We believe that property management has more to do with the wonderful people that make their homes in our communities than the physical structures themselves. We strive to make every single apartment feel like a home, where our exceptional residents build memories, enjoy their lifestyles, and achieve their goals. We respect and value the trust that our residents place in us, and work hard to ensure that we exceed their expectations.

Stocking Your New Kitchen

Moving can be stressful and hectic. Your move will be less stressful if you are able to quickly feel settled in your new home, and quickly be able to use your new home. Stocking your kitchen quickly will help you feel settled in your new home. Below is a list of kitchen basics to have when you move. Of course, not all apartment renters will need this full list-what you choose to get will depend on how frequently you cook, eat at home, and what you like to cook.

Appliances:

  • Toaster
  • Microwave
  • Blender
  • Electric mixer
  • Coffee pot/Tea kettle

Pots and Pans:

  • 1-quart saucepan
  • 2-quart saucepan
  • 4-quart saucepan
  • 8-quart stockpot
  • 8-inch skillet
  • 14-inch skillet
  • Roasting pan
  • Casseroles/baking dishes
  • Grill pan

Preparation tools:

  • 8-10” knife
  • 3-4” knife
  • Serrated knife

Other items to use for basic cooking and baking:

  • Wet and dry measuring cups
  • Measure spoons
  • Meat thermometer
  • Timer
  • Various sized mixing bowls
  • Chopping board
  • Can opener
  • Eggbeater
  • Colander
  • Wooden spoons
  • Rubber spatula
  • Metal spatula
  • Tongs
  • Wisk
  • Slotted spoon/cooking fork
  • Cake pans
  • Cookie sheets
  • Ladle
  • Grater

 Pantry essentials:

  • Herb and spice rack with a variety of spices
  • Baking supplies: flour, white and brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, cornstarch and vanilla extract
  • Condiments: ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, jam
  • Dry red and white wine
  • Pasta
  • Rice
  • Potatoes
  • Canned beans and vegetables
  • Spaghetti sauce
  • Cake mixes
  • Canned fish
  • Vinegar
  • Sauce mix packets
  • Broths or stocks
  • Peanut butter
  • Coffee beans and tea bags
  • Cereal
  • Bread crumbs
  • Easy snacks

Cleaning In a Hurry

One of the many reasons why people choose to live in apartments is because they do not have the time to take care of their own home. With time being so valuable, apartment renters do not always have the time to do a full, floor to ceiling cleaning. When you are in a time crunch, use the following checklist as a cleaning guide to get the best bang for your buck in the least amount of time: 

  • Gather all of your cleaning products and supplies that you will need and put them in one place before the cleaning even begins.
  • Plan your starting point. It is most effective to start on one side of each room, and clean your way to the other side, and move on to the next room.
  • Always dust before you wash your floors or vacuum the carpet.
  • Use different rags or paper towels with each cleaning product. Residue from a different cleaning product can leave streaks or even cause damage.
  • Use an extension cord with your vacuum so that you don’t have to stop to unplug and re-plug as you move around.
  • If you use a dust wand with an extension handle, you will not need to climb on chairs to get the cobwebs.
  • Use the right tools: Newspapers area great on windows. Do not use a lint producing cloth for dusting.
  • Don’t overuse your products. Using too much cleaning product will leave a buildup, which will take longer to clean.
  • If you only have time to do just one thing, go for the vacuum. Clean carpets will give the impression and feel of a clean home.  
  • Get all of your dirty dishes out of your sink.
  • Create a good scent. A fresh smelling apartment is essential for a clean feeling apartment.

Household Items That Are Also Great Cleaners

Common chemical based cleaners can do a great job at cleaning, however, they can also be quite expensive, harmful to the environment, and potentially harmful to you and your pets. Below are some household items that can also be great cleaning products. Before cleaning your apartment with any of these items, we suggest that you do a spot test to make sure that these products will not cause damage on particular items. In addition, if you are intending to use these products on your apartment floor, walls, appliances, bathrooms, fixtures, etc. we recommend that you verify with your property management staff that these products will not damage the apartment.

