comes with boring surfaces and one renter shared she uses contact paper to transform her 'crusty' countertop
One user even shared herself using stick on tiles, which she purchased from the dollar store, to decorate her bathroom floor
Stick-on wallpaper for your walls and countertops
Stick on wallpaper is sold in a variety of different patterns and colors and you can usually decorate a whole wall for under $20.
And not only can it upgrade your walls, but it can also transform your countertops and appliances.
Anna Earl took to TikTok to share a video of herself saying goodbye to her 'crusty' brown countertops.
She showed herself applying a stunning white marble contact paper then showed the finished product, which took her kitchen from drab to fab.
Her video racked up thousands of views and hundreds of comments from users who couldn't believe how easily she revamped her kitchen.
Another user even shared they used silver contact paper to upgrade their static-looking appliances.
Other users shared themselves decorating their bathroom floors with stick on tiles that they bought from the dollar store.
Another user shared she used washi tape to decorate her walls and add a backsplash to her kitchen.
More DIY hacks renters can use to level up their space worry free include using command strips to add new knobs to the cabinets and dressers and slicing up a wine cork and adding the cut up pieces to the bottom of your furniture to avoid any scratches on the floors.
Kayla Krasnow showed her transforming her boring old couch; she used slipcovers purchased from Amazon to give her sofa a vibrant touch
Make your couch look like new with slipcovers
Kayla Krasnow shared an apartment decorating on a budget video, which garnered over 2.6 million views, and showed her transforming her boring old couch.
In the video, Kayla can be seen covering her couch with sofa slipcovers, which are priced around $20 on Amazon.
She uses white slipcovers to get the glamorous look without spending hundreds.
Users loved the 'genius hack and many called it 'brilliant' and others said it was 'so smart.'
One user mixed equal parts cornstarch and water to apply lace to her window to add privacy to her room while letting in natural light
Use cornstarch paste to create unique privacy curtains
Another tip that can save renters money while adding a unique touch is from Annabel Vita who shared her hack on how to add some more privacy to your windows.
Annabel mixed equal parts cornstarch and water to create a paste, which she later used to apply lace to her window to give her room some privacy while also letting the natural light in.
And users loved Annabel's creation and even put their own spin on it by using paper or fabric.
Many got their DIY on worry free after using her hack, which saved them both the time and headache of having to install or remove blinds.
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