It’s beginning to get a little chilly in Orange County. Mornings and nights are cold, and with the recent daylight savings time, our needed daily intake of sunshine is running low… So, how can we make the most out of our resources to stay cozy? Here are some tips to keep warm inside your apartment.

Letting the sun rays in.
Open up the blinds during the day to let the sunrays in! If you leave early every morning, you will come back to your apartment being warm – it’s a better alternative than leaving the heater on as it will help you save energy and money.

Doubling it up.
Bring out the blankets from your closet. It’s that time! Having extra blankets comes in handy this time of the year. It is also a good idea to keep a few rolled blankets in your living room, next to the sofas. That way, you can stay cozy anywhere in your apartment.

Lighting candles.
Candles are an excellent way to keep a subtle ambiance lighting inside your apartment. They will also help dry out the air if it’s too moist. You can even pick a mild scent such as cotton or linen to add a little extra feeling of comfort to your apartment home. It’s your preference! Just remember not to leave candles unattended and to blow them off if you have to go.

Baking.
That’s right! If you like to bake, take advantage of the oven’s heat. Leave it open once you are done baking, after turning it off. As it’s cooling, it will release it’s remaining heat into all the surrounding areas. As the holidays are coming up, this tip is a good excuse!

Carpets and rugs.
If your apartment does not have a carpet, consider buying rugs to cover large areas of the floor. Having rugs will help you and your roommates be more comfortable, especially if you like to walk barefoot.

So there you are! These were some easy and eco-friendly tips to stay warm this season. How are you staying cozy in Orange County this winter? Share your tips with Aperto too!

Thanksgiving Day is a day for turkey, mashed potatoes, pecan pie, and of course: football! All ingredients combine to create the perfect recipe for some Turkey Bowl – an all-American tradition!  We’ve rallied some options of big football games to watch on Thanksgiving plus a Turkey bowl and a Turkey Trot near your Orange County apartments! But first, let’s begin with a little bit of history.

History of American Football on Thanksgiving.

So where did the tradition of playing football on Thanksgiving come from? American football being played on Thanksgiving Day has been a longstanding tradition, one dating back to 1876! Shortly after the game was invented, Yale and Princeton began an annual tradition of holding a football game playing each other on Thanksgiving Day. By the time American football became a professional event, playing on Thanksgiving Day was already well institutionalized! 

Turkey Trot in Irvine.

So what day is Thanksgiving 2019? This year, Thanksgiving Day is on Thursday, November 28th. While there are plenty of American football games to watch on TV, why not burn a few (or a lot) of calories first thing in the morning? It’s a great way to interact with loved ones and participate in an outdoor activity before enjoying dinner!

Irvine Valley College is hosting its annual Turkey Trot! Festivities begin bright and early at 7:30 AM. All family members are encouraged to participate, from avid runners, strollers, and walkers! A piece of pumpkin pie awaits at the finish line! Register here!

Start a family Turkey Bowl tradition.

The aim for this year is to get up and move alongside your family. If you are not already a part of a Turkey Bowl tradition, why not organize the 1st Annual Thanksgiving Day Turkey Bowl tradition for your family? In this manner, your family, and close friends can get together and play a little tag football, tire yourselves out, and be ready for your auntie’s homemade pecan pie! The best part? It will also give your family a chance to come up with the most outlandish of team names.

Will you and your family participate in a Turkey Trot? Let us know in the comments!

Purchasing an apartment building comes with a lot of responsibilities. One of them that should not be dismissed, is considering the happiness and comfort of the residents by ensuring amenities work properly and they have what they need in their apartment homes. This will guarantee they want to reside longer at your multifamily property. Here are some things to keep in mind to keep your next residents happy and when you’re remodeling an apartment building.

Buy new, choosing effective over economic.

You may want to make the most out of rental revenue but think about each initial expense as an investment. When acquiring an older building, there are certain elements you will have to change in the property, particularly the components of the amenities. Ask the questions: how long has the heater been in the building? How about the laundry machines? Consider purchasing industrial strength appliances for the community amenities.

Storage space in each unit.

Did each apartment unit have enough storage space? This for each tenant family’s personal belongings and other daily-use household items, such as their cleaning supplies and kitchenware. If it doesn’t, adding cabinets will help solve a lot of issues. Ensure this for each space within the apartment home, including the bedrooms and bathrooms. If there are actual car garages in the building, shelves make a great additional storage space!

Parking spaces.

There are cities and neighborhoods where parking is very difficult to find. This issue has become one of the main deciding factors for people searching for an apartment. If there’s enough land, build a parking structure or a garage that includes one space per unit, and if there’s plenty of space, you can charge an additional amount per space in case there’s more than one car per apartment home. 

At Aperto Property Management, our services include new construction lease-up, property repositioning, capital improvement plans, and renovation programs. Visit our website to learn more!

We get it: life is full of responsibilities that keep us busy, and time goes by fast! And before we know it, it’s that time of the year again: Halloween! Despite everything that keeps us occupied, we all deserve to have some fun and celebrate this spooky tradition. So, if you haven’t had the time to go shopping and still have no idea what to wear, here are some last-minute Halloween costume ideas that you can pull from your closet or buy at a low price!

Hippie.

Looking like a trendy person that just traveled back in time from the ’60s is easier than you think! Look for your most bohemian-looking blouse and dust-off those flared-legged jeans. If you have long hair, let it loose! Use a bandana as a headband or as a scarf. For more accessories, you can buy a giant peace sign necklace and round glasses!

Cat.

Be a cat for Halloween! It is cute and almost effortless. Get all your tightest, one solid-color clothes, and paint some whiskers on your cheeks with eyeliner or dark lipstick. To make your cat ears, use a headband. Here’s an easy tutorial that shows many ways to create a variety of cat ears! Want to go the extra mile by making a tail? Cut and stuff an old stocking or pantyhose! You can attach the tail to your pants or by using a safety pin! If you feel you cannot make either of these yourself, luckily cat and other animal ears and tails are sold as accessories in many stores, especially during Halloween season.

Witch.

The way witches look has evolved a lot throughout history. You can be a modern-day witch that attends Hogwarts and wears a cloak and a colorful scarf, or you can use an old long dress and a tall pointy hat! If you have any eccentric accessories, such as rings and necklaces, the more you put on, the better! Don’t forget to wear some silly shoes to complete the look! Want to spice it up a little? Do your make-up in colors you generally do not use and add a dark birthmark by your eye!

Which of these last-minute costume ideas will you be putting together for that party you just got invited too? If you have any other recommended last-minute Halloween costumes, share with us in the comments!