MyNewPlace Blog

By MyNewPlace Guest Blogger, Autumnn Darden of Upack.com!

It’s a new year and a new decade, and that means new beginnings. Whether you’re switching career paths, moving closer to family, or just want a change of scenery, now is a great time to move. Summer is when the moving industry hits its peak; making the next few months perfect for planning a springtime move to beat the rush. As you consider your options, keep in mind these 3 states that have been in the news lately—they have a lot to offer!

I’m kicking off this list with Wisconsin. The state’s capital city, Madison, was named the most secure metro area to live in for 2010, according to a Farmers Insurance study. Safety and security are likely at the top of everyone’s list, no matter if you’ll be moving solo or with a large family. What’s more, the unemployment rate in Wisconsin is nearly two points lower than the national average, making job hunting much easier. With statistics like that, what’s not to like about Wisconsin?

Any moving company can tell you that Texas has always been a popular destination for relocating. The fact that WalletPop named Austin, TX the “Best All-Around City” to move to in 2011 only reinforces that fact! Texas is known for having a few college towns, big cities, and several suburban neighborhoods, as well as having a stable job market.

According to the most recent reports, California home sales are up, but prices are down. If you’re looking to buy, this is great news! It’s also good for those looking to rent, as more apartments and condos will become available as tenants move into newly purchased homes. California offers housing for a wide range of lifestyles—from big city living to suburbia—with plenty of activities, attractions, and SUN to go around.

The U-Pack Press Room has the scoop on anything and everything newsworthy that’s moving-related. Have a question about moving or relocating? Let me know!

This morning MyNewPlace is thrilled to announce the launch of MNP PINK: A year-long breast cancer fund raising and awareness campaign in partnership with the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF). Breast cancer has affected many of those closest to the MyNewPlace family, and since a majority of our users and clients are women this felt like a very worthy cause to get behind. MyNewPlace will donate $10 (up to $100k) to the BCRF every time a prospective renter visits any pink ribbon property listing* on our site, and clicks the “print this page” link prominently featured underneath the property photo.

Once they click this link, a form will crop up where all a renter has to do is enter their name and email address before printing and bringing it in to the property they wish to view.

If they bring this form to a property, the property manager will fax it back to MyNewPlace and we will donate $10 to the BCRF! We do not require any individual contribution (though please feel free!) or rental agreement. Better yet, renters can bring forms to as many properties as they wish to visit! A detailed explanation of how both renters and property managers can participate can be found here.

If you are an active follower of this blog, you are aware that we have had a MyNewPlace breast cancer fundraiser last fall – on a much smaller scale to support Beth Yesko (one of our employees) taking part in the Susan G. Komen 3-Day Walk For the Cure. MNP PINK on the other hand is a year-long campaign where we not only attempt to raise $100k for the BCRF, as well as promote awareness both internally and on our site and social media venues. We are very excited about this venture and want to encourage our readers, clients, and site visitors to participate actively and check back often! More updates will be issued throughout the day and periodically as time goes on.

*Nearly all of our listings are participating

By MyNewPlace Guest Blogger, Brent Williams, Chief Insider of Multifamily Insiders

Although some apartment communities limit themselves to one summer party for their residents, many others plan small get-togethers, renewal parties, and other events throughout the year.  And unfortunately, most of these parties have problems from the very start:  the planning.  First of all, if you have the mindset of the party being just a “to do” item, then you are in big trouble!  Instead, look at your apartment party as an opportunity!  It’s an opportunity to develop a sense of community, drive resident referrals, get valuable feedback from your residents, and improve retention over all!  So here are several tips to planning the event in order to get the best results!

1)      Don’t settle for a mediocre party concept. In other words, throwing a bunch of money on food and uninspired decorations will be a waste of your resources.  Instead, make the brainstorming of your apartment party and sub-events priority #1.  What do I mean by “sub-events”?  Well, let’s say you have a summer blockbuster themed party, which showcases the different blockbuster movies over the past decade.  Well, what will you actually be doing?   What games will you have?  What prizes will you have?  How will you make your party actually special for your residents?

If you feel uninspired, try looking at current pop culture.  What is “hot” right now?  For example, years ago a “Survivor” concept would have been interesting.  Of course, by now it would probably seem a bit “tired”, so it has to be fresh.  If you STILL have trouble brainstorming, then try a resource such as ResidentEvents.com, which shares event ideas from other property managers.

