Anyone who has eaten a particularly delicious meal at a restaurant has wondered what chefs know that we laypeople can only dream of.

Now, Reddit is unearthing the answers to that question.

On r/AskReddit, user MrHibbityJibb put out the question: "Chefs of Reddit, what mistake are we laypeople all making in the kitchen?"

More than 2,500 comments later, here are seven of the best cooking tips to fix all the mistakes you make while cooking at home.

1. Too spicy? Add sugar or butter. Too sweet? Add lemon juice.

If you’ve added too much of one ingredient and the dish isn’t tasting right, the perfect counter ingredient can neutralize the damage.

2. Add sauce to your pasta before finishing cooking.

Or, in the more emphatic works of one user: "Finish cooking your pasta IN THE GOD DAMN SAUCE."

By cooking pasta in its sauce, with a little bit of the water it was cooked in, the flavor better sticks to the strands of pasta. The dish is better bound together, bringing out the flavor of the sauce.

3. Sharpen your knife every time you use it.

"A lot of people own a honing steel but only use it when their knives start to dull, maybe once a month or less which won't work," writes Reddit user WArslett. "A honing steel is designed to be used every time you use the knife, six strokes each side before you use it is sufficient."

The user describes regular sharpening as similar to "ironing the creases out of a shirt," keeping the edge sharp for much longer than it would be otherwise.

4. Measure ingredients before you start cooking.

A common piece of advice was to chop ingredients before you start cooking, so everything can be added at the proper time without scrambling.

"Get your goods chopped, get your spices measured, get s--- combined, get your kitchen in order," writes tallthumbelina. "Well-organized cooking tends to be much more fun and much less stressful!"

5. Never try to put out an oil fire with water.

The results will be disastrous.

Instead, smother it with baking soda, salt, or an oil fire-suitable fire extinguisher. Or, just take it off the heat and cover it with a lid.

6. Stop stirring.

Few dishes need to be stirred regularly… except a stir fry. Most, like rice, suffer from over stirring.

7. 'A falling knife has no handle.'

It’s obvious advice — but sometimes the most obvious still needs to be said, as is the case with this top-rated comment.

Don’t try to catch a falling blade. Just jump back and get your feet out of the way as quickly as possible.

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The OHEA smart bed automatically makes itself just three seconds after you get up. In 50 seconds, it straightens your pillow and duvet, making itself automatically. The company sells its own bedding to work with the bed, so you won't be able to use your own. It's just a prototype though, so it's not currently for sale. 

Story by Jacob Shamsian and editing by Kristen Griffin

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Billionaire entertainment mogul David Geffen is being sued by his neighbors in the building housing his two-story $54 million penthouse on Manhattan's Fifth Avenue, according to the New York Daily News.

Howard and Gloria Schwartz have filed a suit that alleges the billionaire's renovations to the unit — which he bought in 2012 from singer and socialite Denise Rich — have caused "ear-splitting" noise.

Additionally, vibrations from the construction have allegedly caused damage to their apartment, the suit claims.

The physical damages to their living space named in the suit allegedly includes: designer wallpaper peeling off their walls, marble floor tiles cracking and shifting, and a mysterious black soot drifting out from the floors and walls, which they all blame on the contractors.

The Schwartz's are also claiming the work has caused high blood pressure and other cardiac issues, and are demanding $2 million in damages. 

In the co-op building, 17 others have submitted claims against Geffen. Of them, six have been settled, but not yet the Schwartz's, the Daily News reports. The suit also names the contractor, the co-op board, and the co-op engineer who approved Geffen's renovation plans.

Geffen did not immediately return a request for comment. 

SEE ALSO: No one wants to buy Celine Dion's lavish Florida mansion, which has gotten $27 million in price chops since 2013

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Thames Water built a massive floating solar farm situated in the middle of an English reservoir. The company needs a huge amount of energy to supply England with drinking water. It spends $144 million a year on power alone, and this farm could reduce that by as much as $28 million.

