Our Core Purpose and Values
We are proud to have recently defined the Core Purpose and Core Values of Berger Rental Communities. This was quite an easy, yet enlightening, process. To define our purpose and values, all of our team members engaged in a discussion about what drives us all to be excited to come to work each day, and what drives us to be the best that we can be while at work, and what we feel we all possess that allows us to be the best we can. It is clear that we have all felt and understood the Core Purpose and Core Values of Berger Rental Communities, and we are very excited to define these essential parts of our business as:
Core Purpose
To provide every resident with the “Ahhh…home” feeling each time they enter their homes.
Core Values
Collaboration: We believe that greater results are achieved by working together. We work toward a common win/win solution as a team doing what is best for the Company.
Integrity: We require complete honesty and integrity in everything we do. We respect each other, and believe that individuals who are treated with respect respond by giving their best. All interactions are centered around a presumption of good will.
Accountability: We accept personal accountability to meet our business needs and help others improve. We treat the company’s assets as our own and behave with the company’s success in mind. We take responsibility for our successes and errors.
Continuous Improvement: We constantly strive to improve company operations, and further our personal and professional development. We are never satisfied with the status quo and are committed to individual and team initiative to seize opportunities and deliver results.
Short Term Housing Options
Regardless of whether you own or rent your home, it is so important to walk in your door, and hang your hat saying, “Ahhhh…I’m home.” At Berger Rental Communities, we understand that property management has very little do with apartments-it is about providing people with wonderful experiences at a place they call home for both short and long periods of time. During their first visit to our leasing offices, about 80% of future residents mention the words, “buying a house” or “in between houses”. Many of these future residents are pleasantly surprised to learn how great and easy apartment living can be when the goal for the near future is to own their own home. While I cannot speak for other property management companies, Berger Rental Communities makes these transitions very easy for people:
- We offer short term leases at phenomenal rates! Most people expect that they would have to spend a fortune to live in short term housing-our short term leases are offered with a minimal premium.
- Most people choose not to “settle in” to their rental housing and do not want to take the time to really make this space their home because they know they will not be living in that space for a long time. We make it easier by offering custom paint options-our residents do not have to do anything but pick a color. Their color choices are painted on their walls before they move in, which makes feeling at home happen naturally.
- We can arrange to have our apartments furnished before new residents arrive with their boxes-our rental furniture packages allow residents to move in just with a suitcase. They do not have to worry about their furniture that they intend to use in their dream home getting damaged during the moving process; They do not have to worry about picking out bedding that will match both their apartment and their new home. Rental furniture really makes these transitions easy.
- When residents are new to the area, they love using our team as resources-we know our locations and surrounding communities like the back of our hands. Our knowledge can be a priceless tool for a lot of residents.
- When residents know they are about to become tied down with the responsibilities of home ownership, they love to take advantage of our maintenance program! Our rule is, call us for anything-if it is a maintenance emergency at 2:00 in the morning, it will not wait until the next day. It is not so simple when you own a home-enjoy our maintenance program while you can.
Our team is always available to assist people with any of their rental housing needs. Please do not hesitate to contact us when you are in need of a housing resource.
Local Ski and Snow Board Resorts
The first snow storm of the season always has us ready to hit the slopes!The following is a list of some of Pennsylvania’s most popular ski resorts that our residents in all locations love to visit:
Alpine Mountain
Pocono Mountains
www.alpinemountain.com
Alpine Mountain specializes in family skiing. There is a special area designated for children. There is also a variety of scenic slopes and trails for beginner skiers through expert skiers. In addition to skiing, snowboarding and snow tubing are available at Alpine Mountain.
Bear Creek
Macungie, Pennsylvania
www.bcmountainresort.com
Bear Creek is located in Macungie, which is very close to many parts of Chester and Montgomery Counties. The resort has recently been renovated, and features a beautiful lodge in addition to a variety of slopes, trails, half-pipe and terrain park. The lodge offers a variety of food options ranging from cafeteria style to upscale dining. There is also a full-service spa available in the lodge.
