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.
Buy Household Products Online: You won’t believe the savings!
Many people have turned to the internet to purchase clothing, shoes, cosmetics, electronics and so much more. While not everyone is as comfortable purchasing items online, the people that do can appreciate the savings.
You can save by purchasing through auction sites, like eBay®, or wholesale discounters which are available for just about any item from stationary and paper to shoes. There are even sites dedicated to providing online coupons, printable coupons, and coupon codes that are meant to be used at store websites. The codes range from free shipping to a percentage off of your purchase total.
Plenty of brand name sites offer coupons, discounts, or just lower prices since they don’t have as much overhead costs as stores. These sites below are just a few places where you can go to save money on everyday items:
1800contacts.com – Who’d have thought that we’d ever be able to buy contacts online? Not only is it cheaper, this site even ships for free!
Vitacost.com - This company advertises a savings of up to 80% on over 6000 vitamins, diet supplements, and skin care products. Most of the products are in stock, and orders usually ship the same day.
Batteries.com - Batteries are such an expensive item to buy in stores. Use this site, and you’ll save money and time. They sell every type of battery under the sun, so it’s literally one-stop shopping.
CouponCabin.com – There are so many discounts to choose from on a variety of items!
PriceGrabber.com – Recommended by Kiplinger’s, this is a great site for comparing prices when it comes to household needs and more. Use it to confirm that you’re actually getting a good deal.
These are just five examples of the great savings you can find online. Whatever your shopping needs may be, I would suggest making the world wide web your first stop.
Choosing a Roommate
With the current economic situation, roommates are becoming more and more popular. Roommates are a great way of being able to live in a fantastic apartment community without breaking your budget. At Berger Rental Communities, we see more and more residents going from living solo to living with a roommate. Going from your parents house or your own place to a roommate situation can be very scary. We have seen all sorts of roommate situations here from childhood best friends to siblings to roommates who met over the Internet. We have seen all of these situations work out beautifully and we have seen all of these situations turn into friendship (and credit) ruining disasters. Carefully planning and choosing a roommate can improve your chances for a wonderful roommate situation.
When choosing a roommate, you will first want to determine if you would prefer to live with a friend or a stranger. Most people feel that the obvious answer is to live with a friend, however, consider all angles. Although living with a close friend can be a fantastic experience, if you have never lived with this person before, living with them could also break that great bond. Are you ready to potentially risk losing a friend if you are not good roommates together or have you been through enough with this friend to know that any roommate issues can be worked out? Remember that the little things that bother you now about your friend will only get worse if you live together and spend more time together. Is this friend someone who is a major part of your social circle? Will you feel obligated to spend all of your time together? Will you feel guilty doing something without your roommate?
Some people choose to live with strangers because it can be easier to live separate, independent lives with living with strangers. If you intend to live with a stranger, be sure to ask a lot of questions to your potential new roommate and yourself. Some questions to consider are:
- Are you a morning person or a night owl?
- In your down time, do you like to party or relax?
- What kind of music do you like? How often do you listen to music? At what hours? At what volume?
- What type of television do you like to watch? How often do you watch television? At what hours? At what volume? Do you prefer to watch television in the common areas or in your bedroom?
- What kinds of people do you hang out with?
- How do you feel about visitors?
- Are you in a serious relationship? Does your significant other spend a lot of time at your place, or, do you spend a lot of time at his/her place?
- How do you feel about cleanliness? Are you a slob or a neat freak? How do you feel about living with someone who does not have the same habits?
- What are your hobbies? Do your hobbies take place in your apartment?
- Do you have any pets?
- Do you smoke? Are you willing to live with someone who does?
At the minimum, you should expect the following from a roommate:
- Neatness
- Common courtesy and respect for personal space
- Safe living habits
- Timely payment of rent and utilities
There are plenty of resources online for searching for roommates. Craigslist.org and roommates.com have become a very popular site for people to find roommates. Remember that even though you might feel you found the perfect roommate online, be sure to meet him/her in person before you make any commitments. It is very important to listen to your instincts-Although you might be in a hurry to find a roommate, finding the right roommate is extremely important. If your instincts tell you something doesn’t feel right, it is not right.
Once you select your perfect roommate, it is essential that you and your roommate come up with a plan for the financial responsibility of the apartment. Make sure it is very clear (and documented in writing) exactly who will be paying what portion of the rent and utilities, when it will be paid, and how it will be paid. If you are signing a joint lease with a roommate, even if you pay your portion of the rent on time every month but your roommate does not pay his or her portion of the rent, both you and your roommate could be at risk for eviction and strikes against your credit report.
Roommates are a fantastic part of apartment living-if you plan, prepare, and make rational decisions, you will be on your way to a great experience.
Choosing a Bank in a New Location
After moving to a new location, you might find yourself needing to choose a new bank. Choosing a bank seems simple, however, there are many things to consider when picking a bank that meets your needs. Below is a list of things to consider when selecting your new bank:
FDIC Insured: It is very important to ensure that the bank you choose is insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. This insurance protects your deposits up to $100,000. There should be a sticker in the window of the bank or a note on the bank’s website indicating this.
