#ApartmentHacks: Keeping Your Home Cool Without Air Condition!

Its that season where we gravitate to finding ways to cool off quick! Air conditioning might be the first idea that pops up in your brain, but what if there were alternative ideas from turning on your air conditioning when you want to cool down? Here are five ways on how to keep cool at home during the summer time without racking up on your electric bill:

1. Keep your blinds closed.  This tip might seem very simple but over 25 percent of unwanted heated comes straight through your windows, and installing shades can save you up to 7 percent on bulls and dramatically lower your indoor temperatures by up to 20 degrees.

2. Install black-out curtains.  Black-out curtains block out sunlight while naturally insulating the rooms where they are installed. These neutral-colored curtains with white plastic backings can reduce heating gain by upwards to 30 percent.

3. Closing off unused doors.  Air can circulate through an entire room so being smart about your doors is very important. Closing doors will prevent cool air from permeating these areas during the hottest part of the day. You want to capitalize on thee cooler night hours too, by letting air glow naturally through your home.

4. Buy a fan. Utilizing a fan during those warmer months can help cool you down faster. Fans circulate in a particular area of the room and can be controlled by you at any second. Using fan is cheaper in the long run and you can use it year round if need be.

5. Swap your sheets. Not only does switching out your bedding seasonally put a nice twist to your room, but it is also a wonderful way to keep cool. While textiles such as flannel sheets and fleece blankets are perfect for insulation, cotton is a smarter move for the warmer months as it breathes easier and stays cooler.

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: Staying Fit & Active In Warm Weather!

Now that the weather is warming up exercising outside can present a little challenge. While temperatures rise up, exercisers can experience heat exhaustion and even dehydration staying under the sun's rays. Here are a few tips that will keep you staying fit and active in the warm weather:

Go Outside and Play!  There is plenty of time to be cooped up inside so advantage of the warm weather and get outside! Nature has been proven to have a great impact on our mental and physical health. Activities ranging from riding a bike, rollerblading, hiking, or kayaking. Whatever you may choose, make sure you are doing it outside soaking up Vitamin D and mother nature.

Workout in the Morning.  When living in an apartment community, residents can utilize their community buildings, neighborhood parks and trails for a morning run. So set your alarm a bit earlier and get your workout done first thing in the morning. By doing this, it revs up your metabolism for the remainder of the day, and also gets those happy endorphins flowing. If you keep doing this day-after-day, it can eventually become a habit that will change your life!

Drink lots of Water.  Always remember to stay hydrated while you're out having fun. Drinking several amounts of water in between activities, excising and being under the sun will assure a healthy, balanced body and mind!

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.

Five Ways Apartment Residents Can Enjoy Summer At Their Apartment Community

Not planning a large vacation this summer?  Not a problem for apartment residents!  Residents can enjoy summer fun at their communities. Below are five apartment community activities that are perfect for the summer months:

Enjoy a movie night: Not a fan of the heat? Not a problem! Apartment residents enjoy a movie night inside during warm summer months.  Some apartment residents can access a community clubhouse with televisions and/ or professional screening rooms to host a movie marathon.  Others can host movie nights inside their apartments. 

Relax by the pool: For residents trying to soak up the sun, the pool is a great amenity open only during the summer months. Apartment residents may have access to a community pool, a perfect, close-to-home spot to spend a hot summer day.

Grill delicious food for friends and family: For residents with access to grilling stations and/ or outdoor grilling features, it is easy to host a barbecue to celebrate the summer season.