Blue Mountain Ski Area
Pocono Mountains
www.skibluemt.com
Blue Mountain is the highest vertical ski mountain at 1082 feet. The mountain features 34 trails, 9 lifts, and 4 Terrain Parks. Night skiing is available on all trails. Snow Tubing is also available at Blue Mountain.
Camelback Ski Area
Pocono Mountains
www.skicamelback.com
Camelback is the largest ski resort in the Poconos, with 34 trails, 15 lifts, 2 lighted terrain parks, and one half-pipe. A favorite trail is called The Nile Mile, which is a top-to-bottom advanced novice cruising trail.
Jack Frost/Big Boulder
Pocono Mountains
www.jfbb.com
Lift tickets at Jack Frost and Big Boulder are reciprocal, so visitors can ski and snowboard on both mountains. Big Boulder is most popular amongst snow boarders because of its terrain park and half-pipe. Snow tubing is available at Big Boulder. Jack Frost features 27 slopes and trails that will appear to skiers and snow boarders of all levels.
Seven Springs Mountain Resort
Seven Springs, Pennsylvania
www.7springs.com
Seven Springs is located in the South Western part of Pennsylvania. With 32 trails, Seven Springs offers something for everyone. The base lodge has 11 different food venues, five lounges, a full-service spa, a sporting clays facility, UTV tours, snowshoe and snowmobile tours, an indoor pool, bowling, roller-skating, miniature golf, game rooms, and several shops.
Shawnee Mountain
Pocono Mountains
www.shawneemt.com
Shawnee Mountain features 23 slopes and trails varying in difficulty, 2 terrain parks, and a snow tubing park. 95 percent of trails are open for night skiing. The snow making system at Shawnee covers 100% of the mountain, making for excellent conditions.
Sno Mountain
Pocono Mountains
www.snomtn.com
Sno Mountain, formerly Montage Mountain, has terrain that ranges from beginner to double black diamonds, with the steepest pitch the northeastern Pocono mountains. The whole mountain is open to snow boarders, however, there is a terrain park specifically for snow boarders.
Tanglwood ski Area
Pocono Mountains
www.skitanglwood.com
Tanglwood Ski Area overlooks Lake Wallenpaupack in the Pocono Mountains. Tanglwood features 9 trails and a terrain park for both skiers and snowboarders. Due to its high elevation, Tanglewood experiences colder temperature than other Pocono ski areas, which helps its snow making capabilities.
Whitetail Mountain Resort
Mercersburg, Pennsylvania
www.skiwhitetail.com
Whitetail Ski Resort is the first major new ski area built in more than a decade. The trails are logically located across the mountain, which keeps the novices separate from the experts. There is a terrain park, and half-pipe for snow boarders.
Moving Checklist
Planning is the key to a successful move, so grab your pencil and let the countdown to Moving Day begin. Here are some things to consider:
- Take an objective look at your stuff and try to start sorting things you will move and other things you will give away, throw away, or sell.
- Create a folder for all of your moving-related information and expenses. Depending upon the reason for the move, you may be eligible for a tax deduction.
- Notify the newspaper and magazines, credit card companies, family and friends of your upcoming move.
- Contact the telephone, cable, electric, gas, and Internet providers at your old home to arrange disconnection of services on the day after you move.
- Contact your new telephone, cable, electric, gas, and Internet providers to arrange connection of services on the day before your move. Your leasing team should be able to assist you with these arrangements.
- Make a list of repairs needed in your old home and arrange for the work to be completed before the move.
- Start packing as soon as you can. Remember to label each box with a description of contents and desired room location to spend unpacking after the move. Keep boxes light.
- Make personal travel arrangements for the move.
- Arrange for transporting pets, house plants and anything else the movers can’t take.
- Start cleaning out your refrigerator and freezer. Minimize new food purchases. Put baking soda or charcoal inside your refrigerator and freezer to keep them smelling fresh.
- Contact your insurance company for your renter’s insurance policy. If moving to a Berger Rental Community, you can or order renter’s insurance online at www.eRenterPlan.com.
