Virginia K. Smith

When scoping out a new apartment, don't forget to check for cell reception and mouse droppings (Reddit via Apartment Therapy)

NYC's most common noise complaints—and noisiest nabes (New Yorker)

Renovation strategies for even the most miniscule of bathrooms (Apartment Therapy)

While we're still advocates of taking market reports with a large grain of salt, the Brooklyn numbers came out this week, and the consensus is clear: Brooklyn's no place for bargain hunters, and the borough's persistent price hikes show no signs of stopping. (In case there were any shadow of a doubt left.)  And the group hit hardest by the hikes may be renters.

Besides being the time of year when we're most likely to spend entire weekends hunkered down in our apartments, January is also the most dangerous month when it comes to accidental carbon monoxide poisonings, according to the Center for Disease Control. So no time like the present to make sure your building (or at least your apartment) is up to snuff on its safety.