Tag: Apartment Living
WOW-EE Story: Making Exercising Fun!
Celebrated Employee: Amanda Nieves
Experience Maker, Better Living Consultant
Falcon Square at Independence, Orlando, FL
Employee Since 2019
A Venterra employee recently overheard a conversation between two BLC’s, Amanda and Ashley, regarding exercising and chatting about how inspired they were by their AMM who was riding their bike twice a day (before and after work) and eating healthier to work towards his health goals. That’s when Amanda mentioned that she would exercise more if she could find a way to make it fun. Ashley then asked her what she considers fun and Amanda mentioned that she enjoys riding a bike or roller skating and that she would do either activity more consistently and with more enthusiasm and motivation than going to a regular gym.
Not only is Venterra dedicated to offering our residents a “Better Way of Living” but the company is also committed to “Better Living” for its employees in their personal lives, including health. Hearing this conversation, the Venterra team knew it was time to WOW in the spirit of creating a “Better Living” opportunity for Amanda. The next time Amanda came into the office, she was surprised with a new bike! She was so happy, she jumped on the bike immediately and got to cruising!
Do you find yourself like Amanda, looking for ways to make your workouts more fun? Here are a few ideas to get you started!
- Exercise with a Friend – They will help motivate you and keep you accountable throughout your workout!
- Take a Dance Class – Break away from your typical gym workout and dance off those calories!
- Watch Your Favorite TV Show – Catch up on the latest episode on the treadmill instead of the couch, your body will appreciate it.
- Hula Hoop – It sounds silly and something that you would do as a kid, but as an adult, the hula hoop can be a serious workout for your abs.
- Join a Recreational Sports Club – Looking to make new friends while burning some calories? A rec sports league may be a good option. Pick your favorite sport and get out there.
The health and wellbeing of our employees and residents is a top priority of Venterra – that’s why many of our communities are equipped with top-notch fitness centers. Find a community today and get started on your fitness journey!
7 Ways To Beat The Summer Heat In Your Apartment
The apartment market is hotter than ever – and so is the heat! An extreme heatwave has shattered temperature records across the southern U.S. with over 30 million people under heat alerts this summer. Roughly 4,000 new temperature records have been set this year, and that list is certain to grow as the summer continues.
For renters, this means fighting the rising heat while battling to keep air conditioning bills from skyrocketing. Below, Venterra’s Maintenance and Operations team put together their best advice on how to keep your apartment cool throughout the rolling heatwaves this summer:
1. Cover Your Windows – When it’s hot, up to 76% of the sunlight that hits windows can enter in the form of pure heat. Keeping blinds closed throughout the sunny parts of the day can help eliminate the amount of heat that enters your apartment. If blinds aren’t cutting it, another option is to purchase blackout curtains to block out the sun’s rays – which have been proven to reduce the amount of heat transferred by your windows by as much as 24%. Both of these methods are particularly helpful for east and west-facing windows.
2. Close the Doors – Keeping doors closed to rooms that aren’t being used allows the air to circulate where you need it most. If you spend most of your time in the living room, make sure all of your bedrooms and bathroom doors are closed.
3. Adjust Your Fans – Many people don’t know this but the direction that your fan rotates can change the way the air is distributed throughout your apartment home. Setting your ceiling fans to rotate counter-clockwise in the summer helps to push the air straight down, creating a cooling effect. If you’re unsure of which way your ceiling fan is rotating, contact your maintenance team and they will gladly get you set up and cooled down.
4. Use Air Conditioning Efficiently – This is where your wallet comes into play. When heat rises, your AC bill will likely follow. But to try and avoid any outrageous bills, being efficient with your air conditioning is key. Venterra’s maintenance team suggests sticking to the following temperatures:
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- Set the thermostat at 76+ degrees while you are in your apartment. In fact, energy.gov recommends 78 degrees.
- Set the thermostat at 80+ degrees while you are away. If you have a Venterra apartment that is equipped with SMARTRent thermostats, the temperature can easily be changed via the app – so you can even change the temperature after you leave for the day or set a temperature schedule based on your schedule.
5. Turn Off Lights: When turned on, light bulbs can impact the heat of a room. Turning them off when daylight is present is a way to easily reduce the heat emitted while also minimizing the cost of your electricity bill.
6. Check Air Filters: Residents should monitor the cleanliness of their hvac filter when possible. If dirty, renters can call in a service request when they would like a filter change. Venterra provides filters free of charge and they are a fundamental component in ensuring hvac systems perform as intended as it ensures airflow through the system into the apartment. Lack of airflow, dirty vents and diminished cooling capacity are all signs that the AC filter could be clogged and need replacement.
7. Avoid Cooking Indoors – What’s better than a summer cookout?
Nothing, if you ask us – and it keeps the heat in your kitchen from rising from an oven or stovetop. Venterra communities have outdoor grills, so take advantage of them! And hey, you may just make friends with a new neighbor while grilling out!
Venterra’s maintenance team is dedicated to delivering industry-leading living experiences that benefit our residents day in and day out. If you’re in the market for a new home, managed by a team of caring employees, check out our available units!
Rentgrata Technology to Connect Future and Current Renters
Have you ever wanted to ask a current resident how they like their apartment? One of the toughest parts of choosing an apartment community is reading through hundreds of reviews and not being able to get real time feedback from residents that actually live at the property – but what if you did have the ability to chat with current residents? Talk about a game changer.
