Renter-Friendly Ideas to Personalize Your Space

When you move into a new apartment, you have the opportunity to design a whole new space to your liking. Designing and decorating your apartment can be a lot of fun, but if you are renting your place, you may feel limited in what you can do to add your own personal touch. With all the new innovations in design over the years, there are many temporary options for renters to get creative with their space without risking any damage or permanent changes that could go against their building rules. Here are some of the top renter-friendly ideas to add some personality to every room.

Painting Your Walls

A great option to add interest to your space is painting. A lot of apartment buildings allow people to paint their walls, as long as they are painted back to their original color before moving out. You can paint one feature wall a fun color to add contrast, or paint cool shapes for an organic look. Painting is also a great way to incorporate color throughout your apartment!

Adding Texture with Rugs

Rugs are a great option for softening a space with hard floors by adding a cozier feel. When it comes to choosing an interesting rug, there’s a world of possibilities. With different colors, textures, patterns, and styles, adding a rug is the perfect opportunity to be creative and make your place feel more like home.

Lighting and Lamps

Lighting can make a big difference in the look and feel of a space. Adding soft lighting can help to create a warmer and more comforting feel, and string lights can add visual interest to a space. Giving your apartment a welcoming vibe through lighting can elevate your rental to the perfect entertaining space. You can also express your style by choosing unique lamp designs that add character to the room.

Choosing Unique Artwork

Art is a classic and stunning way to make your space unique. Cultivating a variety of art that speaks to your personality and tastes can really make a difference when designing your apartment. You can hang paintings or photographs, and even add sculptures or ceramics throughout your apartment. You can even feature your own art if it is a passion of yours. Art can also be a great talking piece for guests.

Decorating with Plants

Adding plants to your living space can really bring a special touch of life and energy, and there are lots of choices for easy houseplants. Artificial plants are also a good idea if you don’t want to worry about taking care of the plant, and silk flowers can look just as good as the real deal! Placing plants throughout your apartment can be a good way to tie your whole space together by adding a bit of greenery to each room.

With a bit of creativity, there are so many options and ideas for renters to personalize their space without making permanent changes. When you open your mind to put in a little extra work, you can create the apartment of your dreams no matter where you are. Don’t be afraid to get creative and try new things!

Sectional Sofas vs. Separate Living Room Sets for Apartments: The Pros and Cons

Is a sectional right for your apartment? Or would a separated sofa and loveseat combo make more sense for your home? The answer depends on many factors, with your personal preference being the main one. Here are a few pros and cons of each to help you decide what’s best for you.

Sectional Furniture

Pros
  • They’re ideal for smaller spaces, as the arms of separate sofas and loveseats take up space that usually isn’t used.
  • They offer a more cohesive appearance in the room.
  • The living room may appear cozier, more comfortable, and more inviting.
  • A basic sectional provides the same number of spots as a sofa and loveseat combined.
  • Although they are made with a certain number of spots, they can typically fit more people than that, comfortably.
  • If you choose U-shaped sectionals, you will have eight seats: two on each of the three sides plus two connecting spots.
Cons
  • The middle/connection section can be uncomfortable, although it still allows for seating.
  • Unless it’s a sectional that can be separated, it can be difficult to move if you relocate.

Sofa and Loveseat

Pros
  • Sofas and loveseats have a more elegant, polished appearance.
  • While the arms may take up space, the arms can enhance the comfort level.
  • Sofas and loveseats are easier to move when you need to vacuum under and behind them.
  • If you’re one who likes to rearrange your furniture to give your living room a new look every now and then, separate pieces may make more sense.
  • You may have more design options, such as being able to place more end tables in your living room. The end tables may be more accessible as well.
  • Separate pieces can make a small room look larger.
Cons
  • They will take up more space in your living room.
  • If you’re looking for a casual design in your living room, separate pieces may look too formal.
As for pricing, we really can’t say which option would be more ideal – because a variety of factors may affect the cost of each. Some of the many factors that may affect the difference in cost between a sectional and sofa/loveseat combo include:
  • The material (leather, fabric)
  • Modern technology that’s incorporated (charging stations for phones, audio devices)
  • Reclining options
  • Any chaises or footrests that may be included
  • The size
  • The brand
Ultimately, the decision will depend on your preference, how you typically use your living room, and the amount of space you have. Whatever you choose, we hope your living room looks amazing and provides you with all the comforts and conveniences you’re looking for!

