Blog Posts

Get a Smart Apartment

If the first thing you think of when you hear the term "smart home" is a programmable thermostat, but it's time to update your concept of what makes today's homes so, well, smart. Today's smart home technology has evolved to be accessible, adaptable and portable, making it perfect for renters. Here, we'll take a look at how you can outfit your apartment with smart essentials to make renting significantly more convenient and safe. Digital Assistants If you're not already using a digital assistant (also known as a virtual voice assistant or smart speaker), these devices may be one of the easiest ways for you to introduce smart technology into your home. Digital assistants, such as the Amazon Echo and Google Home, respond to voice commands and are designed to make your life a little simpler. You can ask your digital assistant to perform a number of tasks, such as play music, read you the news, order groceries, place a phone call or add appointments to your calendar. When synced with other smart devices in your home, digital assistants allow you to adjust lighting, turn appliances on and off and even activate security cameras. Smart Plugs Smart plugs are an inexpensive, easy way to integrate smart home tech into your rental. These devices allow you to remotely control anything that plugs into a wall socket - all with a tap of your finger on your smartphone or tablet. At home, you can even use your smart speaker to activate smart plugs with a voice command. When paired with lighting, smart plugs make your apartment more secure. Plug in your lights, then program the plugs to activate them at random times while you're away. This gives the appearance that you're home and helps deter would-be thieves from breaking into your apartment. Smart outlets can also optimize energy savings by turning off appliances - such as your washing machine or television - when not in use. With smart plugs, you never have to worry about leaving a light on all day or forgetting to turn off the oven, since you can manage all your devices and settings from your mobile device. Smart Window AC Unit You can't necessarily install a smart thermostat, but you can but you can have more control over cooling costs with a smart window air conditioner unit. The smart AC units are controlled by Wi-Fi. You can activate them remotely and program them to fit your schedule - meaning you can walk into a perfectly cool apartment after work without running up your utility bill. Smart Mattress Ready to go to smart apartment extremes? Consider a smart mattress. These futuristic beds provide sleep tracking, so you can keep track of how many hours you slept. They can also detect optimal wake time based upon your sleep patterns and set an alarm for you. And a smart alarm is only the beginning - smart mattresses can also regulate their temperature throughout the night, adjusting constantly to keep your body as comfortable as possible. If you connect your mattress to a smart home hub or digital assistant, it can kick off your morning the right way. For example, you can set your coffee maker to begin brewing as your smart alarm goes off, and program the lights to turn on as you step out of bed. Union Flats

