Have you been wanting to invite your friends and family over to your apartment, but are afraid that your space is too small? No worries! There are a few things you can do to make your cozy apartment space accessible and ready for your get together.

Use Multipurpose Furniture!

Coffee tables with built in storage help declutter your living area and a sofa bed can help open up a perfect space for any guest that needs to spend the night.

Rearrange your Furniture

Sometimes all it takes is a little creativity! Shuffling your furniture to utilize your space will help make your apartment feel larger and give your guests more room to move around.

Keep it Neat and Clean

Put away any unnecessary items and keep your space clean. The smaller the space, the quicker clutter can pile up. You can even move some things into your bedroom since your guests will likely be spending most if not all their time in your main living space.

Create an Ambiance

Use lights like LED candles or string lights to make the space feel more inviting. You don’t need to hide the face that the space is small. Lean into it and use these lights to make your space feel cozy for your guests.

Play Games

Board games, card games, and video games are a great way to entertain your guests in a small space. These kinds of activities don’t take up a lot of room and require you to be closer together in order to play.

Choose Food Wisely

With limit seating, you’ll probably have most of your guests seated on the couch for dinner. A nice steak might sound great, but foods that require multiple utensils can be a challenge when there’s no table to be seated at. Bowls of chili, sandwiches, pizza, or pasta are great for eating one handed.

Stay Cool

Many bodies in a small space can make it feel hotter than normal in your space. Keep some fans on and be sure to let your A/C unit cool your apartment down earlier in the day so it’s not playing catch up at the last minute. If you have a ceiling fan, be sure to make sure it’s rotating in the right direction depending on the season.

Are you looking to rent? Check out our available apartments!

The post 7 Tips for hosting guests in a small apartment space appeared first on Goldmark Property Management Blog.

Winter weather can present many challenges and can even make a painful process like moving even more of a hassle. The frigid cold temperatures, wet snow, and slippery ice can add additional hazards to your moving experience.

Luckily, there are a few things you can do to minimize those risks and challenges. With a little bit of planning, these tips can help make your moving experience much more manageable.

1. Pack Efficiently

The last thing you want to do is step into the bone chilling cold more than you need to. If you pack efficiently, you can lessen the amount of times you go in and out of your apartment. Not only that, but this will help make the unpacking process go smoother as well as you won’t have as many boxes to deal with in your new home.

2. Protect your Belongings from Water

If you’re moving on a day where the forecast calls for snow, it’s a good idea to cover your boxes and furniture. If your stuff gets too wet, it could cause permanent damage. Use tarps or blankets to help keep the snow away from your belongings so they can make it to their final destination unharmed.

3. Insulate your Items

Be extra generous with the bubble wrap in the Winter! Plastic totes, electronics, and glass are just a handful of things that will break much easier on impact in the cold weather. Dishes and glasses are not fond of changes in temperature. Extra insulation for your fragile dishes, cups and plates will help keep them from cracking.

4. Protect your Floors

While moving your stuff into your new home, you’re bound to bring in slush, snow, ice, and mud to your freshly cleaned floors. To avoid extensive clean up once you get settled in, try putting down tarps over wood and tile floors and floor mats by entrances. For carpeting, throw some cardboard sheets on top to protect it.

5. Create a Backup Plan

Severe weather can happen at any time. In case of a winter storm, be sure to have a backup plan in case you can’t complete your move on your chosen day. Pack up your boxes a day early to get it done before the storm rolls in or change your move to another date. Be flexible and remember – a couple of days will not ruin your moving process.

Once you’re all moved in, check out these winter tips to help save you money and keep you warm throughout the winter season!

The post Tips for Surviving your Winter Move appeared first on Goldmark Property Management Blog.

MAKING YOUR APARTMENT FEEL LIKE HOME: BUDGET FRIENDLY DESIGN TIPS

January 23, 2023

Whether you’re a first-time renter or have been renting for years, it can be a challenge to decorate your apartment on a budget in order to make it feel like home. Sometimes, all it takes is a few minor upgrades to make to your apartment home to make your living space feel less temporary.

Here are a few simple things you can do to help add your own personal style to your apartment home while still being friendly to your wallet.