2)      Find your suppliers. The biggest budget item to any event is going to be the food.  Sometimes a pot luck option is feasible, while other times the community can actually cook all the food.  But most often you are going to have an outside provider.  Get quotes from catering companies and local restaurants, with the latter having opportunities to cross promote.  For example, when a local restaurant comes in to cater, they can put up a banner and get advertising at the same time, so ask them to cut you a deal.  Also, make note of whether they will actually be serving the food or just setting it up.  Even for buffet style, I HIGHLY recommend someone actually dishing out the food for your residents.  Our first experience with self-serve ended in disaster as every resident packed their plate as if they were storing it up for the winter.

Another big question is tables and seating.  Consider places that you may be able to borrow tables from, such as a local church, in order to cut down on costs.  Also, the DJ will be a fairly big budget item.  Make sure to see the DJ in action somewhere.  Some DJs simply mix music and don’t actually engage the audience.  Other DJs are highly involved and serve as your “MC” as well.  A DJ that can serve double-duty with both the music and MC duties is definitely worth it, as it frees up a team member to handle other duties!

3)      Finding the money to pay for your apartment party can be tricky. Some properties already have a budget for it, while others demand that you get creative.  Many property managers look to lean on their vendors to pay for their events.  I’ve worked on both the property management side and the vendor side, and I can tell you from the latter that this can get quite frustrating.  Vendors have many clients, and when they all come asking for money, it’s hard to justify.  If you do, try to find a solution that is an opportunity for your vendor.  Your maintenance supply company would have no benefit to being a part of the event, but a cable provider might!  Allow them to set up a table so that residents can see the cable options, so that they can actually score some new business with their “investment”.

Beyond your existing suppliers, look to local businesses to help sponsor your apartment party.  You have a dedicated audience that they would love to get in front of, so use that as an opportunity to bring them into the mix!

4)      So now you have your event concept and sub-event ideas, you need to get the word out! This is so simple sounding that many property managers drop the ball on this item.  If a resident doesn’t attend your apartment party, then it holds no value when they are thinking about renewing!  So make sure that every resident possible is there!  And to do this, you must treat it like traditional advertising, where it takes 3 or 4 exposures to the “message” before it really sinks in!  So make sure to mention it in your newsletter, a door-hanger, an email blast, on your website, on your Facebook Fan Page, and in person!

5)      Plan the end of your event! How are you going to use pictures and videos from the event?  Also, track the attendance of your apartment party to determine what you did right and what you did wrong!

There is obviously more to the entire apartment party planning process, but hopefully this will get you on the right direction!

MyNewPlace is thrilled to announce our newest guest blogger, Brent Williams of Multifamily Insiders!

Brent Williams leads the largest online multifamily networking group, Multifamily Insiders, which provides a free place for multifamily professionals to network and share ideas, experiences, and knowledge with each other. In a spin-off venture, he has recently launched ResidentEvents.com, which is a place for property management pros to find, share, and rate apartment party ideas.

Through Multifamily Insiders and other social media ventures, Brent has become a leading expert in social media for the multifamily industry, using these tools to better connect those within the industry, as well as those the industry serves.

You can connect with Brent and Multifamily Insiders at its Facebook Fan Page and on Twitter at @mfinsiders and @brentwilliams2.

By MyNewPlace Guest Blogger, Autumnn Darden of UPack.com!

As everyone gets a fresh start in 2011, it’s important to remember that you can always look back and learn from the past. If you’re moving anytime in 2011, I thought it would be helpful to compile the top 5 moving tips from the U-Pack Moving blog in 2010. Here’s the countdown:

5. Start preparing the kids for a move early. There are lots of books and movies out there that will help kids cope with moving. By talking to your kiddos about what to expect from the move, you’re less likely to experience a meltdown on moving day. Displaying excitement about your new place is just one great way to get children ready for a move.

4. Check your moving estimate for any additional fees. This one is only a few days old, but it still qualifies as a tip from ‘10. With any moving company, I recommend carefully reading the moving estimate you receive to make sure you understand what is (or isn’t) included in your moving quote. Nothing is more stressful than planning a moving budget, only to learn that things like fuel, road tolls, or taxes weren’t included in your originally quoted price. This will help you avoid an unpleasant experience upon arrival at your new home. (For the record, U-Pack rolls those charges into your quote-no surprises.)

