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The Essential Move-Out Checklist

Moving can be exciting, but it can also be one of the most stressful things we experience in a lifetime . From packing and hiring movers to budgeting for the expenses, there’s so much to do! In all the hustle and bustle, it can be easy to forget an important step of the process. We’ve put together an essential move-out checklist to help alleviate some of the stress of moving from your current apartment to give you peace of mind and ease your mind during this truly stressful life event. GIVE PROPER NOTICE Photo by Scott Graham on Unsplash To know exactly how much notice you need to give before moving out of your apartment, check your lease. The amount of noticed required can vary from apartment community to apartment community, so you’ll want to know what’s required of you. Pro tip: when you move into any new home, check the requirement right then and set a reminder or two. The delivery method required for your notice should also be specified in your lease. Usually, a written notice is required. TRANSFER YOUR RENTERS INSURANCE Photo by Glenn Carstens-Peters on Unsplash Your renter’s insurance should move with you, but you’ll want to contact your carrier as soon as possible about your upcoming move. Some renter’s insurance will cover belongings during a move, so now is a good time to review your policy and ask questions, as well. Make sure you understand the insurance requirements at your new community, too. Most apartment communities not only require that you have renter’s insurance (and are able to provide proof at move-in), but they also may have specific requirements regarding things like liability coverage. CALL YOUR UTILITY PROVIDERS Photo by Hassan OUAJBIR on Unsplash Two weeks before you move, call your utility providers and schedule your turn off/turn on dates. You want to turn the utilities off at your current apartment the day after you move out (to avoid the electric and water being shut off while you are trying to move boxes). This is also handy if you want to do a last-minute vacuum after all the boxes and furniture are out of the apartment. Schedule the utilities to be turned on at your new apartment the day before you move in (so you’ll have electric and water when you are moving in). Don’t forget cable and internet! FIX EVERYTHING Photo by Steve Johnson on Unsplash In order to get your security deposit back, you’ll need to undo any damage you caused in the apartment. If you hung pictures, they likely left holes in the wall that will need to be filled. If you painted a wall, you’ll likely have to paint it back to its original color. If you switched out light fixtures, blinds, or drawer pulls, all of those need to be returned to the originals. Look for any pet damage, dings or scratches that weren’t there when you moved in, and stains on the carpets. CLEAN EVERYTHING Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash Try to get your apartment as close to its original move-in condition as you can. Some normal wear and tear is to be expected, but make it your goal to erase the year (or years) you spent in the apartment. If you aren’t sure you can tackle the cleaning yourself, you may want to consider hiring a cleaning service to get your apartment in tip-top shape. ASK ABOUT THE COMMUNITY’S MOVING POLICY Photo by Russ Ward on Unsplash Your apartment community may need advance notice if you will have moving assistance, like scheduling elevator time or possibly using the service elevator. If movers will have to park along the street, the apartment manager may have to notify the city, so it’s especially important that you give them plenty of notice. SCHEDULE A MOVE-OUT INSPECTION Photo by La Miko from Pexels Once your apartment is clean and empty, schedule a walk-through with your property manager. Your property manager may arrive with checklists: the one you filled out together during your move-in walk-through and a new one you’ll fill out during your move-out walk-through. Try to be there for the move-out inspection, if possible. This way you can discuss any issues on the spot and agree to any necessary repairs, eliminating any unwelcome surprises when it comes time to get your security deposit back. CHANGE YOUR ADDRESS Photo by Brett Sayles from Pexels You can do this at your local post office or online . Be sure to give your new address to anyone who might send you mail, from your bank to your employer to your grandma. Make sure your current property manager has your forwarding address as well, so they know where to send your security deposit refund if you’re entitled to one. GATHER YOUR KEYS Photo by Ingo Joseph from Pexels Collect all copies of your keys. Did you give a key to your friend so they could pet-sit while you were on vacation? Be sure to get it back. If you have separate keys or cards for the security gate, swimming pool, mail room, or fitness center, locate those as well. Make sure you turn in all of your keys to your leasing office before close of business on the day your lease expires to avoid any additional rent charges. Yes, moving can be stressful, but with a little preparation and to-do list writing, it can be manageable. And soon, you'll be settled into your new home and it will all have been worth it! For even more tips on making your move as smooth as possible, check out our previous blog post on Moving Tips !