Before you begin: Check with your apartment office and your lease to make sure any major changes are allowed under your lease agreement.

1. Clean your Apartment Regularly

Set a time each week to give your apartment a deep clean, along with a daily goal of keeping up with laundry and dishes. In smaller spaces, dirty laundry and dirty dishes stack up fast and can cause a bad smell to fill your apartment. Just 10 minutes a day can help keep you caught up on your laundry and dishes while 1-2 hours will help give you the time needed to deep clean your apartment.

2. Decorate Those Walls!

Worried about damaging walls while decorating? Thankfully, there are plenty of alternatives to help you hang up your favorite decorations or artwork without damaging your walls. Command strips and monkey hooks will allow you to easily hang and remove pictures with ease, and most importantly, no damage.

3. Keep Colors Light and Let in Natural Light

Heavy curtains and drapes can give your apartment a small, dark, and gloomy feel. For centuries, designers and architects have known that letting in the natural light makes your apartment feel more spacious. Mix that with light colored decorations, and you’ve got more natural light reflecting across your space.

4. Stay Organized

Keeping your apartment organized can help maximize the valuable space you have in your apartment. A good way to keep your things organized is by visiting the dollar store. You can find bins, boxes, and storage containers that will help you reduce your clutter without draining your bank account.

5. Don’t Just Buy Bargains

Although you may be tempted to buy whatever is on sale, try to make a design plan and stick to it. Otherwise, without a plan, you may just end up buying things you don’t need and burying them in the back of your closet. When you have a plan, you can set your budget and stay within your means while also getting the items you want.

Looking to rent? Try out some of these design tips by checking out our available apartments.

Want to show off your design tips? Share them with us by tagging @GoldmarkPropertyManagement on Facebook!

The post Making Your Apartment feel like Home: Budget Friendly Design Tips appeared first on Goldmark Property Management Blog.

Ceiling fans are a great home appliance all year round, but especially during the summer.

Changing the direction of your ceiling fan in the summer and the winter not only makes life more comfortable, but it also allows you to adjust the thermostat and give your AC or heating unit a much needed break. Your wallet will also get some much needed rest.

Here’s everything you need to know about changing your ceiling fan direction and how it can help you save!

WHICH DIRECTION SHOULD IT SPIN?

Most ceiling fans have a “clockwise” setting and a “counterclockwise” setting, each appropriate in a different season.

Ceiling fan blades rotating in a counterclockwise direction create cool downward airflow. This is the optimal direction during summer months when you want to feel cooler.

Fan blades rotating in the clockwise direction move warm air around the room which would normally rise to the ceiling away from people and pets. This movement of warm air will make the room feel warmer and will help make your home more efficient in the cooler months.

 

SETTING YOUR FAN'S DIRECTION

Stand beneath your fan and turn it on. If you immediately feel a breeze from your fan, then you know it’s on the “summer” setting or the counterclockwise direction.

Tip: Use removable tape to label either side of the switch “summer” or “winter” so you don’t have to think about it each season!

If you do not have a switch setting, it is possible you have a pull cord that will change the direction of your ceiling fan.

To recap, your ceiling fan should be spinning in the counterclockwise direction during summer months.

To prepare your home for other seasonal changes, read, "How to Keep Your Apartment Warm and Costs Low During the Winter" and "7 Easy Tips to Maximize Your AC This Summer!".

The post Which Direction should my ceiling fan turn in the Summer? appeared first on Goldmark Property Management Blog.

A roommate agreement is a contract developed by you and your roommate(s) that outlines how you will approach different situations. All parties should sign it before moving in and therefore agree to follow it. If one roommate suggests a change later on, all individuals should discuss the requested edit and decide whether they would like to update the existing contract. If the suggestion is accepted, the contract should be reworked and signed by all roommates.

DO I REALLY NEED ONE?

The answer is YES! Especially if you want a pleasant experience with your roommate(s). It will help to prevent conflict and be a nonbiased source that you and your roommate(s) can look back at if conflict does arise.

WHAT SHOULD BE INCLUDED?

