Financial

The biggest benefit of renting instead of owning is the financial aspect of renting. The fact is that rent is generally cheaper than a mortgage. In addition to an overall lower monthly payment, upkeep and utilities are lower due to less square footage.

Maintenance

When renting, maintenance is taken care of, making this a financial benefit and a timesaver. No worrying about watering the lawn or shoveling snow and no stress over a clogged sink or broken air conditioner. Fixing these items in an apartment is easy, because it’s someone else’s problem!

Community

A sense of community is an underrated benefit to apartment living and being steps away from neighbors can provide an excellent atmosphere for creating life-long connections. Some complexes even regularly host resident events to encourage community engagement.

Amenities

Unlike houses, apartment complexes are often built with amenities on-site such as clubhouses, pools, and fitness centers. Some apartment communities offer discounts to local gyms, shops, and restaurants as an added resident perks program.

Size and Style

Apartment units are built for convenience. Often, apartments are spacious but not overly large. They are built to be functional while the personal touches and décor are in your hands.

Short-term

When looking for short-term living options, renting is by far the superior option. Buying a house is a much longer time commitment and is a major life decision. Whether you are working on your credit score, saving up funds, or slowly preparing for the responsibility of owning a home, an apartment is the best option in the meantime.

Savings

Renting is the perfect time to invest in a long-term future. While spending less on your living arrangements, this is an ideal time to save extra earnings.

Lower Responsibility

Homeownership comes with stresses and responsibilities that you can avoid entirely if you rent. Homeowners must deal with up-keep, unexpected damages and replacements far more than a renter would.

Accessibility

One of the major perks of apartment home living is the convenient proximity to everything you need. Apartments are much more likely to be located in communities that offer shopping, restaurants, art galleries, parks and more as opposed to a house that is tucked away in a neighborhood.

Convenience, cost, and safety are just a few of the unbeatable perks of choosing to rent an apartment home instead of owning a house. When considering the options, we hope that you can find a place you are proud to call home. 

The post Benefits of Renting vs. Buying appeared first on Bradford Run Blog.

The days of bringing baked goods to new neighbors are in the past. Now, breaking the ice can be downright intimidating, especially in an apartment community. Everyone wants to have a strong relationship with their neighbors. Who else can you rely on to watch over your home when you’re out for the weekend? Good neighbors make our lives easier, and it helps everyone feel like part of a community.

Whether you’ve been in your apartment community for years or you’re just moving in, you might need some extra help finding the best way to introduce yourself. Yes, it can be awkward at first, but there are easy ways to make it less intimidating. Are you ready to make a change and turn your neighbors into people you feel confident running into in the hallways?

Smile Often

This is the easiest way to meet people, but also the most often overlooked. How often do you walk between your apartment and your car looking at nothing other than your phone screen? Put that phone away and be aware of your surroundings. Not only is this a great habit to get into in everyday life, but it gives you the chance to meet people.

Smile as you pass people in the hallway. Introduce yourself, and let them know where you live. You don’t have to take up any more time than that, but your neighbor will remember your friendly hello going forward. This is how you start breaking down those walls.

Connect Online

This is the digital age, so it’s no wonder neighbors have taken to social media. With the NextDoor app, you can be sure you’re only seeing posts for the people immediately near you. While connecting online isn’t a substitute for real-life interaction, it is a great way to put names to faces. If you have any questions or ideas for the community, this can be a great space to ask.

Go to Events

Neighborhood events are the perfect chance to actually meet people. Not only do they sometimes involve free food (yum!), but you’re likely to run into someone new. Be active at these events, and ask the community if you can bring baked goods or a food dish to share. Food will always make people eager to talk to you. These events are designed to bring the community together. Don’t keep putting off Friday Night Socials and holiday feasts.

Be Respectful

Finally, one of the best ways to meet your neighbors on the right terms is to be a good member of the community. Every apartment community has a set of rules, most of which are for the peace and respect of everyone who lives there. Nobody likes the neighbor who blasts music until 2 am or the person who always leaves trash outside their door.

The same goes for your property manager. Many property managers also live on-site, and this is a great way to get to know them when you see them out during the day or at events. However, never impose your questions or concerns on a property manager after hours when they’re no longer on duty.

Another common problem is renting your apartment through Airbnb when you’re not in town. This might seem like a good way to make extra cash, but it exposes your community to unknown tenants. Your property managers might be alerted through a service like Rentbelly, so it’s never worth the risk.

Following the rules might not get you very far on its own, but without it, you’ll have the hardest time making a good impression on your neighbors. The more you can learn to respect the rules, the more pleasant your community will be as a whole. As long as you smile, put yourself out there, and are an asset to the community, your neighbors will welcome you.

The post Ways to Introduce Yourself to Your Apartment Neighbors appeared first on Bradford Run Blog.

“Staff is always helpful and courteous. Maintenance requests are addressed quickly. The grounds are well maintained, and debris is removed daily. I am kept updated on things going on in the complex and available amenities.”

“The staff has been so helpful and friendly and the grounds are spotless!”

“This is a wonderful community. The leasing and maintenance staff are wonderful and always willing to help with any issues or concerns or just there to offer a kind greeting or warm smile. I highly recommend this property!”

“Bradford Run Apartments is a very nice place to live, the office staff is wonderful including the maintenance staff. The grounds are kept clean and repairs are taken care of in a speedy manner. There are normal repair issues but I can deal with those. The tenants have been very nice here as well.”

“It's been excellent. The management has been courteous. The neighbors are cool. I have no real complaints. I like the ducks in the pond. They give the place a certain personality and enjoyment of living here.”

Want to share your thoughts about the Bradford Run community or staff? Leave a review online or contact us today!

The post Customer Satisfaction is Our Priority appeared first on Bradford Run Blog.

Harold got his start with Buckingham Companies back in 2011, after seeing a job posting on Monster.com, and has been helping at multiple Buckingham properties since then. Now, he proudly serves Bradford Run in Kokomo, Ind.

When asked about his favorite part of his job, he shared, “The one thing that has kept me in multi-family housing is that we get to provide homes to people in every aspect of life. We provide some with their first home after graduation, a young couple’s first home together as newly weds, when they become empty nesters, when they retire, and for some, we provide the last home they will live in. There are very few careers where you get to work with people on that level.”

When speaking with Harold, you can tell that he truly cares about every resident and is dedicated to helping each person to the best of his ability.

Fun fact about Harold is that he was born and raised in Dayton, Ohio and is a proud Gemini. His favorite thing to do in his free time is spend time with his wife of 30 years, play with his dogs, and play the guitar.

Haven’t met Harold yet? Stop by the leasing office and be sure to say hello!

The post Meet Our Property Manager: Harold West appeared first on Bradford Run Blog.

Each property received at least a 4.0 (on a five-star rating) score on their annual surveys sent out to residents and prospects with a minimum of 25 surveys completed.

SatisFacts is the leading provider of resident surveys, focusing on multifamily retention and reputation management. By providing surveys to undecided prospective residents, residents after move-in, residents after service is completed in their home, and to residents near the expiration of their lease, Buckingham properties are able to keep their finger on the pulse of their customers’ satisfaction at all times. The purpose of these surveys is to provide a communication tool and customer service safety net to ensure questions, issues, concerns and praise don’t go unheard and that the team can then meet their residents’ needs.

To learn more about SatisFacts, visit their website.

Learn more about Buckingham Companies, and their many projects across the US.

The post Bradford Run receives Resident Satisfaction Awards for 2017 appeared first on Bradford Run Blog.