Spring Cleaning with a Purpose: How to Clear the Clutter While Beefing Up Your Bank Account

For people who like to save money and actually enjoy cleaning (yes, they do exist … and on this planet, no less), the spring season is like a dream come true! They already know a truth that others might not realize: Spring cleaning means you can make some good money, clear the clutter, relieve stress, and protect the environment all at the same time. As you’re organizing your home this spring, remember that nearly everything can be reused, sold, or recycled. Almost everything. Think about it: 1. Clothing, shoes, handbags, and outerwear Start with the obvious: your closets and drawers. Make sure you have a few hours and take everything out of the closet. Seriously … just dump everything on the bed. Then, go through them one by one and neatly replace the items you used that week or regularly use during the month. In addition to being a smart way to reorganize and tidy up, you can identify which items you don’t use as often. Chances are, you will have a ton left over. If any of those items are in decent shape, take a picture of them and sell them online or take them to a consignment shop. For everything else that’s left over, do this … in this order … right away — not tomorrow, not next week. Right now. … Throw them all in boxes or trash bags. Seal the boxes or bags. Place the boxes or bags into your car. Take your keys out of your pocket or your purse. Insert the key into the ignition. Drive to a donation center or kiosk. Place the donations into the bin. Go back home. Start on the next closet or bureau. Why are we so insistent on this urgency? Well, because it can be difficult to resist the temptation to take things out of those bags. Just don’t do it. If you haven’t used a piece of clothing in weeks or months, you don’t need it. It’s probably out of style anyway. 2. Outdated technology There are many possibilities when it comes to your old cellphones, tablets, and obsolete music or gaming equipment.
  • Donate them to schools, veterans’ organizations, low-income communities, children’s hospitals, or other nonprofit organizations that could use them.
  • Sell them online.
  • Give them to someone in your family who doesn’t need the newest models.
  • Take them to a facility that recycles old technology. (Do not simply discard them. Computers, batteries, and other technological devices contain heavy metals, such as lead and toxic chemicals, that pollute soil and contaminate groundwater. These devices also won’t fully break down, so they will sit in landfills indefinitely.)
3. Still handy hand-me-downs Do you have little ones who aren’t so little anymore? We know it’s hard to part with those sentimental clothing and shoes, but you can do it. Family members or friends who still have little ones can use them! Of course, you can keep one or two as souvenirs. 4. Jewelry for sale You can make a good amount of change by selling jewelry that no longer suits your style. Try a few different places to make sure you’re getting the best value for your goods. 5. Timeless books Whether they’re textbooks or novels, you may be able to sell your books for a few dollars. If you happen to have valuable classics, they may be worth a lot more than that, too. If nothing else, gather those books you no longer need and donate them to a local library or school just to clear the clutter in your apartment. 6. Antiques You know those antiques around your home that you’re keeping “just in case they’re worth something in the future”? It’s time to have them appraised! You can find many antique appraisal companies in the area, and there are three scenarios:
  • If you find the item is valuable now but likely won’t increase in value in the future, then bid it farewell, take your money, and move on.
  • If it’s going to gain value, you may be wiser to keep it.
  • If it’s worth nothing, well, then you can get a good laugh out of it and then send it to a recycling center.
  • 7. Musical instruments and sports gear If you’re a parent, you’re likely well aware of how much musical instruments and sports gear cost. In many cases, your children only use them for one season or one music lesson and then never again, especially if they happen not to enjoy that particular activity. Sell them to used sports stores or online for someone else to use.

Setting Your Home Up for Success at Work and School

Who knows what this coming year has in store, but one thing is for certain: School is starting, and it’s starting soon. By most accounts, many schools and colleges will be returning to in-person learning, but you may still have plenty of things to think about.

“Should I choose online classes just to be safe, or do I want the full college experience?” “How will I ever manage my family’s schedule with so much up in the air?” “Are my kids going to be in school in person all year, or should I plan for them to attend classes at home due to the Delta variant spreading so quickly?” “Will I have to figure out if I can continue to work from home indefinitely?”

We can’t answer all of life’s questions right now, but what we can do is this: offer suggestions on how to set your home up for success, no matter what life throws your way for the 2021-2022 school year.

