HOW WILL THEY KNOW YOU’RE GREEN?

Everyday, people search the Internet for green apartments. Will your property be among the results? 

Green features are becoming a big selling point to potential residents. Sixty-two percent of renters said living in a community with at least some green features is an important consideration factor in choosing an apartment, with nearly half saying its VERY important. 

So if your property has green features, why not highlight them? Some things that may seem standard, like having a recycling program or energy efficient appliances, might not be clear to all visitors to your website or property. 

One great way to make sure web visitors know you’re green is to have a separate “green page” on your site. Even if you have these features listed under amenities or community features, listing them again all in one place will help potential residents understand quickly and easily that you are eco-friendly. Even if you only have two or three initiatives going, showing you care by making those clear will put you above the competition in the prospects mind. 

Social media and resident newsletters are also a great way to keep current and prospective residents thinking green. Reminding people of recycling locations, alternative cleaning products, and offering green living tips will keep it fresh in their minds.

And don’t forget that options like online applications, leasing, or rent payment; or recycling and green initiatives within the leasing office count. 

Knowing your property is environmentally friendly is a wonderful feeling. Share that, and attract more residents by showing it off. 

The Package Room

Have you ever seen a package room at its worst? Boxes piled to the ceiling. Make-shift shelves that can barely hold the weight. Unit numbers in black sharpie everywhere!

We’ve seen a lot of them!

From our travels, we’ve found it takes up about 4 hours a day on average, or 20 hours a week out of management staff’s time to handle packages. Trying to work around this can be a difficult talk, for sure. The delivery carriers arrive between certain windows of time, but sometimes they’re late or early and this can interrupt staff members from dealing with resident services or other office duties.

After the mountain of packages piles up, it can be hard to remember who has a package and who doesn’t. Residents come looking for their package and sometimes, it’s not there. Then they need to check with the carrier and it can take several more calls and trips to the office to sort out their package problem. To top it off, most offices closes before everyone returns home from work.

What a hassle for everyone involved.

When the package is successfully stored in the package room, it still needs to be sifted out of the others and passed off to the resident. Even this small step takes time. Some properties have resorted to letting residents claim their own packages, which can open a whole other can of worms as far as security goes.

In most of today’s communities a package room is required to help organize deliveries. And for a simple solution, learn more about our digital package locker system.

Is your package room messy too? Share pictures with us!

Online Shopping Trends

As more retailers move their products to online stores and exclusively online retailers gain popularity, online shopping will only continue to increase. Today, 73% of people do at least half their shopping online (Source: Lab42.com). Why? It’s easier to sit at home and surf the web in your pajamas than going out in public–especially in today’s busy world where everyone is multi-tasking day in and day out.

It is important to remember that we are part of a society defined by e-commerce. Online spending is expected to increase by 62% between now and 2016 (Source: Forrester Inc., January 2013). To understand these staggering numbers, all you need to do is look back to the beginning of online retail. In 2000, online sales were $27 billion even when the internet was still in its infancy. In 2014, online sales are expected to be $291 billion. And by 2017, they will exceed $434 Billion (Source: eMarketer, April 2013/ U.S. Department of Commerce, Internet Marketer). That is a lot of deliveries!

Even UPS and Fedex know their trucks and planes will be full to the brim with packages as online shopping grows. Recently, UPS put out an article about retail trends for 2014 and we couldn’t agree more with their findings. Free shipping and free returns will make online shopping more appealing to people who currently shop at brick and mortar locations. Without fees to ship the package, buying online is essentially just like buying at the store. Only more convenient.

Other outlets such a mobile shopping or social media discounts will aid in the e-commerce boom. These factors among others have been highlighted in additional articles about looming trends that will become the face of online shopping in the coming years. The greater question we need to consider is how this will affect multifamily apartments who are already inundated in packages? The answer is simple. The mountain of packages will continue to grow.

Watch our video to learn how we can help.

Green Spring Cleaning

Whether you like to keep things neat and tidy, or you are the “I’ll get to it later” type, eventually, we all must clean our living space. Let’s face it, apartments big and small get cluttered over the winter. Everyone packs things away, waiting for the good weather to return and when it does–it’s time to clean! But that can be a daunting task especially since it requires using so many chemicals. Chemicals that smell. Chemicals that stain. Chemicals that just aren’t good for you or the environment.

Over the past few years, green cleaning products have soared in popularity and availability. If you’re not already using them, next time you reach for a bottle of floor cleaner or dish soap at the store, there are many options for Earth-friendly cleaning. Check for local brands first, but there are several big-name brands that can be found in most stores and are available just in time for spring cleaning!

Mrs. Meyers:

With adorable retro packaging, and inspired by a real mother of nine, Mrs. Meyers cleaning and scent products are all natural and environmentally friendly. Plus they come in a variety of aromatherapeutic scents (the lavender is amazing!)

Simple Green:

As the leader in environmentally-friendly, high quality cleaning products, Simple Green leads the green market by offering a long list of products for different surfaces and purposes.

Seventh Generation:

One of the larger brands in green cleaning, Seventh Generation has a huge product range, including all types of cleaners as well as personal care products. Prices are typically comparable to standard brands and you’re sure to feel better buying these.