Navigating Online Reviews

If you are like 89% of all renters, checking out an apartment community’s ratings and reviews is a major part of your apartment hunt. Seeing what other residents think of the apartment community can give you great insight into what it’s like to live there, but how do you know how reliable they are? Knowing what to look for when reading reviews will help you get the most out of them, so we’ve put together a list of thing you’ll want to be sure to look for when reading online reviews! The Date You’ve been on an exhaustive hunt for your new home and you think you’ve finally found the perfect one. It offers plenty of natural light for your plant babies, it’s a 10-minute commute to work and the fitness center is the stuff of dreams. Before you commit and sign the lease, you decide to check out some online reviews. Most of the reviews are reassuring you that you’ve made a great decision, when you come across one that warns “ Don’t rent here. Worst decision I ever made!”. You start to question whether this is the right place for you. Before you make the decision to jump ship on your new pad, check the date of the review. While an older review can still provide insight, things may have changed since it was posted. Maybe the property is under new management, or its undergone renovations. These changes likely wouldn’t be reflected in an older review, so keep that in mind when reading older reviews. The Motives Even if that review cautioning you away from your dream home is recent, think about the reviewer’s motives. Reviewers are often motivated by extreme feelings, either positive or negative. When everything is fine, people are less likely to write a review. This is true regardless of the industry – restaurants, hotels, etc. If a negative review seems vindictive, take it with a grain of salt, especially if all the other reviews are more positive. This reviewer likely just wanted to vent, and their experience won’t necessarily be your experience. The Star Rating Because most reviewers are motivated by extreme emotions, it is very common to see reviews at the low or high end of the star rating (1 out of 5 or 5 out of 5). Oftentimes, the reviews in the middle (the 3 and 4-star reviews) tend to be more detailed and objective. While you’ll want to read the reviews when looking at apartments (at least the most recent ones), you’ll likely gain more insight from the reviews in the middle. The Manager’s Response You can tell a lot about the level of service you will receive and how engaged and responsive your property manager will be by the response to the review. When reading the responses from the manager, you’ll want to look for the following: Did they respond at all? A lack of response to a review can sometimes say more than the review itself. Were they genuinely appreciative of the review? A good property manager should be thankful for all reviews, good or bad, and should take the opportunity to thank everyone who is willing to provide helpful feedback. If there was an issue mentioned, did the manager acknowledge it frankly? Issues don’t get resolved by being ignored, and a good property manager will acknowledge the issue without pointing fingers or getting defensive. If there were issues mentioned, did the manager share how they planned to address them or attempt to have the reviewer get in touch to share more details? As you read reviews, a clear picture will begin to emerge about the apartment community. The things residents truly enjoy will become clear, since those things will likely be mentioned by multiple reviewers, and you’ll feel better knowing what you can expect your experience living in the community to be like.

7 Ideas for Celebrating Memorial Day 2020 from Home!

There will be no pool parties, parades or barbecues to attend…celebrations for the Memorial Day holiday won’t look like they have in prior years. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t other ways you can recognize the holiday at home. This year might be the perfect opportunity to remind ourselves of the true meaning of the holiday, and make sure to remember and honor the brave men and women who have lost their lives serving our country. Send a Flower Tribute to a Fallen Hero Unsplash/J oshua J. Cotten The Memorial Day Flowers Foundation honors those who have served our country. The foundation works with local volunteers to place flowers on the gravesites of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. Honor the 4 million veterans interred at National Cemeteries in the US and its territories by making a donation to this foundation and help them in their mission to place a flower tribute at the gravesite of all our fallen heroes. Watch the National Memorial Day Concert Twitter/@MemorialDayPBS While the yearly National Memorial Day Concert won’t happen on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol this year, the event will still air at 8 p.m. Sunday, May 24 on PBS . Joe Mantegna and Gary Sinise host a special presentation of the star-studded National Memorial Day Concert with new performances and tributes filmed in different locations around the country and iconic stories from past concerts. Listen to the Stories of Those Who Have Served Unsplash/ Daniel Ioanu StoryCorps is a nonprofit organization that shares oral stories from people all throughout the country from all walks of life. StoryCorps hopes to “remind us of our shared humanity, to strengthen and build the connections between people, to teach the value of listening, and to weave into the fabric of our culture the understanding that everyone’s story matters.” Through its Military Voices Initiative , StoryCorps is sharing stories from service members, veterans and their families. “In doing so we honor their voices, amplify their experiences, and let them know that we—as a nation—are listening.” Share a Moment of Silence Unsplash/Forrest Smith Since 1997, the National Moment of Remembrance has become an American tradition which asks Americans to pause and keep silent for a minute at exactly at 3.00 pm (local time). Many radio stations also play “Taps” in honor of the occasion, but if you can’t find a station playing the bugle call, it’s best to turn the radio off for the moment of silence. Send Care Items to Military Personnel Military.com Support Our Troops is a charity through which Americans strengthen the morale and well-being of their current military service members by providing easy ways to make a tangible difference through a variety of meaningful, substantive programs and services. Support Our Troops ® Care Packages enhance the morale and well-being of the deployed troops worldwide by shipping care boxes containing items specifically requested by them. Items requested include laundry pods, sunscreen, and movies and music on thumb drives. Make sure you read the rules and no-no items thoroughly before sending items, though! Get Crafty Sheknows.com If you have little ones at home, try one of these Memorial Day-inspired crafts . While you’re crafting together, consider using the opportunity to teach your children about the true meaning and origin or the holiday . Teaching your children about the holiday helps ensure that your children will become adults who respect and understand the true meaning of Memorial Day and who will one day teach their own children, so that the lives lost by those serving our country will always be remembered. Eat Something Yummy Tasteofhome.com While the most important meaning of Memorial Day is to honor and remember those who have died serving our country, it is also the unofficial start of the summer season. The days are longer, and the weather is warmer, so the day is often marked with backyard barbecues or weekend trips to the beach. This year, most of us will be celebrating from home, but that doesn’t mean we can’t still treat ourselves to some yummy food! Try one of these delicious and beautiful red, white and blue desserts – like berry white ice pops or the traditional blueberry pie. Bring the barbecue to you with this summer orzo pasta salad or these bourbon and brown sugar barbecue ribs . Make sure to top everything off with a delicious summery drink like this watermelon lemonade cocktail ! On this and every Memorial Day, we say “thank you” to our military personnel, veterans and their families for the sacrifices they have made serving our country. The bravery you’ve shown for the land we love will not be forgotten.

