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Welcome to 2021! If one of your New Year’s Resolutions is to get your apartment in North Austin, TX, a little more organized and welcoming, our January blogs are for you!
Starting a new year gives us every reason to toss the past behind us and focus forward on the good things in life. With so many of us spending more time at home, this may be the best resolution to put at the top of your list!
We have just walked through our apartment at Juniper Springs and used that tour to develop our own list of how we will start the process, today! On behalf of our entire team, we wish you the best of success in streamlining and organizing your apartment this month!
Happy New Year!
Welcome Home!
We all know about ‘first impressions.’ How’s yours … as friends and family walk in the door. Shoes on the floor, coats hanging off the edge of the closet door? Perhaps your plant has seen better days? To get started on your new resolution, go outside, and then walk in and take a visual inventory. If you are pleased with what you see, fabulous! You are on your way.
If not, time to tidy up the entry. And that does not mean just throw everything in the closet. It will be there when you need to repeat that habit the next time. Maybe it’s time to donate a few jackets to the local thrift shop. Perhaps you need a small bench for the variety of shoes and boots? Whatever you can do to make that closet purposeful and not a holding tank will be a super first step to getting your entry welcoming and clutter-free.
A Kitchen is for Cooking
Are your countertops cluttered with unread mail or perhaps missing bills? Has your kitchen table become a mailbox holding ground? One of the fastest habits to break that will bring the purpose of your kitchen back to work is tossing your mail or various stacks of paper where they belong -before you land in the kitchen.
We have added a new and colorful basket right by the entry of our apartment. When we come home, we stop and assess the mail at the entrance to our home. Bills go in one pile, the useful paper goods (like our favorite magazines) go to into the basket for further review, and all other unwanted materials go directly into the trash which is conveniently located under our sink in the kitchen!
Our neighbors did it differently – yet their system works. They bought several rectangle baskets, labeled them, and placed them on a shelf. Bills into one bin, cards and other personal items in another, and junk mail in the final basket for review or removal when time allows. They also finally convinced us to go to online billing and contact the publisher of unwanted magazines to remove our name from their list.
Bedrooms are for Sleeping
There’s a favorite chair in our bedroom that brings back endless memories of family time gone by. Prior to our reorganizing spree, you could not see it as it turned into a “clothing catcher” of all sorts. Today, it proudly sits awaiting our return to enjoy some quiet time with a good book. The piles of clothing now have their own designated space. They are either placed on hangers (we bought quite a few for a great value) or live in a hamper to await laundry day.
Stay tuned to our next blog later this month for more top tips on how to organize your apartment in 2021!
The post Top Tips for Organizing Your Apartment in 2021 (Part One) appeared first on Juniper Springs A Concierge Community Blog.
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ll the pet-lovers out there understand the benefits of having a furry friend at home. Their loyalty and love offer comfort and companionship. The time you spend cuddled up or playing outside can end up being the most relaxing part of your day. It's wonderful, but pets often spend a great deal of time alone. And that's when they can get into trouble.
Living in an apartment, the damage a pet can cause can get expensive. Between stains and actual destruction of furniture, walls or door frames both cats and dogs can rack up a big repair bill. Fortunately, there are a lot of ways to curb destructive behavior and avoid pet damages in your apartment.
Pet policies, fees and deposits
There are a few ways a property manager can collect money from you in anticipation of pet damage. Often, an existing pet policy goes into the lease as a pet agreement. This is a set of rules you, as a pet owner, must follow. It can include provisions related to permitted animals or breeds and pet weight-limits, among other restrictions.
If required, management collects pet fees or deposits at the beginning of your lease. This is like a security blanket for anything a property owner has to address after you move out. Deposits are refundable if there's no damage, a fee is not.
These precautions help cover the expense of addressing common damages that can occur with both cats and dogs.
1. Carpet stains
Carpet is an easy target for staining, especially with pets. Almost all of them have at least one accident in their lifetime. It's so common, property owners look for stains first when a pet owner vacates an apartment.
“This is the most common and easily noticed pet damage," says Olivia Beck from Goodlife Property Management, “usually in the form of pet urine." If an older pet has regular accidents, it's best to take them to the vet for a check-up.
