Shop around for renter’s insurance and save money

Do you currently carry renter’s insurance?  Cameron Landing Apartments strongly advises their residents to get a policy.  It’s really not as expensive as you may think.  In fact, you can save money on your policy in quite a few ways.  Here is one in an article I found about saving money on renter’s insurance.  Check out this video too.

Shopping Around: Don’t forget to shop around for the best renter’s insurance quote and policy. When shopping for your renter’s insurance quote, make sure to find out if you are getting a six month or yearly renter’s insurance quote. Shopping around with different renter’s insurance companies can be one of the single best ways to save on your renter’s insurance.

Register your pet with the Atlanta Humane Society

 Do you have a license for your pet yet?   The Atlanta Humane Society requires all the pets here to have a license.  And even though we’re technically in Stockbridge, it’s still a good idea. 

This isn’t so much about you as a pet parent as it is about them as an animal. Pet licenses are important because they help in the recovery of lost animals and also act as proof that your pet has had its (legally required) rabies vaccination. Should your little furry kid escape and is found wandering the streets, you are more easily located if they are licensed. The alternative is far worse, unidentified pets are usually thought to be strays and can end up at the local shelter. 

So how does the licensing work? All you have to do is head over to the Animal Control facility at 981 Howell Mill Road (corner of 10th St.) in downtown Atlanta with your proof of a 1-year or 3-year rabies vaccination and get the license. Attach the tag they give you to your pet’s collar and voila…you now have a licensed pet! 

Remember…a license is a lost pet’s ticket home!

Tips for living with roommates

 Learning to live with a roommate in an apartment can be one of the most challenging – and possibly rewarding – experiences that you can go through.  Many of us go through our first “shared living space” experience in college, so we learn what to expect at an early age.  I remember my first year of college.  I lived in a four-person dorm room and each of us couldn’t be more different.  But we all learned how to respect each others privacy, space and time and we made it work.  

I’ve had several other roommates since college.  Some have been friends before we moved in together and some that I just met and lived with in order to share expenses.  Most of the experiences have been rewarding, enhancing our friendships and allowing me to build relationships that I still maintain to this day. Some situations weren’t so good.  The key, as I mentioned, is respecting each other’s space.  Here are a couple tips that I can offer to anyone looking to share an apartment…  

• Determine if there are products that you can share!  If so, figure out how you will purchase them together.  Items like cleaning supplies, toothpaste, laundry soap and even groceries can be shared.  You can save money if you and your roommates can come up with a fair way of purchasing these items.
• Give each other space!  I’m not just talking about space in the refridgerator for their special jar of Cheez Whiz either.  I mean personal space.  Life can be testy at times.  Maybe they had a tough day at work or school, or with their boyfriend/girlfriend and they may want to just come home and gather themselves together.  When you can sense that your roommate may need some alone time at home, be a good roommate and step out of the apartment for a minute so they can have space.  Trust me, they will certainly appreciate the gesture and return the favor when you need them to.
• Pay your utility bills on time!  There isn’t a faster way to get a roommate upset with you then getting the utilities that you were responsible for cut-off.  Know that if your lax with your bill paying, it’s going to effect someone else’s life.

One of the cool things about Cameron Landing is that they have great roommate floorplans that really provide a good amount of space for more than one person to move about.  The Prescott floorplan is actually designed for roommates and offers seperate bathrooms and an island kitchen.  If you’re looking to get into a roommate situation, or know someone who is interested, stop by the leasing office for more info.

Poll: Uuuggghhhh!

Let’s face it, Cameron Landing.  No one likes to do all of their chores.  Sure, some don’t mind washing dishes.  But those same people probably HATE doing laundry.  Take our latest poll (in the right column) and let us know which TWO chores you least look forward to doing.

How to Keep Wedding Costs Down

What’s up Cameron Landing!  Wedding season is upon us so I’ve asked my friend Sassy to share some wedding tips.  After collecting a nice array of ex-husbands and white dresses, she’s what I would call an expert on the subject.  Enjoy!

