According to some studies, over half of the apartment renters in the United States own a pet. Living with pets can be a challenge, but for those of you that have pets, you know that it is well worth it to have your best friend around. We’ve created a list of tips to make living with a pet in an apartment an enjoyable experience (for you and your neighbors).
Read on for more info!
One of the most important parts of living with a pet is making sure they have a routine for bathroom breaks. Establish routine times to take your pet outside, and train them where it is acceptable for them to go to the bathroom. If your pet develops a routine, your chances of coming home to a mess are greatly reduced. This keeps your apartment clean and your guests happy.
When it comes to cats, make sure you place litterboxes in a relatively private place.
Allowing your pets to expend their energy will make your home much calmer. Certain high-energy breeds of dogs need exercise, and they love playing fetch and other games that require large amounts of space. If your job doesn’t allow you the time to take your pet outside to play very often, you can hire a professional dog walker to take care of it for you.
If you haven’t bought a pet yet but are planning on it, do some research and choose a breed that is well-suited for apartment living. Smaller, calmer breeds are ideal for apartments since they require less space to expend energy. Additionally, some breeds have more energetic personalities and aren’t advisable apartment pets unless it’s certain that you can provide them with plenty of time to play and exercise.
Before you allow your pet into the apartment, make sure it is safe for them. Inspect rooms at their level, making sure there isn’t any hazardous electrical wiring or harmful objects available to them. Place any clothing items that you don’t want to be chewed on in a location your pets can’t reach. Also, check out this list of potentially harmful plants and make sure they aren’t in your apartment.
Once you’ve taken these simple steps to make living with your pet safe and enjoyable, welcome them home! If you’d like more information on apartment living with pets, check out these great resources: Pets Best, BarkPost, and TripsWithPets.
The Louisiana summer is fast approaching, and you know what that means. Soon, temperatures will exceed 90 degrees, and everyone will be trying to beat the heat.
The most important part of battling the summer heat is preparation. Read on for several tips on how to prepare for hot weather this year!
The first step in servicing your A/C is changing your filters. Air filters that are obstructed by debris cause your cooling system to work harder, increasing the potential for malfunction. 1st Lake requires residents to change their filters every 30 days, and we offer filters free of charge.
If you have ventilation problems in your home, all the hard work you’ve done maintaining a clean air filter won’t matter. A simple check for drafts in windows and doors is the first step to addressing any issues. If you find any, notify management to take the next steps in protecting your apartment.
Finding cracks and drafts is also the first step to protecting against bug invasions. During the summer, bugs come out of hibernation and are more likely to find their way into your home.
It is recommended that thermostats be set between 75° – 78°. Turning the A/C below these settings only makes the unit run more and use more electricity. Also, turning your unit off during the day will only cause the unit to run longer that evening, as it will have to cool down the whole apartment before it reaches a comfortable temperature. This can also lead to higher energy bills and potential unnecessary A/C repairs.
Summer is a season to enjoy time with friends and family. Pool parties, outdoor cookouts, and leisure time will all be much more satisfying if your home is taken care of and prepared for the summer heat. Now that you have everything in order, enjoy the sun!
Whether you live in a suburban neighborhood or a residential apartment community, it’s important to maintain a good relationship with your neighbors. A community that displays an understanding of neighborly etiquette is sure to be a happier one.
Read on for some tips about how to be a great neighbor!
The first step in ensuring a good relationship with your neighbor is to create one. Introduce yourself to your neighbor, and if it feels appropriate, offer them a welcoming gift. On a day-to-day basis, say a simple hello if you see them outside or around the community. This will create a feeling of mutual warmth and respect, which will come in handy if a problem or conflict arises in the future.
This one is pretty simple. Being conscious of your noise level at all times is an important part of being a good neighbor. Put yourself in your neighbor’s shoes: how would you feel about your schedule being disrupted by noise at an inconvenient or inappropriate hour?
Maintaining a general standard of cleanliness inside and outside of your apartment maintains a uniformity of hygiene and visual appeal within the community. Don’t be the neighbor to create a problem with pests, or become an eyesore with a dirty balcony or exterior!
Make sure you always follow any community regulations regarding pets. Get them vaccinated, and keep them leashed so they don’t disrupt your neighbors’ personal space. It’s also a good idea to let your neighbors know that they are free to come over and speak to you if your pet is bothering them, or if they have any other concerns.