3. Ask questions. When you’re talking to a moving company, don’t be afraid to ask questions. If you’re not quite sure how the moving process will work, or what the charges will be, or how much space you’ll need to move your stuff; just ask! Any reputable company shouldn’t mind answering a few inquiries to help out a potential customer.

2. Consider portable storage if you’re moving situation is less than ideal. Portable storage containers like the U-Pack ReloCube are perfect for getting some furniture out of the house for staging purposes, or for stashing your items until your new lease starts, or any other situation where you need to work out some details before you can move into your new place. Two words: Time Saver. Just something to think about.

1. Compare, compare, compare. I know, we’ve all done it—either we buy the most expensive because we assume it’s the best, or we buy the cheapest because we’re on a strict budget. I’m not saying this is necessarily a bad method; but with a life event as important as moving, quality and reliability can be worth far more than an actual dollar amount. Be sure to compare the services you’re getting for the price, along with the reputation of the moving companies you’re considering.

If you have any questions about moving, I’m happy to help—leave me a comment or two. I hope everyone had wonderful holidays; good luck in 2011!

By MyNewPlace Guest Blogger, Ron Leshnower – About.com’s Apartment Living Expert

If one of your top priorities for 2011 is finding a new apartment, you no doubt want to accomplish your goal in as little time and with as little stress as possible. Whether you’ve been looking for a while without any luck or you’re planning to start your search now that the holiday season is over, here are five tips to help you find a great apartment:

1. Determine what you want. You don’t want just any apartment, but one that’s right for you. This means you should think about what you want and then design a search around those parameters.
Most apartment hunters begin their search knowing how many bedrooms they want. But what about bathrooms? If you think you need two, have you considered whether one-and-a-half bathrooms would work? (If it would, giving up the half-bathroom could save you money in rent.)

Aside from basic considerations such as the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, take a moment to decide what other features are important to you. For instance, if you don’t own a dog, you might not care if a building is pet-friendly. On the other hand, you might want the flexibility of knowing you can get a dog later on, if you want to.

Already knowing what you want means not having to waste time visiting apartments that won’t fit the bill. For example, if it’s important that you find an apartment with generous closet or storage space, you should find out whether a particular apartment offers this before you go see it.

2. Know how flexible you can be. Landlords may offer tenants different rental options, and you need to know what you feel comfortable with before you commit to anything. For instance, you might agree to a two-year lease so you can lock in a good rent today. Or, if your goal is to rent an apartment for a year and then look to buy your own home, a one-year lease is probably your best bet. However, if you’re concerned you may need to relocate because of a job or personal issue, you might want to find a landlord who’s open to a month-to-month rental agreement.

3. Answer the roommate question. Living with roommates is important to many apartment dwellers. Roommates can provide needed companionship and make your apartment living more affordable by splitting expenses. But roommates aren’t for everyone. Even if you decide that living with a roommate is the right choice for you, you’ve then got to find someone who’s compatible.

4. Anticipate the finances. It’s not enough to find an apartment you love; you must also be able to afford it. The biggest expense you’ll face is the monthly rent, but you must also be prepared to pay for utilities, groceries, and other bills. Also, don’t forget that before you can enjoy your new digs, you’ll need to fork over money for such items as moving expenses and a security deposit.

5. Take your search online. The Web has a wealth of resources for apartment hunters, including sites that let you search for apartments in the area you want at no charge. For example, to search MyNewPlace.com’s database of six million listings, visit the MyNewPlace.com homepage and type in your desired ZIP code. Then, set your price range, bedroom size, pet preference, and more (remember Tip #1?). You may then be just a click or two away from your dream apartment!

MyNewPlace had its 2010 Holiday Party on a boat in the San Francisco bay. (No, I’m not making the ‘I’M ON A BOAT!’ joke, but I can assure you plenty of people did). In any event, it was very festive and I’m relatively certain everybody had a great time! The full album can be found on our Facebook page – be sure to stop by and tag yourselves!

By MyNewPlace Guest Blogger, Autumnn Darden of Upack.com!

