Rules to live by if you’re going to be a good apartment neighbor
There are plenty of positives
about renting an apartment, but living in close proximity to several
neighbors usually, doesn’t make the “pros” list. If you are living in an
apartment, you might have someone above you, below you, on either side
of you or all of the above.
All of these neighbors means you can
have a great sense of community or a lot of frustration because of
personality conflicts. The good news is you have influence over your
experience because if you’re a good neighbor to those above you, below
you and on either side of you they will appreciate your efforts and
return them in kind.
Turn down the volume
Scary movies are better when they are
loud and so is a good song, but try to save your bass bumping for the
day when you own a house. Constantly listening to someone else’s music
or television shows is frustrating for everyone nearby.
What if your neighbor is trying to
concentrate on an important work or school assignment, but they can’t
drown out the noise flowing from your apartment to theirs?
If you do have an event planned with
the potential for loud music or voices, be courteous and let your
neighbors know of your plans so they can choose to be away or at least
be prepared for the additional noise. Guests who don’t live in an
apartment may not be acutely aware of their volume like you, but a kind
reminder can go a long way in keeping sound at a reasonable level.
Don’t practice your clog dancing on the third floor
If you have ever had someone living above you, then you know it sometimes sounds like you live below a family of clog dancers.
Your neighbors probably aren’t doing
jumping jacks at 6 a.m., but it can sure sound like it sometimes. If you
are on the top floor, be mindful of how hard you walk, especially
during early mornings or late nights. If you are on a bottom floor, try
to cut them some slack. The structure of the building may make casual
walking seem like stomping.
If there is a problem with a loud
walker above you, then just casually and nicely let them know.
Hopefully, they will be more aware of the noise they are making and
adjust for you.
Know where to park (and where not to park)
It will only be just a minute right?
There’s an empty spot next to the elevator but belongs to someone else.
It’s not good etiquette to take a parking spot not assigned to you, even
if it is just for a minute.
The person who is renting the spot
might show up, and they will be stuck waiting for you to move before
they can park. It is simple courtesy to stay in your space, even if it
means walking in the rain a little longer than comfortable.
Be quiet in the stairwells and don’t slam your exterior door
Loud conversations in the stairwell
will easily travel into your neighbors’ apartments. So does slamming
your front door. Try to take phone calls when you are away from the
building or in your apartment. Always take a spare moment to close your
door gently rather than letting the wind grab it or slamming it.
Keep your house reasonably clean to deter unwanted pests
Leaving out leftovers causes more
than just a smelly kitchen. Those crumbs are tasty to unwanted house
guests like ants or cockroaches. The problem is they don’t stop at your
apartment. They travel everywhere. If you’re fighting these annoying
little bugs, it is likely your neighbors are too. Take the time after
every meal to pick up your messes so you can keep these creepy crawlers
out of your home, and be a good neighbor by helping prevent them from
making your home their home too.
Be courteous in common areas
Do you share a laundromat, pool area
or a grassy knoll for walking your dog with other tenants at the
apartment complex? If so, it’s best to try to keep these spaces in
tip-top shape. Pick up after your pets in the walking areas. Don’t use
all of the washers or dryers while doing your laundry, and be
considerate at the pool by not blaring your music or taking up too much
space.
Check how late it is before vacuuming (Or doing any other loud activities)
Sometimes, you need to do chores, and
it won’t be quiet. There is no way you can vacuum silently or move a
large piece of furniture without a few loud bangs. If you get the urge
to clean late at night, opt to do the dishes, clean the counters or
organize the cabinets. Save the other todos for more normal hours like
early evenings or late mornings.
Participate in property events
Is the apartment complex hosting a
wine party or a dog parade? Whatever it is, make an effort to join the
festivities. When you get the opportunity to meet your neighbors in
casual events you have the chance to build new friendships. Even when
you aren’t at events, a simple hello in the hallway is enough to be
neighborly.
Address any issues cordially
Issues can and do arise when you
spend so much time living next to other people. If your neighbor does
have a habit of making your apartment a tough place to live, just
address the issues kindly. If they are walking loud all hours of the
night, they might not know it is a problem. Most people are happy to
accommodate once they know they are doing something unpleasant. So,
knock on their door and say hello and start the conversation.
Are you looking for a great place to call home? Visit a NorthStar Property or give us a call to learn about availability.
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11 ideas to decorate your apartment living space for the holidays
The last two months of the year are
full of cheer, hot beverages, warm fires, lots of family time and fun
decorations. What’s not to love?
It’s fun to get creative when
decorating for the holidays, but with limited space, things can get
tricky. Luckily there are many ways to showcase your style while keeping
things simple, small and stress-free.
