1. Before you go out and buy plants, notice how much sun and/or shade your outdoor space gets. This will help you purchase the right plants for your setting.
2. Container gardens need to be watered more frequently than traditional gardens. To check if your plants need water, press your finger into the dirt, if it sticks to your finger, the plant has adequate water, if it doesn’t, water it!
3. Use a potting mix that has real soil in it – preferably a mix of topsoil and compost.
4. Plant everything in light colored pots. Dark pots retain heat and can scorch the roots, especially if your outdoor space gets a lot of direct sun.
5. If you’re hoping to grow vegetables and fruit, choose plants that produce a lot for the size of plant, such as peas, beans, tomatoes, or plants that grow quickly after cutting like salad greens such as lettuce, arugula, chard, and kale.

Position:
Writer & Content Editor

How long have you been with 4 Walls?
I started with 4 Walls in February 2013.

What’s a typical day like for you?
I split my time between two tasks. Some weeks I'm working on editing posts, and other weeks I'm working to create original content for specific markets or just general posts. Either way, I spend most of my time writing!

What’s the best thing about your job?
The best thing about my job is that I get to write, all day long. It feels like I'm visiting all these different cities, reading and writing about things to do and popular restaurants, without the cost of traveling. There is always something new to write about and research.

What do you do in your spare time?
In my spare time, I enjoy watching TV and movies as well as knitting and crocheting. It may seem like a hobby for people from another generation, but I love it.

What is an interesting or little-known fact about you?
I love baking and dream of opening a cupcake shop one day.

Position:
Client Services Associate

How long have you been with 4 Walls?
Just shy of one month

What’s a typical day like for you?
Monitoring blogs, Facebook and Twitter, posting content for clients, assisting clients by answering their support questions, calling clients to answer any questions regarding their service and giving them ideas on how to fully utilize it to their maximum benefit. 

What’s the best thing about your job?
My favorite part so far is when I post about a missing dog or cat on behalf of a client, and then shortly thereafter, I hear that the pet was reunited with its owner. It makes me happy that I could help! Also, not having to dress up is pretty awesome, since I work from home.

What do you do in your spare time?
I love to write and make funny videos in my spare time. I also spend time being social and going out to different restaurants. I'm a foodie!

What is an interesting or little-known fact about you?
I was a Production Assistant on the movie "Silver Linings Playbook," but unfortunately I did not get to talk to Robert DeNiro.

Do Your Research. Google the apartment community, the property manager, and/or the landlord, and see if there are an inordinate amount of complaints. The best defense is a good offense, and knowing this information ahead of time can help you choose the right place to rent.

Take Pictures. On move-in day, take pictures of any noticeable marks, stains, or anything else that you think you could be held responsible for when you move out. This will ensure that you won't get blamed for them once you move out!

Read The Fine Print. Be aware of what your lease says, so that you don’t violate it. Too many renters fail to read the "fine print", and then lose out on their security deposit in the end because they overlooked what they would be held responsible for. Read your lease cover-to-cover, and ask any questions that you have prior to signing.

Keep It Clean. Your rental is your home, so treat it well. Just because you don’t own it, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take some responsibility for its maintenance. Clean up scuffs and spills quickly, and take extra care if you have a pet.

Schedule A Walk-Through. When it’s time to move out, clean your apartment well, and schedule a walk-through with your property manager or landlord. After the walk through, request that they sign an agreement stating that you left the unit in fair condition.

Follow-up. If you still have not received your security deposit back 30 days after moving out, follow-up with your landlord. If they continue to withhold it without reason or cause, you can always seek legal assistance. The reality is that landlords are required by law to return security deposits in a certain number of days, with interest, so check to see what your state law says.

Hopefully you’ll never have your deposit withheld from you without cause, but it’s best to remain vigilant to ensure that you don’t set yourself up for a problem. In general, scrupulous landlords know the law and will do their best to get it back to you.

Cool Colors. Where possible, use blues, whites and greys. You may not be able to paint your walls, but even hints of soft tones will put your mind at ease.

Let There Be Light. Use natural light whenever possible — a strategically-placed mirror or two will put the sun in every corner. Overhead bulbs can be harsh, so place a few good lamps in every room.

Use Nature. Fresh flowers and live plants are a great way to boost your mood and create an indoor sanctuary. Match them to your apartment's color scheme or bring in whatever strikes your fancy.

Position:
Web Developer

How long have you been with 4Walls?
5 months

What’s a typical day like for you?
For me, each day centers around the technical aspects of developing and offering 4 Walls products. My work arrives as a stream of prioritized tasks from among product enhancements, new features, and service infrastructure. Along with Dave, I maintain and evolve the Respage Express software to continually grow the product in pace with the company. A typical day is all about writing programs to implement and support 4 Walls and Respage Express. In addition, I follow staff communications and our production service environment to respond to immediate matters that may periodically arise in due course.

What’s the best thing about your job?
I enjoy solving the technical challenges in software development and expressing the ingenuity necessary to run production data services. I enjoy enriching my knowledge of state-of-the-art technology and software design technique. My favorite part of my work, however, is to be part of 4 Walls' enthusiastic and professional team– knowing my work will benefit my colleagues and help them offer more to our customers.

What do you do in your spare time?
I have a busy life, spending my free time with my friends, and my daughter and son. After a day in front of my workstation, I keep fit and active with evening time at the gym. I am a tinkerer with technology, woodwork, and mechanics, and a collector of gadgets. I am an adept player of string, percussion, brass, wind, and other musical instruments (on my hi-fi) and an even better listener. I have recently returned to the Chicago area and have started reacquainting myself with life by the city.

Vintage Photo Frames:  Mixing old and new frames creates depth and versatility in your wall display. Try varying the look within a color palette — like silver and black — or stick to a certain style of photo, like black and white. Gorgeous frames are surprisingly cheap; just check out your local thrift store or drug store.

Repurpose Family Furniture: Does Grandma want that chair from the 1960s? If not, display it! Remember, what's old is new again. Chances are your friends will be bowled over by classic pieces.

Mixing Modern and Classic: Work with what you have. Keep big items like your couch to simple, soothing, neutral colors, and then infuse personality with smaller items. Bring in stylish pillows, lamps, and attractive art work. Don't purchase all your furniture in one spot — acquire over time, and keep your eyes open when you visit thrift, antique, and second-hand stores.