Apple Cider Vinegar: Believe it or not, apple cider vinegar can work wonders on hard wood floors.

Baking Soda: Baking soda can be used in many ways.

  1. To absorb odors in carpet, leave some baking soda on the section of carpet overnight, and vacuum it in the morning.
  2. Add two tablespoons of baking soda to boiling water and pour this mixture over pans or dishes that have food stuck to them. Let this baking soda mixture sit for ten minutes before rinsing.
  3. Combine baking soda and water to rinse hair combs and brushes.
  4. Sprinkling some baking soda can reduce odors in garbage cans, diaper pails, shoes, and litter boxes.
  5. Sprinkle on a wet sponge to use on pots and pans.

 

Club Soda: Club soda is great to use after a spill to avoid a stain setting. In addition, club soda can be useful for making countertops shine.

Lemon: When wiping the refrigerator down with water, add some lemon juice to create a fresh smell. Fresh cut lemon is also great for removing light stains from porcelain sinks, and removing stuck particles from glassware.

Pine Essential Oil: When diluted, pine essential oil is a great all purpose cleaner, and works especially well on tile and linoleum floors. Use caution with all essential oils as some people may have allergic reactions to the oils.

Vanilla Extract: Put just a tad of vanilla on a cloth to add a nice scent to whatever you are cleaning.

White Vinegar: White vinegar can be used in many ways.

  1. To absorb odors, leave a cub of vinegar standing for a few hours.
  2. When added to the final rinse cycle on a dishwasher, white vinegar will help prevent and remove water spots from glassware.
  3. Dampen a cloth with white vinegar to use on stainless steel to remove water spots.
  4. To remove hard water residue from a coffee pot, run vinegar through the coffee pot and then run 3 or more pots of water only.
  5. For cleaning windows, add 2-3 tablespoons of vinegar per 1 gallon of water.
  6. To remove soap residue in the shower or tub, use some white vinegar on a moistened sponge.  

Your Rental History is Important

Your rental history is very important-it is another facet of credit history that shows how  responsible you are with making rent payments. Keeping your rental history strong will allow you to have more options for future housing. Because most landlords will look for landlord references, if you have bad rental history, you will not have as many choices of apartment communities to move to.

Your rental history is a record of your rental behavior. If you have ever been involved in  legal action while renting an apartment, the court actions can be found when your new landlord conducts credit checks using your social security number. Many landlords will not approve an application from someone who has legal judgments against them from a landlord.

In addition to what might appear on your credit report, most prospective landlords will want to contact your previous landlords to ask for references. When prospective landlords look to previous landlords for references, they will usually ask the former landlord if you have had any late payments, any rent checks that have been returned, and if you have had any lease violations or other problems in the apartment.

Lack of rental history is generally better than having bad rental history. Everyone needs to rent their first apartment at some point. If you are renting your first apartment, your prospective landlord might look harder at your credit history as an indication of your responsibility with making payments.

Your rental history, like your credit history, will follow you for a very long time, so guard it carefully.

Apartment Search Checklist

Finding a new apartment can be very stressful, and confusing. After evaluating dozens of apartment communities, they will usually all start to run together. The following is a checklist to use to keep your search organized.