Enter Rentgrata, the only technology on the market that offers prospects the opportunity to message current residents of apartment buildings when considering a new place, helping renters gather feedback
from a resident’s point of view before moving in. Through the Rentgrata platform, real conversations about floor plans, amenities, and other renter questions can easily be answered via SMS text, the Rentgrata app or online.
Venterra has partnered with Rentgrata to test the platform at five properties, with intentions to expand. The fist five properties to have access to the platform will be: Apex West Midtown Apartments, Belterra Apartments, Calais Midtown Apartments, Canton Mills Lofts, The Harrison Apartments.
One may ask, why would a resident have interest in participating? Well, for each lease that is signed, both the new resident and current the resident are rewarded by the property. In short, residents can make money by simply responding to questions and if the person moves in, they get paid! On top of that, it gives residents the ability to connect with potential new neighbors.
For Stephanie Gonzalez, Venterra’s Vice President, Property & Customer Innovation, testing the platform was a no-brainer, “Rentgrata’s platform is quite innovative and is a natural progression for our customer reviews. Now, instead of a prospective renter sorting through reviews for one that matches their concern, they can ask a current resident, gaining real-life insight while potentially making a new friend along the way. We are confident that our communities provide residents with a differentiated living experience that they will feel confident sharing with anyone who asks. Rentgrata’s technology instills first-hand trust with prospective renters who may be thinking, ‘who else lets you speak with their current residents?’”
On top of creating connections, the platform will also provide Venterra with anonymized data extracted from the conversations, reporting on important details including what prospective residents are seeking in a new home and items current residents think could be improved – so that we can make updates accordingly and improve our resident experience in real-time.
By integrating the Rentgrata platform, Venterra will be able to:
- Introduce prospective renters to their peers – Venterra’s current residents.
- Build community and retain more residents.
- Help prospects gain familiarity sight unseen, if leasing virtually or from afar.
- Increase resident sentiment and improve online reputation.
- Improve leasing conversion rates.
“Deciding on where to live can be a difficult choice, especially when decisions are based on evaluating various online ratings and reviews. Through implementing Rentgrata, genuine conversations can be facilitated between current and prospective renters while offering insights on the backend that will help uncover areas where Venterra can improve the lives of our residents,” said Venterra CEO, John Foresi. “Our residents are the sole individuals who can truly speak to the day-to-day experiences of living at a Venterra property. We look forward to providing opportunities for our residents to be a part of our customer experience strategy, sharing their first-hand insights to help guide potential future neighbors,” said Venterra Chairman Andrew Stewart.
91% of Rentgrata renters recently surveyed agreed that chatting with a resident helped them feel more confident in their decision. A solution that not only encourages interactions with real customers, but facilitates it, such as Rentgrata, is a promising tool for a company like Venterra who holds multiple Customer Satisfaction Awards from companies including Kingsley and ApartmentRatings.com.
“Rentgrata is proud to partner with Venterra Realty, a company that shares our vision in providing an enjoyable resident experience through innovation and a people-first culture. Throughout the process of developing Rentgrata, frequent communication with the Venterra team has helped our employees build a technology that leverages resident sentiment through multiple channels,” said Zach Sloan, Co-Founder, and Chief Sales Influencer of Rentgrata.
Venterra is excited to begin the test phase at the first five properties and continue to find ways to further include our residents in the customer satisfaction process!
Looking for an apartment at Apex West Midtown Apartments, Belterra Apartments, Calais Midtown Apartments, Canton Mills Lofts, The Harrison Apartments? Connect with us to learn more.
15 Inexpensive Summer Activities for Budget-Friendly Fun
Sunshine, pool time, sandal season… we’re all anxiously awaiting the official arrival of summer! But let’s get real, those vacations, brunches, and summer activities can sure stack up quickly. Thankfully, there are plenty of ways to fully enjoy the sunshine without getting your credit card involved. If you’re already brainstorming ways to fully enjoy the season without breaking the bank, you’re in luck! We’ve rounded up 15 inexpensive summer activities for some budget-friendly fun.
1. Check our your local farmer’s market!
When going to a farmer’s market, not only are you supporting local suppliers, but you’re also ensuring that your produce and other goodies are extra fresh! Make the farmer’s market one of your weekly rituals and spend the morning perusing the booths. Consider using your purchases to prepare a fantastic meal at home with friends! You can also pack everything up for a picnic in the park or even dine al fresco on your patio!
2. Take a hike!
There’s nothing quite like waking up early to enjoy a hike or nature walk — even if it’s only a few blocks away from your apartment! Grab a few nature-loving friends, wear some comfortable, outdoor-friendly clothes, and plan out a day of taking in the great outdoors. You can also pack a film camera for some gorgeous nature photos or even pack a blanket and bring a journal for a relaxing recharge. If you’re looking to venture a little farther, search for state parks near you and plan an entire day around it!
3. Enjoy a lazy pool or beach day!
This is what summer dreams are made of! And honestly, nothing beats a day spent at the pool or beach with friends and family. So get your water essentials together (don’t forget your SPF, some sunglasses, and a good book or magazine) and hit up your local Venterra community pool or beach. Soak up the sun, build a sandcastle, and even channel some Palm Springs energy by getting pool floats together and rounding up your friends for a summery photoshoot!
4. Take a mini road trip to a new place!
If you’ve never taken the time to explore your neighboring towns and cities, now’s your chance! Plan a quick drive or train ride to a new place and spend the day walking around and exploring. Pop into the local stores and coffee shops to get a better feel for the area and be sure and have your camera ready for some impromptu photos. Who knows — you may find your new favorite restaurant, vintage store, or make a new friend that will inspire future visits to a nearby destination!
