Well, the first step to a simplified lifestyle is to learn how to declutter your apartment and get rid of the things you no longer need. However, there’s the challenge of knowing where to begin.

People often have trouble doing it because decluttering is often easier said than done, and starting can be very stressful when you have a lot of things to work on. Still, don’t get discouraged! Think about what you will gain by having less clutter in your life, instead of focusing on all the things you’re going to get rid of.

And remember that it’s totally understandable to feel anxious and stressed throughout the decluttering process. It definitely takes a lot of time and effort to do this, and it’s okay to take it slow. To help you ease onto it, here are some simple and easy tips to help you declutter your apartment.

Choose One Item To Get Rid Of Per Day

Decluttering may be an overwhelming task especially if you rush it in a day or two. To avoid this, get rid of your extra stuff gradually by spreading out the task at hand.

Find one item per day that you no longer enjoy or need, and you will not even notice that this item is gone. These items can be small trinkets lying around the house, or a piece of clothing that no longer fits, or maybe expired items among your toiletries.

At the end of the month, you already made a big difference! And at the end of the year, that’s 365 items you have eliminated. High five!

Fill One Trash Bag At A Time

If getting rid of one item per day is not ideal for your situation, then go ahead and get rid of more! Speed up your decluttering process by grabbing a trash bag and filling it with items that you want to donate or throw away.

Doing it one trash bag at a time leaves you with more time to process how much stuff you are really willing to let go. And it feels really good to see that you’ve already filled up one full trash bag. If you are feeling more productive, then go ahead and grab more bags. It’s totally your call.

However, it’s important to remind yourself that you don’t have to rush the process. It’s completely okay if you haven’t filled one whole trash bag today. You can still do it tomorrow! Or whenever you have the time. No pressure here!

Declutter One Area At Your Own Pace

You can either grab things randomly from room to room, or just focus on one area at a time. Doing the latter helps you address different parts of your apartment in an organized way, thus avoiding the mistake of creating more clutter.

Focusing on one area first gives you more time to decide on the stuff that you want to get rid of. It also gives you the opportunity to find things that you thought “disappeared” ages ago. Moreover, it creates a sense of accomplishment once you finish decluttering one area of your apartment.

You can easily do this by deciding which area you want to do first. You may start with your bathroom and dedicate one whole day to get rid of the stuff you no longer want and need, then move on to your bedroom or kitchen.

Concentrating on one area at a time can also help you feel less overwhelmed and anxious, because you don’t have to think about the whole apartment at this point. Instead, just think about your chosen area.

Make Time For Touch Choices

Some of us are sentimental and have kept things because of the memories we had with them. It’s totally understandable if you’ve grown attached to some stuff that are with you for a long period of time. These items are the hardest to let go, so you should take some time to think about it.

Or maybe look at it in a different way. Ask yourself if you would have still bought the item if you were given the opportunity all over again. And if so, would you have paid the same amount? Would the value be the same?

You may think you are attached to some items but when asked about it, you may realize that things have changed so that’s not the case anymore. Or maybe the value hasn’t changed and you still cherish these things. Both are totally okay.

Deciding to declutter your apartment and doing it can be very stressful to some people, but having a clean and organized apartment can benefit you more in the long run. A clutter-free apartment can provide a happier and healthier space for you and your visitors. And it’s really helpful to easily find the things that you are looking for.

As long as these things are no longer serving their purpose in your life and they are not bringing you any more joy, then it’s time to declutter your apartment. Living a minimalist lifestyle requires getting rid of the items you have grown accustomed to over the years, but it will really help create a lighter and clearer atmosphere in your apartment.

What are you waiting for? Start looking at the items you own and see if they are worth keeping or not, and declutter your apartment effectively using the tips above. Happy cleaning!

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Impress your visitors, whether family or friends, by the cleanliness and fresh scent of your apartment. There are a lot of ways to do this. Make your apartment smells fresh by following some of these simple tips shown below.