Pets can't tell you when something is wrong, and accidents can be one way of attempting to communicate with you. If you have a younger pet, repeat accidents are sometimes a sign of a behavioral issue. Limiting their access to carpeted areas can help reduce accidents.
Keep it clean
Once an accident happens, it's best to clean it up as soon as you're aware of it. Keep carpet and floor cleaner handy that addresses pet stains and odor. Every carpet stain won't get completely erased, but you'll definitely keep things looking much cleaner.
It's also possible to prevent accidents, and carpet stains, from happening. For cats, accidents can result from too few litter boxes in your apartment. A good rule of thumb is one per cat. Place it in a quiet place. If there's a lid, consider removing it. Cats don't like it when they can't see above themselves as they go.
For dogs, accidents happen when they don't have access to an outside space to go. Consider bringing in a dog walker once a day or even crating them when you're at work. According to Paws, “a crate helps satisfy the dog's instinct to be in a den…" and helps them associate the outdoors with the proper place to do their business.
2. Cat scratches
When cats want to scratch, nothing is safe. Furniture, blankets, walls and carpet all fall victim. Damage of this kind happens fast in an apartment. The next thing you know, a doorway or couch arm is destroyed. It's possible, though, to distract them from their destructive ways.
Redirect their energy
“A scratching post is essential for any healthy, well-adjusted cat," says Shelley Wester on Petfinder. It provides them with an appropriate outlet for their urge to scratch, along with a place to stretch and exercise. With a sturdy cat scratching post that stays upright, they'll come here first and stop damaging your apartment.
Another way to redirect a cat's energy is with a variety of toys. Motorized options or things with lasers do especially well. These capture a cat's attention when you're not there to play with them.
3. Doggie destruction
Dogs can get destructive when they're lonely. Long periods at home also mean pent-up energy they can't release. "It could be a puppy, it could be an older dog, but if you find that you come home and your dog is just destroying things … they need more exercise…" says Dana Humphrey a.k.a. “The Pet Lady," who discusses this issue in the Hartford Courant.
Energy levels in dogs can vary by breed. The ones needing the most exercise include Labs, German Shepherds, Terriers and Retrievers, as well as certain collies and huskies. These might not make the best apartment dwellers, but regardless of breed, you can provide an outlet for too much energy.
Address the problem and make adjustments to avoid pet damages in your apartment
The best reaction to have when your pet is damaging your apartment is to stop the problem from being a regular issue. Modifying your pet's behavior with the right toys, accessories and services can prevent future damage from occurring. This allows you to repair the problem to the best of your ability to ensure an easier move out when the time comes.
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1. Bring the Comfort
A sofa is the main piece to any living room, so why not make it stand out? Adding high-quality throw pillows that make a statement is a simple way to make your living room pop. Try playing with textures and stitching to find the perfect match for your space!
Sites like Wayfair.com and Pier1.com have beautiful, affordable options in all shapes and sizes. Pair your pillows along with a soft, cozy blanket that carries the same color themes and voila, your living room is transformed!
2. Add Some Borders
Prints and posters are an easy way to get our favorite art into our homes at an affordable price. However, most people leave their pictures unframed, instead tacking them up wherever is accessible in the moving craze – not to be touched again unless they fall down.
Unframed prints look unfinished. Adding a simple frame can really transform your picture – making that Monet poster from the museum actually look worthy of Monet! Take the time to measure your piece and go out and get a frame. It’s worth it!
3. Make it Match
Investing in a spice tower can really beautify your kitchen countertops and drawers to get rid of unwanted clutter. No more random jars with mismatched labels! Some spice racks even come with free refills, like this one on Amazon which refills for five years! Cooking will be more fun, too!
4. Go Green
House plants bring life into your space, but only if they’re still alive! Succulents make great house plants as they require little care and there are so many varieties.
Did you know you can buy plants from Amazon.com? Check out this 20 pack of succulents for only $40.00! You can decorate the whole house with this collection.
5. Bathe in Style
A beautiful shower curtain can transform your bathroom from something drab to something fab. Check out these options from Wayfair.com to bring your space up a notch!
So there you have it! Five easy tips to liven up your apartment that don’t require anything other than an online order. Happy shopping!
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