There are many different topics that should be addressed in your roommate agreement. Below are seven crucial points you and your roommate(s) should consider discussing before committing to living with one another.

One of the first things you should look at is your schedule! When are you busy and when do you want to sleep? When is your roommate(s) busy and when do they want to sleep? If you work during the day and your roommate(s) works at night, you could find that disturbing each other’s sleep schedule becomes more frequent than either of you would like.

Pets

Does your potential roommate(s) have a pet or want to get one in the future? Although this can be an exciting addition to your apartment, it could also potentially cause issues down the line. Are you allergic to any animals or simply just prefer to live without them? Are you prepared to take care of the pet when your roommate(s) is not home?

Groceries

You go to the fridge expecting to eat those strawberries you just bought… but now they are gone! Where did they go? The most likely answer is your roommate(s). It is important to discuss the expectations that you and your roommate(s) have for food. Will you both buy and eat only your own groceries? Or will you go out and shop together, split the cost, and both eat the groceries?

Rent

How will rent be paid each month? Do you plan to alternate and pay every other month? Or will you split the cost every month. If your roommate(s) cannot afford to pay rent one month, how will you deal with this? Will they have to move out or will they just pay you back over time? Make sure to come to an agreement on how and when rent will be paid.

Cleaning

How often will you clean the apartment and whose job is it? Nothing is more frustrating than constantly finding yourself cleaning up after your roommate(s). Find out ahead of time if your roommate(s) likes a clean space or if they tend to live in a disorganized fashion. Everyone has a different version of what they deem to be clean and dirty. Regardless of what your roommate(s) tolerates, creating a chore chart that outlines who is responsible for what task and how often it needs to be done can keep both you and your roommate(s) on top of the cleaning efforts. You can be creative when assigning chores to each person. Check out these templates to find what chore chart works best for you and your roommate(s)!

Chore Chart 1 | Chore Chart 2

Guests

Having people over is fun until they overstay their welcome. Within the agreement, be sure to include when guests are allowed to be brought over and when the apartment is only for you and your roommate(s). Examples of guests include family, friends, or significant others.

Privacy

Although you have agreed to live with someone, personal privacy still needs to exist. Create boundaries in your agreement and state what spaces are and are not allowed to be entered in. Simply naming bedrooms as off limits is often a straightforward way to maintain privacy.

Deciding whether or not to live with a roommate is a big decision and living with someone else isn't for everyone. If you're not sure a roommate is right for you, check out our Roommate Pros and Cons article.

The post Roommate Agreement appeared first on Goldmark Property Management Blog.

Do you hate the smell that your kitchen sink disposal has? Are you finding water sitting in your bathroom sink? Are you standing in a puddle in your bathtub? If the answer is yes to any of these, keep reading to fix it! If a drain gives off an unwanted odor, you may want to consider cleaning it and checking for clogs.

WHAT CAN'T BE PUT DOWN DRAINS?

BATHROOM: Hair, hygiene products, cotton swabs, floss, nail clippings, flushable wipes, kitty litter

KITCHEN/DISPOSAL: Grease, oil, butter, fat, pasta, stringy vegetables, eggshells, coffee grounds

IS THERE ANYTHING I CAN DO TO CLEAR MY DRAIN BEFORE CONTACTING MAINTENANCE?

Yes! There are several homemade drain cleaners you can use to try and clear the blockage. Please only use the following cleaners. Chemical drain cleaners can damage your pipes and cause immense damage to our plumbing systems.

BATHROOM: Vinegar

KITCHEN/DISPOSAL: Baking soda & vinegar, hot running water & Grease Lightning Dish Liquid, and vinegar & water ice cubes to grind in the disposal

DO NOT USE CHEMICAL DRAIN CLEANERS. If the technician has to use a drain snake or remove a section of pipe to clear the clog, they are at risk of getting a chemical burn from these cleaners. Some cleaners can react with aluminum and give off an unhealthy gas, others can solidify inside the pipes and cannot be removed. If mixed with other household cleaners, the combined liquid can burst the drain and damage your pipes.

HOW DO I PREVENT FUTURE DRAIN CLOGS?