It is that time of year again, when every weekend seems to be a bridal shower, a wedding or an engagement party. And although I love (and have loved) all my brides to-be (and grooms to-be), sometimes things get out of hand. It just doesn’t seem like everything in a wedding is necessary and, in my case, expected. I don’t need a specialty hand-made broach from Istanbul as a bridesmaid present. I think that maybe, just maybe, flying in tulips from Holland may be a bit much and there is no need to spend the equivalent of a new Lexus on your wedding dress. Thank heavens that in the past few years belt-tightening has become trendy because I found three very cute ways to make cuts in your wedding expenses.

1) Homemade wedding favors and decorations are super cute and easy. You can put tea lights in colored paper bags, use ivy out of the yard for centerpieces and make your wedding party homemade soaps and bath oils as a thank you.

2) Have the wedding party organize a BYOB Bar. If you opt to have an open bar at your reception you just increased the price of you reception considerably. Try BYOB. It sounds strange, and no you don’t want to put it on the invites, but BYOB really only takes a little organization. Have your maid of honor and best-man work on it. They can send an email to all the guests ask them to bring something. Keep it simple and have everyone bring a bottle of red or white wine and then all the bride and groom have to provide is the champagne for the toast.

3) Consider a backyard wedding. It doesn’t even have to be your backyard. Maybe someone’s parent is in a garden club and the Vice President’s backyard is an homage to all things blooming. Ask them to use it, pay them for their trouble and as long as the crowd is small (and everyone behaves) it will be a garden party where two of the guests happen to be taking their life-long vows of kindness, respect and fidelity.

In reality, no matter how large the wedding is, it is the marriage that counts. If you can’t afford a huge to-do then don’t have one.

Going Green: How to make your windows and glass sparkle with natural products

Check out this easy Do it Yourself recipe courtesy of The Daily Green…

No-Streak Glass Cleaner

• 1/4 cup undiluted white vinegar
• 1 tbsp cornstarch
• 1 quart warm water

Combine ingredients and divide into spray bottles.  For a lint-free shine, wipe dry with a sheet of crumpled newspaper or a coffee filter.

Fogelman Management Group is focused on spreading the word about Going Green, a term that signifies the social movement towards environmental conservation, protection and improvement. It’s all about making simple lifestyle choices that will lessen our negative impact on the Earth. Making and using home products with organic materials is just one way to we can make a difference.

Stay tuned to the Brassfield Park blog throughout the month of April for more tips on how you can play your part.

Final Fogelman Four (or Five)

Hey Fogelman folks…the 2010 NCAA Basketball Tournament is wrapping up this weekend and if you’ve been following, you know that it has been ripe with upsets. As for the Fogelman Bracket Challenge, it’s still too close to call. There are numerous scenarios that can play out, each one resulting in a different winner.

Here is what we know…

• If Duke wins, Richard Call from Stewarts Ferry in Nashville, TN will be your 2010 Champion. Way to go, Richard! But don’t count your cookies yet…
• If West Virginia wins, then Jon Hawks will take the crown. I’m a Big East Conference fan, so I must admit that I’m in Jon’s corner. Jon, we’re not sure which apartment community you’re representing so if you’re reading this, make sure you drop us a note.
• If Michigan State wins the tournament, then Amanda Hill will be our official champion. However, because she is not officially a Fogelman property resident, she is disqualified from collecting any prize. Any prize would go to the first runner-up that is actually a resident. Sorry, Amanda. Maybe you should consider moving to a Fogelman community J
• And if Butler wins, well, here’s where it gets a little tricky. Because no one gave them a fighting chance at the beginning of the tournament, there is no clear cut winner at this point. It all depends on who they play in the Championship. If Butler defeats West Virginia in the title game, then Janelle Crandall from Metro 67 in Memphis, TN will walk away with the prize. If Butler defeats Duke, the title goes to Dani Soto from Hampton Woods in Shawnee, KS.

Good luck to each of the finalists! Don’t forget to tune into CBS to watch the tournament semifinals tonight starting at 6pm, and then the Championship game on Monday, April 5 at 8pm.

