Tuesday, August 27, 2019

#ApartmentHacks: 10 Apartment Move In Do's & Don'ts!

You've finally made the decision on the apartment you wanted- yay you! Once you have signed your lease and started packing your bags and boxes for your big move consider these 10 do's and don'ts when it comes to moving into your brand new apartment!

1. DO Inspect the unit carefully upon move-in: On your first day in your new apartment, you'll be full of excitement for the actual move in! But make sure you take a moment to do some inspections on the spaces before adding your boxes and furniture inside. Making sure the outlets, light switches, and doors lock is a helpful thing to do first. Once you have established what works and what doesn't- you can notify your leasing center to send a request for these to be fixed!

2. DON'T be a bad neighbor:  When moving into your new apartment, you'll have a couple of neighbors either beside you or across from you and even throughout the entire building! What does this entail? It's more than just giving a smile when you run into someone in the hallway. Being 

3. DO coordinate deliveries: Since you're moving into an apartment, you might have acquired furniture from your last place or buying brand new items such as a couch, bed, mattress or TV. Some apartment buildings have guidelines on big deliveries, so aim to have all your items come around the same time so that you can have all your items in your apartment on the same day you move in!

4. DON'T forget to organize: Whether you hire movers or simply ask your family and friends to help, organizing the time, location and what they should do is important. Create a schedule for everyone and notify them of their tasks. This creates less confusion and a smooth move-in! 

5. DO read the rules: Does your new place have an elevator that needs to be requested to move larger objects? Are you expected to move within a time-frame? Read your lease or talk to your leasing consultants before you move so that you know exactly where to go and who to talk to when you arrive on moving day with a truck full of of furniture.

6. DON'T wait to report maintenance issues: Issues with your water, electricity, heating/cooling, and pests will only get worse the longer you let them linger. It's always better to report problems as soon as they arise so that maintenance can come fix any issues.

7. DO engage in regular cleaning: The chore list doesn't stop just because you've moved into a new clean place! You must maintain the cleanliness of your home on a daily basis. Get into the habit of washing your dishes every night, making your bed, and taking the trash out once it gets full. It will change the overall appearance of your apartment just like the first day you moved in!

8. DON'T put off packing: We all know what a drag packing can be. But one of the key ways to remain organized (and sane) while preparing for your big move is to pack early. Start gathering nonessential things first and then move on to the important things. By dividing the packing into shifts, you will feel less overwhelmed and have more time to relax at the end when you're finished!

9. DO make it your own: Just because it's a rental doesn't mean it can't feel like home! Make those most of apartment living by putting your own personality into your new unit. If your lease allows it- things like painting the walls, hanging wall decor, etc can add a personal touch in the place you live in.

10. DON'T forget the basics: The first night in your apartment you might be tired to unload every box! Make sure you keep a small box with basic items like a plate, cup, food, towels etc that can get your through the night until the next day!  


Sure moving can be stressful- especially if it is your first apartment- but try not to let the stress overtake the excitement. So have fun!

How do you make the most of your apartment community?  Let us know in the comments!

Apartment Resident #LifeHacks was created in 2018 by Grady Management, Inc.  Grady Management was founded in 1965 and continues to provide a full service residential, commercial, and consulting real estate firm in the greater Washington and Baltimore metropolitan area.  Learn more from our website or Facebook page.

Thursday, August 8, 2019

#ApartmentHacks: Utilizing Apartment Amenities!


Making the decision about where you will call home comes with a lot of thought. With considering many factors, you must evaluate the pros and cons of each community then decide which is best for you or what meets most of your needs. Often one of the factors that comes a renters mind is what amenities that are offered in your new home. Here we will detail benefits of amenities in apartment communities.


Parks: Having a park footsteps away from you is everyone's dream. You can take a stroll anytime you like especially with it being so close. Children would also benefit from having somewhere to play when they need some entertainment. If you have pets it is a nice convenient way to walk them and not have to travel all the way to a dog park.

Fitness Centers:  Forget the gym membership when you have access to a gym in your own building! Working out in your own home beats having to take a trip to the gym. And you'll also cut the cost on having to pay for a membership somewhere else. 

Pools: A family favorite: Swimming pools. However, pools are work! From keeping chemicals right, cleaning plus opening and closing them, your apartment community will take care of all of that! All you need to do is bring your your family and neighbors and simply enjoy. Relaxing just steps away from your home is always the way to go.

Garages/Parking: Whether you drive a truck, van or ride your bike, parking is essential when living at at community. Designated parking spots allow you to always have a spot in the same area for your vehicle and not have to worry about space. Garages help when the weather outside isn't always sunny! 



It might seem impossible to find an apartment community with every available amenity, but the worth of several amenities will prove to be valuable for the right renter! Looking for that perfect apartment? Come visit us at www.gradymgt.com where you can see a list of our communities and their amenities! 

How do you make the most of your apartment community?  Let us know in the comments!

Apartment Resident #LifeHacks was created in 2018 by Grady Management, Inc.  Grady Management was founded in 1965 and continues to provide a full service residential, commercial, and consulting real estate firm in the greater Washington and Baltimore metropolitan area.  Learn more from our website or Facebook page.