7 Ideas for Celebrating Mother's Day Virtually

Mother’s Day will be a bit different this year, but just because we aren’t able to celebrate the moms in our life with a pampering spa visit or brunch at her favorite restaurant doesn’t mean we can’t celebrate them at all! There are many Mother’s Day ideas that allow you to treat your mom without ever leaving the house. While being away from your mom on Mother’s Day is never an ideal situation, we have some suggestions for virtual ways to celebrate that are more personal than you might think. Whether they be thoughtful gift ideas that will make staying at home more enjoyable, or ways the two of you can get together virtually, we hope these ideas will help you and your mom create a memorable and happy Mother’s Day together. Video Chat with Her Alexander Dummer / Unsplash Nothing will beat getting to see your face on Mother’s Day for mom. There are plenty of tools out there for face-timing your friends and loved ones. If you have siblings who also aren’t able to be with your mom to celebrate, many apps - like Houseparty - allow for group video chats so you can all be together. She’ll love having everyone together, even if it’s just virtually. Send Her Flowers 1-800-Flowers Flowers are a tried and true Mother’s Day gift. Even if your local florist isn’t delivering, services like 1-800-Flowers still are. If your mom is stuck inside, having a beautiful bouquet of flowers in the house will brighten up a room and her day. Plus, they’ll remind her of you every time she looks at them. Taste Wines with a Certified Sommelier Airbnb Because most of us can’t travel right now, Airbnb is offering one-of-a-kind virtual experiences . For this one, you’ll be connecting over wine from your home with a wine tourism expert from New York City to learn the basics of the systematic approach used for professional tastings. Send Her a Customized Playlist F reestocks / Unsplash Create a custom Spotify playlist for just you and mom! You could be songs from her wedding day, songs she used to sing to you, songs from the first band she saw in concert etc. Another idea is using a song from each year of her life. Create a Customized Puzzle Shutterfly Everyone is into puzzles right now; they have become a staple for getting through social distancing at home. Shutterfly allows you to create a custom puzzle using one of your own personal photos! Mom can either frame it when she’s done or do it again when you can see one another. Use a photo of the two of you together, one of you and your siblings when you were younger, or any other sentimental photo that will make mom smile. Send Her a Spa Day Giftbasket.com Since you can’t take your mom to an actual spa for the day of pampering she deserves, gift her all the items she needs for a spa day at home. This gift basket comes with assortment of fragrant bath products and spa tools including shower gel, body lotion, a hand massager and slippers. Send Her A Delicious Meal Nerfee Mirandilla / Unsplash Order a nice meal from one of the many restaurants that are still delivering, and have it delivered to mom on her special day! Maybe even take it a step further and set up a video chat so it’s like the two of you are enjoying a meal together. The thoughtful gesture from you, plus not having to cook or do dishes will surely win with mom. How are you celebrating Mother’s Day this year? Let us know in the comments!

