Apartment Living Blog | Prospect Hall Apartments

Smart Technology to Upgrade Your Apartment

The Internet of Things is taking over and giving us ways to interact with our home that were never before possible. Automated tasks, custom lighting, easy-install security systems, and state-of-the-art entertainment systems are just a few examples of how the latest technology can transform your home. We’ve selected a few of our favorite items that can help you upgrade your living space here. Amazon Echo “Alexa, pay my rent” is just one of the ways you can interact with using your Amazon Echo (our Resident Portal is tied into Alexa for hands-free account management). Amazon Echo also helps you tie into other smart devices and control them from one easy-to-use hub, can answer questions that pop up, and acts as a virtual assistant by scheduling reminders or creating shopping lists. There are a variety of Echo products available ranging in price from $39.99-$199.99 (at the time of this posting). Check out the options here . Samsung SmartThings Wifi Smart Plug If you want to upgrade to smart devices, but already have items in your home that you love and are working great, you can turn them into smart devices by plugging them into the Samsung SmartThings WiFi Smart Plug . Control your lights using this plug along with Alexa, Google, or Bixby. By connecting to your devices through the SmartThings app, you can monitor energy usage, set routines for devices and appliances to turn on and off. WiFi is required for this item to work. Ring Doorbell Pro Easily installed, the Ring Doorbell acts as both a doorbell and a surveillance camera to your home. This motion-activated camera will notify you when someone approaches your doorstep and will even allow you to speak to the visitor through the built-in speaker system without opening your door. Ring can easily connect with your Alexa or IFTTT accounts. Four interchangeable faceplates allow you to easily match the décor of your exterior. SimpliSafe Home Security This is a DIY home security system that takes just minutes to install and get running. There is no long-term contract to sign for monitoring service, and it’s easy to move the system if and when you decide to move. The system protects against fires, floods, intruders, medical emergencies, and more. This system is apartment-friendly as there is no drilling or connection to a landline required. Phillips Hue Lighting Do more than turn your lights off and on. With Philips Hue lighting , you can control the intensity and color of the lights in your home and set automated lighting routines. The system is compatible with Apple Home Kit, Alexa, Google, and other apps and devices. A variety of kits and devices are available ranging from standard lightbulbs to festive light strips. iRobot Braava Jet Robot vacuum cleaners have been around for a while and are a great option for keeping your floors clean throughout the day. But, did you know there are now robotic mops? The iRobot Braava Jet sweeps and mops hard floors throughout your apartment and will detect and skip carpeting when it encounters it. It doesn’t get much simpler than that! Sleep Number 360 Smart Bed Getting good, quality sleep has never been more important. Keep yourself healthy with the Sleep Number 360 Smart Bed , which tracks your sleep using a series of biometric sensors and movement data all while giving you the classic custom comfort of a Sleep Number mattress. The bed adjusts based on your movements to keep you comfortable and in an optimal sleep zone. Connect your bed to the Sleep Number app on your mobile device to view insights and learn how to improve your sleep.

Tips for Finding Your Next Apartment Online

We’re all spending a little more time at home these days, and we’re doing much more virtually – including apartment shopping. Finding your new home online can be confusing, but we’ve compiled a list of tips to help you get the best information while browsing the internet. Start with a Budget . Before beginning your search, you should estimate how much you can afford for your apartment each month. Experts recommend anywhere from 25-30% of your take home pay should be allocated to housing. However, these recommendations are guidelines and may be higher than you’d like to spend depending on your circumstances. Check out a budgeting app like EveryDollar or YNAB to help you get started. Start Searching. Check out apartment communities in the areas you’d like to live – within the budget you just set. A great way to do this is to search “apartments near me” in the map app on your smartphone or by using Google Maps on your computer or device. Get an idea of the amenities and floorplans available within your budget in various parts of town. Start taking notes about options, locations, and floor plan sizes. Research the Neighborhood. Using tools such as Google Maps , WalkScore , and Address Report , you can get a pretty good feel for what an area is like. Be sure to see how far away the nearest grocery stores, pharmacies, and restaurants are. Map out your daily commute during your typical drive times using Waze . Once you’ve determined the best neighborhoods for you, it’s time to narrow your search down to just those communities within those areas. Be sure to check for school zoning, crime reports, and as much other information as you can find. Begin to Narrow Your List. Start taking virtual tours of each community on your shortened list. View images of the community on their websites, and search to see if there are any video tours available on YouTube or other websites. You’ll get a pretty good feel for the community before you ever leave your home. Check Out Online Reviews. See what other residents and past residents are saying about life at each community. The best places to check for reviews are on Google (it’s easy to see review when searching for the business in Google Maps), as well as ApartmentRatings.com . Create a Short List. After you’ve conducted as much research as possible online, it’s best to take your shortlist and drive through each community. While some places are offering tours during the pandemic, others may not be. Depending on your comfort level and the capabilities of the leasing team on site, you may be able to ask for a self-guided tour or a virtual FaceTime or Skype tour of the actual apartment you’re looking to rent. Apply Quickly. Once you’ve made your decision and found your new home, be sure to submit an application quickly. Most apartment communities lease homes on a first-come, first-served basis and you don’t want to miss out. Be sure to take advantage of online applications where possible.