Story by Ian Phillips and editing by Carl Mueller.

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NYC's Crave Fishbar knows good seafood; their menu is packed with oysters, tuna, and octopus, to name just a few options.

We got to see how they make one of their most flavorful dishes: the lobster curry. And it's delicious.

Story by Sarah Schmalbruch and editing by Ben Nigh

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The 13 hotel, set to open this summer in Macau, calls itself "the most luxurious hotel ever built".

Its swanky features include stained-glass bathrooms, Roman baths with retractable marble coverings, and complimentary transportation via Rolls-Royce Phantoms.

The hotel also came with a hefty price tag for developers, with each room costing over $7 million to create. The project reportedly cost $1.4 billion in total. 

The 13 recently released images of their "Villa de Comte", which will be their entry-level accommodations. 

From beds draped in velvet to private elevator lobbies and rooms adorned in Baroque features, here's what the extravagant villas look like inside. 

SEE ALSO: People in Asia are paying $24,000 a year to work out at these lavish gyms — here's what they look like inside

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The 23-story hotel has six different restaurants and bars to choose from, as well as a stunning design that incorporates Baroque elements with chic modern touches. Everything from the sculptures and wall coverings to the furniture was designed specifically for the property.

The hotel includes 200 large suites (which the hotel refers to as villas), that range from 2,000 square feet to 30,000 square feet. Luxurious touches include a range of period artworks, as well as a customized chrome furniture series for the living room, bedrooms, and bathrooms.

Guests can access each of the 200 villas through elevators that directly open to private lobbies.

Smithsonian.com announced the winners of its 13th annual photo contest Tuesday.  

The contest saw more than 460,000 submissions from photographers in 168 different countries. Nine images were selected as winners.

SEE ALSO: 15 beautiful images from the finalists of Smithsonian Magazine's annual photo contest

Tamina­-Florentine Zuch took home the prize in the Travel category for "Women’s Compartment of a Suburban Train".

The winner for Sustainable Travel was "My Time" by Tihomir Trichkov.

The American Experience category winner was Lauren Pond for "Trucker Chapel".

OpenTable just released its annual "100 Hottest Restaurants in America" list, which highlights the trendiest restaurants in big cities across the country. 

To craft the list, OpenTable combed through more than 5 million restaurant reviews submitted by verified diners. Over 20,000 restaurants in all 50 states and the District of Columbia were considered. 

To make the cut, restaurants needed to have both high overall ratings and a strong rating in the "hot spot" category. 

Restaurants in 27 states are on the list, with 25 spots in California and 15 in New York. Cuisine ranges from traditional American to Japanese, Mexican, Italian, and more.

"From inventive fare with an international flair and enticing cocktail programs to energetic atmospheres and sexy surroundings, these restaurants have all the elements for a fresh, fun dining experience," Caroline Potter, OpenTable's chief dining officer, said in a press release announcing the list. 

You'll find new rooftop bars, old-school steakhouses, and plenty of "clubstaurants" on the list. Nightlife brands Tao and STK make multiple appearances, while one-offs like Jay-Z's 40/40 Club in Manhattan and long-time celebrity favorites like The Ivy in West Hollywood also pop up.

Here's the full list in alphabetical order. Starred restaurants are establishments that opened in 2015.  

