#LifeHacks: Best Meal Delivery Services

If you could use a fresh approach to getting dinner on the table on time with no fuss, we’ve compiled a short list of some of the best meal delivery services to try. Meal delivery services can be a convenient option for feeding yourself or your family healthy food when you have little time or energy for food prep. Here are 7 different meal delivery services that can save the day at home:

The Best Meal Delivery Services Where You Do the Cooking:

1. Hello Fresh. HelloFresh is known for its ample portions and fresh ingredients. It offers vegetarian, family-friendly, and low-calorie options. You can choose from new chef-designed recipes each week. There’s no commitment so you can cancel anytime or skip weeks.

2. Green Chef. If you want USDA-certified organic foods, Green Chef may be a good option for you. You can choose from paleo, keto, vegan, gluten-free, and other options, and all the meals are delivered in eco-friendly packaging. Meals can be prepared in about 30 minutes.

3. EveryPlate. If you like the idea of getting your meals delivered, but want a more affordable option, Every Plate may be a good fit. Meals average around $5 each, with a discounted rate for students. They feature simple, fresh ingredients and take about 30 minutes to prepare.  When choosing your meals, you can opt for two- or four-person portions.

4. Blue Apron. Blue Apron is a great option if you want to know where the ingredients in your meals originate, because the company is totally transparent about this. Blue Apron was one of the first meal delivery services and it focuses on using foods that are sustainable. For example, it gets its meat from family-run farms that focus on animal welfare. Blue Apron is also known for its easy-to-follow directions, although prep time for meals may be a little longer than with some of the other meal delivery options.

3 of the Best Meal Delivery Services Where You Simply Heat and Eat:

5. Freshly. Freshly delivers chef-cooked meals to your doorstep fresh and cold, but not frozen. You can heat them up in just two-three minutes in the microwave. You can also heat them in the oven, but you must transfer the food to an oven-safe pan or dish first, and then it takes about 25-35 minutes until it’s ready. Choose from over 30 menu items weekly, with gluten-free and sugar-free options.

6. Diet-to-Go. Diet-to-Go is a good choice if you’re looking for delicious meals that can help you achieve your weight loss goals. You can choose from low-carb, low-fat and low-fat vegetarian options, plus choose from two calorie options. You get access to health coaches and nutritionists when you use this service, and the food tastes great too. Epicurious, an upscale food magazine, named Diet-to-Go the best-tasting diet meal delivery service.

7. Blue Apron. If you’re looking for healthy, fully prepared meals that you can just heat and serve the entire family, Good Kitchen may be the best bet. According to reviewers, the meals do an excellent job of pleasing the palates of both adults and children. It’s easy to customize your meal plan by removing ingredients that some in your family might not like, such as onions, or to accommodate food allergies by eliminating foods like nuts, for instance.

There are so many other services to choose from as well. We hope you find the perfect one to make preparing meals at your homes a little less stressful and time-consuming!

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: 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.

Maintenance #LifeHack: What to Do If You Notice a Leak in an Apartment?

A Step by Step Maintenance Guide

No matter in an apartment, town house, or single family home, leaks may occasionally occur inside the home.  When a leak occurs inside an apartment, follow these steps to remedy the situation:

Try to contain the water and identify the source.  If water is all over the kitchen floor, perhaps the sink is leaking.  If it is on the bathroom floor, perhaps it is the toilet or tub.  Try to contain the water to limit water damage and try to determine the source of the leak.

Submit a service request.  When living in an apartment community, residents can and should ask their management team for help and assistance when needed.  A leak is definitely a situation in which a resident should contact the maintenance team, and as soon as possible! 

Contact maintenance again if the problem arises.  Again, don't waste any time reporting leaks.  If you notice the leak again, report it immediately to the maintenance and management team.

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.

How to Make the Most of Living in an Apartment Community: Three #LifeHacks

Love Where You Live

Whether moving into an apartment community for the first time or moving back into a community after downsizing, apartment residents can truly love where they live by making the most of their community experience.  Below are three, of the many ways, renters can make the most of their apartment communities:

Talk to the community management team: One great aspect of living in an apartment community is the fact that a management team is onsite to help with maintenance/ service requests, general inquiries, and more.  Introduce yourself to the community team.  This way, you can "put a face to a name" when communicating with the leasing office online.

Attend community events: Apartment communities often will host holiday parties, pool parties, and more for their valued residents.  These events are a great opportunity to meet more residents, fellow neighbors, and socialize outside of the apartment home.

Enjoy community amenities: Unlike traditional single family homes or townhouses, apartment communities and apartment buildings often contain a variety of different amenities such as game rooms, fitness centers, pools, and more.  As a resident, you can enjoy these amenities when available.

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.