Must-Have Apartment Essentials

With Phase 2 of Arcadia Run in the works, it’ll only be a matter of time before we start welcoming our newest residents.  And whether this is the first apartment you’ve ever lived in or the fifth, there is a set of ‘apartment essentials’ that all renters should have in their arsenal:

A Vacuum

You don’t need to spend hundreds of dollars on a fancy vacuum – you just need to find one that suits you and your new apartment best.  Opt out of this essential and you could be faced with a dingy apartment and no way to clean it!

Spices & Herbs

Appropriately stocking your pantry is the fastest way to feel comfortable in your new kitchen.  If you love to cook, you’ll need all the everyday seasonings like garlic, salt, pepper, cinnamon and so on. This might take some time to build the perfect collection, but you’ll love having every spice right when you need it.

Cooking Supplies

Speaking of spending time in the kitchen, it might be important to bring utensils and tools you can actually use to cook with when you move!  If you cook regularly, it’s not a bad idea to invest in sturdier, more expensive items that will last.

Tool Box/First Aid

Despite them being necessities, items like these are easy to overlook when planning a move.  Aside from it just being a good idea to have both a small tool kit and a stocked first aid kit nearby, you’ll be thankful to have them handy if when you need them.

Storage Bins & Hangers

Space is a precious commodity no matter where you live.  Luckily for residents at Arcadia Run, space is plentiful – many apartment units even feature walk-in closets!  Regardless of the amount of space you have in your new place, it’s important to have an efficient way to store off-season clothing and other items.

Your Favorite Things

Like we mentioned in our last article, Making a New Apartment Your Home, having a few sentimental pieces in your new apartment will make you feel right at home in no time. Having your favorite blanket to curl up with on your perfectly broken-in couch are essentials in our book!

The tall ceilings, granite countertops, designer cabinetry and bright and spacious floor plans in our new luxury apartment homes at Arcadia Run make any transition easier.  Manassas, home to our apartment complex, is teeming with community events and things to do, so making new friends with your neighbors isn’t hard to do!  Take a look at the units available – make sure to check out the apartments we’re pre-leasing for Phase 2!

Making a New Apartment Your Home

So you’ve moved into your new apartment at Arcadia Run – now what?  Time to make it your home!  New carpeting, luxury vinyl flooring, granite countertops, designer cabinetry, updated appliances, and bright and open floor plans set the perfect stage for you to personalize and get comfortable in your new space.

Here are a few ways to turn your new apartment into your home!

Use Color

When decorating, stay true to your own style but don’t be afraid to embrace bright colors and bold statements.  Not ready to buy a bright red couch?  Pick a color and use it as an accent instead.  Red pillows or a throw blanket can go a long way in making your new apartment uniquely yours!

Be Mindful of Lighting

Thanks to extended windows, residents at Arcadia Run have an abundance of natural light in their apartment homes.  Other renters in other complexes, however, aren’t always so lucky.  Lighting makes a huge difference when trying to make a new space cozy and welcoming!

Art & Pictures

An easy way to immediately make an apartment feel like home is to bring in pictures and sentimental décor, especially if you had these displayed in your previous home. Being surrounded by your favorite pictures of family and friends keeps those closest to your heart close by!

Meet Your Neighbors

Here at Arcadia Run, our residents have great relationships not only with each other, but with the community as a whole.  Events like the Fall Festival or Taste of Prince William Block Party bring everyone together to mingle, socialize and have fun.  And, aside from making friends, meeting your neighbors brings you closer to feeling right at home in your new apartment.

And lastly, Love Where You Live!

Loving where you live is the easiest way to make a new space quickly feel like home.  At Arcadia Run, it’s not hard to do!  We have it all: beautiful apartment homes, an ideal location, and a welcoming community.  So take a look at the spaces available at Arcadia Run – we’re now pre-leasing for Phase 2!