- Transfer all prescriptions to a drug store near your new home.
- Pay all outstanding bills and be sure to indicate your new address on payment receipts.
- Empty your safe deposit box and arrange for a new safe deposit box at a bank near your new home.
- Give the movers directions to your new home plus contact information, including cell phone, new home phone and emergency contact.
- Give your old home a thorough cleaning.
- Pack linens and other things you will need immediately in boxes labeled “Open First, Load Last.”
- Do a final walk through to ensure that everything has been packed.
- Alert the post office of your change of address by visiting www.usps.com.
First Time Renter Advice
Congratulations! You are moving out and are now own your own. This is no doubt a very exciting time in your life. Here’s some advice about what you need to know to make renting your first apartment a very positive experience.
Private landlord vs. Management Company
Before you start looking, you might want to decide whether you want your apartment run by a private landlord or a management company. There is an important distinction. A private landlord might be someone who rents their property for extra income while working full-time outside of the real estate industry. This could mean that the private landlord might not have the time to put into being available to their residents 24 hours per day. On the other hand, a private landlord might only have a few properties, and might be more apt to making exceptions to rules for individual renters. On the other hand, a management company is in the business for long-term. Management companies should always be available for their residents, and mostly have 24 hour emergency maintenance programs. Because management companies have many more apartments to manage, exceptions to rules are harder to make with management companies. Berger Rental Communities manages over 2,000 apartments in more than 10 communities across the state of Pennsylvania. We are professionals who have built our business on word-of-mouth advertising and resident referrals. We strive to ensure that our residents are happy in their new home.
Choosing a Roommate
Unless you landed yourself a really great job just out of college, you will probably need to consider getting a roommate to share expenses. Consider your friends list. Is there someone you already know that will be living in the same area who you would consider rooming with? The idea is to pick someone fairly similar to yourself. Find someone who keeps the same hours, who shares your level of cleanliness, someone who can afford his or her share of the expenses and someone you genuinely like to spend time with. This is an important decision and one that shouldn’t be made too quickly. If you need to look outside your circle of friends, consider local free ads such as community newspapers and local roommate matching services or online at Craigslist or Move.com to post an ad. Also consider checking the listings or create your own at Roomates.com, RoommateNation.com or RoommateLocator.com. Some of these services may charge you a small monthly fee. When evaluating potential roommates, it is important for you to check references, contact their previous landlord, and verify that they are responsible in regards to making payments.
Apartment Layout
There are many different apartment floor plans available. There are studio, one, and two-bedroom apartments with one or multiple bathrooms and other amenities such as dens, dining rooms, extra storage, etc…Take the time to review the different layouts available to you. Pick a floor plan that most closely fits your lifestyle today…and something you can live with for the next few years.
Compare Apartment Community Amenities
When looking for an apartment, it’s all about the complete package. Many Berger Rental Communities, for example, offer swimming pools, fitness centers, computer facilities, outdoor trails, etc…Take the time to compare offerings of several area communities and consider the potential savings if you don’t need a separate gym membership, for example.
Reserve your Apartment
Once you find the perfect apartment, act quickly. Reserve your apartment by paying a small deposit and completing the application for rental.
Application Fee
Once you place a hold on an apartment, the next step will be a credit screening and the application so you can be approved to rent the specific apartment you are interested in. Once you submit the application, you will generally be asked to pay a small application processing fee to cover the costs of ordering a credit report, checking references and processing your application. This fee is generally non-refundable. For more information about deposits, read Understanding Apartment Deposits.
The Lease Agreement
Once your application has been approved, and you are ready to move into your perfect apartment, you will be presented with a lease agreement. The lease is a legal document that is binding on both the resident and the landlord. It specifies the terms and conditions of the agreement and defines roles and responsibilities. Read this document over carefully. You might even ask a trusted relative or good friend read over it as well. The team at your new apartment community should be available to assist you with any questions and concerns that you might have about this document. Once you fully understand the legal agreement you are signing, go ahead and take the next step. In addition, all of your roommates will need to sign the lease as well.