Be sure that when you park, you’re not causing future difficulty for other vehicles around you. Loud music late at night and revving the engine are not conscientious. Also, keeping your voice at a reasonable level after you exit your vehicle is a good idea.
Take these tips into consideration in order to become a better neighbor! We promise that developing a good relationship with the people in your residential community will make life a lot easier. And if you would like more tips, check out The Spruce, wikiHow, and HuffPost for more great information!
1st Lake Properties’ residential communities can be found throughout Southeast Louisiana. We have designed and managed over 10,000 apartment units in greater New Orleans, primarily in Metairie, Kenner, and River Ridge. We also have properties in Baton Rouge, the Northshore, and Picayune, Mississippi.
This week, 1st Lake highlights two of our River Ridge, LA properties: Palmetto Creek and Citrus Creek West. Read on to learn all about these fantastic residential communities.
This peaceful River Ridge community provides residents with a great location and easy access to New Orleans, Metairie and West Jefferson. Citrus Creek is a gated community, ensuring privacy for all residents.
Inside the one and two bedroom apartments of Citrus Creek, residents are provided with practical and premium amenities:
In addition to fantastic apartment features, Citrus Creek West also provides excellent community features. The property’s lavish landscaping includes cascading fountains and creeks, winding paths, and a jogging trail. Residents also have access to many more features intended to provide a stress-free living experience:
Learn more about Citrus Creek West here.
Palmetto Creek
Palmetto Creek is committed to high standards of excellence and superb management skills. Their attention to detail and a genuine concern for residents’ needs make them one of the best gated communities in the New Orleans area. Their River Ridge location is near dining and shopping districts, and is just minutes from downtown New Orleans.
Palmetto Creek’s one and two bedroom apartments provide residents with a luxurious lifestyle and an impressive amenity package:
In addition to fantastic apartment features, Palmetto Creek also offers high-quality community amenities:
Learn more about Palmetto Creek here.
Both Citrus Creek West and Palmetto Creek are beautifully designed residential communities that offer peace and privacy. They are perfect for students, young professionals, families, or commuters. Visit 1st Lake for more information!
So you’ve found the perfect apartment. Congratulations! Now, it’s time to start moving… not as exciting, eh?
If you’ve ever had to move into a new place you know that it takes a lot of time. If you’re interested in saving time, energy, and a little bit of your hard-earned money, read on for our tips to make moving into your new apartment a little easier.
This first step is difficult, but challenge yourself to be ruthless about your things. The clothes you haven’t worn in years, the semi-broken appliances, and all the clutter you’ve collected in the back of your closet – toss it out!
Paring your life down to the bare essentials will immediately make organizing easier, and will save your back from soreness in the long run.
Take a few minutes to create some general categories for your items. There are plenty of ways you can do this. Just make sure that the categories you create while you’re packing will make sense to you when you’re unpacking.
If you’re planning on using a moving service, spend a day finding the best one for your buck. The sheer number of options can be overwhelming, but the company that moves your personal items is integral to having a good moving experience. Allied Van Lines and Consumer Affairs are good places to start if you’re looking for a great resource for finding high-quality movers in your area.
There are no ifs, ands, or buts about it – your moving schedule will be extremely busy with tasks both large and small. Make it easier on yourself by creating a meticulous to-do list. Prioritize your tasks and rank their difficulty level. Include the dreaded task of cleaning your current apartment in your list, because you don’t want to lose your deposit!
As your plans take shape and the day of your move draws closer, keeping track of your to-do list will ensure that your move goes smoothly. And we guarantee you’ll feel incredible once you scratch off that last item.
If you’re renting a new apartment, it’s important to document the way everything looks before you start moving in. That way, in a worst-case scenario, you can repair any damage caused by the move. Having pictures of the apartment also allows you to prove you didn’t cause damage if any questions are raised later.
If your wonderful friends offer to help you move, be sure to confirm (and reconfirm) in advance. Nobody likes to get a call at 7 a.m. on a Saturday morning if they’re not expecting it. And everyone likes to feel appreciated, so consider going the extra mile by giving your buddy a simple gift for their time.
These tips are by no means comprehensive, but they’re sure to save you plenty of time and energy on your way. For more great moving tips, sites MakeSpace, Good Housekeeping, and BuzzFeed have many more to offer.
Once you’re all settled, kick back and savor the work you’ve done. You made it!
1st Lake Properties | P. O. Box 73709 | Metairie, LA 70033 | info@1stlake.com