1. Say no to wall damage
Regardless if it is Thanksgiving,
Christmas or any other holiday, It doesn’t make sense to cause damage by
using nails and screws for a temporary occasion. You also might have
lease terms prohibiting the use of fasteners because it will put holes
in the walls.
Instead, use adhesive hooks because
they can be used again when the holidays are over. These can be found in
most department stores and come in a variety of designs for different
uses. Another practical option is Washi tape, and it comes in a variety
of decorative prints.
2. Pinecones are nature’s gift during the holidays
Grab a basket and visit a
neighborhood park to pick up some pinecones. Paint them green and apply a
star to the top to make miniature Christmas trees. You can also attach
string or ribbon to use them as ornaments. Pinecones are great for both
Thanksgiving or Christmas if you decorate them to fit the season. Since
they are free, grab a few, paint them to match your theme and then just
throw them away.
3. Choose bright colors
Think outside of the box when picking
colors for your holiday displays. Fun colors such as orange, pink,
blue, and yellow will brighten places with inadequate lighting such as
apartments with small windows. In small spaces, sometimes it helps to
ask yourself, “what other purposes will this serve,” before you buy a
new decoration. If it doesn’t have more than one use or one season, then
keep hunting down other options.
4. Display children’s artwork, or make your own.
If you have children, it’s hard not
to love the festive drawings and paintings they bring home each year
around Thanksgiving and Christmas. Instead of stashing these away,
display them in your apartment using decorative washi tape to secure
them to the wall. They will appreciate your use of them, and it is fun
to see how their artistic abilities change over the years. Don’t have
kids? PBS has a lot of simple ideas that can be fun to do yourself.
5. Transform Thanksgiving into Christmas
Transforming holiday decorations save
you time and money. Christmas garland pairs nicely with harvest décor
for Thanksgiving. Find a neutral (but festive) tablecloth and matching
candles. A light beige may match your orange Thanksgiving decor, but
also match your white Christmas theme. Make your wreaths easy to
transform. A green wreath decorated with small plastic pumpkins can
easily be changed by removing the pumpkins and adding Christmas bulbs.
6. Show off your Christmas cards
Grab a piece of cardboard, wrapping
paper, ribbon, and clothespins for an easy way to display your Christmas
cards. Wrap the cardboard tightly with wrapping paper, then add the
ribbon by wrapping around to the back and fastening with tape. Attach
Christmas cards each time you receive them to the ribbon with a
clothespin. You can typically find these supplies around your apartment
and it’s cheap enough to discard so you won’t waste space when packing
up.
7. Think small when it comes to the tree
Miniature artificial trees are a good
option for small spaces. They have pre-lit versions and miniature
ornaments available for decoration. To get a real feel, you can gather
pine branches and place into decorative vases filled with water.
Half trees are even an option for someone who only has a tight corner to fit their festive tree.
8. Use Christmas bulbs all year
Don’t pack up your holiday
decorations after the first of the year, they can still serve a purpose
in your apartment. Place them in glass vases or bowls to create a unique
look. Pair them with artificial flowers or leave them by themselves.
When you’re shopping for holiday decorations, keep in mind colors that
fit into your apartment’s year-round color scheme.
9. Hang your stockings without a fireplace
If your apartment doesn’t have a
fireplace, use adhesive hooks to hang stockings. Take it a step further
and weave lights or garland through the hooks before each stocking is
hung. You don’t need a big mantle to have a fun display. If your kids
ask how Santa makes it inside, then just tell them he doesn’t need a
chimney to deliver their presents because he is magic.
10. Choose sturdy decorations and protect your breakables
Be practical when it comes to storage
after the holidays are over. Breakables can be a hassle to wrap when
placing into storage containers. Try finding wooden or plastic figures
that can be easily packed when they’re not in use.
You probably won’t live in your
apartment forever, so keep movability in mind If you buying new decor.
If you do have breakables, reuse your wrapping paper after opening gifts
to keep them safe, and always save the packing materials to use year after year.
11. Utilize unused spaces for storage
With small living spaces, it can be
difficult to find spots to hide bulky tubs. Try finding shallow but wide
containers that easily slide in unused spaces like under couches and
beds. Put shelving units in an outdoor closet or even a coat closet to
better utilize vertical space. If you have to, rent a small storage unit
or ask a family member to borrow some attic space.
Looking for a new place to call home
this winter? Well look no further, NorthStar Properties provide spacious
apartments, plenty of amenities and convenient locations. For more
information about unit availability or locations give our NorthStar Properties main office a call at 405-310-6450
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