40/40 Club– New York, New York

8 Up– Louisville, Kentucky

Acorn– Denver, Colorado

Alley Cat Oyster Bar– Cleveland, Ohio *

AsiaSF– San Francisco, California

B.B. King’s Blues Club– Memphis, Tennessee

B.B. King’s Blues Club– Orlando, Florida

Beauty and Essex– New York, New York

Bestia– Los Angeles, California

Buccan– Palm Beach, Florida

Buddakan– New York, New York

Café Martorano– Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Cassia– Santa Monica, California *

Chino Latino– Minneapolis, Minnesota

Cork & Pig Tavern #2– Odessa, Texas

Culinary Dropout– Tempe, Arizona

Current– Salt Lake City, Utah *

Departure Restaurant and Lounge– Portland, Oregon

Dinosaur Bar-B-Que– Rochester, New York

do Restaurant at the View– Atlanta, Georgia

E.P.+L.P.– West, Hollywood, California *

Eight4Nine– Palm Springs, California *

El Camino Mexican Soul Food & Tequila Bar– Delray Beach, Florida

Empire– Boston, Massachusetts

Forno Kitchen and Bar– Columbus, Ohio *

Gato– New York, New York

Girl & the Goat– Chicago, Illinois

Gjelina– Venice, California

The Grey– Savannah, Georgia

Gypsy Kitchen– Atlanta, Georgia

High Rooftop Lounge– Venice, California

The Hudson Room– Peekskill, New York

.ink– West Hollywood, California

The Ivy– West Hollywood, California

Izakaya Den– Denver, Colorado

Juniper & Ivy– San Diego, California

Kettner Exchange– San Diego, California

La Esquina– New York, New York

The Lark– Santa Barbara, California

Linger– Denver, Colorado

Lolita Cocina & Tequila Bar– Boston, Massachusetts

Manhattan Beach Post– Manhattan Beach, California

Marble + Rye– Buffalo, New York *

middle fork kitchen bar– Lexington, Kentucky *

Momotaro– Chicago, Illinois

MUA– Oakland, California

The Nest– Indian Wells, California

The Nice Guy– West Hollywood, California

O-Ku– Charleston, South Carolina

Ophelia’s Electric Soapbox– Denver, Colorado *

Palace Bar– Miami Beach, Florida

Palmilla Cocina Y Tequila– Hermosa Beach, California

Peck’s Arcade– Troy, New York *

Perch LA– Los Angeles, California

Pitch Coal-Fire Pizzeria– Omaha, Nebraska

Pitch Pizzeria-West– Omaha, Nebraska *

Prato– Winter Park, Florida

Pump– West Hollywood, California

Red Ginger– Traverse City, Michigan

Red Rooster Harlem– New York, New York

Republic– Detroit, Michigan

Republique– Los Angeles, California

The Rest– Salt Lake City, Utah

Rizzuto’s Oyster Bar and Restaurant– Westport, Connecticut

RoCA– Des Moines, Iowa

Rocco’s Tacos & Tequila Bar– Orlando, Florida

Rose. Rabbit. Lie. at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas– Las Vegas, Nevada

RPM Italian– Chicago, Illinois

Santina– New York, New York *

Shakou Sushi– Libertyville, Illinois

Shakou Sushi– St. Charles, Illinois

Shaya– New Orleans, Louisiana *

SoBe Restaurant & Lounge– Lanham, Maryland *

Spoon and Stable– Minneapolis, Minnesota

STK-NYC-Meatpacking– New York, New York

STK-The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas– Las Vegas, Nevada

Streets-BK– Brooklyn, New York *

Strip by Strega– Boston, Massachusetts *

SumoMaya Mexican-Asian Kitchen– Scottsdale, Arizona

Sur Restaurant– West Hollywood, California

Talde– Jersey City, New Jersey *

Tao Downtown– New York, New York

Tao Restaurant and Nightclub– Las Vegas, Nevada

Tender Bar + Kitchen– Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Three Dots and a Dash– Chicago, Illinois

Three Muses– New Orleans, Louisiana

Toca Madera– West Hollywood, California *

Toutant– Buffalo, New York *

The Tropicale– Palm Springs, California

Tsunami Shaw Center– Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Uchi– Austin, Texas

Uchi– Dallas, Texas *

Uchi– Houston, Texas

Uchiko– Austin, Texas

UMI– Atlanta, Georgia

Union 50– Indianapolis, Indiana

Untitled– Chicago, Illinois

Vitello’s– Studio City, California

Yokozuna-Downtown– Tulsa, Oklahoma

Ysabel– West Hollywood, California *

SEE ALSO: 15 expensive steakhouses that are actually worth the price

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The World Economic Forum recently announced its 2016 class of Young Global Leaders — people under the age of 40 who are changing the world — and 23 of the 121 are American.