5. Explore your local orchards!
Nothing tastes quite as good as in-season fruit. Do some research to find local orchards in your area and plan a day to get to pickin’! You can even find some awesome recipes for making your own jam and jellies — a super thoughtful gift to friends and family if you ask us! Many orchards will also host fun local events, so be sure and ask the owners if anything is coming up on the social calendar.
6. Visit a local landmark.
How much do you really know about your city’s history? Spend some time researching your area’s local landmarks and pop by for a visit for an authentic look into your community’s culture. Not only will this give you a better idea of the history of your city, but it’s also a terrific and inexpensive way to learn more about the community that surrounds you.
7. Host a movie night!
Whether you’re a film buff or not, hosting your own movie night is a genius way to save a little cash and still have a ton of fun. Get your friends together, decide on a film and create your own cinema! You can even make this a recurring event, like starting a film club of this year’s Oscar contenders or even working through a list of the greatest films of all time. Encourage each friend to recommend an upcoming film and bring one budget-friendly treat — you can even throw together a snack bar. Popcorn-topping contest, anyone?
8. Take yourself out to the ball game!
Whether you’re a sports fan or not, a day spent at the ballpark ranks pretty high on the quintessential summer activities list! Thankfully, nosebleed seats are relatively inexpensive (some are less than $10 per ticket!) so round up a couple of sporty friends, and don’t forget your hat, shades, and catcher’s mitt! You can also see when your ballpark has a $1 hot dog night — who doesn’t love cheap concession snacks!?
9. Check out a free museum (or visit on a discount day).
When was the last time you spent the day at the museum? Thanks to last year’s events, we’re guessing it’s been a while! Many museums will offer either a free day or a day of the week where tickets are deeply discounted. Check out your local art and history museums and spend the day examining the curated art and inspiring sculptures. (Note that these days may be crowded, so keep that in mind if you’re still trying to avoid larger crowds!)
10. Complete your own version of Chopped.
If you and your friends are cooking enthusiasts, consider using one of the grills provided at your Venterra community to host your own cooking competition! Encourage everyone to bring 1-2 ingredients and then get together to see who can prepare the most delicious dish. Thankfully it won’t get as stressful and heated as it does on the actual show! Instead, it will be a fun, memorable challenge and (hopefully) tasty meal with friends!
11. Attend a free workout class in your area.
If those at-home workouts during quarantine left you feeling a little less-than-inspired, it’s time to join a local class! Check your local fitness groups and studios — many will host a free class for prospects. Whether you’re stretching it out at yoga class or sweating it out with a fun cardio group, you may just find your new favorite workout and make this your healthiest summer yet! (And who says you can’t carry this healthy new habit into fall and winter, too?)
12. Host a game night!
When it comes to inexpensive ways to enjoy the summer, game night is ALWAYS a fun choice. Round up the gang and get your dominos, cards, and board games ready and game on! You can even meet in a summery location, like a park or someone’s backyard to enjoy a picnic or barbecue-style cookout along with it!
13. Take your pup to the dog park.
Your pup wants in on all the summer fun, too! Not only is visiting the dog park a great budget-friendly way to soak up the season, but it will also encourage your four-legged BFF to get plenty of exercise and socialization! Pack them up and take them over to the dog run or your Venterra community dog park for some fun with their friends. Be sure to introduce yourself to the other pet parents at the park and maybe you can even organize a routine walk around the neighborhood, too!
14. Join a walking or bike tour of your city.
Most major cities have free walking tours (based on donation) that take you through the highlights of the city, or maybe even parts of your city that you’d never think to explore on your own! To find these, you can simply google “City Name + Walking Tour” or you can look on Meetup.com or Airbnb Experiences! This is also a wonderful chance to make new friends and perhaps even organize your own bike and walking events in the future. And if you saw some neat pockets of your city that weren’t explored too much on these tours, now’s your chance to take the day and go for it on your own — you never know what you may discover!
15. Volunteer!
Why not put that extra time to some good use? Volunteering isn’t only good for strengthening your local community, but it’s actually proven to have big benefits for you too, like boosting your mental health and even helping advance your career! Check out your city’s local Facebook groups or Voly to locate some volunteer opportunities near you. Whether you’re helping animals or children, specific groups, or just doing your part to keep your community clean, it will be much appreciated and leave you feeling great!
Looking for an Apartment This Summer?
If one of your summer activities involves looking for the perfect apartment, we’d be happy to give you a free tour of one of our communities — and discuss the free and budget-friendly activities that our local area has to offer. Visit Venterraliving.com to see which neighborhood would best suit you for the summer and beyond — we can’t wait to meet you!
How 120+ Pets Joined The Venterra Family in Two Weeks!
At Venterra, we know that pets are family members – and we were so excited to welcome over 120 new fur-ever friends to our communities in just two weeks!
April and May shine the spotlight on our furry friends with National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day on April 30th and National Pet Month spanning the whole month of May. National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day was established to help bring awareness to the 1,000’s of pets still in shelters waiting for their forever homes and National Pet Month celebrates the special bond between pet owners and their furry friends while encouraging responsible pet care every day of the year.
We know how important (and cute) pets are so, as a pet-friendly community and in support of these national howl-idays – we waived pet deposits for all new pets moving into a Venterra community. That’s right. Any new pets that moved in a paw-some Venterra apartment from April 15-30 didn’t require a pet deposit!