Fogelman 2010 NCAA Bracket Challenge Leader Board: Are you on it?

The first weekend of the 2010 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament is in the books and the leader board for the Fogelman 2010 NCAA Bracket Challenge is set. With 50+ bracket submissions, this is sure to be a tight race.

A few interesting statistics developed among the Fogelman residents that participated. Among them…

• 31% of the participants picked Kansas to win it all.
• 14% picked Kentucky
• 12% picked Duke
• 7% picked Syracuse

Here is the leader board after the first two rounds of the tournament along with their pick to win the whole thing…

1. Kim Martin (Kansas), 46 pts.

2. Garrett James (Kansas), 44 pts.

2. Kate Asselin (Kansas), 44 pts.

4. Amanda Hill (Michigan State), 43 pts.

4. Heather Towe (Kansas), 43 pts.

6. Zach Hightower (N/A), 42 pts.

6. Chris Gholston (Syracuse), 42 pts.

6. Janelle Crandall (Kansas), 42 pts.

6. Dani Soto (Kansas), 42 pts.

10. Melissa Rosenthal (Kansas), 40 pts.

The tournament itself is proving to be one of the best in years, with major upsets and Cinderella stories playing out as the field battled to join the ranks of the “Sweet 16”. Northern Iowa’s upset over Kansas in the second round will definitely shake up the Fogelman Bracket Challenge leader board in the coming weeks.

If one of your neighbors has made it on the leader board, be sure to drop them a note of congratulations on your community’s Facebook page and cheer them on. And make sure you stay tuned to all of the drama in both the NCAA tournament and the Fogelman Bracket Challenge. I’ll post a new update next week.

The Regional Semifinals play out today and tomorrow (Thursday and Friday, March 26-27), with the Regional Finals being played on Saturday and Sunday, March 27-28. Check your local CBS affiliate for game times.

How to Give Your Furniture a Mini-Makover

I’ll be the first to admit that I’m somewhat of a fashion misfit.  I just never really developed a good sense for matching colors fashionably.  When getting ready to go out in the evening, its not uncommon for my wife to have to send me back to the closet two or three times to “get it right.”  Same goes for home décor.  If I see a piece of furniture I like, then that’s enough for me.  Forget having to match it to five other pieces of furniture.

But I’m learning.  I don’t expect to be styling celebrities or decorating vacation homes any time soon, but I soon may not have to ask if my brown shoes are matching my gray pants (that does match, right?).  As for the furniture thing, well, that’s coming along too.  I’m planning to surprise my wife with a furniture makeover (hey, it’s cheaper than new furniture) so I’m trying to do a little research.  I found out that the “in” color for 2010 is turquoise.  Who knew?  Also, check out these tips I found in the February 25 edition of the Star-Tribune.

With dollars tight these days, and no prospect of buying new furniture, maybe a trendy new sofa outfit is just the ticket to lift winter-weary spirits. (The color-block slipcovers are available at www.surefit.com)

Or, for a smaller wardrobe pick-me-up, how about some hot new threads for a favorite lamp? Stretchable lampshade slipcovers, in florals, geometric patterns and animal prints, are available at www.frockZ.com

A Little Apartment Humor…

I just came acros this joke on the Internet and thought I’d share it with you.  Very funny!  Anyone have any good apartment hunting stories to share?  I’d love to hear them.

Bill and Sarah were Londoners and were blessed with seven healthy children. After many months of discussion, they finally decided to move to New York. It should have been a simple enough move, but when they arrived, they had great difficulty finding a suitable apartment to live in.
Although many were big enough, the landlords always seemed to object to such a large family living there. If only Bill wasn’t so honest about the size of his family!

After several days of unsuccessful searching, Bill had an idea. He told Sarah to take the four younger children to visit the local cemetery while he went with the older three children to find an apartment. After looking for most of the morning, Bill found a place that was ideal.

The landlord asked him, “How many children do you have?”

Bill answered with a deep sigh, “Seven . . . but four are with their dear mother in the cemetery.”

He got the apartment!

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