Setting Up Your Home for Distance Learning and Work from Home

Let’s get the most basic of basics out of the way first: internet access.

Make sure your household internet access is powerful enough to keep up with everyone in your family, at all hours of the day, even if you have multiple devices in use at the same time.

You should also take some time to think about each person in your household and consider what he or she may need. You may wish to ask everyone about their experiences throughout 2020. What worked for them? What didn’t? And how can it all be better?

The most comfortable, productive environments for home offices or school workstations include several key features.

  1. A Door

    When you need to concentrate, call someone, or participate in a remote class, you will need block out — or keep in — the noise.

  2. Windows

    Natural lighting can improve mood, which has been shown to increase positivity and productivity. Windows will also make you feel more comfortable and simply allow for a more scenic atmosphere. If windows aren’t an option, make sure the nook has the ideal lighting to meet the individual’s preferences and needs.

  3. Ergonomic Furniture and Supplies

    If you are working from home or children are attending classes at home, that means you will be using those chairs, desks, and keyboards relentlessly. Invest in ergonomic chairs, high-quality furniture, and reliable equipment. Working from home lying on the floor or with your feet up on the living room sofa may be comfortable and rather fun, but after a while, your wrists, back, and shoulders will feel the effects.

    Along these lines, make sure you have cabinets or shelves for documents, books, or similar materials readily available at your workstation. The home office or study room should also be well-connected, allowing you or your children to work or attend classes without searching frantically through the rest of the home for a charger or the phone itself.

  4. Division

    Yes, it is possible to work from home and still consider it “home.” The trick is to stop working once you’re done. One way to ensure you separate your “work home” from the “home is where your heart is home” is to literally set it up to look different than the rest of the rooms. How?

    • Toss an area rug under the workstation. Once you’re on the rug, you’re at work. Step off, and you’re off. Don’t look back. As an added bonus, the rug will beautify the space, so you can take more pride in calling it your office or classroom.
    • Paint the walls a different color than the rest of your home.
    • Having some decor in your makeshift home office is a nice touch, but choose decor that is related to education or your career. Add some fresh greenery in the space as well for comfort and an aesthetic appeal.
    • If multiple people must work from home, try to ensure each person has his or her own space. Allow them to decorate the space in a way that reflects their own individuality and is most conducive to their success.

Finding the Ideal Spaces for a Home Office or Workstation

Are you thinking, “Sure, all of that sounds nice, but where?” Take a look around! There are likely plenty of spaces in your home that can be converted into a home office or personal classroom. You don’t need a lot of space; a few simple creative tweaks are all you need.

Consider these spaces:

  • A small portion of your kitchen, perhaps against a wall that isn’t being used
  • The corner of a hallway
  • A spare bedroom or a portion of a bedroom (as long as you keep your head off the pillow)
  • Unused space in the basement
  • A den/pocket office
  • A dedicated section of the living room
  • The dining room

We all hope life will get back to normal soon, and we are seeing life rebound to pre-pandemic days, slowly but surely. But you can’t deny that we all learned a lot throughout 2020, and we can apply much of it indefinitely.

In this case, we’ve learned that home is more than a place to shower, eat, sleep, and watch TV. You can make your home your palace, the place where you can live your best life.

Fun and Easy Ways to Lower Apartment Air Conditioning Costs this Summer

You can see it coming every year. You know you should take some steps to reduce energy costs, but you procrastinate as time goes on. Then the summer comes, you crank up the air conditioning, and those hefty bills creep into your email inbox. After gasping and nearly throwing the phone, you promise yourself you will do something to lower your apartment air conditioning costs next year.

Well here’s your chance! Get a head start on lowering air conditioning costs by researching ways to save, taking advantage of home design tips, making necessary home repairs, and buying items that may help keep you and your apartment more comfortable.

Simple Ways to Lower Apartment Air Conditioning Costs

The first tip is obvious: throw open the windows, breathe in the fresh air, and let nature keep your apartment cool instead of the air conditioner. If you have seasonal allergies, elderly residents reside in the home, or you must account for other health conditions, that might not be possible. It’s also not ideal if the temperature gets too high.

When that happens, you’ll need to be make an effort to reduce expenses. Here are some easy ways to do so.