  • Evaluate what you are looking for in your new apartment. List all of your priorities for your new apartment including size, amenities, features, location, and community features.
  • Set a price range for your monthly rent. When establishing this price range, consider the cost of utilities-for example, if a community includes utilities or provides a utility package, you might be able to spend more on the monthly rent.
  • Make an apartment search folder where you can keep your budget, list of priorities and list of locations you are considering.
  • Search for apartment communities online. Apartment search websites such as www.apartmentguide.com, www.rent.com, www.move.com, and www.apartmentfinder.com can be very helpful. All of these websites will allow you to inquire about availability directly from the website.
  • Pick up apartment search books that are offered at no cost at most convenience stores and grocery stores. Look for communities that seem to fit your criteria.
  • Write a list of apartment communities that you saw online and in books that seem to fit your criteria.
  • Ask your friends and co-workers for suggestions. They might live in a community that would be perfect for you, or, they might tell you to avoid the community they live in. 20% of new residents in Berger Rental Communities were referred to their community by satisfied residents.
  • Start calling and/or e-mailing the communities on your list to ask questions relating to your specific needs and priorities.
  • Cross communities off of your list as you eliminate them. When your list of contenders is narrowed down, make appointments to visit the communities.
  • Visit apartment communities to get a feel for which one you might want to live in. Items to take with you may include:
    - Your list of apartment priorities
    - Information on the property you are visiting
    - A list of questions to ask
    - Pen and paper to take notes
    - A digital camera to take pictures
    - A friend for a second opinion
  • After visiting the communities, continue to narrow down your list.
  • Visit www.ApartmentRatings.com to see reviews of the apartment communities you are considering. Berger Rental Communities has established our own reviews website at www.BergerReviews.com. On this site, our prospective residents can see real feedback from real residents-the good, the bad, and the ugly feedback as well.
  • If you are still considering more than one community, weigh the pros and cons of each. Remember that a warm and welcoming management and maintenance team is very important. If more than one community meets all of your needs and priorities, select the community where the team seemed to be the most knowledgeable and helpful.
  • Gather the application materials you will need to apply for an apartment. These may include:
    - Your checkbook or credit card
    - Social Security Number
    - Rental history information-list of previous landlords and dates of residency.
    - Pay stubs or bank statements to verify income
  • For information about common apartment deposits, read Understanding Apartment Deposits

Which Floor Plan is Right for You?

Which style apartment is right for you? When shopping for an apartment, you are dependent on using your imagination to picture your furniture and belongings in the model apartment you see. Below are some floor plan design elements to consider to decide if the apartment space is right for you.

Evaluating floor plan space
The most first thing to look at in a floor plan is space. The best floor plan design might not have enough actual space for you, your family, and your belongings. On the other had, some floor plans might have too much space.

Looking at the amount of square footage on a paper floor plan is not always a good indicator of how usable the space itself will be for you. An apartment might be a good size on paper, but when you get all your possessions in it, it may be too small. So how can you tell if the square footage is enough? Interior designers recommend looking at the space and classifying all the rooms into three categories: private areas, service areas, and public areas.

Private areas include the spaces where you want to be alone: your bedroom, your office, and your bathroom. In a good apartment floor plan, these private areas will be separated from busy public areas by physical barriers.

Living rooms are an example of public areas, the social spaces where you entertain, relax, and live most of your day-to-day life. These should be spaces where you can do a variety of activities from hosting a party to simply reading a book.

Service areas include the kitchen, which is a highly functional space that you use for a particular purpose. When you evaluate these spaces, look for logical layouts that will make your life easy.

Thinking about separating floor plan space into these three areas should give you a better idea of whether or not an apartment has enough usable space.

Storage considerations
Don’t underestimate the importance of storage space in your new apartment. Everybody needs a place to put food, clothing, and important valuables.

Evaluate the built-in storage space like closets, cabinets and pantries. Look for an apartment design that incorporates these storage features throughout the home and makes them easily accessible.

If you look around an apartment and don’t see as many built-in storage areas as you’d like, don’t write it off just yet. The floor plan may still work for you if it’s spacious enough to hold a lot of non-built-in storage furniture like dressers, shelves, or trunks.

Foot traffic
Traffic patterns are another important floor plan consideration. A floor plan’s traffic pattern refers to the way a person has to walk through the apartment to get from room to room. The best apartment designs are arranged so that you can move easily from space to space as well as enter and exit easily. It is best to look for floor plans where foot traffic patterns do not create too much movement in the private areas.

Questions to ask about floor plan design
When you’re evaluating an apartment floor plan, ask yourself the following questions to decide whether a space will work with your lifestyle:

  • Will each person in your apartment have enough space to him/herself?
  • Are bedrooms separated enough from living areas?
  • Is there room everyday living?
  • Does the apartment design include a logical foot traffic pattern?
  • Are entrances and exits conveniently located?
  • Is there enough storage space?

The key to finding the right apartment floor plan is to consider what really works for your specific needs. Think about how you need your space to function, and you’ll make the right choice.

