Maintenance Survey Response From Miller's Crossing Resident

Miller’s Crossing Maintenance Survey
Date Completed: 11/16/2009

Overall, were you pleased with our service?
Yes

Comments
You have great maintenance men.

Maintenance Survey Response From Goshen Terrace Resident

Goshen Terrace Maintenance Survey
Date Completed: 11/16/2009

Overall, were you pleased with our service?
Yes

Comments
We were at work when work was done in a very timely manner. Thanks for coming so quickly!

At Berger Rental Communities, we constantly strive to make your stay with us enjoyable. How can we further improve our resident services department?
When do entry halls and steps get shampooed as the Holidays are coming?? Let us know??

Reducing Clutter in Your Apartment

Regardless how large our apartments are, how many huge closets we have, how tidy we keep, and how organized we are, we could always use a little less clutter. Just a little bit of clutter can easily make your 1,000 square foot apartment seem tiny. Whether you are a minimalist in your home, or could be a candidate for Hoarders on A&E, the following tips can be very helpful for de-cluttering your home.

Where To Start
Starting is the hardest part of removing the clutter, or any cleaning mission. Feeling overwhelmed about where to start can stop this project before it even starts. Regardless of the size of your project, do not consider starting unless you are mentally prepared to reach your goal for that day. If you are the type to be overwhelmed easily by these types of projects, start with the smallest, neatest area. Once you determine that de-cluttering a small area is not difficult, it will be much easier to move on to the next space. If you are the type that wants to hit the ground running, start with the messiest area that needs the most help. Once you start making headway in that area, the rest will just flow naturally.

Have Your Tools Handy
All that you need for your de-cluttering project is just a few contractor bags (these are great-they are much larger and sturdier than traditional garbage bags), empty boxes,  laundry baskets, and some basic cleaning supplies. Keep your contractor bags available for items you intend to throw away. The empty boxes should be used for items you wish to donate or sell (if you are intending to sell some items but not all, keep one box for items to sell and one box for items to donate). The laundry baskets will be used for items that you intend to keep.

Ready To Begin
Start by pulling out the items in that space that do not belong in that space, whether it be items to keep, donate or sell, or to be thrown away. Place each of those items in their appropriate bag, box, or basket. For now, do not worry about where you are going to put the items you plan to keep-just put them aside for now. When determining what to do with your “clutter”, ask yourself these questions: Do I love this? Have I used it in the last year? Do I have two? Am I sentimentally attached? Do I feel sad and guilty when I look at it? If it is an item that you do not use, and it does not make you feel positive or sentimental, pass it on to someone who would enjoy it, or, toss it if you feel it cannot be used by someone else.

Try to avoid the distraction of going down memory lane. In some areas, you might find old photo albums, or other items of sentiment that will try to pull you out of your focus. Put all of these items in your basket of items to keep. Your reward for completing this project will be that you can take all the time you want to be nostalgic now that you know where these items are.

Once your contractor bag begins to get full (or almost too heavy to carry), bring it right out to your trash receptacle, and start a new one. When your box of items to donate or sell gets full, move it to a clear area in your apartment, and start a new one. When your basket of items to keep gets full, separate the items by the room that they belong in, and place them on the floor in that room-you will not want to start finding the exact places for these items in other rooms as you need to de-clutter those rooms first.

If you are the type to get burned out easily, allow yourself short breaks throughout this project. Set a timer to remind yourself when you are due for a break. Just make sure that you set a timer to end your breaks so that you can get back to work. If you are the type that easily loses motivation, avoid frequent breaks.

Getting Back In Order
Once you have removed items from each room that do not belong in that room, it is time to get your home back in order. Each room should now have neat piles of items that need to be put back in place. After removing the unnecessary items from each room, you should have plenty of room to put back the items that do belong there. Before putting anything back into a closet, on a shelf, or in a drawer, make sure that space is clean and free of dust. Find a great place in each room for each item to go. Remember that those items now have a new home in that spot, so unless you intend to completely re-do the layout of your home, always put the items back in their proper place when you are done using them.

Keeping Up
Now that you have spent several hours (or days, or weeks) de-cluttering your home, do you really want to fall back to where you started? Keeping up on your less-cluttered home will make for a more enjoyable living space. Develop organization systems that will keep your apartment less cluttered. For example, if you have a habit of tossing your mail down on your kitchen table each time you come home, get a nice basket to leave there so that when you do toss your mail on the kitchen table, it is in a neat and organized fashion.