Green Works:

Green Works is the natural arm of the Clorox cleaners family. Also well-priced, and focusing more on household cleaning, these products work well in removing a variety of stains and are typically 95 percent or more natural.

These, and plenty other brands of green cleaning products are easy to find, and a super simple way to be kind to the planet.

Keep Luck on Your Side: What Not to Ship

For luck, some people hold onto a four leaf clover, or rub a rabbit’s foot. Others try to keep luck on their side by hanging a horseshoe over their door, or wishing on a star. When it comes to shipping packages, you don’t need to rely on a double-sided coin or a ladybug landing on your nose to ensure your package ships. Create your own luck when sending packages by knowing what not to ship.

Food That Spoils Quickly- Cookies or fudge is a great treat to ship not only because its sweet but because it has a shelf-life that will last the journey from point a to point b.

Hazardous Materials– Anything that might pose a danger to the carrier or the recipient should not be shipped. It’s that simple.

Non-Indigenous Plants- Shipping plants to or from other distant places can be dangerous to the ecosystem. Bugs and other pests not native to the area can negatively impact the environment for years to come.

Irreplaceable Valuables- The quickest way to protect yourself is with insurance, but if you don’t want to shell out the extra cash, don’t ship something you don’t want to lose.

Most of these are common sense, but it bares repeating to ensure you don’t need to rely on luck. A lot of people hope for the best when mailing packages. Cross their fingers and ship it off. Today, the luckiest days on the calendar, is the best day to learn more about handling packages. If you keep yourself informed and double-check what you’re shipping then without a doubt you’ll keep luck on your side.

Best Student Housing Amenities

When deciding between schools, many students narrow down their choices based on the amenities across campus and more specifically, in student housing. As universities and colleges tend towards the more tech savvy crowd, the demand from students to stay current continues to grow. Many amenities are chosen by necessity such as televisions or mobile apps, but some are added to keep student housing convenient,  luxurious and enjoyable for the young residents.

Architects and designers are keeping this in mind when constructing new buildings. A community with more to offer will likely draw millennial students toward that school over another. Wondering what are some of the latest and greatest amenities topping the charts? Here are a few:

Larger Apartments: Micro-units might be a hot trend in urban areas, but 27% of students report that the size of the apartment factors into their desire to live there or not.

Study Rooms: While college is a place for fun, it is also a place for learning and these academic focused rooms rank second overall in importance to students.

Cyber Cafes: While a location to work and get a snack or drink isn’t as important as a study room, students still desire these spaces in their apartments.

Theaters: The peak of luxury for some is having a small scale theater in their building or union to enjoy the latest feature films.

Bike Racks: Millennials have a growing environmentally conscious attitude and seek out ways to stay green– riding bikes to class being one option, and as such, they will need a place to store them.

Convenient Transportation: Whether the apartment is on campus or off, students enjoy having convenient modes of transport to get them to class and other area venues especially considering nearly half of students want to live within two miles of campus.

What will be the next big student housing amenity? We don’t have a crystal ball, but given students desire to go-paperless and their interest in self-service kiosk, we can only see a trend emerging. Couple these wishes along with the increased usage of online shopping and the small, untidy mail rooms or offices at these communities, we can venture to guess that it won’t be long before on and off-campus housing begins to eye a simpler way to handle packages.

Sources:

http://www.multifamilyexecutive.com/student-housing/common-areas-amenities-grow-in-student-housing-design-.aspx

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/15/us/in-luxury-student-housing-gym-tan-and-study.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/30/colleges-spending-amenities_n_2583593.html

http://www.multifamilyexecutive.com/research/survey-says-the-top-student-housing-common-areas-and-amenities.aspx

http:/www.multifamilyexecutive.com/technology/7-must-have-tech-amenities-for-gen-y-residents.aspx#articlecomments

Green Apartment Supplies

Looking for a way to make your apartment not only stylish but environmentally friendly? The amount of recyclable items has steadily grown from a trend and transformed into a staple at stores that sell home decor, office supplies and other items for around the house. What you might have seen tends to be produced from cardboard or not so pleasing to eye, so you may be wondering what options there are out there to green it up a bit while staying fashionable. If you want to make the most of your apartment purchases so they’re eco-friendly, here are some options you might like to considered:

Cork Mat

This can be used in your kitchen as a trivet to hold hot pots, in a home office to pin notes to or as a piece of wall art for your bedroom.

Soy Candles:

These candles are produced with naturally occurring materials and can often be found at local farmer’s markets. They burn longer and come in a variety of colors.

Soy Paint:

Paints based in soy are environmentally friendly because they come from a renewable research. The best part of these candles is that they do have the harsh chemical smell of other paints.

Bamboo Mats:

Bamboo mats look great in a home office or as a small area rug in living rooms. By buying one or more of these, you help cut down on the use of petroleum-based plastics.

Organic Cotton Linens:

Buy linens that have been locally produced if possible, but as a whole, organic cotton linens offer a softer feel than synthetically produced materials.