Establishing a Budget

Regardless of how much money one earns, managing money is never easy. Managing money wisely requires a lot of thought, effort, and discipline. Millionaires must set and follow budgets just like non-millionaires-as a matter of fact, following good budgeting habits are often how people become millionaires. Like anything else, the sooner you begin good money managing habits, the easier it will be.

What is a budget?

We see reality shows on tv that takes people who spend do not manage their money well and put them on a strict and tight budget. We then watch these people struggle to adhere to the guidelines set forth in their budget. For most people, budgeting and sticking to a budget does not have to be painful, nor does it have to be punishment for spending too much money.

A budget is simply a record of spending goals and spending reality. Everyone’s budget will include different spending goals.  If you feel like you don’t know where your money goes every month, a budget will tell you. If you have trouble meeting goals like adding to a savings account every month, a budget will help you prioritize your spending to meet those goals.

Step 1: Track your spending

The first step to making a budget is getting a sense of what you spend each month. Start with the easy expenses-make a list of your regular monthly bills (rent, utilities, insurance, car payment, etc.). Then, add expenses that can vary a bit, such as gas, groceries, entertainment, clothing, etc. Instead of making guesses about these items, look at several past bank statements, and take the monthly average of these varying expenses.  Make a note of the expenses that you find to be excessive, that you believe you can cut back on. 

For the next month, keep track of everything you spend-even the small purchases that don’t seem to add up to much. After tracking your expenses for a full month, you will be able to see how accurate your first estimates are. 

When comparing your actual expenses to your estimated expenses, you might find that you need to add categories to your expense list. 

Step 2: Create goals

Now is the time to determine if you would like to change your spending and savings habits. Think about your goals for your money: Do you want to save for purchasing a house? Do you want to get out of debt? What do you wan to save money for?  Determine the amount of money that you want to put towards your goals each month. Look back at your expense list-will it be possible to keep your spending habits while fulfilling your goals? If not, you will need to find an area to cut back in.  

Step 3: Cutting back

Create a budget based on your tracked expenses and your goals. If you want to put more money toward one of your goals, look for expenses that you can cut back on. Can you take your lunch to work instead of eating out? Can you make coffee at home rather than purchasing it? Can you remove some cable or phone services. Look to the items that are easiest to cut back on first. You might be able to make very minor lifestyle adjustments to meet your financial goals.

Step 4: Follow the budget

Once your budget is complete, practice it. It is essential to keep accurate track of all of your expenses, and regularly compare your actual spending to your budget. Remember that if you go over your budget one week, you will need to go under your budget the next week to stick to the budget.

You might need to make changes to your budget along the way, which is ok as long as you keep your financial goals in mind. Great managers of money adjust their budgets too. 

Consider using computer software to help. Quicken is a fantastic product that makes it very easy to track expenses and create budgets.

If you follow your budget, and stay disciplined with it, you will see results.

Why Should I Move to Vairo Village Apartments?

  • Of the Vairo Village residents who move out of the community, 97% do so only because they have completed their education, or must leave the area to pursue their careers. 

 

  • 34% of new Vairo Village residents were referred to the community by satisfied current and previous residents. 

 

  • 100% of applicants for apartments at Vairo Village are screened for criminal background.

 

  • Vairo Village representatives are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to answer telephone calls from residents.   

Why Should I Move to Toftrees Apartments?

  • Toftrees team members have been employed by Berger Rental Communities for an average of 12 years.  

 

  • Toftrees has an ApartmentRatings.com overall score that is 97% better than the average score of apartment communities in State College.  

 

  • 28% of new Toftrees residents were referred to the community by satisfied current and previous residents. 

 

  • 100% of applicants for apartments at Toftrees are screened for criminal background.    

Why Should I Move to Perkiomen Place Apartments?

  • 99.7% of Perkiomen Place residents are satisfied with the completion of their maintenance requests. 

 

  • 99.6% of Perkiomen Place residents are satisfied with their move in experience. 

 

  • Perkiomen Place residents have been living in the community for an average of 5.46 years.

 

  • The resident retention rate of Perkiomen Place is 64% better than the industry standard.   
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