Spend just 15 minutes a day keeping your apartment free of excess clutter. In these 15 minutes, remove your mail from the basket on the kitchen table and put it where it belongs, remove your shows from the entrance way, clear your countertops and desks and put everything where it belongs. If you make a daily effort to reduce clutter, you will find yourself being much more efficient in your home, will enjoy your home more, and will have more time to enjoy other aspects of your life.

 

Maintenance Survey Response From Toftrees Resident

Toftrees Maintenance Survey
Date Completed: 11/13/2009 

Overall, were you pleased with our service?
Yes

Comments
Great Response

Maintenance Survey Response From Toftrees Resident

Toftrees Maintenance Survey
Date Completed: 11/13/2009 

Overall, were you pleased with our service?
Yes

Comments
SUPER fast! So fast, I’m embarrassed to say I’d not emptied the dishwasher yet. But the service man stacked my dishes neatly on the counters. I came home and the poor man was still working, installing a new dishwasher. Very kind, friendly, professional, and before he left made sure not a drop of water was on my floor.

At Berger Rental Communities, we constantly strive to make your stay with us enjoyable. How can we further improve our resident services department?
I can’t think of anything. I’m floored.

Water Conservation Tips

As a homeowner who is billed by the water company for my water usage, I regularly monitor my water usage. Two months ago, I noticed that my water bill was double the normal amount, indicating that I used about 2,400 gallons of water more than I normally use per month. While I initially assumed that the meter reading was wrong, I thought a little harder and remembered two occasions during the past few weeks that I heard a toilet run unnecessarily for about 20 seconds. The toilet seemed to be functioning fine, and there were no signs of a leak at that point, so, I ignored it. After seeing this bill, I decided to stop ignoring that toilet, and my husband made a very simple repair to it. Sure enough, my next water bill reflected my normal usage, and the normal price. I was really shocked to see that this toilet malfunction that appeared to be so minor could waste so much water. If I lived in an apartment and did not have the opportunity to see my water bill, I probably would have continued to ignore this malfunction, leading my landlord to pay an extra $30 per month for my wasted water, which might have resulted in a higher rent increase at the time of lease renewal.

I am happy to say that I am now much more aware of the importance of using water wisely. In addition the expense of wasting water, using water wisely helps the environment. It saves water for fish and animals; it helps preserve drinking water supplies; It also eases the burden on wastewater treatment plants-the less water we send down the drain, the less work the plants have to do to make it clean again. Using water wisely also saves energy. It saves the energy that water suppliers use to treat the water and move it to us. It also saves the energy we use in our homes to heat the water. 

The following are just a few tips that everyone can follow to conserve water:

  1. Run the clothes and dishwasher only when they are full.
  2. For cold drinks, keep a pitcher of water in the refrigerator instead of running the tap.
  3. Collect the water you use for rinsing fruits and vegetables, then reuse it to water houseplants.
  4. Shorten your shower by a minute or two.
  5. Put food coloring in your toilet tank. If it seeps into the toilet bowl without flushing, you have a leak. Call your maintenance department to report it.
  6. When running a bath, plug the tub before turning the water on and adjust the temperature as the tub fills up.
  7. Designate one glass for your drinking water each day or use a refillable water bottle. This will cut down on the number of glasses to wash.
  8. Don’t use running water to thaw food. Defrost food in the refrigerator for water efficiency and food safety.
  9. When doing laundry, match the water level to the size of each load.
  10. Turn off faucets tightly after each use.
  11. Soak pots and pans instead of letting the water run while you scrape them clean.
  12. Turn off the water while brushing your teeth.
  13. If your toilet flapper doesn’t close after flushing it, call your maintenance department.
  14. Drop your tissue in the trash instead of flushing it.
  15. Listen for dripping faucets and running toilets. If you hear any potential drips or leaks, report it to your maintenance department.
  16. Turn off the water while you wash your hair, or let the conditioner soak in.
  17. Turn off the water while you shave.
  18. When you give your pet fresh water, don’t throw the old water down the drain. Use it to water your house plants.
  19. If you accidentally drop ice cubes, don’t throw them in the sink. Drop them in a house plant instead.
  20. To save water and time, consider washing your face while in the shower.
  21. Consider reusing your towels.
  22. When you are washing your hands, don’t let the water run while you lather.

