Roers Top Winter Maintenance Tips for Renters

Now that we are into the new year and the cold weather is truly here to stay, having your hope prepared for the winter months can be put into focus. To help with that our property management team has put together a list of their top priorities when it comes to staying safe in the winter time.

“Check Your Heat” – General Manager

During those long summer months running the heat is the last thing you want running in your apartment, but not using it for long can cause problems. Before it gets too cold, turn on the heat and make sure everything is running smoothly and that there are no weird smells. If something is wrong, make sure to contact maintenance and get it fixed as soon as possible.

This is also a good time to cover your outside air conditioning units. Covering your unit will help keep cold air out of your apartment. Most apartments provide a cover for your air conditioning units, so it is important to check with management before covering it yourself.

“Check Your Garage Door Opener” – Maintenance Technician

If you are lucky enough to have a garage stall you want to make sure you can get into it. Check your opener and make sure your door moves without any issues. If your door gets stuck or your opener is not working, contact maintenance so they can get it fixed for you.

Be sure to check within your garage is that your personal items are moved out of the way. Moving things around before it gets too cold will make it easier for you to find room for your vehicle.

“Move Your Outdoor Furniture Inside” – Property Ambassador

For those who have a balcony it is important to cover all your furniture or even bring it in for the winter season. Properly storing your belongs for the winter will maintain their quality and help them make it to next season.

While preparing your outdoor for winter it is also a good idea to do some work inside. During the winter you will spend most of your days curled up at home, so might as well make it a clean place to be. Bust out the cleaning supplies and get to work, vacuum carpets, dust those hard-to-reach places, and organize your home. These small acts will change your area and make it feel more like home.

“Make Sure Your Windows Are Closed” – Maintenance Technician

It is important to check your windows before it gets too cold. When checking your windows, look and make sure they are fully sealed and do not have a noticeable draft coming through them. Another thing you can do to prepare your windows for winter is to plastic seal your windows. Wrapping your windows helps with keeping the cold out. If you notice any issues with your windows or having problems fully closing the windows let management know.

For more winter maintenance tips check out this ARTICLE.

Looking for a new apartment? Check out all our listings HERE.

The Importance of Renters Insurance

Now that the busiest time of year at our properties is complete and residents are settling into their new homes, it’s a great time to emphasize the important of protecting your home and your belongings with renters insurance!

When living at a Roers property, you are required to have renter’s insurance. Renters insurance can help you repair or replace property after loss due to many types of damage or theft. It protects your personal belongings, valuable property, and can also provide coverage for an accident at your residence. Policies usually have very affordable annual premiums, that can also be paid monthly. Renters insurance is also important to have because your landlord may have property insurance, but that will not cover your personal belongings.

We recently visited with a local Fargo Insurance Agent, Rena Bjerke, with DJ Coulter Agency Inc, to find out more details on benefits of having renter’s insurance. Here is what she has to say:

What are the differences between having your own insurance policy or staying on your parents’?

  1. For students currently covered under their parents, in the event of a claim, it will not affect their parent’s insurance rates or claim history. It is important to verify with the insurance company that they offer the extension of personal property coverage when their child goes off to college.
  2. Students that carry their own renter’s insurance policy, will start their own “insurance credit history” with that company. Down the road when adding additional policies such as home, autos, families, toys, new business ventures… or anything that will need protection from, having that insurance policy already in place will help with rates and programs.
  3. Students that have their own policy develop their own start of independence – diving into their own relationship with the insurance world and building confidence to take charge of their own responsibilities. They can take pride knowing they have the items they have worked hard to acquire, covered in the event of a claim. This could be the new TV they just bought, the nice new couch, or the new laptop.

We spoke with Roers Property Management General Manager, Madison Maides, for her insight on the importance of renters insurance.

“Renters insurance is important as it protects residents from the cost of accidents or things they can’t control. For instance, if there is water damage from a neighboring unit and you have personal items damaged because of it, your renters’ insurance would cover the cost of your lost items. Or maybe an accident happens in your unit and you are responsible for the costs, your renters insurance would end up paying for the damage and not you.”

If you have questions regarding how much coverage is needed, you should reach out to your family’s insurance agent or start to “shop” for the best coverage and price for you. For questions or more information on renters insurance and required coverage amounts, contact our leasing team at 701-356-RENT. 

Its Moving Time!

Let’s face it moving is not the most fun thing to do. You never know how much stuff you really have until you have to pack it all up to bring it somewhere else. It seems your possessions multiply when you start getting ready to pack. We want to make sure you are geared up with some simple moving tips to help you.

If you are feeling slightly overwhelmed with an upcoming move, we are here to help. The Roers Property Management team are experts when it comes to helping people move in and move out. 

Here are some tips and tricks to get you on the move as stress free as possible.  