This year's Young Global Leaders class includes leaders from an array of backgrounds. Some are famous entertainers, like actor and investor Ashton Kutcher and writer John Green, and others are inventors, CEOs, philanthropists, and scientists working on revolutionary ideas — such as Nina Tandon, who grows human bones with her biotech company, EpiBone. 

Once chosen by the WEF, these leaders are a part of the program for five years — they attend meetings, participate in initiatives and research, and work with the rest of the WEF's community.

Here are the 23 American leaders making a worldwide impact.

SEE ALSO: America’s 12 best big cities to live in right now

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Andy Moon, SunFarmer

Andy Moon started his work in the solar energy industry in 2009 as a project developer for SunEdison. In 2013, he and a coworker started SunFarmer — a nonprofit that brings solar power to developing countries — with the help of a $2 million grant from a SunEdison foundation.

SunFarmer has completed more than 100 solar energy projects so far in Nepal, its pilot country, powering schools and health clinics as well as providing relief to victims following a pair of earthquakes last spring.

By 2020, SunFarmer’s goal is to power 4,000 hospitals, schools and water projects around the world.

Aria Finger, DoSomething.Org

After graduating from college in 2005, Aria Finger joined the nonprofit DoSomething.org to try to change the way young people give back to their communities. The organization has since grown from five employees to 55, and in the past decade it has helped 4.7 million young people started campaigns in their hometowns.

Six months ago, Finger was promoted to CEO. Her most recent campaign, Keep Guns Off Campus, encourages students to pressure their college presidents to take a stand against having guns on campus.

Ashton Kutcher, THORN: Digital Defenders of Children

The actor, producer, and tech investor started the DNA Foundation in 2011 with then-wife Demi Moore with the goal of ending child sex slavery. The company rebranded a year later to “Thorn: Digital Defenders of Children” with a more specific focus: technology’s role in the sexual exploitation of children.

With the help of partners such as Facebook, Tumblr, and Microsoft, Thorn has been battling Internet-enabled sexual abuse and providing support to victims. This past November, Kutcher announced that the organization would open an innovation lab that will allow data analysts and scientists to think up new technologies to deter online predatory behavior toward children.

U.S. News & World Report recently released its list of the best places to live in America, ranking the 100 most populous US cities on factors such as desirability, job market, and quality of life.

The best region in the country, going by the US Census Bureau's geographic divisions, might surprise some: the South. Twenty-four of the top 50 cities can be found in the South — more than the combined number of cities that made the list from the traditionally more desirable West and Northeast regions.

Though prominent coastal areas like Boston and San Francisco might be expected to help their regions topple the competition, cities in the South outperformed the field on two key metrics: job market and cost of living.

"U.S. News found a divide between what Americans say makes a place desirable to live in versus what their criteria is when thinking about moving," Miriam Weiner, product manager for real estate at U.S. News, told Business Insider. "Looking at regions, metropolitan areas in the South and Midwest do not perform as highly as coastal areas on the desirability index, but they do offer stronger job markets and a better cost of living — two components that make up 45% of our methodology." (You can read the full methodology here.)

The appeal of iconic cultural hubs like New York and Los Angeles is a draw for many, but in the end, affordability matters a lot, giving the South a leg up on the competition.

Southern cities like Austin, Charleston, and Houston also offer many of the amenities of more "desirable" areas, including proximity to beaches, thriving food scenes, and an abundance of local culture.

Ready to move yet? Keep reading to discover the 24 best places to live in the South.