This two-week offer was available to both new and existing residents, and we were thrilled with the results, adding a paws-itively impressive 129 pets to existing leases! Pets also aren’t just enjoyed by our residents; our staff loves seeing sweet pictures of our purr-fect furry friends too – that’s why we encouraged our residents to share pictures to show off their purr-sonalities! Below you’ll see Obi-Wan who instantly loved cuddling up in the CoHo Apartments in Atlanta and Luke, the curious Kitty in Katy, Texas and the proud new resident at Elation Grandway West!
In addition to waiving the pet deposit, some communities like Park at Wurzbach worked with local shelters to encourage adoptions! To help find a forever home, the San Antonio community partnered with Charming Pet Rescue to feature senior pup Holly who also had her adoption fees sponsored.
Looking for ways you can make a difference in a shelter pet’s life? Petmate has outlined the following options to give back:
- Adopt a Shelter Pet: Before you make this decision, be sure that your home is ready to accept a new furry family member. Visit your local animal shelter to pick your potential new pet and talk with the staff about any special needs or food your new pet may need.
- Volunteer: If you simply cannot adopt right now, consider volunteering at a local pet shelter. Things you may end up doing include playing with the animals and socializing them, getting them some exercise, cleaning up their pens, feeding and watering them, as well as just hanging out with them so they have some type of human interaction.
- Donate: If you just don’t have the time, donate instead! It doesn’t even have to be money. Animal shelters rely on supplies and donations throughout the year. Be sure to reach out to your local shelter to find out exactly what they need. Sometimes, shelters have specific supplies they ask for.
- Become a Foster: Maybe you want a pet but can’t commit to the long-term care of it. If that’s the case, consider becoming a foster! Fostering a dog is when you take in an animal while the rescue group finds the dog a forever home. Most of the time, you’ll be working with a rescue group vs. an animal shelter. There are qualifications you’ll have to meet in order to foster a dog, so be sure to reach out to a local rescue group ahead of time. Becoming a foster not only helps our rescue groups, but also keeps animals out of shelters.
Whether you’re a Venterra resident or looking to become one – just know that you are in the presence of pet lovers galore! Do you have questions about adding a pet to your lease? Check out our outlined Pet Policies.
Spring Cleaning: Ways to Keep Your Apartment Cool, Fresh & Clean
While there’s no better feeling than coming home to a squeaky clean apartment, the idea of spring cleaning your space can be overwhelming. Thankfully, tackling a big spring cleaning and organizing project is entirely doable with a game plan! Keep reading for some great ways to brighten and clean your space, so you can enjoy a productive spring season! We’ll also be sharing some smart ways to stay energy efficient and pet safe during the warmer seasons, so you and your pet can enjoy the warmer seasons (and maybe save a little money, too)!
Cleaning Your Space
Ready to grab your rubber gloves and get to work? Maybe already having second thoughts because it seems like such an overwhelming task? Don’t worry — this section will cover everything you need to do to ensure your apartment is sparkling with minimal stress.
Dusting
Dusting may not be high up on the list of exciting tasks, but it’s essential to maintaining a clean, healthy space. Not only is it unsightly, but it can also lead to allergies and respiratory issues. Did you know that the average household collects more than 40 pounds of dust every year? Yikes. Keep in mind that the best way to avoid a full day of dusting is to make it a regular cleaning habit. Dust at least once each month to reduce allergens and keep your house looking good. Do a deeper dusting every three months — move your furniture around and be sure to hit all of the nooks and crannies. Just be sure to start each dusting session from the higher surfaces like your ceiling fans, as dust will fall and then settle.
Declutter
This spring cleaning step can be tough for a lot of people, so don’t beat yourself up if you find that it’s difficult to clear out your old items! However, following these steps and remaining objective (not too sentimental) may help:
- Consider starting your projects smallest to biggest: If decluttering the largest room in your apartment seems like a daunting, all-day task, start with small projects and work your way up. You may find that the satisfaction of completing each project will motivate you to keep going!
- Start with one room at a time: If you find yourself getting overwhelmed, stay on track by doing one room or part of a room at a time. Start with one dresser, or one side of your closet and then work your way through the entire room.
- Be honest with yourself: Understand that you may find some things that you feel are too
sentimental to donate or toss out. Decide which stays at your own discretion, but also ask - yourself if just a photo on your phone of this item will suffice.
- Organize by keep/toss/donate: Declutter your items and stick to the three piles — no excuses! Keep in mind that while you may not use your items any longer, someone else may be thrilled to have them. Check out this list of Where to Donate Your Clothes!
The “Extras”
While you’re in the midst of spring cleaning, take this time to also make sure you and your maintenance team are squared away on the health and safety items in your space:
- Check the expiration date on your fire extinguisher
- Check your air filters and replace if necessary
- Change the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
- Wash all windows and notify maintenance if you need your outside windows cleaned
In addition to ensuring you’re good to go on your emergency items, it’s also a great time to hit the refresh button on your frequently-used items:
- Wash your sheets, blankets, and all throw pillows (and inserts, if possible!)
- Flip your mattress or sprinkle the top with baking soda and let it sit before vacuuming it clean
- Disinfect your electronic screens, keyboards and computer mouse, and use compressed air to clear out any debris
Also, don’t forget that natural cleaning products don’t just get the job done — they’re also better for the environment! Check out this list of the Best Natural Cleaning Products, According to Experts.