NBA Playoffs

By: Jack Skolnik If you haven't figured it out by now, I will tell you one very important fact about me, I am a diehard basketball fan. So with the regular season at a close and the NBA playoffs beginning this week, I couldn't think of a better topic to write about. This year's playoffs will definitely be interesting to say the least. There were numerous big time headlines during the season that will continue to be big as we get into the playoffs. Starting in the East you have the Raptors at the #1 seed as a lock. They have defied the odds all season and after some major changes to their style of play made by Coach Dwayne Casey, they look to prove the doubter wrong after years of underperforming in the playoffs. At the #2 seed you have the Boston Celtics who without Gordon Hayward have been one of the best teams in the league. However injuries may prove costly in the playoffs as they will be without superstar Kyrie Irving. After the #1 and #2 seed the rest of the east gets a little bit less defined. You have the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Philadelphia 76ers battling it out for the third seed. Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid have been unbelievable in their first full season in Philadelphia. However if basketball fans have learned one thing over the years, it is to never bet against Lebron James and the Cavaliers. Then rounding it out in the bottom half are the Indiana Pacers at the #5 seed, the Miami Heat at the #6 seed, and then the Milwaukee Bucks and my Washington Wizards battling it out at the #8 seed. I must say this was a huge year of disappointment for my Wizards, a team that was projected to be a top 3 seed just could never put it together. I don't see a lot of these bottom half teams making much noise in the playoffs. However a first round 2 vs 7 matchup will be interesting. With the Celtics taking on either the Bucks or the Wizards. I will say that either Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks or John Wall and the Wizards will make for a very entertaining series against Boston. Although a tough choice I can't bet against the King, as I believe Lebron James and the Cavaliers will once again make it to the NBA finals. Then you have the West. Boy oh boy are things getting interesting out west. Coming in at the #1 seed are the Houston Rockets who have finally dethroned the Warriors as the top team in the West. Watching James Harden and Chris Paul play together this year has been unbelievable. Plus with Clint Capela playing the way that he has been playing? Man are they scary. Coming in at the #2 seed are the defending champs, the Golden State Warriors. With how good they have been the past couple years it is hard to bet against them making it back to the finals. However without Steph Curry to start the playoffs they will have to rely heavily on Kevin Durant, Draymond Green and the rest of the gang. The Portland Trail Blazers are clinging on to the #3 seed after a red hot second half of the season led by all-star point guard Damian Lillard. An even bigger surprise is the 4 seed where we see the Utah Jazz. After starting the season 19-28 the Jazz have gone 29-7 since the return of Rudy Gobert. The last four seeds however are where things get crazy. With five teams battling for the final four seeds. Right now all five teams are within a gamer of each other. Right now if the standings were to hold we would see the New Orleans Pelicans at the #5 seed. With an injury to all-star center Demarcus Cousins, the Pelicans will have to rely heavily on their other all-star, Anthony Davis. At the #6 seed we have the always dangerous San Antonio Spurs. Although without Kawhi Leonard all season the Spurs have proven how good they can be without him. Coming in at the #7 seed are the Oklahoma City Thunder. Although thought of by most to be an underwhelming season, Russell Westbrook, Paul George and the Thunder will look to regroup in the playoffs. Rounding out the West is the Minnesota Timberwolves, looking to make the playoffs for the first time since 2004. With newly acquired all-star Jimmy Butler, a first round Timberwolves vs. Rockets would be fun to watch. So with that you have the playoff race in both the Eastern Conference and the Western Conference. As usual I am sure there will be no shortage of great playoff basketball to watch. With all that being said I already said I have the Cleveland Cavaliers making the finals out of the East and I am going to take the Houston Rockets out of the West. I think this is the year that the Golden State Warriors finally go down. If the Warriors are going to lose at all I think it will be against the Rockets in Western Conference Finals. Then in the finals I am going to take the Rockets to be crowned as champions this year. With the roster that they have I feel that if they can get past the Warriors than the Rockets have a great chance of winning it all. Regardless of who makes it there I think we are all in for an entertaining 2018 NBA playoffs.

Best Tech for Spring Cleaning

This is 2018, there's pretty much nothing you can't do without the assistance of technology. The same holds true for something as simple as spring cleaning. There are all kinds of gadgets to make the work easier, and apps to make the job organized. Take a look at the ones we've gathered below and choose your favorites when tackling the dreaded (or anticipated) deep clean of your apartment: Apps Cleaning Checklist helps you organize and manage household cleaning tasks and activities. Pick a room, select the task, and check it off when complete. Voila! BrightNest is for those who don't even know where to start. This app is full of useful tips for cleaning specific parts of your home, like how to remove toilet stains or what essential oils keep your garbage disposal smelling fresh. ChoreBank is great if you have kids that want to help. Assign a monetary value or activity reward to each chore and make virtual deposits to your child's account. You can even text reminders to your kids! Gadgets Unless you've been living under a rock, you've heard of Roomba, the house-cleaning robot. These bad boys can run upwards of $900, but critics claim it's well worth the price. Allergy sufferers: this one's for you. Nothing says spring cleaning like purified breathing air. Molekule is the latest in air purification systems that is not only effective, but smart and innovative. We stumbled upon a nifty little (affordable!) gadget that attaches to any standard household vacuum. The Dusty-Brush consists of dozens of tiny vacuum tubes that pick up dust and debris while leaving behind the important stuff, like nuts & bolts, craft supplies, and other small objects. Perfect for those hard-to-reach places like vents and the back of the pantry. Union Flats

