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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Stay on Santa’s Nice List and check out our 4 Christmas deals to enhance apartment living below!

1. Bedding Upgrades

Don’t let the post-holiday blues get you down! Fresh, luxurious bedding will keep your apartment feeling cozy while you ride out the rest of our lovely Wisconsin winter.

What’s great about Christmas bedding deals is they’re typically marked down the entire month of December. So all you last minute shoppers can rest easy. Heated blankets, huge throws, and quality sheet sets offer the biggest discounts. Kohl’s definitely has our favorite picks this holiday season. They have an assortment of cushy bedding perfect for promoting rest, right inside your warm apartment home.

2. Above Average Kitchen Appliances

One upgrade to consider this Christmas would be a new kitchen appliance. A traditional appliance would include a refrigerator, stove, and dishwasher. Nowadays, these include air fryers, instant pots, and Nespresso coffee makers. Their popularity stems from how much they save on time, money and kitchen space.

The majority of our apartments offer both built-in pantries and walk-in pantries. Mixing those with tons of cabinet and counter-top space, can only mean one thing, you DEFINITELY have room for these hot deals. So skip your next Door Dash order and become a chef in your own apartment this holiday season.

3. Give your Bathroom a Boost

Personalizing your master or guest bathroom is easier than you think! Whether you’re looking to mix, match, or coordinate with the rest of your apartments decor, buying new bath towels is essential to boosting your bathroom vibe. The savings on bath sets are huge too. So, don’t disregard the difference between a regular towel and a bath sheet this holiday. These oversized towels will make a regular towel look like a wash cloth. Trust us and Google it.

After all the hustle and bustle of the season, all you’ll have to do is hit play on your favorite holiday playlist. Drop your peppermint scented bath bomb in the tub and relax.

4. Electronics

Equally important as appliances, your apartments electronics have probably expanded over the last year. December is the best time to snatch up these new media devices at a cost that doesn’t break the bank.

Watching movies and your favorite TV shows can become very important while stuck inside over winter. Consider picking up a streaming device like the Amazon Fire Stick and Apple TV. Although you may need to add onto these devices with Hulu or Netflix memberships, they are still extremely affordable. In contrast to other expensive options like large cable TV packages.

Equally impressive is the Amazon Smart Plug. These plugs allow you to use voice control on your lights, TV, coffee makers and more! Another solid gift for yourself or any white elephant parties you’re attending. And the perfect present for our tech savvy tenants.

With these 4 ways to enhance your beautiful apartment this Christmas, you’ll rest easy knowing you’ve upgraded some essentials, plus you don’t have to shovel a single snow flake!

Santa would definitely approve of these wonderful deals. But would you? Leave your comment below to tell us what deals you won’t be missing out on this holiday season!

— From all of us at Morgenson Realty, we wish you and your loved ones a very Merry Christmas!

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Your monthly rent usually doesn’t include apartment utilities. Renting expenses can vary greatly, but here are the typical utilities to expect. Electricity, gas, water, trash, recycling, cable, and internet. We suggest including renter’s insurance on this list, as well.

What Utilities are Included in Your Lease?

Before taking the first step in applying for an apartment, you should know what utilities will be included in your lease.

It’s common for renters to have their trash and recycling bills covered by their landlord. The renter will then be responsible for the electric and water bill, for instance. However, free WiFi is a new option some renters wouldn’t think to ask about. So make sure you have every utility listed clearly on your lease agreement.

It’s Electric!

Your electricity bill is usually the largest utility bill due monthly. There are key things to look for when renting an apartment that could play into a pricey bill. Here are a few things to consider…

Number of Rooms

The more rooms you have, the more rooms you’ll need to heat and run your air conditioner to keep cool. Always check if the apartment has electric baseboard heaters. These heaters are individual units that heat your apartment room-by-room. Another option offered room-by-room is a PTAC or packaged terminal air conditioner. PTAC’s are self-contained heating and air conditioning systems typically installed in the wall of a single room.

Ways to Conserve Energy

• Maintain an average temperature throughout the day. Don’t make the mistake of leaving your heater or air conditioning off during the day. Cranking the dials drastically when you get home can actually work against you. Your heater or air conditioner is using a lot more energy to drastically change the temperature than they would be if they kept a steady pace throughout the day and night.
• Invest in energy efficiency.
  1. Replace your light bulbs with energy-efficient LED bulbs – Not only will you save money using anywhere from 25-75% less electricity, but you will also rarely need to replace these bulbs. They can last up to 20 times longer than regular light bulbs. A true win-win.
  2. Use Smart power strips – The electricity used when electronics are turned off or in standby mode, are a major source of energy waste. These are known as, “Phantom Loads”. You can eliminate this extra cost by using Smart or Advanced power strips. When your electronics are not in use, these power strips will turn them off. They can be set to a timer or controlled by a remote device. Both saving you money and upping your cool factor.