Bring in Some Brightness
Once your space is looking and feeling clean, it’s time to work on brightening up your home! Good news: this step is typically way more fun than the cleaning phase! Below are a few ways you can give your home a seasonal lift that you and your houseguests will love!
Add More Greenery
Incorporating more houseplants in your space not only instantly adds a homey touch, but it can also be a great boost for your mental health! Before you head to the nursery to purchase your new plants, check out 15 of the best house plants for apartment living.
Incorporate Some Color
No need to completely redecorate and plan an entire style overhaul — sometimes something as simple as a new area rug, bright pillow, or patterned blanket can work wonders. You can also spring for new photo frames or even update the photos!
Bring In Spring Scents and Textures
If you’re guilty of stockpiling your pumpkin-scented candles for fall, be sure and show spring the same amount of love! Burn candles and essential oils with lighter, floral scents and be sure to treat yourself to some in-season blooms!
Vamp Up Your Outdoor Space
If you have a patio or outdoor space, now’s the time to make the most of it! Add some new chairs, decorative items, and some Citronella candles to keep the bugs at bay. This patio revamp will not only look great, but it’ll inspire you (and your guests) to spend more time in fresh air. (We also recommend having a stellar cocktail recipe in your arsenal so you can really WOW your guests on your recently-updated patio!)
How to Conserve Energy
Warmer weather is right around the corner, so it’s vital to make sure your apartment is as energy efficient as possible. Not only will this help you stay more comfortable as the temperatures begin to climb, but it may be easier on your wallet, too. (After all, no one wants to open their energy bills during the spring and summer months!)
Keep Your Apartment Cool
If you’re already dreading your spring and summer energy bills, don’t freak out just yet! Check out these maintenance tips for keeping your apartment cool and comfortable, straight from Apartment Guide:
- Keep your blinds closed whenever possible — sunlight can really heat up a space!
- Find your “number” — this will be a balance between a comfortable air conditioning temperature and one that is more energy-efficient.
- When you leave your apartment, be sure to turn the air conditioning up to around 78 degrees to avoid wasting energy.
- Make sure your air conditioner isn’t working any harder than it has to — close the doors of any rooms that you’re not utilizing.
- Make sure your fan is moving in the right direction — if it’s spinning in the wrong direction, it could be generating more heat!
- If you love to cook, maybe transition some of your food prep to an air fryer or Instapot. Heat from the stove and ovens can cause the temperatures to climb, causing your air conditioner to work even harder.
Keep Your Pet(s) Comfortable, Too!
The warmer spring and summer months don’t just present a new set of needs to us — our pets may need some special seasonal attention, too! Follow these pet safety tips to ensure your four-legged friend has the care and TLC they need.
Don’t Walk Them During Peak Temperatures
A good rule of thumb for walking: if it’s too hot for you, it’s too hot for them. Avoid walking your pets during the hottest times of the day and opt for morning or dusk whenever possible. Also note that hot asphalt and tar can burn paw pads, so try and walk on the grass or dirt whenever possible. If you’re wondering if the sidewalk or road is too hot, test it out for yourself using the 7 Second Rule. Place your hand on the ground’s surface — if it feels too hot for you, it’s also too hot for them.
Invest In A Pet Fountain
If filling your pet’s water bowl isn’t your favorite daily task, consider a fountain! Not only will it keep your pet’s water 1-2 degrees cooler than a typical water bowl, but keeping their water fresh will also encourage them to drink more!
Consider Cooling Collars and Collapsible Water Bowls
If you love to take your furry BFF out on hikes and longer walks, consider a cooling collar and a collapsible water bowl! This will ensure your pet stays comfortable and hydrated, and helps avoid the risk of heat stroke and dehydration.
Don’t Forget To Have Fun!
Once you’ve wrapped up your spring cleaning, taken steps towards lowering your efficiency bill, and ensured your pet is ready for hotter weather, it’s time to kick back and enjoy the season (hopefully at one of our many pools)! As always, do not hesitate to contact us if you need any assistance or have any questions!
Sit Back & Relax While We Innovate
Let’s face it, many apartment communities nowadays are updated and have beautiful amenities. When walking around a property, you may see lush greens and sparkling pools. Those features are undoubtedly pleasing to the eye, but what’s really driving the current multifamily industry – and potentially even your apartment tour through the community – are innovative technologies and ideas.
Lately, the multifamily industry has been faced with a challenge: how to enable potential and current renters with ways to complete their apartment search on their own terms. That’s where technology, as you may know, has become the most popular kid in school. Not to mention, where Venterra’s Core Value of the Never-Ending Pursuit of Excellence truly shines. We take pride in what we do and our pursuit of a “better way” is never-ending – especially when it comes to innovation and new ideas that will help create positive experiences for current and potential residents.
Below are a few innovations we launched to meet the needs of renters when they needed us the most.
Self-Guided Tours
Moving is stressful. That’s when we asked ourselves, what can make this experience better? Renters were are now looking for options that allowed them to shop for their next home on their own, while maintaining their own standard of comfort. To help create a positive apartment touring experience, Venterra was one of the first property management companies to launch self-guided apartment tours. Through a partnership with SmartRent, a provider of smart home automation products, Venterra integrates its tour process with SmartRent’s platform, which allows prospective renters to tour a community on their own terms, without contacting the office, using only their smartphone. SmartRent’s Self-Guided Tour options help to offer convenient alternatives for renters with busy lifestyles who want to see a space before they rent.