 For additional information on water conservation, visit www.wateruseitwisely.com.

Maintenance Survey Response From Norris Hills Resident

Norris Hills Maintenance Survey
Date Completed: 11/09/2009 

Overall, were you pleased with our service?
Yes 

Comments
Maintenance men Jose and Brandon were friendly, competent and efficient. 

At Berger Rental Communities, we constantly strive to make your stay with us enjoyable. How can we further improve our resident services department?
One suggestion: Paint the hallways in building 511. Some of the walls have footprints, marking and other distracting content.

Purchasing a mattress? There's a lot to it…

Regardless of whether you reside in your own home, or an apartment, there is no substitute for high quality sleep. The quality of sleep you get will have a direct impact on most of your life, so it is very important to give yourself the best opportunity possible to sleep well. Your mattress will play a large role on the sleep you get. With all the different types of mattresses available, it is very difficult to determine which one is right for you. Below is a list of a few popular types of mattresses, and what to look for when making your selection:

Innerspring mattresses are the most traditional form of mattress. There is a large price variation on these types of mattresses. Price is determined based on the quality of construction, which includes the frame, coils, ticking and fabric. Box springs are also an important part of the mattress selection-Look for a box spring that is steel-reinforced. It is also important to purchase a new box spring with your mattress as it will add several years on to the life of your mattress. When looking for an innerspring mattress, there are several items to look for:
Number of coils: This will determine the quality of support.
Gauge of the coils: This will determine whether the support offered is firm or soft.
Interconnecting wire between springs: Look for the amount of wire there is. The more wire there is, the longer your mattress will hold its shape.
Pillow Top: A pillow top will add more cushion to your bed, which is great if you are looking for a firm, but soft feel. A common mis-conception is that a pillow top provides better support-support comes from the coils, not the top, so whether you go for a pillow top or not will be based upon personal preference and budget.
Memory Foam: Mattresses made with memory foam contours to your body, forming a nightly personalized cushion. While most find these mattresses to be very comfortable, some people feel that memory foam mattresses are not as breathable as other types of mattresses.
Latex Foam: Mattresses made with latex foam can be more expensive than other materials, however, it breathes well to keep you warm in the winter and cool in the summer, is anti-microbial, hypoallergenic, and conforms to your body in a springier fashion than memory foam.

Be careful when making the purchase:
Because of the potential for spreading illness, mold, bacteria, and even bed bugs, it is illegal to sell a used mattress in the United States. Be sure to find out the history of your bed before taking it home-purchasing a floor model or a bed than an unhappy customer has returned can be just as harmful as purchasing a used bed.

Review of Highland Manor From ApartmentRatings.com

forget all these other reviews
From: jr8651
Date posted: 11/9/2009
Years at this apartment: 2009-2009

In’s a damn apartment complex…yer gonna hear yer neighbors! I mean, come on. What do you expect’ I just homed in here in Aubust 09’ and I have no complaints. Yeah there’s been minor stuff buy maintenance has taken care of it. The leasing manager and maintenance staff have been so cool and take care of everything as little as it has been as if it were a ‘code red’ emergency. They aren’t just trying to sell you on an apartment…they are trying to take care of you and make sure you are happy! That means more to me than a pretty design in the hallways with a retro fitted gym that’s trying to suck you for every penny you got. The only bad thing I have to say is that I wish the birds wouldn’t sh%t on my car but oh well. Better that than a 300lb sumo wrestler with a diet of fish and peanuts.

Click here to read this review, or post your own review, on www.ApartmentRatings.com.

Review of Goshen Terrace From ApartmentRatings.com

OUTSTANDING
From: goshenrenter
Date posted: 11/7/2009
Years at this apartment: 2009-2009

My elderly father and I moved down here from State College, PA, as I am attending Widener University in nearby Wilmington DE to train as a paralegal. The complex is beautiful, very well-maintained, the maintenance people are wonderful, thoroughly courteous and professional, and the nearby tenants are great. The parking is excellent and all the amenities, including a stackable washer/dryer, are included. This is a very comfortable and secure place and we both love it. I plan to stay here; have no plans to leave!

Click here to read this review, or post your own review, on www.ApartmentRatings.com.