March Madness

by Jack Skolnik Well, it's finally here. The time that everyone has been waiting for. Every basketball fan's dream. Yup, March Madness is upon us. This blog is being written the day after Selection Sunday, everyone's first taste as to what this year's tournament will look like. There were some interesting seeding situations, but for the most part I think the NCAA did a nice job. The four #1 seeds for this year's tournament are Kansas, Xavier, Villanova and Virginia, with Virginia being the #1 overall team in the country and the tournament. Speaking of Virginia, I do have to give a major shout-out to their first round matchup, the #16 seed UMBC Retrievers. As a Baltimore native it is great to see UMBC back in the tournament after a ten year hiatus. A major congratulations to Coach Ryan Odom, star player Jarius Lyles, and the rest of the team. As for the rest of the tournament there will be no shortage of must-see games in the first round. As I sit here filling out my bracket, there is a lot of thought that must go into this. It's hard for me not to fall in love with Oklahoma and Trae Young as a #10 seed in the Midwest. With player of year material written all over him I actually took Young and Oklahoma as the team to take down Duke in the second round (as much as I love coach K you have to root against Duke as a Maryland native, right?). For me, there were a few no brainers. Such as Virginia and Kansas making it to the final four. However, there were a couple tough choices I had to make besides the Oklahoma/Duke matchup. Although I have them making it to the elite eight, it's still a struggle for me to see Xavier making a lot of noise past that, as I have them losing to UNC. Another one was in the sweet sixteen where I have Villanova and West Virginia in the East region. I am a huge fan of Coach Bob Huggins so it was very difficult for me to pick Villanova, even with their #1 seed. But I do have faith in Coach Jay Wright and the Wildcats. All in all it was as tough a bracket to fill out. After a long afternoon I came out with my picks, a few upsets, a few non-upsets and everything in between. I came out with a final four of Virginia, UNC, Texas Tech, and Kansas. I then have Virginia advancing to the championship over UNC and in the other game I have Texas Tech advancing over Kansas to avenge a loss just a few weeks ago. It was a tough decision in the champion game, but my choice for the 2018 NCAA champion is... TEXAS TECH!! I am sure that is not the choice you were expecting, as Tech has struggled a bit as of recent, with key injuries to star player Kenan Evans. However I feel like if Evans and the Red Raiders can get back into form with a first and second round win, they will get back to early season form and make a serious run. Besides, who doesn't love a feel-good Cinderella story? Team comes out playing really well in the beginning of the season, then some key players get hurt and they struggle for a while, but then they get it together to win a National Championship? The Red Raiders are all in! Everybody who loves college basketball loves upsets and loves Cinderella stories, and I feel like this year will be no different. With the first few games looming it's going to be a great year for March Madness. Put on your seat belt folks, because it's going to be another wild ride in March!

Perks of Downsizing

Downsizing ain't easy. Moving from a house to a new apartment can provide you with a brand-new start, but it may also come with many changes that can feel foreign or overwhelming. Change doesn't have to be scary, though, here are a couple of the biggest things you can expect when you make the leap from house to apartment - and a look at how you can make the most of these opportunities! Planning to Downsize All you need to do is go on Pinterest or browse the magazine rack at the local market to find thousands of ideas about how to improve your life through downsizing. Lucky for you, downsizing is just part of the deal when you move from a house to an apartment. Here's a closer look at how your new lifestyle embraces this trend. Less space: One of the most obvious changes you'll encounter when you move from a house to an apartment is less living space. Apartments are designed for efficiency, which means that overall square footage will be less and individual rooms will be smaller. Rethink your furniture - that oversized sofa may need to be traded for a sleeker version that fits better in your new space. The upside is that you have the perfect excuse to go shopping and play with a whole new look for your new home. Limited storage: You'll probably have to take a good, hard look at everything that's currently living in a closet, cupboard, or drawer, and decide whether or not you can live without it. Some new renters use this opportunity to declutter their lives, while others learn to love the world of storage units. It can be revitalizing to get rid of extra baggage you've been holding on to simply because you have a place for it to hang out. But if you have items you can't bear to part with (Grandma's china), it's pretty affordable to rent a storage unit where your precious mementos will be safe and sound. Consider Community Perks If you're conflicted about saying goodbye to your house, our sweet apartment bonuses may help you greet apartment life with open arms. Amenities: A pool, hot tub, fitness room, and someone else to worry about landscaping and lawn care - what's not to love? One of the biggest perks of going from house to apartment living is the resort-like amenities that many communities offer. Be prepared to take full advantage of these extras. Community amenities provide the chance to relax, stay in shape, and make new friends who live just down the hall. Security: Living in close quarters with neighbors adds a lot of extra safety. It's easier to get to know neighbors and spot when someone is lurking around who doesn't belong. In addition, some rental communities have security guards or extra measures like pass cards or security codes to enter buildings and communal areas. Ask the landlord what sorts of security is in place when you take a tour of the premises; you may be pleasantly surprised at the safety measures you'll get for little to no added cost. No matter the reason you're moving from a house to an apartment, this change can be exciting. Prepare yourself to embrace apartment living and know what to expect by doing some thorough research before signing that lease.