Security Deposit
You will be required to put down a security deposit. This will be held by your landlord during your residency, and will be applied to the cost of repairing any damages to the apartment. After deducting the proper amount to cover damages and repairs, the remainder of the security deposit is refundable when you move out of the apartment. Terms for holding and refunding the security deposit should be spelled out in the lease. Remember this security deposit while you are living in your apartment; you’ll want to take excellent care of the apartment so it will be refunded to you when you leave. For more information about deposits, read Understanding Apartment Deposits.
Renters Insurance
Before you move in, you should obtain renter’s insurance. Some landlords require this. As an added service to our residents, Berger Rental Communities has partnered with a leading insurance company to offer you pre-approved, low-cost insurance protection. Information about this insurance company can be found at www.eRenterPlan.com. For more information about renter’s insurance, read Why Do I Need Renter’s Insurance?
Apartment Walk Through
Right before you are scheduled to move in, it is important to walk through the apartment with the leasing consultant. This allows you to confirm that all preparations have been completed and the apartment is prepared to your satisfaction.
Arrange for Utilities
Because utilities such as gas, electric, cable television, Internet service and telephone service will be placed in your name, it is your responsibility to call and order service before you move in. The leasing team at your apartment community should be available to assist in making these arrangements.
Furnishing Your New Apartment
Before moving in, you will want to give some thought to furnishing your apartment. The most important component is having a good bed. After that, consider hunting for furniture and supplies at garage or yard sales, thrift stores and the attic or basement of relatives or friends. You might also consider checking the classified ads in local newspapers or community advertisers. Beyond couches and coffee tables, you may also need to find a small table and chairs for your kitchen or dining room, floor lamps, area rugs and chairs for extra seating. Don’t forget to stock up on other basics, including a shower curtain, wastebaskets, cleaning supplies, mops, brooms, etc…If you prefer to rent furniture, your leasing team should be able to arrange furniture rental for you. For more information about purchasing a bed, read Purchasing A Mattress? There’s A Lot To It…
Arranging the Move
Once you have found your perfect apartment, completed the paperwork and have a move-in date in mind, it’s time to locate a moving company. Your leasing team should be able to provide you with several options of moving companies. Ask friends and relatives for recommendations. Unless you choose to pay for the very expensive packing service, you will be responsible for packing everything yourself. Consider purchasing bubble wrap and using it to wrap fragile items such as china, glasses or lamps. Liquor stores and supermarkets are a good place to find boxes, or you may decide to purchase new boxes from the moving company or a mailing store.
Maintenance Survey Response From Norris Hills Resident
Norris Hills Maintenance Survey
Date Completed: 12/12/2009
Overall, were you pleased with our service?
Yes
Comments
Jose corrected the issue very quickly. Appreciate it.
Maintenance Survey Response From Norris Hills Resident
Norris Hills Maintenance Survey
Date Completed: 12/10/2009
Overall, were you pleased with our service?
Yes
Comments
Have not returned home, but the service request was responded to in less than 3 minutes. Kudos.
Maintenance Survey Response From Goshen Terrace Resident
Goshen Terrace Maintenance Survey
Date Completed: 12/09/2009
Overall, were you pleased with our service?
Yes
At Berger Rental Communities, we constantly strive to make your stay with us enjoyable. How can we further improve our resident services department?
Make sure the parking lot is clean when it snows or ice the parking lot is dangerous for slip and falls.
Maintenance Survey Response From Norris Hills Resident
Norris Hills Maintenance Survey
Date Completed: 12/08/2009
Overall, were you pleased with our service?
Yes
Comments
I found myself in a quagmire on Sunday afternoon after setting up my Christmas tree in a new location and finding that the outlet was inoperable. Hosea and Wayne’s timely and efficient repair of the outlet was deeply appreciative. This was the first time I met Wayne and was impressed with his expertise. My best wishes for Jesus as he ventures onto the next plateau of his life and trust me, he will surely be missed. However, based upon first impressions, I think we may have a winner in the Hosea and Wayne Team.