Reclaimed Wood:

The best furniture available is one you help design. The best way to do that is from reclaimed wood. Cabinets, chairs, tables and other items can be created from reclaimed wood and helps encourage the concept of recycling.

Plants:

Adding plants to any room adds a pop of color. Not only are plants pleasing to the eye, but they also add natural air purification.

Be sure to check your local stores and ask to see any of their eco-friendly items. The variety is growing by the day as people become more conscious of how their decisions affect the world around them. Going green doesn’t have to be bland and boring. It can be exciting, fashionable and eco-friendly! Happy shopping!

 

How to Reuse Package Boxes

With e-commerce sales increasing, having a healthy stash of cardboard packages laying around your house or apartment has become a way of life.  Nearly everything you buy comes in a box and anything you ship through the delivery carriers will be in a box as well. That’s a whole lot of cardboard! Most people open their packages and discard the boxes, so we’ve thought up a few good ways to recycle that material:

Other Packages- The best way to reuse a package box is to send another package with it. All you need to do is save the box until you need it, but admittedly this might create clutter (Keep reading for some more creative ways to reuse these boxes).

Pretend Box- Another great use for the empty box is to give it to a child. This timeless outlet provides hours of entertainment and encourages them to use their imagination. Not sure how it works? Check out this clip from Spongebob.

Pet Bed- Cut off the top parts of the box and put an old cushion inside for your dog to use it as a bed. Or, cut a hole in the box and allow your cat to explore. Add a cushion and it becomes a feline hide-away.

Organizers- Leftover boxes can be used for all sorts of organizational purpose: drawer organizers, closet organizers or even under the bed organizers.

Child’s fort- Another fun idea for kids is to use these boxes to create a fort. In the living room, or outside on the lawn, boxes are a wonderful blank canvas for kids to play with.

Recycling Containers- Get your recyclables under control by using these leftover boxes to organize paper, plastic and metals.

Memory Box- For smaller boxes, decorate with collage materials and fill it with your memories. Ticket stubs, sticky notes, favorite coins and other objects that remind you of all the fun you’ve experienced.

Knowing these several ways to reuse your packages should help to reduce the waste of cardboard at least a little bit. One person changing their habits can make a difference. If you use these ideas, not only will you help recycle cardboard, but you will make your pets, your kids, your friends and even yourself happier.

Packages for College Prep

Sheknows.com

The holidays have passed and college students are returning to their studies. This means a whirlwind of packing, shipping, travel and other items to check off the to-do list. Before making the journey, remember that there are certain essentials any college student needs when going back to dorms or student housing for the spring semester. We’ve skipped some of the more obvious items—pens, backpacks and the like—and put together a checklist (of sorts) to make it easier for you to prepare:·

        

·         An extra hoodie (or two) for those long morning classes

·         An alarm clock with snooze and extra alarm functions

·         Vitamins and supplements to get you through the inevitable colds

·         Chocolate bars for that extra boost while studying

·         Soups, easy mac and frozen meals

·         Extra toiletries to replace the ones that go missing

·         Hats, gloves and an umbrella to get you through the weather

·         A reusable water bottle to bring to class

       These ideas are great ways to start the semester off on the right foot, but really, the list could be endless. College students require so much these days to get them through school, so we’ll make it easier for you to collect the necessities in one simple step! Check out these great companies that cater to students with some amazing care packages:

Redship.com – An eco-friendly company with a large variety of on-the-spot packages to purchase. They have a unique cylinder package and give-back philosophy that really sets them apart!

Coedsupply.com – The big orange box of incredible goodies can be delivered monthly to your dorm and it’s a great way for your family to show that they care—hint, hint!

Pjionbox.com – As another company with an animal mascot, we can’t help but love pijonbox and their mission to offer great monthly boxes as well as a store filled with all their treats!

Have you received one of these awesome college care packages? Show us your photos! And if you know of other great services, let us know about them 🙂

Winter Packages

The busiest week for package delivery is upon us, folks! Hundreds of millions of packages will be shipped in preparation for the upcoming holidays between December 16^th and 20^th this year. And, let’s not forget that the first official day of winter is not too far away. A new season means new types of seasonal packages. What will you most likely see in a winter package? Here’s just a few:

Gift Baskets- Berries, chocolates, popcorn, cheese and crackers—this season provides an opportunity for all sorts of gift baskets.

Coats- From the frigid north to the chilly south, the colder weather provides all the more reason to bundle up this season.

Electronics- The holiday-packed time of year brings big discounts across all electronics and as such, they are sold more during the winter than another other time.

Warming Accessories- Along with coats, people purchase boots, gloves, scarfs and hats to keep them warm.

Ice Scraper- Most places will get ice, if not snow, and as such, the ice scraper goes into high demand during the winter months.

Presents- Of course holiday presents are on the list, after all, consumers spend an average of $700 these gifts.

Starting with December holidays and stretching through New Years and Valentine’s Day, the winter package season is the most generous quarter of the year. It is also a prime time for friends and family to gather, exchange gifts or ship items to far away loved ones. Stay warm this winter season and enjoy all the wonderful gifts you give and receive.