1. NEVER pour grease down your drain.

Grease is the number one cause of clogged drains. Even when the grease is in liquid form, it will eventually harden over time and will clog your drain and can cause sewer clogs too. Be sure to wipe down the greasy dishes with a paper towel before rinsing them with hot soapy water.

2. Use drain screens

These allow water to pass but blocks out hair, food, and other larger particles. These are ideal for kitchen sinks and bathtubs.

3. Run a handful of baking soda and hot water through your drains

This helps the oils in food keep running down the drain rather than building up. This mixture also prevents odors from developing.

4. Only two things should go town the toilet

Human waste and toilet paper.

5. Perform regular maintenance on drains and stoppers

Pouring a few pots of boiling water down your sink once a week and cleaning your stoppers can help maintain the flow of your drains.

WHAT DOES THE DRAIN CLEANING PROCESS LOOK LIKE FOR A MAINTENANCE TECH?

When drains are clogged, Maintenance Techs take out the pipes or send a "drain snake" down to clear the blockage. It can take multiple attempts to clean whatever is creating a clog.

Drain cleanings are done by our Maintenance Team. If water starts draining slowly, let us know. Do not wait until water is overflowing to request maintenance. Overflowing water can lead to mold, damage, and flooding.

The post How to Maintain the Drains in Your Apartment appeared first on Goldmark Property Management Blog.

To live or not to live with a roommate… that is the real question! There are several factors you should consider when deciding if sharing your home is the right choice for you. Read through these pros and cons to see what the best situation is for you!

SHARING THE COST OF RENT

 

Pro: Split rent in half

An awesome thing about having a roommate is there are two wallets responsible for expenses, saving you both money. Each month when rent is due, both of you will only pay half of the amount you would typically pay. This can be a great option if the rent at some apartments is a little over your desired budget.

Con: If they can't pay, you do

A downside of splitting rent is you rely on your roommate to pay their half. If they can't pay their amount, you are responsible to pay it in order to avoid a late fee or other situation. It is always a good idea to evaluate your potential roommates' financial situation and choices before inviting them into this partnership. Do they often quit jobs or get fired frequently? Do they have a history of missing rent payments? These are red flags you may want to avoid!

HAVING COMPANY OVER

Pro: Social butterflies will thrive

Do you enjoy meeting new people and socializing? Having a roommate could make your social life soar because you will most likely be introduced to their friends at some point. This can make for some super fun nights in where you all enjoy playing games together, watching movies, having dinner, or even just sitting around and talking.

Con: Their friends might not be your friends

Sharing an apartment with a roommate also means sharing the space with the people that they invite over like their friends, family, or significant other. This can be uncomfortable for some people, especially if you tend to be more introverted or do not particularly enjoy the people your roommate brings over. Talk about expectations for guests in advance with your roommate to avoid an uncomfortable situation.

CLEANING THE APARTMENT

Pro: Two sets of hands are better than one

Spending a day deep cleaning your apartment can be overwhelming, exhausting, and often a burden! Luckily if you have a roommate, there are two extra hands helping you scrub down every surface. Devoting a couple hours every week to "buddy-clean" your apartment with your roommate can be a super effective way to keep your space spick and span. Check out our guide to tackling a successful spring clean!

Con: One set of hands might refuse to clean

One risk you face when having a roommate is that they contribute heavily to making the apartment messy, but seem to disappear when any sort of cleaning takes place. This can lead to conflict and frustration. To avoid this, set a roommate agreement right when you move in that keeps both of you accountable and aware of the cleaning expectations. Another way to stay on track is to make a chore chart to assign jobs to each roommate. This way everyone knows what they are and aren't responsible for!

YOU ALWAYS HAVE SOMEONE THERE

 

Pro: You've gained a best friend

Moving into an apartment with someone forces you to get to know each other! After a long day of work, your roommate will be home waiting to hear all about a cranky customer or the latest office drama. You will begin to share experiences together and will start making countless memories. Before you know it, you and your roommate will be sitting on the couch together binge watching your favorite shows!