At Berger Rental Communities, we constantly strive to make your stay with us enjoyable. How can we further improve our resident services department?
As a long-time resident of Norris Hills, on the few occasions that I’ve had to contact the office staff (Jean, Amanda, Stephanie & Bryon) during core hours; the answering service during off hours or weekends, I’ve found the communication to be very customer friendly and an asset to your organization. In my opinion, the same can be said of your current Maintenance Team. Former employees Dave and Jesus were also savvy, skilled and pro-active employees and set a positive example of a good work ethic and dedication which their subordinates (namely Hosea and in turn Wayne) have embraced. At this time, since I haven’t had any “negative” issues or responses from your current group, I find it a little difficult to come up with any suggestions for improvement. In the words of an “anonymous” prophet — “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” Keep up the good work!
Don't Let Packing for Travel Get You Stressed Out
Traveling can be very stressful, especially when it comes to packing. Prior to departing, we all have a tendency to run around our apartments, not knowing what to do first, we get crabby, and we then pack everything in sight. Nothing is worse than packing so much that you have to spend extra money at the airport, or, needing to be jam packed into a car. In addition, once finally arriving at the destination, the trip can be miserable if you have packed inappropriately, all of your clothes are so wrinkled that you can’t even wear them, and you packed so much that your belongings have taken over your hotel room, or the place you are staying. The following are some tips to make packing for travel easier:
Before you even start packing, take 15 minutes to plan, and write your “to do” lists. Make 4 different “to do” lists: What you need to do before you pack; what you need to pack; what you need to do before leaving; what you need to do when you get back home.
List 1: What you need to do before you pack
- Start with all of your clothes clean and put away in their proper places-this makes your clothes easier to find, and you will not forget to pack something that is sitting in the hamper.
- Make sure your apartment is in a neat and orderly fashion-this will also make it easier to find what you need to pack, and, it will remove a potential distraction.
- Contact the post office to put your mail on hold-you can do this online at www.usps.com
- If you are driving, have your car serviced if needed. Also, make sure you have all of your driving directions printed.
- If you are flying, print your airline confirmation, and write down the time you need to be at the airport. Then, calculate when you will need to leave your apartment on the day of departure.
List 2: What you need to pack
- When determining which outfits to take, review your itinerary to determine how many dressy outfits and casual outfits you will need. Check the local weather forecast to determine if you will need clothing for rain, snow, or extreme temperatures. Will you need a bathing suit?
- Take basic style clothing-bring outfits that are interchangeable. If you stick to basic colors, you can bring fewer shoes-if your outfits all go with black, there is no need for brown shoes.
- Try to keep makeup and hair care items to a minimum-these can all cause a mess if they break in a bag. When determining what to eliminate, ask yourself, “If I don’t take this, and I decide I really need it, can I get it at a local grocery store?”
- Don’t forget medications, and your essentials. If you are traveling by air, carry these items on the plane with you, just in case your luggage gets lost. Check with your airline’s policies regarding carry on items first.
List 3: What you need to do before you leave
- Change your sheets so that you can come home to a fresh and welcoming bed…Remember that the best part about going away is coming home.
- Make sure your apartment is clean and orderly-you will not be excited to come home to a mess.
- To avoid odors from stagnant water, pour some Pinesol in your toilets and drains.
- Turn the air conditioner off, or up to 85 degrees if it is summer time. In the winter, do not turn your heat off-just turn it down to about 58 degrees to keep pipes from freezing.
- Make sure your refrigerator and freezer doors are closed tight. Tape them shut if you have to. You do not want to come home to spoiled food.
List 4: What you need to do when you get home
- Leave this list on your kitchen counter so you can find it easily when you get home.
- Turn on your air conditioner, or turn your heat up.
- Unpack the car as soon as possible.
- When you bring your suitcases into your apartment, take out the items that need to be washed. If you have more than one load of laundry to do, wash your priority clothes first (the ones you need to wear the next day). Try to unpack as soon as possible-the longer you wait to unpack, the longer you will live out of your suitcase.
- Jump back in to your normal routine.
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