Heating and Gas Bills

These bills are commonly found on your electricity bill. However, due to gas appliances and gas heaters, these could be sent separately. Either way, it’s beneficial to know if you should calculate these costs into your monthly budget before renting your apartment or townhome.

It’s also smart to ask your landlord or property manager what to expect in utility costs. Calling the utility company is equally important. Never go off just an opinion or personal guess. Ask the landlord for the exact apartment address and apartment number of your potential new rental home. Then provide that address to the utility company for the average bill in that specific unit. This will be the closest you will come to know your likely costs in the future.

Who Pays for Water?

The majority of apartment complexes or townhome properties include water in the rent price. In comparison, there are locations that make their tenants split the cost of the entire building or with the floor their apartment is located on. As an example, if you live on the fourth floor, you would split the water bill with every other apartment on that floor. It seems less than appealing, right? Thankfully, our properties are not included in that group!

The average daily water usage is split between the toilet, bathtub or shower, and appliances, including a washer and dishwasher. In addition to those, don’t forget the water used for drinking and personal hygiene.

Cable and Internet Bills

Are you streaming your TV services or purchasing a cable package to DVR your favorite shows? No matter the case, you’ll need the internet for both!

Research what cable and internet companies service the area you’re looking to live in. Then decide if you’re going to need faster speeds to fit your needs. (We’re poets over here.) The majority of our properties, for instance, offer AT&T Fiber which has speeds up to 1,000 Mbps. The demands of an online gamer will be different than someone who just pops on Amazon for a quick purchase here and there. So make sure you’re not overpaying for something you’ll never use.

Total Utility Costs

To summarize, there is no way to estimate the total utility costs without considering your individual renting scenario. This budget will depend on things like how many people live in the apartment, what climate you live in, and what your daily habits are. Take the time to research what best fits your needs. When in doubt, ask questions! Never be afraid to cover your bases and ask questions when touring different apartment communities. Expensive surprises are the worst kind of surprises. To help get you started, we’ve added a few links from local companies below. Also, hop on over to our Rental Application page and check out what beautiful apartment homes we currently have available. One of our amazing property managers will be happy to answer any questions you may have!

WE Energies Energy-Saving Tips 

AT&T U-Verse TV & Internet Bundles

Spectrum Cable & Internet Services

The post How Much Do Utilities Cost in an Apartment? appeared first on Morgenson Realty Company Inc.

We would guess that answer to be a big, fat NO and that’s not a surprise. Moving can come with a lot of stress and tons of unknowns that seem endless. How does a person remember all of those pesky details, scheduling conflicts, and other moving parts? Enter, our handy-dandy “Moving Task List” to help lighten your load for the big move. Yes, we said, “handy-dandy”, like Steve’s notebook in Blues Clues, and we are not ashamed of it.

First things first, change your address –	luckily, you can do most of this online now! Visit the USPS website, DMV website, and all the places you have accounts open.
Utilities & Cable/Internet –	remember to schedule your utilities to start and stop on the days you are moving-in and moving-out, at BOTH addresses. don’t forget to schedule ahead of time, a transfer of service or new service installation, with your cable and internet provider. They often schedule these appointments a week or so out and, if you’re reading this blog, you’re probably the type of person who wouldn’t want to spend that long waiting for wifi. We certainly wouldn’t…#millennialproblems
Free Moving Boxes –	paying for moving boxes just feel wrong. Avoid the extra expense by checking out these free options first: Facebook Marketplace – simply type “boxes”, “moving boxes”, or “cardboard boxes” in the search bar and viola, FREE BOXES! Craigslist – search under the free section and like Facebook, type one of the above in the search bar. *Extra Tip* searching at the end/beginning of the week will yield the most results. Office Depot – printer paper has to be delivered in something. Give your local store a call and check their delivery day, you may collect all the boxes you need in one trip! Other retail stores – use the tip for Office Depot at any big box retailer in your area. Typically, they just break down boxes from deliveries and recycle them. So don’t be scared, it’s a question they are used to being asked.
Rent a Moving Truck –	it’s not a common thing you do, so let the experience of others guide you. If you’re moving into an apartment, ask your Landlord or Property Manager, if they have any companies they recommend. Search online reviews for the companies you’re considering. Task Rabbit – a unique, SUPER helpful website and app that offers moving services and packing/unpacking services. Heck, you can even have them help you put your Ikea furniture together! Check them out here – Task Rabbit Help Moving If your large furniture is new and being delivered by a furniture store or if you don’t have a ton of large furniture, to begin with – consider renting a truck from Home Depot or Menards. You can also rent Penske moving trucks from Home Depot. Oh, the options!
Packing –	Pack-up rooms that you use the least, in advance. Set aside cleaning supplies, toilet paper and a few bottles of water to take in the car with you, to the new place. Label all of your moving boxes according to the room they will go in. Tell the movers to look for those labels, and to place them in the room specified. (you would be surprised how often this is disregarded if not specifically requested)
Order Pizza & have Beverages on hand (beer, presumably, if you’re a Wisconsinite) –	if your moving crew is family and friends, this will be a greatly appreciated gesture and will probably keep them around until the bitter end. if you’re using movers, offer water or soda.
Clean (if applicable) –	as soon as you’ve emptied your old apartment, start cleaning it! The excitement and “freshness” of your new apartment will make the moving mess of your old place feel 10 times worse. If you put this off for the next day or two, you will be less likely to do a thorough job and it could cost you in your security deposit return.
Complete your Move Out Inspection (if applicable) –	walk your old place with the manager and discuss items that, usually, folks think about too late. Consider these: When can I expect to receive my security deposit check? If there are any charges taken from my security deposit, will they be listed in a letter sent to my forwarding address? What happens with potential mail that may end up still coming to this address?
Decorate & Celebrate in your New Digs! –	It’s officially time to make your new place feel like home! Kick it off by unpacking the most important rooms first. Bathroom, then the kitchen, etc. and then worry about where you’ll hang picture frames and paintings. Often times, your original idea changes the more you get comfortable in your new surroundings. Consider having a house warming party once everything is in its place.