Costs: While most banks charge competitive rates for accounts, it is important to look at the details of any charges you will pay for your account.
Fees: Look very closely at the fees associated with the services you will receive and the accounts you will have. A few typical fees to look for are:
- ATM fees, for both your bank and other banks
- Checking account fees if you do not maintain a minimum balance
- Checking account fee waiver if you have a direct deposit from your employer
- Online banking fees
- Fees for savings accounts where you will not be able to maintain the minimum balance
- Overdraft fees
- Funds transfer fees
Friendliness and Customer Service: With increasing technology levels, visiting a bank can be rare, however, it is important that you have a good experience each time you visit your branch and when you call them on the phone. It might be worth choosing a bank that has higher fees if it means that your experience with the bank will be pleasant.
Location: Depending on how much banking you do at a branch, a convenient location may or may not be important. However, it will be important to ensure that your bank has ATM locations that are conveniently located.
Credit Union: Credit Unions are like traditional banks except that they usually do not have to pay stock dividends, which results in lower fees for the customers. If you do not need a large bank with a variety of options, a credit union might be a good choice. Keep in mind that some credit unions might not work well with online payments, so, if you pay your bills online, a credit union might not be the best option.
Do you want more than one bank?: Some people choose to hold different accounts with different banks. Due to the various needs with each account, this could be a great choice, however, it can be more difficult to keep track of your accounts and you might lose some convenience of one-stop banking if you choose to use several banks.
Recommendations: Word of mouth and referrals is the best way to learn about businesses. Ask a friend, neighbor, or your leasing staff if they can recommend a bank in the area.
Get out of Debt
Debt can take over your life with just a little bad luck, or some less-than-perfect spending decisions. Debt can limit you in many ways, including the option to rent an apartment. Even if your debt has not had a tremendous effect on your credit rating, a high debt to income ratio will certainly affect whether you will be approved for an apartment. Below are some steps to pulling yourself out of debt, and increasing your rental qualifications:
Step 1: Stop using the Credit Card
While Credit Cards always seem appealing at first, they can turn into a burden quickly if they are not managed properly. When you were in need of emergency car repair, that credit card was great, but now, the $400 car repair is costing you $600 because of the interest rate. The monthly payments on the interest and balance is eating away at your bank account, limiting your money available for day-to-day expenses. When you are spending your paychecks on credit card payments, what do you turn to when you need money to live? That Credit Card. The only way to eliminate Credit Card debt is to eliminate using the Credit Card, and using just the money that you have in the bank, unless it is a true emergency.
Step 2: Good Debt vs. Bad Debt
Yes, there is such a thing as Good Debt. While too much debt is always bad, some types of debt are almost necessary for most people to have in order to live their lives. Good debt allows you to get something for your money over time, when the interest rate is low and the funds you are not using will appreciate in value. Student loans and home mortgages fall into this category. Automobile loans are on the fence-while interest rates on automobile loans are low, automobiles do not appreciate in value. Other loans including personal loans and credit cards are considered bad debt. When eliminating debt, focus first on the bad debt. Of course, you will still need to make payments towards your good debt accounts, however, it is nice to know that those accounts were wise decisions.
Step 3: Cut Out the Bad Debt
As painful as it might be, cut up every credit card except for the one that has the lowest interest rate. That credit card can be saved for true emergencies. Take out your most recent set of credit card bills, and highlight the minimum payment on each one. Vow to make that minimum on time every month, plus as much as you can afford to pay on top of the minimum payments. Next, start negotiating. Credit card companies do sometimes have the ability to reduce their interest rate. Credit card companies do want your money, so, they might consider reducing your rate if they can get your money sooner.
Step 4: Make a Plan
Just making minimum payments will not make the debt go away. You need to regularly pay more than the minimum if you want to debt to disappear. Determine what you can live without-brew your own coffee, pack your lunch, cut back on cable. All of your savings in other areas can be big debt reducers. You can consider yourself “debt free” when your bad debt has been paid off and you can comfortably make payments towards your good debt accounts, while being able to save a bit.
Making Grocery Shopping a Bearable Experience
Grocery shopping can often times be a dreaded task for apartment renters. Fighting the crowds after work, figuring out what to buy, spending the money, carrying the bags up the stairs, unloading, dropping the eggs…Procrastinating the grocery shopping leads to not having food in the apartments, which leads to the increased expenses associated with eating out and take out. Below are a couple of tips that can make grocery shopping pleasant:
- Do not go grocery shopping when you are hungry. You will purchase more than you need, forget about what you really need, be indecisive, and will end up feeling grumpy.
- Go to the grocery store during quiet times. Mornings, after dinner hours, and Wednesdays are generally quiet. Sundays are generally the busiest days at grocery stores. When you go to the store without fighting crowds, you will be able to take the time to think about what you need, and have the patience to find it.
- Shop consistently in the same stores so that you become familiar with the aisles and locations of food. Shopping in just a few stores also means that you can become familiar with each store’s specialties, and pricing.