Con: Living with your enemy is tough

Unfortunately, not everyone becomes best friends with their roommate. Once you begin living with someone, you may notice things about them you did not see prior to moving in. There might be regular conflict between you two which can make living with them quite unpleasant. Your home should be your sanctuary, where you find rest during the day. It is never a bad idea to get to know someone before asking them to be your roommate. Although this process can feel like a waste of time, it will save you a world of hurt and frustration in the long run.

FURNISHINGS ARE EXPENSIVE

Pro: What's yours is mine

A big thing to keep in mind when moving into an apartment is you will be responsible for furnishing it! This can be super costly, especially to individuals moving into an apartment for the first time. Thankfully, a roommate can help ease this financial burden by splitting the cost of furniture.

Con: Splitting up is hard

One thing to keep in mind when splitting the cost of furnishings is someone is going to have to keep the items after your lease it up. You can try to do your best to separate everything into two groups that seem to be about the same monetary value. For example, your roommate could take the couch and you could take the dining room table and chairs! Whatever you guys decide to do, just make sure you develop a plan together beforehand that details who will keep what furniture and if compensation will be needed for any items. This will prevent any conflict from breaking out.

A HELPING HAND AT YOUR SIDE

Pro: Roommate and right hand man

Your roommate can be a great resource for you if you sometimes need a little extra help! Do you ever wish you could go out for lunch during work instead of running back to your apartment to let out your dog? See if your roommate would be willing to bring your furry friend outside. Occasionally asking for a favor, as well as doing favors for your roommate, can be a fantastic way to care for each other and brighten one another’s days.

Con: When one favor turns into ten

Although it can feel nice to help your roommate every once in a while, being asked for favors constantly can get annoying. There is a fine line between helping your roommate and being your roommate’s personal assistant. If you end up feeling a little too relied upon, don't be afraid to politely express your concerns to your roommate.

Having a roommate can be very exciting but also isn't for everyone. It is important to consider the six topics above to discover the right decision for you!
 

The post Roommate Pros & Cons appeared first on Goldmark Property Management Blog.

When the days becoming brighter and new flowers bloom, that’s when you know spring is here! Spring is the perfect time to refresh your space through a spring clean. Spring cleaning allows us to get a head start on the often-hectic seasons of spring and summer and brings new life to home stuck in the winter blues. A deep clean can sometimes feel like an intimidating task but getting started will be a breeze by following these tips.

COME UP WITH A GAME PLAN.

To ensure a smooth and efficient process, come up with a game plan to keep the task feeling manageable. Often times, a checklist is the best way to list out your cleaning plan, and it feel so good to cross tasks off the list!

1. Pick a room to start.

Start by deciding which room to tackle first. Usually, it’s best to choose the room that you feel will be the most difficult or cause you the most frustration. For most people, this room is the bathroom because it is time and labor intensive. From the tub and shower to the toilet and sink, there are many fixtures that have a large surface area that need to be scrubbed and disinfected. Once the bathroom is finished, all the other rooms will feel easier and you won’t be tempted to abandon the bathroom at the end.

2. Schedule a time to start and don’t procrastinate. Don't forget to add in breaks!

Schedule a time to start cleaning and stick to it. It may be best to start on a Friday or Saturday and clean throughout the whole weekend. Adding breaks into your cleaning schedule can prevent yourself from burning out, or becoming discouraged and overwhelmed.

3. Create a fun music playlist.

Prior to the start of cleaning, create a fun music playlist with your favorite songs so you can enjoy your time spent working. If you don't have the time to curate your own playlist, music streaming services often have pre-made cleaning playlists full of great songs to keep you motivated.

STOCK UP ON THE PRODUCTS YOU NEED.

There's nothing worse than getting the motivation to clean and then realizing you don't have the proper products to get the job done. Make sure to have all your cleaning supplies before you start so you don't get derailed and lose momentum halfway through. Here's a list of items you'll want to make sure you have before getting started:

1. Vacuum with multiple attachments to get the hard to reach places (corners, near trim, stairs, etc.)
2. Disinfectant wipes/all-purpose cleaner
3. Window cleaner
4. Rags, sponges, microfiber cloths
5. Bathroom cleaning products (toilet, shower, sink, etc.)
6. Floor cleaner and a mop

DECLUTTER.