  1. Enjoy the breeze from your ceiling fan.

    Trying to save money doesn’t have to mean sacrifice. In this case, you gain benefits. There’s just something about a ceiling fan that’s comforting, soothing, and almost nostalgic. Clearly, it’s also a great way to cool down your home, which will allow you to increase the setting on your thermostat. Set the ceiling fan at a high speed in a counterclockwise motion, which pushes cool air down. Crack open the windows at the same time for greater circulation.

  2. Keep up with air filter changes.

    If you live in one of our apartment communities in southeast Michigan, a member of our maintenance team will routinely take care of this for you.

    The air filter should be changed about two to four times per year depending on the size of your apartment, how often the air conditioner is used, and other household factors such as how many pets you have.

  3. Give your oven the summer off.

    Nothing will heat up your apartment like cranking up the oven knob — or even using the stovetop excessively.

    But look at the bright side. It’s a valid excuse to break out the barbecue grill or order delivery from your favorite metro Detroit area restaurant near your apartment.

    It’s also a great opportunity to freshen up your mad salad tossing skills.

  4. Be reasonable with the air conditioner.

    If you take some other measures to lower apartment air conditioning costs, you won’t have to freeze everyone out of your home.

    Go ahead and use the air conditioner! It’s one of the best features of our metro Detroit area apartments. But you don’t have to turn your home into an icebox. (That’s what pools are for.)

    DTE Energy recommends keeping your thermostat at 78 degrees. If you prefer it closer to 72, consider setting it at 74 instead. Those two degrees can save you a few dollars every month. In fact, the U.S. Department of Energy estimates a savings of about 1 percent for each degree for every eight hours.

    Speaking of hours, consider setting your air conditioner on a timer to account for the nighttime or periods when no one is home. According to DTE, with proper use throughout the year, programmable thermostats can save you about $180 annually in energy costs.

  5. Open and close your blinds strategically.

    If it’s sunny and that sun is baking the inside of your apartment, shut the blinds or close the curtains. If it’s nice and breezy in the evening, open up the windows to let the cool air in at night.

    You also may wish to create shade in your apartment by placing tall plants in front of the windows, on the patio, or in front of the sliding door.

  6. Keep yourself cool to stay cool.

    One way to stay cool in the summer is to opt for cotton bedding. The breathable fibers wick away sweat and help moderate your temperature.

    You can also take advantage of our beautiful amenities and serene grounds in order to stay cool. Sip on a cold drink under a shady tree, sit under a gazebo, relax by the pond, or head out to one of the nearby beaches, lakes, and rivers.

    And here’s the best part: You’ll always have a good excuse to go out for ice cream.

Contact Us For Details

If you currently rent one of our apartments in Michigan and need more information about our outdoor grilling, amenity use, or heating and cooling policies, call us or send us a message online.

If you are shopping for a metro Detroit area apartment, schedule a time for a virtual or in-person tour. We’ll help you find the perfect home for you.

Living with Roommates: How to Keep the Peace

We’ve all seen the sitcoms, where the characters have one argument after another as a result of someone in the household not living up to their responsibilities. It’s funny on TV, but not so much in real life.

Dishes left unwashed, late rent payments, and loud late-night conversations are only a few of the many issues that can make your living arrangement less than harmonious.

Of course, having roommates has many benefits, including companionship and smart money management.

The key is to lay out each resident’s preferences, duties, and compromises in advance. Setting ground rules will help you establish a more positive framework.

We’re not talking anything as extensive and unbendable as Sheldon’s Roommate Agreement here, but maybe the Big Bang Theory character’s quirks can serve as inspiration — on a much smaller level.

Before you move in together or accept a new roommate, sit down and have a long discussion about the following issues, along with any other unique concerns you may have.

  1. Talk about work, sleep, and showering schedules. If Roommate Adam works the night shift, Roommate Barbara might have to be careful not to make excessive noise during the day when Adam is trying to sleep, for example. This is going to be important, as it will determine your compatibility, as well as which level your ideal apartment will be.

  2. Determine how you will divide the rent and utility bills, as well as who will be responsible for giving the payment to the apartment community manager.

    How utility bills are paid can be somewhat tricky. For example, one person might work from home and therefore use more electricity and internet. You may wish to divide the payment fairly.