First, Remove Smelly Objects

Removing smelly objects may take some time because you might need to put on your detective hat. But this is important because your apartment will never smell great if you don’t get rid of the sources of odors. You can follow all the other tips only to have your place stink up quickly again.

Some examples of smelly objects to look for and eliminate are damp laundry sitting around, dirty upholstery, leftovers in the fridge, your oven or microwave that hasn’t been cleaned in months, and, of course, trash cans that need emptying.

Your apartment will definitely smell better once you take care of these things!

Now Let The Fresh Air Come In

One of the easiest and fastest ways to improve the air quality in your apartment is to let clean, fresh air come in through open windows. It is a known fact that when old, stale air mixes with the fresh new air, the new air always takes over.

For best results, open several windows in different rooms, ideally facing different directions if possible, to get some natural air flow started. No wind outside? No problem! Put a desk fan or box fan by a window. If you set up one to blow out, that will pull fresh air in through all the others. Or, if you have ceiling fans you can use these to start air movement which will help pull the fresh air in.

It may not be the best idea to open all your windows during winter time, but winter air is often very fresh. Just a few minutes will definitely make a difference in making your rooms smell fresh and clean.

Candles, Air Sprays, Plug-ins

Sometimes you may have to resort to covering up bad odors. In this case you can use candles, plug-ins, air sprays, or even incense. These products can be quite helpful in making your apartment smell better.

If you use several of these, make sure to choose scents that compliment each other. You don’t want to overwhelm your senses, or those of your guests, by mixing too many strong perfume smells. While a little fragrance can be nice, too much of a good thing is no longer a good thing.

Also keep in mind that covering up smells is not a good long-term solution. You might get used to the mix of a scent covering an odor, but guests might come in and still easily detect the odors until their sense of smell fatigues.

Use Your Oven For Baking

It is always a good idea to greet guests with the smell of delicious, home-baked food. Some baked goods are like comfort smells. Examples include chocolate chip cookies, pumpkin pie, birthday cake, and even a fresh loaf of bread. Any of these will make your apartment smell amazing!

On the other hand, there are some smells you might want to avoid when expecting guests. Garlic and fish can be overpowering smells. Bacon can be another. Of course if you have invited guests for dinner and these are part of the menu, all will be forgiven. But even then you might want to consider mixing in some pleasant smells. Cinnamon can enhance the freshness by putting some sticks in a slow cooker or mulling some wine. Of course any of the baked items mentioned above will help too.

Never underestimate the power of freshly baked goods to make the smell of your apartment inviting.

Make Your Own Potpourri

Creating your own potpourri is really easy! No need to dry any flowers. All you need to do is boil water and throw in some things have have a nice pleasing smell. Some examples that you can use are spices like cloves and cinnamon sticks, a few orange peels can be nice, and, of course, a few drops of essential oils.

Feel free to mix and match to create your ideal fragrance. The steam from the pan will lift the smells from the water into the air of your apartment.

If you want a similar experience in another part of your apartment, you can use the bathtub as an option. Add a couple inches of hot water along with a few drops of a scented oil. Just be careful to rinse well when you’re finished to remove the oils from the tub. You don’t want to create slippery situation.

Well that’s it for now. Try some of these tips to help improve the smell of your apartment. You’ll like it and so will your guests.

The post How to Make Sure Your Apartment Smells Fresh appeared first on Morgenson Realty Company Inc.

From managing your thermostat to purchasing rugs for cold floors, here are tips on heating your apartment without running up the bill.

1. Clean Your Air Filters

Throughout the year the filters in your heating system can get clogged with dust and other household grime. This forces the heat setting to work harder to push warm air through the filter. Keeping your filters clean will allow the heating unit to run more efficiently, thus saving you money. Don’t know where to locate your filters or how to clean them? Have no fear! We’ve created a video tutorial to help. “How to clean the filters of your heating and cooling unit.”