Tips for Working from Home During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Due to the stay-at-home and social distancing orders, many of us have found ourselves working from home. Working from home can take a lot of discipline and self-motivation as every day is riddled with distractions, from the TV to the sink full of dishes. It’s especially hard if you’ve sharing your space with others who are also working from home or with children for whom school has been cancelled. Navigating this new normal is challenging, so here are some tips to make working from home more productive and efficient. 1. Get Dressed for the Day Photo by chuttersnap on Unsplash It’s enticing to stay in your pajamas all day when you don’t have to go to a physical office. But your brain associates pajamas with sleeping and relaxation, making it tougher for you to get in the right head space for work. Get out of your pajamas, have a shower and get ready as if you are going to the office. This tip is especially important if you might be asked to show up for a impromptu video chat. 2. Put the Phone Away Photo by William Iven on Unsplash We live in an era where breaking news is constantly at our fingertips. With continuous coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is crucial to both our productivity and our mental health that we unplug every once in a while. And while we might think we can pop onto social media for just a few minutes of distraction, social media is designed to be addictive . What could start out as 5 minutes on YouTube could easily turn into an hourlong rabbit hole of DIY videos. If you need to have your phone by your side in case of family emergencies and such, try using an app that allows you to block certain websites while you work. 3. Stick with a Routine Photo by chuttersnap on Unsplash Sticking to a structured schedule not only makes your telecommuting more productive, but it also keeps your work/life balance healthy because it establishes a definite start and end to your day. Experiment with your schedule to see what works best for you . Getting started on work before sunrise might be completely doable for some, while others might find it very hard to focus or perform their best if its too early in the day. 4. Set Up a Dedicated Work Space Photo by Grovemade on Unsplash This can be tricky to maneuver, especially if you live in a studio apartment. Just like getting out of your pajamas helps get you in the right state of mind for work, so does working in the right environment . Chances are, if you work from your couch or dining room table, you will find yourself to be more prone to distractions and accomplish less because of it. If you don't have enough space for a separate office, even just a corner in your house where you can set up a small dedicated work desk will do the trick. Make sure you have everything you will need during a normal workday before you get started – laptop, charger cable, monitor, pens, printer, etc. Once you have chosen your designated work space, make sure you set up boundaries with others so they know they are not to disturb you or your space while you are working. 5. Step Outside Photo by chuttersnap on Unsplash Whenever you take breaks, step away from the glowing computer screen and use that time to reconnect with Mother Nature. Stepping outdoors boasts numerous benefits including increased function and stress reduction, making it a perfect way to refresh and recharge. Just make sure you are following the CDC’s guidelines for social distancing and following guidance from local authorities. 6. Ask for What You Need Photo by Berkeley Communications on Unsplash If you’re employed by a company or organization that supports your work-from-home setup, request the equipment you need as soon as you realize you need something new. It’s extremely important to set precedents early that you will ask for what you need to get your job done comfortably, including the right monitor , keyboard , mouse , printer , software , and so forth. 7. Take it Easy On Yourself Photo by Victor Garcia on Unsplash Be realistic with yourself and your employer. These are not normal circumstances and you likely won’t be able to perform every task the same as you had when you were working from an office. This is especially true if you suddenly find yourself also homeschooling children on top of doing your own work. Make sure you proactively communicate with your employer that you’ve got kids at home and that you can’t guarantee every conversation will be interruption-free. With any luck, you can work flexibly so you can help your kids when they need it and work when they’re occupied. Above all else, figure out what works best for you. These are new and unusual circumstances to which it will take some trial and error to adjust. If you have found something that makes your work-from-home experience more productive, please share with us in the comments! The information presented on or through this Website is made available solely for general information purposes. We do not warrant the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of this information. Any reliance you place on such information is strictly at your own risk. We disclaim all liability and responsibility arising from any reliance placed on such materials by you or any other visitor to this Website, or by anyone who may be informed of any of its contents. This Website may include content provided by third parties. All statements and/or opinions expressed in these materials, and all articles and responses to questions and other content, other than the content provided by WPM Real Estate Management, are solely the opinions and the responsibility of the person or entity providing those materials. 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How to Make Your Overnight Guests Feel at Home!

Hosting friends or loved ones overnight? A little hospitality can go a long way and may be easier and more rewarding than you anticipated. Let your guests know them know they are welcome from the moment they arrive. Here are some tips on being a thoughtful host and making your guests feel like your home is their home! Before your visitors arrive, write down your Wi-Fi log-in information so you have it handy when they ask for it (and they will ask for it!). Have plenty of breakfast options ready in the morning - especially the coffee! You’ll want to inquire about any special dietary restrictions ahead of time. Show them where to get water or soft drinks while staying with you and make sure they know they’re welcome to help themselves! That way they don’t feel like they must ask you every time they need a drink. Make sure the toilet paper is in plain sight to re-stock. Nothing is more uncomfortable to a guest than having to root around your bathroom for a fresh roll. Make sure you have a clean hand-towel out for drying their hands after washing them as well! While we’re on the subject of the bathroom, make sure you have additional toiletries such as extra toothbrushes, toothpaste, floss, razors, tissues and feminine products. Though your guests are likely bringing their own, have them on-hand just in case! Set out the hair dryer for them, too! Show them how to work your television and set the remote in front of it so they don’t have to go hunting for it. There you have it! Six helpful tips for being a thoughtful host to your overnight guests. As soon as your guests arrive, let them know what you've prepared for them and you'll make them feel right at home the minute they walk through the door. Do you have any quick tips on making your guests feel at home? Let us know in the comments!