“Self-Guided apartment tours are a necessity in this environment,” said Stephanie Gonzalez, Vice President of Property and Customer Innovation at Venterra Realty. “The space and opportunity for a future resident to be able to arrive at a community, scan a QR code, select the apartment type they want to tour, and take the tour independent of the office staff sets everyone up for success. We are meeting the needs and wants of our customers and creating the personalized experience Venterra is known for.”
Engrain SightMap
Imagine going on your first self-guided tour and not knowing the property – trying to find the elevators, the pool and even the unit could be frustrating. To enhance the prospect experience for renters, Venterra partnered with Engrain to implement their tool, SightMap. SightMap’s interactive map shows exactly where available apartments are located within the property relative to amenities, parking, and wayfinding. Now, residents can get a better idea of where the specific units they are interested in lie on the property through our Community Stage Touch Screen.
Looking for a new apartment and using these technologies first hand? View our properties list, find a complex near you and schedule a self-guided apartment tour through your favorite unit!
SMARTLEASING
Once you have found the perfect apartment through a self-guided tour, next comes the leasing process. Lucky for you, this once dreaded item has been innovated for a seamless quick and easy process. Through Venterra’s SMARTLEASING innovation, it only takes 5 minutes for you to fill out the paperwork, and you’ll pay nothing until you are approved and decide to reserve an apartment. Yet another way to save time and headaches throughout your day spent on the hunt for that perfect place.
Future Innovations:
Venterra is always looking for ways to innovate and improve the rental process and living experience. A few innovations taking place in the near future include:
- A fully integrated resident app, allowing residents to be untethered from their computer and stay in contact with their community
- Visual representations of what garage, storage units and parking spaces are available when leasing
- Interactive 3D site maps to property websites.
Venterra is leading the way in multi-family innovation – and not only at the property level, but throughout the company as a whole. In fact, Venterra employees helped rank Venterra’s innovation in the top 6% of the thousands of companies that participate in the Great Place to Work Institute’s annual anonymous employee survey sponsored by FORTUNE magazine. In the survey, an Innovation Velocity Ratio (IVR) is calculated based on employee responses, with companies receiving an IVR ratio of 11:2 or higher defined as being in an “Accelerated” state. Venterra Realty received an IVR of 15:2, meaning for every 15 Venterra employees willing and able to innovate, there are only two who are not. This unusually high ratio highlights Venterra’s ability to quickly harness, mobilize and respond to new information and ideas.
New ideas don’t have to come from Venterra employees either – we love hearing from our current and future residents on how we can improve! Do you have a suggestion? Tell us! If we implement your idea, we’ll send you $100!
Moving Out of an Apartment: Ways to Manage the Dreaded Task
Moving: typically a term that that is said before or after a long sigh. We get it, taking hours to search for the perfect complex and moving into a new apartment can be stressful. Packing only to unpack, organizing only to remember you need the one thing at the bottom of the box – and the worst of all, having to clean your living space before turning in your apartment keys.
While moving into a new apartment is a chaotic process, you certainly are not alone. According to moving.com, 32 million people in the US move to a new residence throughout the year. To put that into perspective, that is over 10% of the population that are packing up and relocating each year. Even more so, those in the millennial generation are reported to be on the move to a new living space once every two years on average.
Why are people moving so much, you ask? According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there are various reasons why Americans tend to relocate, a few being:
- Wanting a new or better home/ apartment (17.4%)
- Establishing own household (12.2%)
- New job or transfer (10.8%)
- Cheaper housing options (8.2%)
- To be closer to work/easier commute (6%)
Knowing these statistics, it is clear that the moving process is not going away anytime soon. What can be alleviated, however are the headaches that come along with moving into and out of a new apartment community. The sections below will outline ways that you can make your relocation the easiest one yet!
Find the right time to move
Different times of the year call for changing rates, availabilities and moving benefits within apartment management companies – and ultimately the decision you make on timing will depend on what you value as important. For instance, are you more interested in saving money on monthly rental rates and moving company costs, or would you rather have the option to choose from a wide range of available floorplans? While it may sound silly, going through the exercise of asking yourself questions like these can point you in the direction of the values you want to prioritize.
After determining your top priorities, visit apartments.com, which has created an entire outline of the drawbacks and benefits that fall, winter, spring and summer moves offer so that you can make an informed decision to move in and out at a time that best fits your specific needs.
Outline your moving timeline
After you’ve weighed the options, and made the decision on what time of the year you want to move into a new apartment complex, you may start to feel overwhelmed by everything that needs to “get done” before your move out date: think changing your address and decluttering the items in your closet. To stay on track during this chaotic time, it may be useful to create your own moving timeline with an itemized checklist to help you save valuable time when it comes to managing your productivity, while keeping you organized so you don’t miss any important tasks when the big day comes.
Research moving companies
If you choose to go the route of using a moving company, the options can seem endless – and with good reason, as the American Moving and Storage Association counts around 7,000 companies just in the U.S alone. Instead of spending hours on Yelp, Google and other platforms to compare pricing, check out and download the MoveAdvisor: Moving App. By using the app, you will have access to thousands of reputable moving reviews and performance ratings based on real customer experience at your fingertips.
Move out efficiently
If you’ve followed your timeline and checklist, one of the last remaining items will be to clean the apartment after everything is packed up and moved out. At Venterra, we know this is one of the most dreaded tasks – getting on your hands and knees to clean small crevices after a long day of packing or, even worse, taking the time-consuming task of calling to get quotes for an affordable maid service to clean your residence.