2. Add Rugs

If you have tile, hardwood, or vinyl floors in your apartment consider stocking up on a few rugs. Additional rugs can really help if your carpet is a bit on the thin side, as well. 

Something you may not have considered is stitch count. The stitch count of the rug you’re purchasing is more important than just the overall thickness. Stitch count tends to insulate the best.

Adding a pad underneathe your rug can double the insulation you receive too, plus it makes for a much more cushioned experience. 

3. Avoid Space Heaters

Sometimes the only way to beat the cold is to turn up the heat. Unfortunately, space heaters are typically pretty inefficient heating sources since they require a ton of electricity to heat a small amount of square footage.

4. Manage Your Thermostat

Do not turn off your heat when you leave your home. It will cost twice as much and take twice as long to get warm if you wait until you get home to crank up the dial. Leaving your heater running a few degrees lower than you are comfortable when you are gone for the day is the most cost effective way to manage your apartments temperature. Once you return home, bump it up to the temp your prefer.

5. Bundle Up

Winter isn’t the best time to live in your shorts and tshirt, at least not here in Wisconsin. If that’s your go-to outfit for comfort at home, you may have to pay a little more to keep the heat higher. We suggest creating a happy medium. Turn the thermostat up to a comfortable setting and wear cozier pj’s with thick socks or slippers. Winter is the perfect time to bundle up in a soft blanket or oversized robe, as well.

You can also keep yourself toasty at night by fluffing up your bedding with thicker duvet covers or comforters.

As the days get shorter and the cold sets in, biting the bullet and paying the extra heating costs can seem like a good idea. We’re glad you stopped by to research better, more cost-effective ways to save money and live comfortably throughout our brutal Wisconsin winters.

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Here are our top 5 tips for getting packages delivered to your apartment…

Community Storage or Mail Room

If you live in an apartment community that offers a package delivery storage room, use it! This is a space where we keep your packages until you arrive home to collect them. Delivery drivers typically have access to this room through management.

It’s extremely convenient and makes for a seemless package delivery option!

Delivery Alerts

The fastest way to track your package in real time, is by signing up for alerts. Most shipping companies offer text or email alerts letting you know where your package is or when it’s being delivered. This option will allow you to atleast know the date and time frame of delivery, so you may be able to be home.

During checkout, Amazon offers a scheduled day for delivery. If you know you’ll be home a certain day of the week, try getting your packages all delivered on that scheduled date.

“Hold for Pick-up” Option

This is available via USPS and FedEx. Simply have the item held at your local post office or nearest FedEx location where you can pick it up within the specified amount of time.

Pick Another Location

Direct your deliveries somewhere else where you know they’ll be secure until you pick them up.

Friends with any neighbors? Perhaps they’re home and available when you’re not? If you’re comfortable with your coworkers knowing what you’re receiving, consider having your packages shipped to your office. What are friends and family for, if not to help when in a bind, right? If you’ve got family or friends who live nearby, try asking them if it’s okay to send your deliveries to their door, at least for the holiday season.

Ship to the Retail Location

When checking out, request the item(s) be shipped to the retailer’s nearest store for pick-up. Most retailers do not charge a fee for shipping to one of their locations. Plus, they usually hold your package for 3-5 days until you’re able to make it into the store.

We hope you enjoy each and every present that arrives at your door this holiday season. Happy shopping!

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Flameless Candles

These are a simple and safe way to introduce both October and November holiday’s to the outside of your apartment. Perfect for standing solo in lanterns, candle holders, and pumpkins alike. Avoiding any concerns with actual flame, candle wax damage or staining, and exterior sprinkler heads is just an added bonus. In addition, these always look gorgeous inside window sills all throughout December too.

Pumpkins

Nothing says autumn is finally here quite like pumpkins. If you’re looking for a cost effective way to spice up your patio or balcony, pumpkins are a must have décor item. Try buying pumpkins of all shapes and sizes, the uglier the better. Fill a bowl on your outdoor table with small pumpkins as a centerpiece. Toss in different colors like white with sage green, and a little orange. Pumpkins add versatility to your outdoor space, no matter which ones you choose. So have fun with it!

