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Finding a Home Away from Home for College

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finding an apartment for college

Photo via Naypong / Freedigitalphotos.net

One of the biggest steps toward becoming an independent and self-sufficient adult is living on your own. For many people, that begins when they choose to live off-campus during college. There are definitely many benefits to living in an apartment throughout your college years. With an apartment, you can enjoy more privacy, and you have the freedom to choose your own roommates. But like choosing your roommates, choosing an apartment is not a decision to take lightly.

Before the apartment search even begins, determining a budget is a must. Surviving College Life suggests sitting down with perspective roommates to talk about funds and determine how much can be put towards rent and utilities each month. Then, you can start talking about how many bedrooms and bathrooms you’ll need.

Next, discuss the types of features and amenities you’d like to have in your college home away from home. Do you want to live within walking distance of your college? How far of a daily commute would you be willing to make? Will you need a washer and dryer in your apartment? Is a dishwasher a necessity? Writing these items down and then ranking them in order of importance will help you narrow down the properties you want to visit later. Just keep in mind this piece of advice: “Be willing to make compromises . . . You only have to find an apartment that will serve your needs as a student.”

Now it’s time to start looking at the options available that meet your criteria. It’s important to look at multiple locations and to take tours of the ones you are really interested in. While you’re touring the properties, be sure to ask lots of questions. For example, ask if the rent is all inclusive, or if there are separate fees for water, internet, cable, etc. What is the price of the security deposit? How much will you have to pay upfront? Without this information, you could wind up facing unexpected expenses, or you could find yourself locked in a lease that was not right for you.

After you’ve explored some properties and collected information on the ones you are most interested in, it’s time to compare the options you’ve narrowed your search down to and choose the best one. But before you sign a lease, Campus Explorer suggests that you read the lease all the way through so that you are “aware of everything the management company must provide you with as a paying tenant of their property.”

Are you ready to find your college home for the 2013-2014 school year? You’re already at a great place to start! TriBridge Residential has several properties that are very close to colleges and universities throughout the South. Additionally, some of our properties offer “lease-by-the-bed” options, which means that you only have to worry about your share of rent.

If you’re interested in attending school in Orlando, such as the University of Central Florida (UCF) or Valencia College, then our Orion On Orpington community could be perfect for you!

lease by the bed floor plan

TriBridge’s Orion on Orpington is one of our properties offering “lease by the bed” options.

Or if you’re interested in attending school in Raleigh, North Carolina, our Campus Edge community, which has one, two, and three bedroom floor plans is near North Carolina State University and Meredith College.

Whether you’re in school or not, TriBridge has options for all stages of life. Visit our website to check out all of our properties!

Add Personal Flair to Your Apartment with Vignettes

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There are plenty of ways to give your apartment that unique touch that shows off your personal style and flair. One of the easiest ways (and one of our favorites) is to create little vignettes throughout your space.

The word “vignette” may sound fancy, but a vignette is simply a small grouping of objects arranged on top of tables, shelves, dressers, bookshelves… essentially any flat surface in your apartment. As HGTV shares, you can use almost any kind of accessories or personal belongings within a vignette to “create a mood just like a movie set designer does for a film” to make the room appear “more polished and pulled together.”

An ideabook we came across on Houzz shares that the best way to create vignettes is by experimenting and rearranging your items until you get the look just right. It might take a few tries, but you’ll get there!

To help you get started, here are some of our favorite tips.

Build your vignette around a lamp or another source of light, especially if it’s located in a corner, so the darkness won’t overshadow the effect.

creating a vignette in your apartment

Photo via Houzz

Find a theme and stick with it. For example, if your vignette features photos from a favorite vacation, accent it with souvenirs from the trip, like seashells, a postcard, or a map.

vignettes for apartments

Photo via Pinterest

Create interest by varying the height and texture. A vignette is most effective when each item has its own stage to shine from rather than having to constantly compete. The best way to group items in a vignette, therefore, is to make sure you are incorporating a variety of heights and finishes. If you are working with multiple items of the same height, simply elevate specific ones to a desired height by placing them on a stack of books or coasters.

decorating your apartment with vignettes

Photo via Pinterest

Don’t be afraid of being uneven. Grouping like items in odd numbers can make a stronger visual impact.

vignette ideas for apartments

Photo via Pinterest

Have you created any vignettes inside your TriBridge apartment to show off your personality and style? Leave a comment to tell us about it, or share a picture with us on our Facebook page, or tweet it to us @TriBridgeRes.

Sutter Lake – Lakeside Apartments in Riverdale, GA

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TriBridge Residential has over 50 communities in the Southeast. One of our communities, Sutter Lake, is nestled in the beautiful town of Riverdale.

Situated next to an 11-acre lake, Sutter Lake’s uniquely beautiful surroundings are often the first thing that draws potential residents to Sutter Lake. The lake features a stunning fountain as well as a walking trail and a beautiful sitting area, which can be the perfect place to enjoy a bit of peace and quiet after a long day at work or in class.

Riverdale Georgia apartments

apartment community with a swimming pool in Riverdale Georgia

lakeside apartments in Riverdale

The lake and walking trail aren’t the only things Sutter Lake residents can enjoy on the property. Sutter Lake also provides a tennis court, swimming pools, fitness and conditioning club, an indoor sports court, and a laundry facility for its residents. Residents also appreciate the property’s controlled access as well as the short-term leasing options.