SEE ALSO: The 50 best places to live in America

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24. Columbia, South Carolina

Population: 784,698

Median annual salary: $41,020

Quality of life: 6.4

Overall value: 7.7

Home to the University of South Carolina, Columbia exudes a college-town atmosphere that can be felt through its abundance of trendy coffee shops and hip bars. For the nonstudent residents, the town’s job market is on the rise, steadily adding positions in the technology and manufacturing sectors. Columbia’s cost of living also sits well below the national average.

23. Louisville, Kentucky

Population: 1,253,305

Median annual salary: $42,330

Quality of life: 6.2

Overall value: 7.9

Many Louisville residents find work in healthcare, business, tourism, and technology, with companies like YUM Brands, Humana, and Ford offering opportunities for employment.

Tourists and locals alike come together each spring at Churchill Downs for the two-week Kentucky Derby festival, filled with mint juleps, Kentucky bourbon, and a some horse racing, too.

22. Orlando, Florida

Population: 2,226,835

Median annual salary: $40,200

Quality of life: 6.9

Overall value: 5.3

There’s more to Orlando than Disney World. Head downtown for a ticket to the hottest restaurants and nightclubs of the moment or trek out to the residential sector filled with picturesque lakefront homes.

That’s not to say locals don’t appreciate the tourist traps. The parks serve as a point of pride for many long-term residents, according to one local expert. “The theme parks' special pricing for local residents along with the widespread employment that the parks offer have largely endeared them to the community,” he explained.

Imagine never having to click on a "forgot password" link again. 

Researchers and companies all over the globe are working on new gadgets and technology that can save you from the headache of memorizing (and inevitably forgetting) passwords. 

The iPhone's fingerprint scanner provided a taste of the password-free life, but it's only the beginning....

NOW CHECKOUT: The 25 hottest San Francisco startups to watch in 2016

Selfies

This might be the password of choice for the Facebook generation. Companies like Amazon and Mastercard are already considering technology that would ask users to snap pictures of their faces on a smartphone before making a transaction. Mastercard's technology would require a user to blink before their face is scanned as a safeguard to prevent hackers from simply placing a picture of someone else in front of the camera.

Edible pills

Swallowing pills might be one of the few things more annoying that memorizing passwords. But some researchers think it's the future. After mixing with stomach acids the pill would emit a unique, low power signal that connects with your PC. Google VP of Advanced Technology and Projects Regina Dugan described such a system a few years ago. According to Dugan, a person could safely ingest 30 pills every day for the rest of their lives. 

Your gait

Going for a stroll might not sound like the most convenient way to log on to your computer, but the way you walk has some unique traits that could serve as a mean of authentication. A wearable device, like a bracelet or anklet, could record your most recent physical activity and use that information as a password the next time you need to log on.

In the midst of Midtown Manhattan's modern hubbub, you might stumble upon a place that's a step back to an entirely different time. It's the Nat Sherman Townhouse— just a few blocks from Grand Central Terminal — and it harkens back to an era when tobacco was king, business was conducted over an ashtray, and everyone wore a suit. 

Celebrating 85 years in operation this year, the family-owned-and-operated Nat Sherman brand has weathered the trends of decades to remain the preeminent American brand of cigars. The townhouse itself has been a favorite hangout of everyone from Frank Sinatra to former mayor Rudy Giuliani.

Inside the smoke-filled parlor, you'll find an eclectic mix of patrons, antiques, and distinctive tobacco products. Take a tour back in time with us, below.

SEE ALSO: We spent an afternoon with the man who keeps power lunch running smoothly at one of New York's most prestigious restaurants

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The anachronistic storefront on busy 42nd Street, dwarfed by the neighboring modern high-rises, is an indicator of the throwback world you'll find within.

Step inside and into a narrow, high-ceilinged shop decked out in dark wood, old-school store counters, and a lingering haze of tobacco smoke. Nat Sherman started his namesake shop during the Prohibition era in the Garment District before the company moved to Fifth Avenue and then opened up a full townhouse in the current location.