Apartment renter note – make sure you’re checking your pumpkins regularly, and dispose of any that start rotting.

Outdoor Pillows

Decorations are fun, but they’re even better when they’re functional. The chillier it gets, the more we all embrace fall as the season to start snuggling for warmth. Now is the time to whip out and layer cozy throw pillows.

Select traditional prints like dark red, mustard yellow, or plaid. For an intimate outdoor patio or balcony, choose different textures and add a few neutral tones to add more warmth. Since this space is an extension of your apartment home, the inside of your apartment will feel more comfy with this added view too.

Decorating your apartment can be a great mood-booster for yourself, and also for your neighbors. We hope you try out some of our outdoor fall decorating ideas and can’t wait to enjoy them with you while visiting our different Southeastern Wisconsin communities!

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1. Supplies

Have you ever left a store and all of a sudden it’s pouring down rain? There you are, standing in flip flops with a cart full of groceries, considering just making a run for it. Even though that is an inconvenience, it’s not a big safety concern. Leaving a store to find 3 inches of snow in freezing tempertures, THAT is what we call a safety concern. In that case, making sure you have an ice scraper and gloves is priority number one. From early November until the end of March is a good time frame to keep an ice scraper on-hand. If you want to get fancy try one of these heated ice scrapers from Sharper Image.

Snow shoveling can be a great workout or a big headache. Picking a solid shovel is more important than it seems. Best practices for shoveling snow should be centered around how much you can safely move and lift. We’ve tried these strain resisting shovels at several of our communities and the snow shovelers love them!

Of course, the fastest solution for snow removal is to purchase a snow blower. There is a wide variety ranging in price, size, and preference. For areas like decks or patios, an electric or battery operated snow blower may be all you need. Gas powered snow blowers are nice for clearing larger areas like driveways, long sidewalks, and further distances.

2. Planning

Whether you live in a house or an apartment you still need to prepare for a heavy snowfall. Your first thought should be transportation. How quickly and easily will you be able to move your vehicle to go to work, for instance.

If you’re lucky enough to have a garage you’ll want to make sure you can clear the driveway. Several of our communities offer personal garages and underground parking included. Residents never have to worry about winter clean up. Our plow truck company is set to clear snow once it reaches 2 inches. That being said, what if your property complex does not offer snow removal? Then it’s time to arrange your schedule and get ready to shovel or snow blow.

Is underground parking included at your apartment community? If so, make sure your property manager discusses the snow plow companies schedule with you. It’s important to know when the pathway will be cleared and safe for driving.

In addition to covered parking options, those parking outside must also figure out the best location for their vehicle. For example, an apartment community with a plow service will create a parking map and schedule. Essentially, the map is a plan for where vehicles should be parked while it’s snowing and where they should be moved for clean up. Touch base with your landlord to make sure you have these details around late Fall.

3. Tips and Tricks

Snow is shoveled, driveway is clean, but your door handle is frozen and won’t budge. Aside from pulling as hard as possible and trying not to slip or fall, try WD-40. Spray the car door lock and voila! Old Man Winter – 0. You – 1.

Ice scrapers can only do so much with a hard layer of ice on your windhsield. If you’re running late and can’t wait for the car to warm up, try vinegar. In a spray bottle, mix 1/3 part water and 2/3 part vinegar for a perfect ice melting solution. Spray it all over the windshield and windows of your car, but be careful not to get any on yourself. Driving around in a warm car with a sour smell is almost worse than being late.

Salt can be found at all entrances to the buildings of each one of our properties. Why? Being able to immediately melt away hidden ice sheets is extremely important to us. Salt should be in a covered container with a cup or hand shovel to toss on slippery areas whenever needed. While salt is a great deicing option, it can be harmful to plants and surrounding grass. It can also damage concrete fairly quickly. Avoid these problems by being careful of where you throw salt and how much salt you’re using.