Staying Organized in Your Apartment

While spring-cleaning is meant to be refreshing, relaxing, and ultimately prepare you for the warmer months, the process can leave your apartment in disarray.  And that’s okay!  This is the perfect time to reset and restructure the way you organize your new luxury apartment – or for some, start organizing all together!

Here are a few of our best tips to help you get and stay tidy this spring season:

What Do You Really Need?

It might be difficult, but the first thing you can do to cut back on clutter is to determine what you really need and what’s less-than-critical.  How often do you use that Belgium waffle maker?  Or those slippers you’ve worn once?  Items like these, while tempting, can stack up quickly and take up valuable space in your apartment.

One for One

Getting something new?  Get rid of something old first.  This will keep clutter in check and prevent you from having multiple variations of the same item.  And, it gives you an opportunity to let go of a few items that have been collecting dust.  If you haven’t used it in over a year, it might be time to get rid of it!

Invest in Storage Materials

Why not splurge and buy a few quality storage items?  They’ll last longer and are typically more appealing than their discounted counterparts.  This will allow you to use them without shame in your living room or bathroom, and enjoy them for years to come.  Anything from cubbies to decorative storage bins and boxes are great choices for an apartment.

Designated Spaces

Have a designated space, bowl, shelf or hook for everything you can think of.  A special place to put mail, your keys, or even a basket to put shoes in by the front door will all aid in keeping the clutter to a minimum.  It will also be easy for everyone in the household to adhere to, keeping your new apartment tidy, even with guests.

Daily Maintenance

And of course, no space will stay organized for long without regular upkeep! Utilizing your new organizational techniques on a daily basis will help to keep your entire apartment tidy.  All it takes is a little effort every day to keep your space clean, comfortable and organized!

And there you have it!  Organization in an apartment is made easy with just a few simple techniques.  But best of all, it’s made even easier at Arcadia Run.  Our floor plans expertly utilize space, creating roomy and open apartments – making organization that much simpler!

The Art of Apartment Shopping

Shopping for a new apartment could be considered an art form – yes, seriously!  It might not be featured in a museum, but these skills are certainly helpful when finding a new space to rent.  With all of the information out there on various options, deciphering ‘the good’ from ‘the bad’ can be cause for a big headache.

To help out, we’ve put together a list of questions to ask yourself when perfecting your apartment shopping skills:

What’s the quality of the apartment/community?

Of course having a quality apartment tops the list!  ‘Good Quality’ can apply to the carpeting, building structure and status, appliances, perks, features and little things that one might not think of.  With new carpeting, vinyl ‘hardwood’ floors, granite countertops, designer cabinets, extended windows and updated appliances all in a newly built building, we’ve thought of it all!  Arcadia Run apartments are the embodiment of luxury and are as thorough as they are beautiful.

Additionally, to truly make Arcadia Run an all-encompassing community, we’ve provided various amenities for our residents to enjoy.  We plan to have a new pool, fitness center, walking and jogging trail, a clubhouse and a playground all incorporated into the community within this year.

How much space do you need? How much is available?

One of the most valuable assets in any apartment is space.  And believe us, finding an apartment for the right price is even sweeter when the layout fits your needs.  At Arcadia Run, our apartments go one step further.  Each unit features 9 foot ceilings and an intuitive design.  You won’t believe all the room you can have in one unit alone!  We also offer a variety of floor plans with either one or two bedrooms, so you have options when choosing the one that’s right for you.

Is it the right location?

What would be the fun in living in a great apartment if it weren’t located somewhere just as appealing?  Luckily for Arcadia Run residents, our community is located in beautiful Manassas, Virginia, giving residents close access to all that this great town has to offer.  With a charming downtown scene complete with restaurants, shops, parks, historical sites, and entertainment venues, and convenient to Washington D.C., what more could you ask for?

Is the community right for me?

Speaking of things to do around town, a perk to any apartment community is, well, the community!  This is especially true for families with children or social residents who want to mingle with their neighbors.  Arcadia Run is always hosting different events for residents to connect, just take a look at our Facebook page.  And, with the completion of our new clubhouse, residents can expect even more invitations in the future!