  • Boxes! You need so many boxes when you are packing up, and they’re expensive! Don’t go out and buy cardboard boxes. First try your local recycling drop off, you may find all of the moving boxes you need right there. Don’t forget to recycle them (again) when you are done. Some other great places you might find boxes would be, bookstores, liquor stores, and Craigslist, just to name a few!  
  • Heavy furniture? Moving heavy furniture is the hard work! Especially when it isn’t coming with to your new home. Instead of having to haul the heavy furniture yourself to the nearest land fill, call your local donation center. You can schedule a donation pick up with them, they will come and take all the items that you don’t want to move and bring them to donate for you. This will save you so much time and energy on your move plus you are giving back to your local community, way to go!  
  • Declutter as you pack. Packing is a great time to also throw out those odds and ends that you have kept forever but haven’t touched since you put them there. Ask yourself, do I need this in my new home? If the answer is no, don’t bring it! Only pack away what you want to bring, anything else you can donate or toss, that way you are saving time packing, hauling and unpacking!  
  • Organize your boxes! Pack your home one room at a time, this way you can unpack the easiest! Color code your boxes as you pack them, use different colored sticky notes and tape them down as you seal each box. For example, you finished packing your kitchen box, put a green sticky note on top of the box and tape it closed! That way you know green is for the kitchen! 

We are hopful these tips help you when you are busy packing and preparing for a move. We wish you all the best and for a stress-free move! A Roers Property Ambassador is available to help you with more details on additional moving tips, feel free to contact us today.

The Essentials For Your First College Apartment

It’s back to school time! Which probably means moving into your apartment. If you’re moving out of your dorm and into your very first college apartment – that can be a pretty big transition! No more walking down the hall to get your meal served to you. No more climbing up to the top bunk every night. No more sharing a bathroom with 50 other people!

Your first apartment will more than likely be a breath of fresh air compared to life in the dorms. And we are here to help you with your move! We have compiled a list of everything you will need to make your new place feel like home.

For the Bedroom:

Your bedroom is going to be your… escape. This will be the one place you can shut the door from your roommates and be by yourself. It’s where you will spend a lot of time and it’s the only place that’s only yours.. so make it special! Here’s what you’ll need:

  • Bed Frame + Mattress
  • Mattress Pad
  • Bedding
  • Desk + Chair
  • Nightstand
  • Lamp
  • Decor
    • Rug
    • Plants
    • String Lights
    • Photos
    • Art
  • Hangers
  • Dresser
  • Power Strips & Extension Cords
  • Fan – just in case there’s not central air and you like to sleep in the cold
  • 3M Wall Hooks & Hangers – a lot of apartments charge you per nail hole so adhesive hooks are always a good idea

  

For the Kitchen:

Depending on how many roommates you will be living with, it’s a good idea to decide who is going to get what items for the kitchen. Here is a list to start with:

  • Table + Chairs
  • Plates, Cups, Mugs, Bowls, etc.
  • Silverware & Utensils
  • Pots & Pans
  • Trash Can
  • Garbage Bags
  • Coffee Machine – duh
  • Microwave – some apartments come with them, so make sure yours doesn’t before someone buys one!
  • Toaster
  • Dish Soap & Scrubber – the dishwasher isn’t superman… clean the dishes before you put them in the dishwasher, guys!
  • Dishwasher pods
  • Hand Towels & Wash Cloths
  • Groceries! – that’s a given

   

 

 

 

 

 

For the Bathroom:

You might have one bathroom that you split between all of your roommates.. or you might get your own! Make sure to plan accordingly. But either way, here’s how to stock it up:

  • Bath Towels – we recommend getting around 4-6 for yourself so you can rotate while you’re washing the others
  • Hand Towels & Wash Cloths
  • Shower Curtain & Liner – don’t forget the liner!! You don’t want to ruin the curtain.
  • Bath Rug
  • Plunger & Toilet Brush
  • Mini Trash Can
  • Toiletries
    • Shampoo & Conditioner
    • Toothbrush & Toothpaste
    • Toothbrush holder
    • Soap (both body & hand)
    • Toilet paper
    • Shaving Products

    

For the Living Room:

This is where you’re going to live! (In the living room… get it?) Make sure this space is accommodating to not only you and your roommates… but your guests! This is where you’ll have your movie nights, watch the big game, catch up, and just hang out! Here’s what you’ll need:

  • Sofa & Additional Seating
  • Coffee & End Tables
  • Lamps
  • TV
  • TV Stand
  • Blankets & Pillows
  • Decor – make it feel homey!
    • Plants
    • Wall Decor/Art
    • Rug
    • Photos

  

Cleaning Supplies:

Whether you like it or not… your place is going to get dirty. And you’re going to need to clean it. Here’s a list of everything you will need at some point:

  • Broom & Dustpan
  • Vacuum
  • Mop or Swiffer
  • Paper Towels
  • Disinfectant Wipes – a true lifesaver
  • Carpet Cleaner
  • Bathroom Cleaner
  • Window Cleaner
  • Multi-Purpose Spray
  • Dusting Spray
  • Microfiber Cloths

  

If you are living with roommates, make sure to talk it over with them before buying anything. You want to make sure you have everything, but you also want to make sure you don’t all buy the same things! Hopefully this list helped you in your big move to your college apartment! Good luck and have fun in your new space!