By putting these tips and tricks into action, you’ll be cruising through winter without concern! Always remember to check the weather frequently and be thoughtful of your neighbors by moving your vehicle according to the plow schedule. Lastly, all of our properties offer discounts on rent for residents interested in snow shoveling, snow blowing, salting, and more. We even provide the supplies! So if you’re looking to make some extra money or just simply love snow clean up, reach out to your property manager today!!

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Typical Maintenance Requests

Typical maintenance items include clogged toilets, light bulb replacements, and garbage disposal concerns. These are requests residents are able to resolve themselves in a lot of instances. Battery replacements for a smoke detector or garage remote are two other examples.

When to submit these types of requests?

Cathedral ceilings are such a perk! The only downfall is when you notice a light bulb burned out and you can’t reach it to replace it. This is also the case if you hear your smoke detector chirping, but you cannot access it from a small step ladder. Submit a request for direct maintenance whenever safety is a concern, like climbing a tall ladder.

Many times, residents may even have questions as to what sort of light bulb or battery to purchase. Our managers can share links to different retailers that sell each type of bulb or battery used at their property too.

Anyone who’s ever clogged a toilet and experienced the fear of rising water knows how important it is not to test the porcelain God’s. Should you not succeed you may end up flooding your bathroom. Instead of avoiding eye contact with your property manager, maintenance staff, or potenial downstairs neighbor for the remainder of your residency, we suggest submitting a maintenance request right away.

While certain items can be corrected with ease, there are things residents may not feel comfortable handling without assistance. Thankfully, we’ve created video turtorials for residents at all Morgenson Realty properties to utilize for that not-so-typical stuff. Resetting your garbage disposal or a tripped breaker shouldn’t be cause for stress or feeling inconvenienced by maintenance staff in your apartment. That same location on our website allows residents to login to their portal and submit maintenance remotely. To learn more about the benefits of submitting maintenance online, click here.

Why it’s Important to Submit Minor Requests

We rely on our residents to ensure a smaller problem does not become a much larger one. Informing your property manager of a minor maintenance matter can be a good guide of what is a residents responsibility and what is the responsibility of the property management company.

There are also times our managers can correct the issue themselves without maintenance. In other instances, we may already have a third-party vendor on-site and be able to send them over to look at your request immediately. 

Emergency Maintenance

Let us open by saying, anything you consider to be an emergency maintenance concern should be called in right away. We are lucky that our policies allow for several lines of defense when it comes to emergencies. Property Managers for all Morgenson Realty Company, Inc. locations have smart phones on their person 24/7. This allows a resident to call at any time, day or night. Our teams have saved contacts and alarm montioring companies that also communicate with them directly. Major property accidents or emergencies can set off alarms that alert our staff immediately, as well. These communications can also be received by our maintenance team.

When to submit emergency maintenance requests?

Water leaking from your toilet, dishwasher or under your sink. Your refrigerator won’t stay cool, your heat isn’t working or your toilet is running. All of these examples are reasons to submit maintenance immediately. Additionally, broken door locks or unexplained power outages, though uncommon, are serious matters that are our responsibility to fix too. For anything outside our maintenance teams capabilities, we contact a third party vendor to assist.

This is true when it comes to common area concerns too. If a resident notices water dripping in underground parking, that is cause for an emergency maintenance request. If you hear your neighbors arguing past quiet hours however, that would not be consider an emergency. Your communities emergency phone line should be used when appropriate and for serious situations only.

Why it’s Important to Submit Emergency Maintenance Requests

There are two main reasons it’s imporant to submit an urgent request. If the situation presents a safety risk or property damage – you should reach out right away.

Avoiding charges upon moving out of your apartment is also a good reason. If your toilet is running, but you never contact management, there is no way of knowing when it started. If your properties water utility bill is paid by the management company, that could lead to losing money from your security deposit.