Maximizing Space

Living in a space less than 1,200 square feet would be unfathomable to some people, but to you it means that you've chosen to reside in one of the greatest cities in the country. The Overlook is a modern and upscale apartment community centralized in the dynamic area of Camp Hill and Harrisburg, where everything you could possibly need or want is right outside your door. But the law of supply & demand dictates this location comes at a cost of vast living quarters. Luckily, we've listed tips on ways to maximize the space you do have and continue to enjoy living in your apartment. 1. Storage is the key to happiness As much as possible, keep items concealed and out of view for an uncluttered look.Closet storage is best. To maximize it, be careful of closet organizers. These can actually take up more space if not planned properly. Regular shoeboxes, meanwhile, take up a minimal amount in a closet and can be stacked tighter for better use of space. Consolidate all of your travel items into your suitcase and store in there - this makes packing faster and easier when you are ready for a quick getaway (see Tip 10). Use tote bags, which hold tons of stuff and can be monogrammed or labeled for easy identification. These are also easy to move for cleaning, and since they're made of fabric, they give more flexibility in tighter space. This is a great way to store magazines or books. When you don't cook, use your stove as a storage area - it has adjustable shelves and can provide much-needed space (just remember to take your stuff out again before preheating!). 2. Adopt a chic, clean & stylish design Be sure that your apartment has an aesthetic. Play with color and accessories; don't be afraid to use them. Design elements aren't just for mansions. If you're lacking closets or cabinets, create a storage/display making your space both decorative and functional. So many couture items such as vintage handbags, shoes, ties, and scarves are actually pieces of usable art. A smaller space can be a more opulent space. 3. Buy multifunctional furniture Use a bed that has storage drawers underneath. Some have found that the drawers on the bottom actually had more space than a dresser, and free up a ton of floor space. Ottomans and stools can convert from storage cubes to tables to additional seating. 4. Forget about room dividers, go for artwork instead Use art to section off areas of the room instead of room dividers. These dividers often make the room look much more cramped and disrupt the flow of good energy through the apartment. Using art to differentiate spaces makes your apartment feel bigger and more open. 5. Be obsessively organized When closets and cabinets are overflowing, it's time to clean and reorganize. In a small apartment, you often find that you don't have that catchall space that you do with a larger apartment. Mail must be sorted each day and laundry must be done on a regular basis. Once a routine is established, you'll find that - just like your space - your time becomes more efficient. 6. Buy only what you love and purge often After living for a few years with less space, you tend to buy only what you really need or really love, eliminating trends or donating them when the trend is over. Buying quality instead of quantity makes your dollar stretch further in the long run. And being on your fashion game in one of the most stylish cities in the world is a bonus. Owning one pair of great shoes is better than owning twelve pairs of mediocre ones. 7. Use every square inch It's not the amount of space, but how the space functions that matters. Make use of every square inch. Many people have a guest room and they use it once a year when that friend comes to town. In fact, most people actually use only 20% of their house. But not you. You're utilizing every last bit. Live simpler. 8. Do cost comparisons When you start to get apartment envy and consider moving to a larger space, talk to your friends with bigger apartments and you'll quickly realize their rent and utility bills are much higher than yours. Living in a smaller space, the costs are lower. 9. Travel as often as your schedule and budget permits Go out of town at least five times per year, or as often as your schedule permits. This is a nice break and change of scenery. Friends will love to visit you, because you're in one of the best cities on Earth. People in other parts of the country have 2-3 guest rooms, and no one ever goes to visit. It's a good reminder that your piece of heaven is a sanctuary no matter the size. Union Flats