    However, to make life more copacetic, it may be easier to simply divide everything up evenly regardless of how things are used. Becoming hyper-focused on the little details will definitely get complicated, but this issue is something the two of you should agree on before you move in.

  3. Discuss meal preparation, as well as grocery and toiletry shopping. Figure out how you will pay, who will ensure that products in the home have not expired, who will do the cooking, and so on. In some cases, you will both prefer to eat out on a regular basis, but what about the basics like snacks, water, hand soap, and first-aid items?

  4. Divide up the chores fairly. You may wish to alternate by day, such as by saying Adam will wash the dishes on Mondays and Barbara will wash them on Tuesdays.

    An easier method would be determining which one of you will complete certain chores. Adam may like to take out the trash, while Barbara would prefer to vacuum the carpet, for example.

    Another option may even be that one person is responsible for a majority of the chores, but the other pays more of the rent.

    It doesn’t matter how you divide up the chores, as long as you do it equitably and reasonably.

  5. Talk about each other’s personal preferences regarding privacy. Will you both come and go freely? Or will you check in with each other if you’re going to be out for the night or a week?

  6. Make sure you are compatible regarding visitors. Do you both like to have people visit regularly? Are you both OK with walking in and finding visitors in your apartment? Or will you discuss visitors beforehand? It may even be the opposite situation, where you would prefer a relaxed, quiet living arrangement. Whatever the case may be, you should both be on the same page regarding visitors.

  7. Talk about what will be off limits, such as toiletries and living space. Ideally, each of you would have a bedroom, for example, so you should avoid going into each other’s bedrooms without permission.

In addition to gathering a miniature roommate agreement, you may wish to download helpful apps on your phone, such as Venmo. Through this app, you can pay each other for rent, groceries, utility bills, and so on.

Finally, one of the best ways to maintain harmony among roommates is to be somewhat flexible. If one of you skips a chore one time in a month, go ahead and do it for them, for example. Creating a harmonious roommate relationship, or any relationship for that matter, requires some give and take.

As long as you both give as well as take, everything should be fine.

COVID Message; Residents

Dear residents, we are continuing to monitor developments with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Due to the state of emergency currently in effect in our state, we are modifying certain services in order to try to keep everyone safe. We request that residents who are sick with flu-like symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, etc., call or email us instead of coming directly into the office. The office has discontinued serving snacks and/or beverages for the time being. Although maintenance requests will remain available, our employees are required to confirm that no one is sick with flu-like symptoms in your home before completing the request. If you are ill and have a non-emergency maintenance request, please understand we will not be able to complete your request until you let management know that everyone in the household has been symptom free for at least fourteen days. If we do not hear back from you, we will follow up to check your health status, maintenance needs, and to schedule a maintenance visit. If you have chosen to self-quarantine, please notify us when requesting maintenance so we can avoid your home until your quarantine is over. Lastly, we have increased our cleaning strategies in our office, closed non-essential common areas, and are currently discontinuing all resident group activities for the time being. While we continue to work through this evolving situation, we have implemented a “no handshake policy” to help prevent the spread of germs.

Resident Appreciation Events

We would love to hear from you! With our properties still working through Covid-19 concerns we want to be mindful of our resident events. Will you share with us how you would like to handle events and promotions moving forward? We love to have resident appreciation events because it gives us a chance to connect with our residents. Flowers for mom, gift wrapping stations, fireworks, costume competitions, pumpkin carving parties, back to school parties, pictures with Santa, breakfast on the go, ugly sweater parties, movie night, take and bake pizza parties, taco Tuesdays, clean out your closet days and many, many more.

We want to stay connected with our residents like you, so let us know what we can do to help connect us! Just email us at [email protected]

Not sure about something? Ask

The office and maintenance team are here to help you, so if you want to paint a wall, adopt a cat, or upgrade an existing light fixture and you’re not sure if you’re allowed to, ask. Also, check your lease for specific guidelines. You can style your apartment to reflect your personality by adding cool furnishings and homey decorations, but just make sure your efforts are not counter to your lease agreement. Let’s talk!

Where Are All The Job Seekers?

With U.S. unemployment rates low and construction activity remaining relatively high, a shortage of skilled construction labor will continue to be a problem in 2019. The problem will only get worse with expected reductions in immigrant labor. Builders will.

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