Unfortunately, no property manager or maintenance technician can anticipate every problem. Your position as a renter is an important one in keeping an eye on your apartment home. If you’re unsure of the level of importance on a certain maintenance item please feel free to call/email/text your property manager. They will be happy to provide guidance or schedule a member of our maintenance staff to look into the concern.

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Ridge View apartments in Waukesha Wisconsin

Once you move into one of our beautiful Waukesha apartments, you probably will not want to move again for quite some time. Here are a few ideas for re-purposing packing supplies to help you clear out the clutter and live a greener life.

Bubble Wrap

Until you unpack or buy new curtains, bubble wrap makes a unique “frosted glass” window covering that lets in light, yet blocks the view into your bathroom or bedroom.

Bubble wrap is valuable to eBay sellers. If you find yourself with lots of extra bubble wrap, why not visit your new neighbors, introduce yourself, and then see if they can use the bubble wrap. Can’t find a way to reuse the bubble wrap? Take the stress out of moving by having a “pop the bubble wrap” party.

Bubble wrap hothouses are an ideal way to grow fresh herbs. Simply fashion a frame out of wire and wrap with the bubble wrap. Now you have your own mini greenhouse that easily fits on a patio or balcony.

Cardboard Boxes

Younger children love cardboard boxes. The larger ones make excellent playhouses if you cut out a door and window first. Give your children a few large boxes and some colored markers and you can unpack in peace and quiet as they build their own private playhouse.

Wrapping fabric or heavy gift wrapping paper around the top or outsides of a small to medium size plain cardboard box gives you an immediate storage bin. This is ideal for closets and small spaces under stairs where furniture will not fit. You can stack as needed, taking advantage of every bit of storage space.

Small cardboard boxes make ideal drawer separators. Start life in your new home neatly organized. It will be much easier for you to find what you need during the morning rush to get the kids off to school and you off to work.

Moving into your Waukesha apartment

You can always recycle packing supplies you cannot find a use for. With a little creativity, you can reuse most of your packing supplies easily to help you become comfortably settled into your new home in Waukesha.

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Country Aire Apartments in Hartland Wisconsin

Summertime is just around the corner in southeast Wisconsin, and it’s the perfect time to begin decorating your Milwaukee or Waukesha area apartment home with a new summer layout. An easy first step is to look at the colors in your apartment. Brightening up the ambiance of your apartment is a great way to bring summer inside your Milwaukee area apartment. Consider changing your artwork and photo frames as well as the decorative items on your shelves and tables to reflect a brighter color palette. Adding simple decorative pieces with sunny yellows, cool blues and refreshing greens can bring a ray of summertime to your home. But colors are just the first step.  There are many other ways to complete your home’s new summertime décor, such as scented candles that will give off a fresh summer aroma.

Giving Your Apartment a Fresh Look

A quick way to give your Waukesha area apartment a fresh look is to get rid of the clutter. By having less clutter around your home, you are certain to have more space. Begin by storing your winter clothes and thick linens during the warmer months. Your best bet is to decorate your home with thin linens, which will give your home a fresh ambiance. Don’t forget to decorate your kitchen as well, such as setting your kitchen table with colorful, floral-designed plates.

Decorating the Exterior Layout of Your Apartment Home

The exterior part of your home is just as important as the interior design. A big plus when decorating the exterior design of your home is that you are able to do much more. You can start with adding plenty of greenery, such as plants and annual flowers. Make sure that you choose bright-colored flowers to help brighten up your balcony and patio. It is also a great idea to adorn your patio with a convenient setup to dine outside on those fresh summer evenings. Remember to pay close attention to which direction your patio faces, and choose plants appropriate for the sunlight you receive.

Small Changes Make a Big Difference

A little splash of color to your apartment in Waukesha or Milwaukee county can do wonders to bring that summertime feeling inside. Even the simple act of pulling back your curtains can let the sun in and brighten the mood. Follow some of these tips, and you will surely have your home adorned just the way you want for summertime.

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