Donating things you don't use and disposing of expired or worn items is a great way to make your space feel larger and more organized. Decluttering also creates more value for the items you do decide to keep because they serve a larger purpose.

START WITH DUSTING AND WIPING OFF COUNTERS AND SURFACES.

To avoid having to clean your floors twice, make sure to start your cleaning by wiping off the counters in your kitchen/bathroom, pieces of furniture, and any other surfaces that could push dust, dirt, or crumbs onto the floor. This will save you time and effort.

CONTINUE ON WITH DEEP CLEANING!

Way to go, you did it! Relax and enjoy your freshly cleaned space. Admire your "new" apartment and maybe even add a new decoration or house plant to invigorate your home.

Are you looking for an apartment to call your own? Check out our available apartments today!

The post Simple Tips to Accomplish your Spring Clean appeared first on Goldmark Property Management Blog.

1. Let the sunshine in

Although the sun may seem like it’s not doing much when the temperature falls below zero, it can actually help heat your space. Let natural light come into your home through the windows during the day and then pull down the shades at night to preserve the warmth.

2. Cover your air conditioning unit

Wall mounted air conditioning units can sometimes let out your heat. The easiest way to keep your unit from doing this is to place the air conditioning cover on it inside your apartment during the colder months.

3. Increase the humidity

Humidity can make your apartment feel warmer and can keep the air from becoming too dry. You can increase your space’s humidity by purchasing a humidifier, leaving the bathroom door open while you shower, or placing containers of water on elevated surfaces.

4. Bundle up

One of the simplest ways to stay warm during the winter is to throw on your warmest sweater, some fuzzy socks, and cuddle up with your favorite blanket. Dressing warm is obvious when leaving your house, but why not give it a try indoors.

5. Keep furniture 6 inches away from heaters

Make sure all furniture is at least 6 inches away from heaters to allow the heat to properly fill your rooms. Furniture can often block the heat from travelling away from heaters and prevent them from thoroughly heating. If your heater is not working at all or unable to maintain temperatures near 70 degrees, call your office to request maintenance.

Do you have any tips on keeping your apartment warm during the winter? Share them with us by tagging @GoldmarkPropertyManagement on Facebook!

The post How to Keep Your Apartment Warm and Costs Low During the Winter appeared first on Goldmark Property Management Blog.

With an increase in online shopping, more and more people experience their valuable packages being stolen. In fact, nearly 31% of Americans have experienced package theft in the last year.

When you live in an apartment, it may seem impossible to prevent your packages from being stolen without waiting around all day for the UPS or other services to arrive. There are a few unique solutions that could be available to you.

SHIP TO YOUR APARTMENT OFFICE

Talk with your apartment office about the possibility of sending your packages to their address. Many apartment offices will hold your package for a limited amount of time, if they have adequate space to do so. Make sure you understand their policy for sending and picking up packages. You may be asked to show a photo ID, sign a check out form, and office hours may be limit the times you can pick it up. Ensure you have the correct address and confirm with the office if you are expecting an unusual package whether by size or its contents.

DELIVER TO YOUR WORK PLACE

You may be able to send your personal packages to your place of work. Make sure you connect with your manager, or anyone else who may accept your package on your behalf. Ensure your place of work is OK with you receiving personal packages. Make sure to ask if there are limitations like size, type of contents, or time of the year you wish receive packages.

HOLD PACKAGES AT COURIER FACILITY

You have the option to have your packages held by the delivering facility. When you receive tracking information or a shipping confirmation, often you are able to intercept the package and hold at the delivery facility for personal pickup. Make sure you receive confirmation your package is being held. Additionally, note which facility and its address as well as the time it will be available for you to pick up. It may be the case that you cannot pick up until the evening because it needs to be pulled from a delivery truck that is en route during the day.

While online shopping is extremely convenient for many of us, the thought of our valuable orders being stolen can cause anxiety or frustration. Hopefully one of the options above is an option for you so you can continue to receive your packages stress-free.

The post How to Keep your packages safe appeared first on Goldmark Property Management Blog.