The Lifestyle Renter

Hey there! Welcome to the Monthly Renter’s Digest, my round-up of the latest and greatest tips in the rental world. I know life as a renter can be a bit overwhelming at times, but don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! Each month, i’ll bring you a friendly update of what you need to know.

IF YOU WANT TO LIVE HERE, YOU’LL NEED TO AUDITION

The New York rental market has never been more competitive. Now, one historic building is upping the ante by reviving a decades-old tradition of asking potential residents to audition (any dance number, monologue or comedy set will do) in exchange for an open unit in a performers-only wing of the residence.

AMERICANS ARE NOT HAPPY WITH SHORT-TERM VACATION RENTALS

Over three-quarters of Americans have now used at least one short-term vacation rental service like Airbnb, VRBO or Vacasa. And just under half said they’d experienced some sort of problem during their stay. DebtHammer.org surveyed more than 1,500 Americans about their vacation rental experiences.

Here’s what they found:

Almost 18% of renters said they felt unsafe or frightened during their stay. About 12% found hidden cameras. Another 31% said that when they arrived, the unit was not as described. Issues checking in due to pet policies (20%), inability to check in (20%) and inability to reach the host (18%) were also major complaints.

66% of residents were asked to complete chores before check-out.  Of those asked to complete various tasks, 53% said they were asked to perform light housekeeping like stripping the beds or running the dishwasher. 21% were asked to do between 15-30 minutes worth of work, 18% were asked to do between 30-60 minutes worth of chores and 7% said they were asked to spend more than an hour on tasks.

54% said they selected a property and started the booking process, then found that the price was significantly higher than the cited per-night rate. Of that group, 41% said the final total was more than 26% higher than anticipated based on the per-night rate. More than 54% ended up not booking.  Read the full report at: debthammer.org/short-term-vacation-rentals-survey/

HERE’S HOW MUCH RENTING IN THE U.S. WILL COST YOU VERSUS BUYING A HOME

The cost of buying a place to live in the U.S. shot through the roof last year as surging mortgage rates pushed the price of homeownership beyond many families’ budgets. 

Real estate has gotten so expensive that in most American cities, residents would save money by renting, according to a recent report from Realtor.com. In 45 of the country’s 50 largest metro areas, renting is cheaper than buying, the real estate research service found, which based its analysis on the cost of buying a starter home with a 7% down payment and included average taxes, insurance and homeowners association fees.

On average, buyers could expect to spend $2,600 per month on housing costs — $900 more than the average renters’ costs, the site found.

LAUNCHES & COLLABORATIONS

Anthroplogie partnered with Jerrelle Guy, star baker and author of the Black Girl Baking cookbook, for a collection of bakeware and kitchenware. Named after the eldest of Guy’s grandmother’s sisters, the Madea Collection includes a variety of kitchen items ranging from dessert plates and prep bowls to an apron and a dessert stand, with each piece rendered in vibrant hues and intricate floral patterns.

Pottery Barn Teen partnered with the Surfrider Foundation, an environmental nonprofit focused on ocean preservation, for a collection of eco-friendly decor items. The collaboration includes blue-toned bedding, decor, rugs, wall murals and bedroom furniture, featuring pieces crafted from responsibly harvested wood and recycled fishing nets.

Ikea appointed renowned American photographer Annie Leibovitz as the brand’s artist in residence in 2023. The decision to partner with Leibovitz came after the January release of Ikea’s 9th annual “Life at Home Report,” which revealed that almost half of people globally do not see their home reflected in the media. During Leibovitz’s tenure, she will travel around the world photographing people in their homes in seven different countries—Japan, the U.S., Germany, Italy, India, Sweden and England—to create a series of 25 portraits depicting life at home.

Sandow Design Group’s Surround podcast network announced a new slate of shows joining its programming this year. The additions include Clever, hosted by designer and television personality Amy Devers; Inhabit, sponsored by architecture firm Perkins&Will; Architecture 5 10 20, sponsored by FXCollaborative; Ask the Appliance Experts, sponsored by AjMadison Pro; and The Design Board, sponsored by UpSpring. “I’m hoping that we’re on the precipice of really exploding what podcasting can be for our industry,” says Bobby Bonett, Sandow Design Group’s executive vice president of digital and strategic growth. “Maybe a year from now, we’ll all be a bit more of a podcast super fan than we are right now.”

RECOMMENDED READING

Marie Kondo built an organizing empire based on her ability to keep her home tidy—and, crucially, devoid of anything that fails to spark joy. Since welcoming her third child in 2021, that goal has changed a bit. As Jura Koncius writes for The Washington Post, Kondo’s latest book marks a departure from the strict tactics of her previous tomes and television shows, instead opting for a strategy that focuses on incorporating small calm-inducing moments and objects into life’s day-to-day chaos. “Up until now, I was a professional tidier, so I did my best to keep my home tidy at all times,” Kondo said at a recent webinar. “I have kind of given up on that in a good way for me. Now I realize what is important to me is enjoying spending time with my children at home.”

That’s it for today. See you next week!