- Make a shopping list ahead of time. Organize the list by aisle or department to make a quick and efficient shopping trip.
- If going to the grocery store just simply does not work for you, order your groceries online. Most large grocery chains have a delivery program, and they can be super easy.
Using Outside Storage Facilities
Storage space is a priority for many apartment renters. While Berger Rental Communities apartments feature a ton of closet space, many other apartments leave residents needing more storage space. Instead of ruling out a particular apartment due to its storage situation, compare the cost of an apartment with more space to the cost of renting a storage locker at an outside facility. Some renters find that renting a storage locker is more economical and convenient than selecting a different apartment, or, choosing to leave some belongings behind. The following are some tips for using outside storage facilities:
Renting a Storage Locker:
- Find a storage facility close to your apartment. The easier it is to get to, the more comfortable you will feel. Ask your leasing staff for a referral to the closest storage facility.
- Determine the type and size of storage locker that you will need. Most storage facilities have a variety of sizes to choose from. Storage facilities also have a variety of security features-depending on what you are storing, this may be your top priority. Think about whether or not you will require a temperature-controlled storage locker.
- Some storage lockers feature shelving and other organizational systems. If you require systems like these, be sure to inquire about the availability at the storage facility.
- Remember that your belongings remain your responsibility while they are in an outside storage facility. Ask your renter’s insurance company if off-site items are included in the coverage.
- Read your storage agreement carefully, just like your apartment lease. Be sure to ask questions about any items that you do not understand. Keep this agreement in a safe location.
Packing for a Storage Locker:
- It is important that your belongings in your storage locker are easily accessible, and well preserved.
- Do not store hazardous, flammable, explosive, perishable, environmentally harmful items (some paints, pesticides, fertilizers, etc.) or anything that may be a risk to the property of any person (acid, gasoline, etc.).
- Use boxes of high quality so that they will not break easily inside of the storage locker. Using boxes of the same size will make them easier to stack. Each box should be completely sealed to keep out dust and debris.
Protecting Your Security Deposit
Most apartment communities require that residents pay a security deposit prior to moving in. The amount of security deposit required can vary, however, a security deposit equal to one month’s rent is common. Security deposits are retained by apartment communities to use in the event that a resident damages the apartment during his or her residency. Unless the resident damages the apartment, security deposits are generally refunded after the lease expires. The following are some tips to use to insure that your security deposit is returned to you.
Before Moving In
Make a written list of any damage that is in the apartment when you take possession of the apartment. At Berger Rental Communities, all new residents complete a pre-move in inspection form to document any imperfections that were not caused by the resident.
While Living in the Apartment
Take care of your apartment as if it is your own.
- Clean your apartment regularly.
- Call the maintenance department to make repairs as need be. Read Don’t Hesitate To Call For Maintenance for more information.
- Do not attempt to make repairs on your own-contact your maintenance department for all repairs. If you caused the damage for reasons other than normal wear and tear, the apartment community might charge you for the repairs, or, inform you to make the repair on your own. Regardless, it will save you time and money to handle repairs and damage before moving out.
Before Moving Out
While most apartment communities will not keep your security deposit for items of normal wear and tear, it is important that you restore your apartment to a condition similar to when you moved in. After you have packed up and cleared some space in your apartment, there are a few tasks that you will want to do before surrendering possession of your apartment:
Bathroom(s):
- Scrub the bathtub/shower.
- Scrub the inside and outside of the toilet.
- Clean the sink.
- Dust and clean the inside and outside of the medicine cabinet.
- Clean the mirror.
Kitchen:
- Clean the inside and outside of all cabinets and drawers.
- Wash the floor. Be sure to get all of your corners and areas that are normally difficult to reach.
- Clean the countertop and backsplash.
- Clean the sink.
- Clean the stove, oven, microwave and broiler.
- Defrost the refrigerator and freezer.
- Make sure any ice trays or refrigerator/freezer accessories are in place.
- Empty and clean the garbage disposal and dishwasher.
General:
- Have all carpets professionally cleaned.
- Remove all tacks and/or nails from the walls and spackle the holes left behind.
- Clean windows and window sills.
- Clean your patio/balcony.
- Don’t forget to pack everything that you brought into the apartment, including shower curtains, shower hooks, and rugs.
If you are concerned about the condition of your apartment prior to moving out, schedule an appointment with your apartment community staff to walk through your apartment.
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.
- To absorb odors in carpet, leave some baking soda on the section of carpet overnight, and vacuum it in the morning.
- 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.
- Combine baking soda and water to rinse hair combs and brushes.
- Sprinkling some baking soda can reduce odors in garbage cans, diaper pails, shoes, and litter boxes.
- 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.
- To absorb odors, leave a cub of vinegar standing for a few hours.
- When added to the final rinse cycle on a dishwasher, white vinegar will help prevent and remove water spots from glassware.
- Dampen a cloth with white vinegar to use on stainless steel to remove water spots.
- 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.
- For cleaning windows, add 2-3 tablespoons of vinegar per 1 gallon of water.
- To remove soap residue in the shower or tub, use some white vinegar on a moistened sponge.
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