Hopefully, this moving task list, combined with our other tips will help you rock your move and ensure you keep those stress levels low. Stay connected by following our blog for more useful info, on all your apartment living needs!

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Winter in South Eastern Wisconsin makes tossing things around, creating a chaotic mess in your apartment, SO easy to do! Before you get started reorganizing, make a plan. Here are a few things to keep in mind as you get started decluttering your home:

• Set completion dates for each phase of your cleanup. Be sure to pick dates that are attainable so you don’t get frustrated.
• Plan time to work on how you’ll reorganize your spaces after you’ve completed the decluttering aspect
• Make ridding yourself of certain belongings something to be excited about! Instead of throwing away unwanted things, donate them to Goodwill and let another family enjoy them as much as you did. Click here to locate your nearest Goodwill store! 

Trying to take on too much at once can be paralyzing. Instead of going from room to room, sort through like-things and group your belongings:

• Clothes
• Shoes
• Jewelry
• Important documents/keepsakes/photos
• Items to be stored in garage/storage unit

Once you’ve scrapped the unnecessary and finally made peace with donating your 5th pair of black boots that you “got such a good deal on” during Black Friday 10 years ago. (maybe that’s just me?) Make sure you’ve designated specific places to put the things you’ve decided to keep. This is a key component to preventing clutter relapse in the future.

Luckily you’ll never have a problem organizing your belongings at our beautiful properties! Walk-in closets, storage units and ingeniously built spaces provide our tenants with endless options to help keep their homes organized and inviting. 

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Millennial households appear to be the primary creators of this trend, data indicates. Adults between 18 and 34 are more likely to rent as opposed to buying a home, due in part to excessive student debt that makes home-ownership a financial burden.

These millennials may be more attracted to renting as there are no property taxes to pay and because a landlord or property management company often incurs costs for malfunctioning appliances and property maintenance, such as lawn care. Students and young professionals may also enjoy the perks that are commonly seen in apartment complexes, such as fitness centers and clubhouses, covered parking and on-site managers.

The Perks of Renting Apartments in Hartland

Nestled in the Milwaukee suburb of Hartland, recently remodeled Country Aire Apartments are an ideal choice for millennials and single-parent families who are looking for the perfect apartment home. Advantages of these spacious 1- and 2-bedroom apartments in Hartland include:

* Free utilities, including heat
* Fitness center and community room
* Laundry and storage facilities
* 24-hour emergency maintenance

Country Aire Apartments mingle city and country life, with a convenient location at the corner of Highway 16 and Highway 83, along with lake access and scenic walking trails throughout the property. Garages are available, and each beautifully warm unit features individual temperature control, ample closet space and an eat-in kitchen.

Your Home in Gorgeous Hartland

The National Association of Realtors reports that the median home sales price in the U.S. has increased by 4.8 percent in the last year, clocking in at $247,700 as of June 2016. In the same time period, hourly wages have gone up about 2.5 percent, making home-ownership a financial hardship for millions of Americans.

With the rising costs of home-ownership, along with stagnant wages and increasing student loan debt, renting apartments in Hartland is more attractive than ever. Attracting young professionals and college students alike, Country Aire Apartments are an affordable option in a lively and inviting community.