This is a family business, helmed by the three grandchildren of Nat Sherman. Larry Sherman, pictured, knows the name of everyone in the store and strikes up regular conversations with customers.

When viewed from above, these flower fields in the Netherlands look psychedelic.

Story and editing by Carl Mueller

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Some say shoes are the most important part of any outfit — especially when wearing suits.

While we wouldn't go that far, we would agree that there is inherent value in getting it right.

We've rounded up the biggest mistakes men make when they wear dress shoes.

Read on to make sure you're not making of these.

SEE ALSO: 14 apps every modern gentleman should have on his phone

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Wearing square-toed shoes

Square-toed shoes aren't about style. They're about the silhouette of your foot, which inherently looks ugly with square-toed shoes on.

A modern gentleman knows that the square-toed shoe silhouette is unflattering, and avoids it at all costs. After all, it is one of the 11 deadly sins of men's style.

Wearing slip-ons

Slip-on shoes that aren't loafers are a big no-no for any kind of formal event — especially with a suit.

A modern gentleman avoids anything that looks like it might belong at a middle school formal, and these kinds of shoes are certainly included.

Wearing the wrong size

A modern gentleman knows exactly how a shoe should fit. He also knows that most men aren't wearing the correct shoe size, and to avoid that has his fit by a professional.

Chances are, the soft serve ice cream you're used to eating is made from cow's milk.

But after taking a trip to NYC's Victory Garden, we found that goat's milk makes for a creamy and delicious treat that's far healthier than cow's milk ice cream!

Story by Sarah Schmalbruch and editing by Ben Nigh

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John Howell, a physicist at the University of Rochester, invented the Rochester Cloak, an arrangement of lenses that bends light around the object in front of it. Later, he invented another optical cloaking device, which brings the same physics principles to scale. The whole thing costs $150 and is made with standard hardware store materials.

Story by Jacob Shamsian, editing by Stephen Parkhurst

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In the 1980s, when photographer Christine Osinski and her husband were forced out of their New York City loft by real estate developments, they decided to leave Manhattan completely.

But they didn't go too far — in 1982, the couple bought an affordable house on Staten Island, though they didn't know much about the borough.

"We had taken the ferry ride multiple times on hot summer days while living in Manhattan, but never got off," Osinski told Business Insider. 

About a year after the move, Osinski took out her camera to explore the neighborhood that still felt new.

Her photos have been shown in galleries, and more recently came together in a new book called "Summer Days Staten Island".

Osinski shared some photos that show what life was like in Manhattan's "forgotten borough" in the 1980s. 

SEE ALSO: 12 vintage photos that show the chaos of airports as 'the golden age' of air travel came to an end

At the time, Osinski and her close group of New York friends knew little about the borough. "[Many of our friends] had never been to Staten Island. It seemed like a very remote place, a world away," she told Business Insider.

At 102 square miles, Staten Island is New York's third largest borough, but the least densely populated.

In 1980, about 350,000 people were living there — compared to the 1.4 million in Manhattan.

The Pod 39 Rooftop Bar is a hidden gem in New York City. Neoclassical Italian architecture and a stunning view make it feel like a vacation, making the bar a welcome respite from the bustling city.

Story and editing by Jeremy Dreyfuss

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Most of us aren't getting enough sleep. Yet everyone seems to have an opinion about the best ways to fall and stay asleep.

But how do you sort through that noise and find the methods that work for you?

Consider yourself in luck. 

Here are the definitive answers to the biggest myths about sleep: 

MORE SLEEP TIPS: 12 science-backed habits to get a better night's sleep

SEE ALSO: 4 things you can literally learn while you sleep

Myth #1: Everyone must get 8 hours of sleep.

FACT: Put down the stopwatch. Although some of us do best with eight hours of sleep, others do better with seven, nine, or even four hours. It's all influenced by factors including genetics, age, and activity level.