Luckily, if you have chosen to reside within a Venterra property, our CLEANMOVE initiative allows you to sit back and relax once everything is all packed up and ready to go! CLEANMOVE, a new addition to our move-out process, guarantees that our team handles the following*:
- wiping down of surfaces and appliances
- cleaning fans, vents or baseboards
- vacuuming carpets or mopping
Not only will CLEANMOVE save you the energy of cleaning, according to the average price of a maid service plus added gratuity, you can save upwards of 22% through CLEANMOVE.
“I love CLEANMOVE! I’m a single mom, and my recent move was very stressful for me. Going back to clean was the last thing I wanted to do. I love knowing that my Apartment at Ventana will be just as clean as when I moved in 4 years ago with little effort required.” Johnna, Ventana San Antonio Resident 2016 – 2020
At the end of a long moving day, the CLEANMOVE process helps you save time so that you can focus on the next phase of your life… and clean less!
*CLEANMOVE does not cover: apartment damages, furniture or trash left behind, odor or pet treatment, paint pro-rate charges or sheetrock repair, or any heavy cleaning.
Consider a Venterra property for your next home
It is clear that the moving in and moving out processes are not something that can necessarily be avoided; however, they can always be improved. Venterra Realty is dedicated to making the process as seamless as possible, and even provides a 30-Day Live It. Love It. Guarantee™ which provides new residents the option to move out if they aren’t completely satisfied with their apartment for any reason.
If you’re in the midst of looking for a new apartment property, consider browsing through one of Venterra’s communities located in 15 cities across the U.S. and contact us if you have any questions on the move-in or move-out process.
Beautiful The Maddox Apartments in Duluth, Georgia Joins Venterra Communities
Venterra is proud to announce The Maddox, a beautiful, garden-style community in Duluth, Georgia. Tucked in the trees on Satellite Road, The Maddox offers one, two, and three bedroom apartments in a community that offers an easy commute to Atlanta and the quiet lifestyle of Duluth.
Built in 2007, The Maddox was planned with resident comfort in mind. In 2019, a major renovation was started, and half of the apartments feature updated appliances and flooring.
- Renovated kitchens. Many of our apartments come with renovated kitchens, complete with granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, white subway tile backsplash, and gooseneck faucets.
- Kitchen islands. You’ll find a kitchen island in almost all of our apartments, which gives you more counterspace, more storage, and more inspiration to hone your skills.
- Finished cabinets. The mid-century modern inspired cabinetry throughout the kitchen and beyond gives you a sense of luxury when roaming your apartment.
- Wood plank vinyl floors. Wood plank vinyl floors are ideal for most residents, since they look beautiful and are easy to clean.
- Carpeted bedrooms. The coziness of carpet in the bedrooms helps turn your bedroom into a sanctuary and is warmer on your toes.
- Patios and balconies. All of our apartments feature a patio or balcony, providing your own private space to get some fresh air.
- Ample closet space. With oversized closets, linen closets, and outdoor storage closets, you’ll have plenty of room to store your things.
- Full–sized washers and dryers. Don’t worry about leaving the apartment for a simple load of laundry. Take care of all your laundry when you want to, without the need for quarters.
- Garden tubs. Spend time relaxing after a hard day at work with a deep, warm soak in your garden tub.
- Amazing views. Look out the window, or head out on the balcony to look over the saltwater swimming pool or the woods nearby.
- Saltwater swimming pool. Our residents love this the most. It’s a peaceful area, you get good, low-impact exercise, and the saltwater is better for your skin than a standard chlorine-based pool.
- Poolside grilling. Perfect your favorite grill recipe or try a new one on our stainless steel, propane-fueled grill, with granite countertop.
- Fire pit. Stay warm while you hang out, tell stories, and have those fireside chats at our fire pit.
- A bark park and playground. We love pets and welcome up to 3 per apartment. For our resident pooches, they love running off the leash in the bark park.
- 24/7 fitness center. Whether you want to build muscle or tone what you’ve got, we’ve got the equipment for you. Everything, from free weights to treadmills, is ready for you day or night.
- Resident clubhouse. Whether you need to get some work done or just want to host your own Ms. Pac-Man tournament, our resident clubhouse has you covered.
- Controlled access gates. Our controlled access gates are in place to make sure that only those who should be in our community are.
- Detached garages. Keep your car protected from the elements with our detached garages.
- Resident car wash station. Keep your vehicle looking clean at the car wash station, complete with vacuum and high-pressure water sprayer.
Enjoy the Neighborhood!
As if that weren’t enough, you can enjoy the benefits of our neighborhood, including:
- Dining. Enjoy the flavors of Blazin Cajun Seafood, or 678 Korean BBQ down the street. Or if you’re in the mood for Mexican, try Jalapenos Mexican Grill. There are many restaurant options within walking distance.
- Groceries. Stock up on groceries and cook your own meal with items from Kroger, Publix, Super Mercado Jalisco, or Souq International Market.
- Entertainment and Parks. If you’re in the mood for an adventure, you can try exploring McDaniel Farm Park or Stone Mountain Park nearby. You can also take the kids to the K1 Speed Indoor Go Kart area, or relax at Paragon Golf Center.
- Shopping. We are near several shopping centers that will have what you’re looking for. We’re also close to Gwinnet Place Mall, which was featured as Starcourt Mall in Season 2 of the Netflix show Stranger Things.
- Schools. School-goers will attend a Gwinnett County Public School; either Beaver Ridge Elementary, Summerour Middle, or Norcross High School.