In a nod to holiday glitz, the third installment of the celebrity moving roundup features a few stars that are making the move to even more luxurious living. Ocean views, 10 bathrooms, climate-controlled personal golf courses…can a home get any more extravagant? Take a look at the latest celebrity moving news:

1. It looks like LeBron James is bringing the ‘Heat’ to Miami’s Biscayne Bay.  The NBA superstar recently purchased a 12,178 square-foot mansion equipped with a wine cellar, home theater, infinity pool, and a private dock that can hold two 60-ft yachts.

2. Jenna Bush and Henry Hager are leaving Baltimore to move to New York City, putting Jenna closer to her job as a Today show correspondent.  Jenna will also be closer to her sister Barbara, who also lives in Manhattan.

3. Sarah Jessica Parker and husband Matthew Broderick purchased an apartment in Central Park West for $21.5 million.  With a 32-foot living room and 11 foot ceilings, it’s definitely not your typical New York apartment!

4. It may not match the glamour of previous celebrity home purchases, but the infamous Nicole ‘Snooki’ Polizzi and Jenni ‘JWOWW’ Farley of Jersey Shore are teaming up to purchase a home on Long Island together.

5. A $50 million home on Florida’s Jupiter Island will be the new crash pad for Tiger Woods. The golfer added a 6,400 square-foot gym to his property, as well as a lap pool and four practice greens.

Could you imagine packing and loading enough furniture, belongings, and equipment to fill 12,000+ square feet of living space, not to mention a gym half that size?  No matter how big or small your move is, try using a moving checklist to streamline your move. If you have any other questions about moving, let me know!

Will Smith is in New York filming Men In Black III along with Tommy Lee Jones and Josh Brolin (who is playing a young Tommy Lee Jones? How does that work?) While Smith has been in a number of major films set in New York – offhand I’d say at least 5 – it seems he does not own an apartment there. Then again, when you own this house

maybe acquiring a paltry 5 bedroom, 6.5 bath apartment is the last thing on your mind.  Is that a pool or a lake? Do you suppose he has tigers guarding the periphery or just guards with uzis? Anywaaaay….

By these standards, his new apartment at 25  Bond Street could probably be considered a downgrade. Then again, at Bond and Bowery it’s in a pretty g.d. good location. Let’s check out the floor plan.

Full disclosure: I have yet to live in a house in my adult life. I’ve been an apartment-dweller for over a decade and while I’d like to buy a house some day at this point, in my ideal zip code it’s just not feasible. That said, I have lived in many many apartments and at this point kind of narrowed it down to what I really like in my multi-unit housing. One feature I particularly like (but do not currently have) that Will Smith will be enjoying is an open floor plan between the kitchen and the dining / living areas. The kitchen is separated by a breakfast bar – so whoever is preparing a meal can chat with guests or family members without everybody constantly hanging out in the kitchen. Check this out:

Not bad, huh? I would think that those cabinets could be a little nicer – but then, it’s just a rental.  A $55,000/month rental!

I also appreciate the bedrooms being separated from the living area. One too many times in my days living with roommates I drew the short straw and ended up in the bedroom adjacent to the living room or kitchen. Every time somebody wanted to make a midnight snack or have people over after hitting the bars, I would be sucked into the middle of the racket. Much of the time I did not mind this, but there was that time when I had an early morning interview….

Anyway, moving right along, let’s check out Will and Jada’s master bedroom.

Hmmm…minimalist. Granted, this is probably just staging furniture, so who knows what their assistants will hook up for them. I do like the window-wall though I’ve had bad luck with drapes and blinds – is it possible to get blinds that aren’t complete pieces of junk? You landlords out there would know better than I would – do any exist that both last a long time and don’t cost an arm and a leg?

Speaking of things that are ludicrously expensive, get a load of this bathroom!

And while you’re at it, keep in mind that this is just one out of the 6 in this apartment.

Lastly, let’s take a look at the living room and apartment long shot. I could totally deal with this!

Even though he’ll only be here for a couple of months, it looks like Will Smith and family will be pretty comfortable!

And if that’s not the understatement of the universe, I don’t know what is.

We got a tree! Our decorations don’t really match, but it sure does smell good.  Thanks so much to Johnnie, Claudia, Jonathon, Jeff, Dianna, Leslie, Jerry, and Christopher! And to Enzo for watering the tree and taking pictures.