For example, there are several genes connected to being a "short sleeper," someone who can function on just a few hours of sleep. 

Myth #2: Alcohol helps you sleep.

FACT: Although it might make you feel drowsy, that nightcap might actually disrupt your sleep. A small Australian study found that people who drank alcohol before bed tended to have certain patterns in their brain consistent with disrupted sleep. So even if they were experiencing restorative sleep, those waves negated any positive effect. 

Scientists have been studying the counterintuitive relationship between the drowsiness that comes from drinking alcohol and actual sleep since the 1930s. There's some evidence to suggest it has to do with the body metabolizing alcohol at the same time it's trying to sleep, suggesting that it's difficult for the body to multitask.

Myth #3: You can catch up on sleep.

FACT: Yes, the idea of being able to sleep in until noon on the weekends sounds enticing. But it's wreaking havoc on your internal body clock: Every time you shift your hours, it feels roughly like flying from New York to California and then back again in one weekend, leaving your body confused on Monday.

The best way to prevent it? Try to get a consistent amount of sleep each night at roughly the same time.

Anyone who has ever paid rent knows the price can be steep.

And there are ways landlords can increase your rent before you even sign the lease.

"If a landlord finds that a renter might have something that could be potentially damaging to the property or a disturbance to the neighbors, they might be more likely to charge extra rent or a fee that a renter might have to pay upon taking a lease," Ralph McLaughlin, Trulia's chief economist, told Business Insider.

Since there are many factors that could raise your rent, McLaughlin suggests avoiding landlords who offer a range in their price — though the practice is usually only common when landlords are listing multiple units.

"Landlords who offer a range means that they have some discretion on what they advertised the place for, so they might offer a tenant the higher end of that," McLaughlin said. "It's better to find a landlord who is specific in the amount: no more, no less."

If your landlord does offer a range, here are five factors that could cost you more in rent:

SEE ALSO: The 11 most expensive cities in America

Having a pet

One of the most common reasons your rent could be higher than your neighbor's is your furry friend, according to a study by McLaughlin at Trulia. Many landlords may increase rent or charge more for the security deposits if you have a pet.

Based on the study, there are three major fees that are likely to cause rent prices to go up with your pet: a pet fee, a pet deposit, and a monthly pet rent.

A pet deposit is a refundable fee paid upfront to the landlord on top of your regular rental deposit. A pet fee is similar, except it is not refundable. Pet rent is a monthly nonrefundable payment paid in addition to regular rent, according to McLaughlin.

The study also calculated these average fees in 25 of the largest US rental markets. The average pet deposit fee is around $175; the average pet fee is around $117; the average pet rent is about $9.

Having more people in your unit

The legal number of persons allowed in the unit varies from state to state. But rentals are usually listed for a particular number of occupants, with the common accepted persons per unit being two per bedroom, plus one extra person.

If the number of people living in the unit exceeds the number listed in the contract, a landlord could charge extra rent.

"If it’s a one-bedroom place, and you split it with a friend, a spouse, or a partner, and you also want to have two other people living there, the landlord might charge extra or charge a higher security deposit," McLaughlin says.

He also suggests checking the city or state policies or laws on occupancy rates to make sure you're within the legal guidelines, and that you aren't being charged unnecessarily.

Having a contract that's too short or too long

According to McLaughlin, most leases are a year in length. Having one for less than a year can increase your rent. Having a lease for more than a year can also increase your rent.

"Like a mortgage, longer term payouts tend to need to be at higher rates than shorter term payouts — the same might apply to renter leasing," McLaughlin said.

If it's a shorter lease, the landlord might adjust your rent and charge you for the period of time where they are not receiving a renter or are looking for renters to replace you. With a longer lease, landlords might charge a higher fee because it means that they can't increase the rent as much as they would were they to bring in new tenants.