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Maple Creek apartments in Sussex WI

Many people assume that living in an apartment is not as good of an investment as buying a home. However, this is often not the case. Buying a home is actually a liability for many people, while renting a Waukesha apartment is a smart and economical choice.

American Homes: An Asset or a Liability?

Conventional wisdom tells us that buying a home is one of the best investments a person can make. In fact, a recent Gallup poll found that Americans consider real estate a better investment than gold or stocks.

However, as we have seen in recent times, homes can also be a liability. Many homeowners need a mortgage to purchase real estate and end up paying several times the home’s value over decades of compounding interest. In addition, many homes do not gain value, but rather lose it after the numbers are adjusted for inflation. When homeowner’s insurance, property taxes, and maintenance are factored into the equation, a homeowner may spend four times their home’s value over the decades that they live in it. Nobel Prize winner and Yale economist Robert Shiller has pointed out that, with rare exceptions, home values remain stagnant over time and do not show any net gains. When you add higher costs to zero net gains, you have a poor investment.

Are Apartments in Waukesha a Good Investment?

Apartments have several benefits over homes. First, they are far less expensive. The taxes and insurance are included in the price. There is no need to pay for interest or routine maintenance. Second, apartments require less time. Any homeowner will attest to the time that repairs and maintenance can take up.

Almost any investment, including a simple low interest savings account, will often pay off better than the average home. For many people, renting an apartment and investing the saved money in any asset is a better financial decision–and one that saves time and worry as well.

While most Americans view home ownership as a great investment, this belief is not supported by economic fact. Apartment living is a good investment for most people in the United States. While there are advantages to owning a home, these are not economic advantages. Look into Waukesha apartments today if you would prefer to invest your time and money in an asset that will actually pay off.

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According to the US Fire Administration, in 2011 there were nearly 1.4 million fires in the United States. That means that a fire started, on average, every 23 seconds. In the past, Americans have relied on homeowner’s insurance to help them through the difficult recovery process that follows events such as fires. However, people all across the country are seeing the value and convenience of renting and transitioning away from home-ownership, but leaving their insurance behind when they do. Many people choose to do this because of beliefs like their landlord’s insurance will protect them, their belonging are not valuable enough to protect, or that it will just be too expensive. Unfortunately, these beliefs are held in error and can produce catastrophic results.

The myths that are preventing people from getting renter’s insurance need to be dispelled. We each need to recognize that our belongings have value. Without insurance, few families could afford to replace even all of their necessary items like clothing, coats, schoolbooks, or work supplies. This list doesn’t include seemingly luxurious items like computers, cell phones, or even a bed. Moreover, the value of what we each own seems tremendous when compared to the $187 that it costs annually for the average renter’s policy. Beyond just the security that renter’s insurance can provide in the event of theft or destruction of property, it can also provide protection in the event that a guest sues the renter. This is important for everyone, but doubly so for parents that host playdates for young children.

These events may seem rare, but they happen every day. In addition, while it may be impossible to prevent every accident, it is completely possible for each of us to financially protect ourselves. According to the Insurance Information Institute, nearly two-thirds of renters are still not covered. That is why we are joining the ranks to spread the word. While you are renting a beautiful apartment in Waukesha, having renter’s insurance will give you additional peace of mind.

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1. Renting Is Often Cheaper

Home ownership is expensive. Not only do you have the closing costs and the monthly payment, but you also have property taxes, utilities, insurance, home repairs, home maintenance and landscaping costs to pay as well.

2. It Gives You Flexibility

You should only consider purchasing a home if you plan on staying there for several years. Not only do you have to pay closing costs every time you move, but your home may not sell when you need it to. Forget long trips, or relocating for your job on short notice.

3. You Won’t Have Home Maintenance to Deal With

Even if you were to buy a brand new home, all homes need constant maintenance and repair. Rent an apartment and you can spend your weekends golfing, shopping or traveling instead of at home mowing the lawn or fixing the roof.

4. It’s Eco-friendly

Because apartments tend to be smaller than houses, they use far less of the Earth’s natural resources. Not only do they require less materials to build, but your energy and gas usage is likely to be reduced as well.

5. Renting is Convenient

Buying a home can be a hassle. You have to negotiate a price, draw up and sign the paperwork, set up and pay all of the utilities, and furnish the entire space. With Waukesha apartments, however, you can simply walk in, sign the papers and head on out to any of the great shops and attractions that are conveniently located nearby.

Whether you choose to rent or buy, make sure your decision is an informed one. Don’t just buy a home because you think that is what you are supposed to do as an adult. Consider these benefits that only renting can offer, and make the choice that is best for you and your family.

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