You’ll Love living at The Maddox Apartments
There are many other apartment complexes in the Duluth, Georgia area, but none of them offer everything that The Maddox has to offer. Not only do we offer a versatile range of floor plans, contemporary renovations, and more robust amenities, we also offer more reliable service and support to our tenants. See the difference for yourself by touring The Maddox Apartments.
Schedule your free tour today, and see firsthand why our apartments are so popular!
Beautiful Park on Wurzbach Apartments in San Antonio, Texas joins Venterra Communities
Venterra has added another beautiful location to its range of apartment communities across the Southeastern United States: the Park on Wurzbach. Here, you’ll find some of the most gorgeous and modern one, two, and three bedroom apartments in the San Antonio area, as well as top-notch amenities to fit your lifestyle.
Let’s take a look at some of the top features that make Park on Wurzbach such an incredible choice.
Top 12 Apartment Features of Park on Wurzbach
Let’s take a look at what makes Park on Wurzbach the best choice for your new apartment.
- Beautifully finished kitchens. We offer some of the best-looking and most functional kitchens in the San Antonio area. You’ll find stainless steel, new appliances, granite countertops, and a brilliant tile backsplash.
- Kitchen islands. You’ll never run out of counterspace with the help of a kitchen island. It’s also a great way to welcome guests into your apartment and show off your latest digs.
- Ample cabinetry. Our apartments offer loads of kitchen storage with our shaker-style cabinets and pantries.
- Built-In Work Space. Several of our floorplans offer built-in work spaces, which meets the need of working from home.
- Wood plank vinyl flooring. Throughout common spaces in the apartment, you’ll find a wood plank vinyl flooring. It’s ideal for both appearance and upkeep, since it’s easy to clean.
- Carpeted bedrooms. In the bedrooms, you’ll find carpet, which give a cozier feel and is warmer on your toes.
- Patios and balconies. Enjoy fresh air by stepping out onto your privet patio or balcony. You can create your own sanctuary with plants and a patio set to enjoy with family and friends, or all by yourself.
- Stand-up showers and garden tubs. All apartments have a garden tub and most floorplans also offer the convenience of a stand-up shower. Whether you need a quick shower or a relaxing soak, we have you covered.
- Breakfast bar. This can be your morning meeting spot to talk about the day ahead with a cup or a bite before heading out.
- Multiple closets. Our over-sized and dual closets give you even more space to store your wardrobe, including scarfs, coats, and shoes.
- Washer and dryer. Our included Washer and Dryer means you can do laundry when you want to and no more hoarding quarters.
- An attached garage. Some of our floorplans feature an attached garage, giving you a guaranteed place to park and a little bit of extra storage space.
Community Amenities at Park on Wurzbach
- Controlled access. With drive-through gates and magnetic fobs, Park on Wurzbach offers an experience where you can relax.
- A tiered swimming pool. Whether you want to get exercise or soak up the rays, our two-tiered swimming pool has a space for both.
- Poolside cabanas and grilling. You can keep cool in the shade of one of the poolside cabanas,
or cook up some dinner while watching the game at our poolside grilling pavilion. - Fire pit. With our propane fueled fire pit, you can easily roast marshmallows or have those iconic fireside chats.
- Resident clubhouse. Our resident clubhouse gives you a space to meet and mingle, with several large TVs, a fully operational kitchen, resident Wi-Fi, billiards and shuffleboard.
- A pet care salon and bark park. We love pets and welcome up to 3 pets per apartment and have an on-site pet salon so you can pamper them as much as they deserve. For pups, our Bark Park has loads of space for them to run off the leash.
- Conference room and a business center. Whether you need to host a meeting with colleagues or just hop on and print something, our facilities meet the needs of remote workers.
- 24-hour fitness center. Whether you want to build muscle or tone what you’ve got, our fitness center is equipped to meet your needs, whenever you want to work out.
- 24-hour yoga and Peloton studio. You can practice poses or take a ride through the mountains whenever you want.
- Package lockers. Touch-less SMARTPACKAGE Lockers. Your packages are securely delivered to this location, giving you piece of mind and the ability to pick them up whenever you want, day or night.
Nearby Places to Park on Wurzbach
Around our central location, you’ll find a number of other exciting options and destinations, including:
- Dining. Try the Sea Island Shrimp House, the Sichuan House, and dozens of other delicious nearby restaurants.
- Groceries. You can almost walk to La Fiesta, H-E-B, and Walmart Supercenter.
- Entertainment and Parks. Check out the San Antonio Aquarium or San Antonio Zoo nearby, or head to the Jane Dubel Park for some hiking.
- Shopping. We’re near Ingram Park Mall as well as the Northgate Shopping Center, along with dozens of other stores.
- Schools. Our apartment community is in Northside ISD, and zoned to Powell Elementary, Ross Middle, and Holmes High School.
- Employers. Some of the top employers in this area include Medical Center, St. Mary’s, USAA, Joint Base San Antonio, and H-E-B.
The Best Apartments in San Antonio
There are a great many complexes in and around San Antonio, but you’ll be hard pressed to find an apartment community better than Park on Wurzbach. Here, you’ll find the space, features, and high-end features you need to enjoy your time indoors, while our outdoor amenities and community-centric structure helps you stay social and enjoy the outdoors. Take a tour and see the difference for yourself!
Are you interested in learning more about the Park at Wurzbach Apartments in San Antonio? Schedule a tour today! You can visit our apartments in person to see everything we have to offer, connect remotely, or even go on a self-guided tour.