The endless searching for a new apartment stops here.  Arcadia Run apartments meet every criterion on any renter’s checklist.  It’s that simple.  Get used to getting more with Arcadia Run apartments!

 

 

The Best Time of the Year to Rent

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It’s easy to overlook the importance of the seasons when you’re searching for a new apartment.  Could a couple of months really make that much of a difference?  While it’s always a great time to start renting in Arcadia Run, here are a few of the pros and cons that come with finding an apartment throughout the different seasons:

Fall

Our current season might very well be the best season to move into a new apartment – and we’re not just saying that! Many landlords experience a lull in activity during the fall, which means that you (the renter) will have a larger selection when looking for a new apartment.  Arcadia Run offers many different types of floor plans, so no matter what you’re looking for, you’ll be able to find it here!

Winter

Believe it or not, winter has its advantages for renters.  While it may be a little chilly trying to move your belongings to a new room, moving in the winter means there will be less competition. Because of the weather, people are not going to be moving as much, nor will they be looking for new apartments to rent.   You have a higher chance of finding the perfect room you love, without being rushed.

Spring

So you’ve survived the colder months! The spring can be a very exciting time to look for a new place to live.  Temperatures are warming up and many tenants are leaving their apartments to move back home.  This is only the beginning of the apartment housing frenzy, renters should move quickly to find the perfect place.

Summer

The months between May and September mark some of the busiest in the apartment industry.  Students are leaving their school digs and the accommodating weather makes moving a breeze. Depending on your region, you could have a wider selection of apartments to chose from as people move out. At the same time, there might be a greater demand for apartments because of the recent grads moving into the cities.  With so many local schools in the Manassas area, we plan to have another busy summer in 2014!

Any time of the year is the best time to move into an Arcadia Run apartment!  Our apartments are some of the best in the market for their quality, size, and amenities.  In the next year, our community will continue to grow with a new swimming pool, clubhouse, and fitness center.  it won’t take long for these luxury apartments to fill up!

 

Demand for Apartments Grow

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The demand for apartments is at a new high, pushing national vacancy rates way down.  This is great news for residents in Arcadia Run, who can now boast the high value of their new apartment!

Despite the improvements in the housing market, the rental market is still booming.  Only four percent of U.S. apartments were vacant in the second quarter of 2013. “The simple fact that vacancy continues to compress despite such low vacancy rates speaks volumes about the ongoing demand for apartments.  The national vacancy rate now stands 380 basis points below the cyclical peak of eight percent observed right after the recession,” says Ryan Severino, senior economist at Reis, a company that provides current information on commercial real estate.

The average rent may be rising because of the decrease in vacancies, but it’s still extremely affordable compared to buying a house.  Like we mentioned in our last post, home prices in Manassas are on the rise, showing that our area is increasing in value and demand.  What better way to live in a sought-after region while still saving your money?  Arcadia Run is the best choice for young professionals who want to get the best bang for their buck.

AOL Real Estate says renting an apartment is the ideal choice for young Americans. Apartment markets are thriving the most near college and university communities, much like Manassas. Being so close to several colleges, Washington D.C., Jiffy Lube Live, and an abundance of bars and restaurants, it’s clear why this region is so popular among renters with active lifestyles.

As we’ve seen in the past, the housing market can be very unpredictable. Renting is a great option for those who want security and don’t want to deal with the stresses of homeownership.  Arcadia Run apartments are also of higher quality than many of the homes sold in our area.  With up-to-date features that are above the standard of most new homes, and a dynamic community for residents, our apartments have proven to be the hottest new place to live.

At Arcadia Run, it’s easy to see why these apartments are in such high demand.  They’re newly built, come with the best features, and have gained a following of fun and lively residents. As the demand for luxury apartments continue to rise, you can bet Arcadia Run will fill up quickly!

Source: AOL Real Estate