#LifeHacks: Moving to Your First Apartment!

 

 With the new year brings new opportunities, goals, and adventures. A lot of people will become first time renters in 2021- yay! Before packing up your things, you should be aware that moving to a first apartment comes with a great deal of responsibilities. To get you started; we have complied a list of helpful apartment you should know when choosing your very first apartment to live in. Good luck and happy moving!

• Figure out your mail situation – Does your apartment building have a community mailbox center where you pick up your mail? Or does your individual apartment have its own mail slot in the door? Does a doorman store packages when you’re away? Or will you need to ask a neighbor to pick them up? You’ll also want to check to see if mail and packages are left outside your building. This will help when you are planning large deliveries to your home.

• Purchase new décor – Give your apartment a fresh look! Purchasing a new living room and bedroom set will give your new home  The new "home" smell will be surely to make you feel amazing.

• Change your address – When moving to your first apartment, remember to let your bank and post office know as soon as possible. Be sure to update credit card information with your new billing address. Also, don’t forget to let friends and family know you’ve moved. To ensure that you receive your mail, contact your post office and choose the date you wish to begin forwarding your mail.

• Tour the amenities – With a new apartment comes new amenities. Some apartments feature amenities that include gyms, playgrounds, computer areas etc. Touring these amenities before you move in will help you navigate where there are located and when they open/close. 

• Explore your neighborhood – Get out of the house and explore your new neighborhood! Walk, drive or bike around the area to get a good sense of where you are and what’s around you. Make a point to locate nearby grocery stores, parks, schools, museums, libraries, hardware stores, hospitals and pharmacies. Discover more about your neighborhood through your county's website or social media pages.

Please remember to enjoy this experience! Due to the global pandemic- the traditional move in process may be a little different. Continue to wear a mask social distance while moving in common spaces in your apartment building.

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.

#LifeHacks: How to Transition Your Summer Clothes into Fall!

In a perfect world, we could all get a new wardrobe each time the season changes. However, that would all add up pretty quickly! Purchasing a whole new wardrobe when the first leaf hits the ground in the fall might be out of the question. However, who's to say you can't wear your summer outfits in the cool weather? Here's how to transition your summer clothes into fall with a few simple steps. 

Just Add a Scarf!

Don’t be afraid to add a scarf to your summer tops and blouses. Scarves add a little spice to what could be a plain outfit. A scarf will keep you warm and complement the season, while allowing you to get additional use out of your summer apparel!

Try Tights

Not ready to stop wearing those summer dresses? You don’t have to! Just add tights to your outfit to add warmth, while creating more of a fall look.

Layers are Your New Best Friend

A simple way to stay both warm AND cool in the fall is layering. Mornings can be chilly, but once the sun comes out you could be warm by the afternoon. Avoid the temperature and outfit confusion by layering tops, whether it’s with a cardigan, denim jacket, tunic, or other warm apparel.

Change Up the Colors

Whether you’re wanting to wear a summer dress, top, or skirt, pair it with the deeper fall colors. By doing so, you can keep your pastel summer colors, but with a deeper fall color in the mix, it’s basically a fall outfit! Fall colors include burnt orange, mustard yellow, maroon, olive green, and deep mocha. Consider finding the fall colors in statement pieces like a jacket, necklace, or scarf.

Buy Yourself Some Boots

Boots are the perfect footwear for fall. Whether they’re riding boots, booties, or combat boots, they’ll transform any outfit into a cozy, cute fall one. Don’t let your feet get cold in those open-toed shoes —buy yourself some boots!

We all love fall, but don’t feel like you need to splurge a ton to change your style with the season. With these tips on how to transition your summer clothes into fall, you’ll be fashion-forward in no time — all while saving money!

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.

#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.