 The shining stars of Sutter Lake, though, are the apartments themselves. One and two bedroom floor plans are available, each with different layout options. All apartments at Sutter Lake feature amenities that include air conditioning, cable, ceiling fans, dishwashers, alarm systems, fireplaces, walk-in closets, patios or balconies, sunrooms, and pleasant views. Sutter Lake also has a large one bedroom that is fully furnished. (If you’re interested in the furnished unit, please ask the leasing consultant about its availability.) The community is currently undergoing renovations and will offer faux granite countertops, hardwood flooring, and black appliances in upgraded units.

one bedroom apartments in Riverdale GA

two bedroom apartments in Riverdale

There’s plenty more to do and see beyond the Sutter Lake property. With International Park, Rum Creek Park, Independence Park, Jim Huie Recreation Center, Virginia Burton Gray Recreation Center, and DixieLand Theme Park nearby, you’ll never find yourself bored. We are also located in the Point South Elementary, Calloway Middle, and Riverdale High school district. Not to mention, Sutter Lake is also near Clayton State University,

Interested in learning more about the apartments at Sutter Lake? Contact us today to schedule a time to visit this TriBridge property!

Simple Ways to Celebrate Earth Day 2013

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The 43rd anniversary of Earth Day is coming up on April 22! Each year on this date, adults, students, civic organizations, and communities come together under the shared goal of “acknowledging the amazing planet we call home and taking action to protect it.”

The thought of taking action to protect the Earth may seem monumental, but truthfully, even small projects you can do on your own make a difference in the long run. If you’re looking for a way to contribute to Earth Day 2013, below are a few simple ways you can participate.

Plant a Container Garden – Just because you live in an apartment doesn’t mean you can’t be a gardener! You can easily set up a container garden on your apartment’s balcony or patio with flowers, tomatoes, strawberries, herbs, or other delicious fruits and vegetables.

planting a container garden for Earth Day

Take Public Transportation, Ride Your Bike, or Walk – It’s always tempting to simply drive yourself, but fewer cars on the road mean fewer pollutants in the air. Use public transportation, ride your bike, or just walk to your destination if you can. You can also check to see which neighbors work in the same area as you and arrange a carpool.

Use Energy-Saving Power Strips or Surge Protectors – We live in a technological world and it seems that there is always something that needs to be charged. Be careful when selecting a power strip or surge protector for your apartment. Look for one that will help “eliminate ‘phantom power’ waste…the little bit of power many devices draw even when they’re switched off.”

Recycle! – We’re all familiar with the phrase “reduce, reuse, recycle” but often we only think of items like glass and paper when recycling. There are tons of other items that can be recycled, including old electronics like TVs and computers. The Environmental Protection Agency has some helpful information available for those looking to recycle their old electronic devices.

Clean Up a Park – If you’re looking for a way to contribute to Earth Day outside of your apartment, consider helping clean up a nearby park. All you need is a few trash bags, gloves, and some friends to make it happen. In fact, the Atlanta area is invited to volunteer with us on May 18th as we tackle the Dunwoody Nature Center and the Atwood Community Garden. If you’re interested in helping us out, please RSVP here.

earth day activities

Look for a Green Apartment Community – Take going green to a new level by looking for a green apartment community for your next home, like TriBridge’s Atlanta property Enso.

If you’re looking for more ideas or Earth Day events near your community, check out the Earth Day website for more information.

How will you celebrate and participate in Earth Day this year? Leave a comment below or on our Facebook page with your plans.

 

 

Image 1 via Simon Howden / FreeDigitalPhotos.net; Image 2 via Marcus / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Creating Conversation Areas in Your Apartment With Your Furniture

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When arranging the furniture for your living room, you want to create a look that’s stylish and sophisticated. But you also want to arrange furniture so that it lends itself to socializing and visiting.

Try to create “Conversation areas.” You can do this with furniture arrangements that focus less on television and other forms of entertainment, and more on interacting with your guests. There are a variety of ways to create an inviting space that family and friends will gravitate towards. Here are a few expert tips on how to achieve the look.

The Washington Post recommends placing chairs and sofas in a circular arrangement in close proximity so that you can have “a relaxed conversation without straining to hear.” Also, keep a few extra chairs nearby (if you have the space). You can always use your dining chairs or folding chairs that can be tucked away in the closet once your guests leave.

living room furniture arrangements
 

Hamptons.com offers another approach – Anchor the space with the sofa, and then flank it with chairs on both ends, with no more than eight feet between them. A coffee table can be placed in the middle as a place to set food and drinks, or to be used as the focal point of the room.

living room furniture arrangements
 
The article “Arranging Furniture to Create a Conversation Area” offers several helpful suggestions. First, it advises to arrange furniture in either an L or U-shape. Which arrangement you choose depends largely on the shape of your living room, but both are great for creating a sitting area that makes guests feel welcome and engaged in the conversation.
creating a conversation area

If your living room is oddly shaped or if you have limitations on floor space due to other furnishings, the article recommends placing furniture closer to the center of the room in a “box shape with one open end being the focal point of the room.”

 
How do you arrange the furniture in your TriBridge apartment so that it encourages conversations? Leave a comment to share with us!