DO:

Spend time researching your options before settling on an apartment home, floor plan, square feet, location, amenities, and more that are necessary in your next apartment home and community. You can save yourself time and resources by narrowing your search to only include exactly what you want in your apartment living experience.

DON’T:

Don’t make your search too narrow. There is likely the perfect apartment home community out there for you but you may need to adjust a few “must-haves” for your new apartment space.

DO:

Read your lease carefully. Reading every line of your lease is important to establish a clear understanding of the expectations from your new apartment management company. Buckingham only includes important details and encourages you to understand these from the day you move in so you have a smooth apartment living experience.

DON’T:

Don’t forget to ask questions. If something seems confusing and you don’t fully understand your lease, you should connect with our leasing team to provide clarity.

DO:

Simplify your moving process by only moving your items and furniture you know you will need. Moving too much into your apartment is easy when you are moving from a larger space like a home to a smaller space like your new apartment home.

DON’T:

Don’t buy everything you think you need at once. It can be easy to get swept into over-purchasing furniture and décor in the effort to finishing moving. We suggest that you buy everything you need to live comfortably, but then wait. Live in the space for a little and figure out through experience what you actually need for your new apartment home.

DO:

Get to know your neighbors. One of the best perks about apartment community living is the opportunity to make new connections with your neighbors.

DON’T:

Don’t be a bad neighbor. That means don’t be too loud, please pick up after your pets, and be friendly around the apartment community. Go by the golden rule and treat others how you want to be treated. Kindness can go a long way!

Follow these apartment living do’s and don’ts and we know your apartment living experience will be a positive one. Welcome home, and if we can do anything to make your experience in our community the best it can be, connect with our leasing office for assistance.

The post Apartment Living Do’s and Don’ts appeared first on The Residences at CityWay Blog.

Keep Your Dog at Home

We know you want to  bring your furry friend to the neighborhood party, but we suggest leaving your pets behind during the fireworks. While typically outdoor adventures would be a great time to pack up your companion, the 4^th of July can cause anxiety in your dog with the loud noises and unexpected sights. Take your animal off of the RSVP and leave them inside where they will be comfortable, and not tempted to escape during the excitement.

Block Outside Sights & Sounds

Once you have determined it would be best to leave your pets at home, create a calming environment for your furry friends. While you may not be able to control how your neighbors celebrate, you can ensure  your pets feel safe by closing the blinds to keep out unexpected sights. Next, turn on a distracting noise to keep your pets from being shocked when a firework goes off in proximity. Music or the TV make great background noise to keep on while you are out and lowers the chance of an unexpected sound terrifying your pets. If possible, keep your pet in an interior room without windows for maximum relaxation.

Monitor Your Guests’ Interactions with Your Dog

If you decide to stay home and find your furry friend hanging around with the grill fired up and friends surrounding you, be careful with food scraps. A few surprising toxic cookout foods for pets are onions, avocados, and grapes. Other toxic chemicals that can be harmful to our furry friends are found in insect repellent and sunscreen when sprayed too close.

Claim Your Furry Friend

In case of emergency or escape, it is always a safe practice to ensure your animal is wearing identification tags or has a microchip inserted. With the excitement, loud and unforeseen sounds, and unmonitored guests there are extra escape opportunities to watch out for. If you know your dog will be joining you for holiday excitement, remember to claim them as your own with proper identification.

We hope that your Independence Day is full of grilling out, community fun, and fireworks! Take care of your animals in your apartment home, and enjoy your holiday knowing your pet is safe and taken care of indoors.

The post Keeping Your July 4th Pet Friendly appeared first on The Residences at CityWay Blog.

1. You don’t have to be best friends with your roommate (we’ll repeat that for the people in the back – You don’t have to be besties). Sure, it would be easier if everyone liked each other, but sometimes roommates are just roommates, nothing more…nothing less. If you’re cordial and can stand each other’s presence, you’re #winning at this roommate thing.
2. If you don’t get along with your roommate, there are coping mechanisms to get past the shade and to work toward harmonious living. Our favorite advice? Work on openly communicating with one another about conflict in a positive and constructive way. For example, instead of saying, “I don’t like that you never take out the trash” try saying “I would be really thankful if we could work on taking the trash out when it gets full.”
3. Consider a chore chart. If you aren’t totally happy with how you have been splitting duties around your apartment home, sometimes having a defined set of responsibilities helps sort through problems before they become too hostile.
4. Set boundaries and expectations early. If you aren’t planning on sharing food or toilet paper, make sure to say that loud and proud. If you don’t, you may start noticing your shampoo bottle feels lighter than usual, or that you are the only one that ever sweeps the kitchen. 

If aren’t living alone, we hope this advice helps you have a positive roommate experience! Our team understands that roommate troubles happen, so if you need someone to vent to or more insight on handling roommate conflict, let us know.

The post Tips for Living with Roommates appeared first on The Residences at CityWay Blog.