First Month Free at Prospect Hall Apartments in Frederick, MD

Your first month's rent is FREE for a limited time at Prospect Hall! Don't miss this chance to move in to your new luxury apartment in Frederick, MD. This offer won't last long, so be sure to schedule your tour or virtual tour today!

The Value of Renting

There are thousands of articles by financial experts that tout the benefits of purchasing a home, however, there can often be more value in renting than homebuying. Depending on your unique situation, renting a townhome or apartment can bring more value to your life and offer extra amenities and premium services that homeowners must pay for separately. We’ve broken down the benefits of renting to help you make the best decision for your lifestyle. 24-Hour Emergency Service – At all Rachuba communities, our residents receive complimentary 24-hour emergency service free of charge. This means anytime an urgent issue arises we’ll have a team member ready to help. According to Angie’s List , the average cost for handyman services is $83 per hour, during normal business hours, with plumbing services often costing more. Free Pool Membership – A family membership to the Frederick City swimming pool can cost a family up to $360 for the season. For our Prospect Hall Apartments residents, access to our resort-style swimming pool is free, and within the community. You won’t have to hop in your car each time you want to go for a swim. Additional Storage Space – with extra storage space included with your apartment, you can save anywhere from $50-414 per month, based on prices listed on sparefoot.com at the time of this posting. 24-Hour Gym Membership – Our 24-hour fitness center is complimentary to all residents, allowing you to work out on your schedule just outside your door. Memberships to local Frederick-area gyms with 24-hour access start at $39 per month, depending on options selected. Outdoor Amenities – Whether renting or purchasing a home, community amenities are always an added benefit. Prospect Hall has great community amenities including outdoor dining areas, a playground, and a dog park that our residents are able to enjoy at their leisure. ValetLiving Doorstep Trash Removal – With doorstep trash removal five-days per week at Prospect Hall, you receive the convenience of prompt trash removal without having to lug trash cans to the curb or bags to a dumpster. ValetLiving’s team of professionals quickly and efficiently remove trash to keep your home and the community clean. Amazing Customer Service – Our team of leasing and service professionals is always here to help, and that’s one of the biggest values in renting at Prospect Hall. We’re here to assist you with a smile when you need us.

How to Stay Fit in Your Apartment

Being stuck in quarantine doesn’t mean you can’t stay in shape. There are lots of great local businesses streaming workouts, as well as apps and services that have been around for a while. To keep your downstairs neighbors happy, choose yoga, pilates, barre, low impact, and cycle classes (if you have a one in your home). Ground-floor residents have the benefit of adding in some more high-impact cardio and HIIT workouts. Here are our favorites. If you prefer working out to audio-only, or enjoy working out outdoors, Aaptiv is a great choice for you. From running to strength training and yoga, you can find a variety of coached workouts set to great music. One of the best-known apps out today is Peloton . With a huge class offering, you’ll never get bored or have to do the same workout twice. You can find cycling, treadmill, HIIT, dance cardio, yoga, and outdoor running and walking workouts. The app subscription is $13 per month, but there is a free trial period for you to test it out. If you enjoy following a guided program, Daily Burn can match you up with a program that fits your goals. Plans start at $19 per month, and live workouts are also streamed every morning. Yoga enthusiasts will love logging on to Alo Moves for their daily movement and intentions. Power yoga, vinyasa flow, barre, and restorative classes are on-demand when you want them. Anytime Fitness Ballenger Creek is closed until further notice, however, live workouts are posted daily on the Anytime Fitness Facebook page daily at 9:30 am. Planet Fitness on Patrick Street streams daily classes on their Facebook page. Gold’s Gym Frederick has free workouts on demand using their Gold’s Amp app which can be downloaded in the AppStore or using Google Play. They also have Les Mills and Gold’s Gym on Demand available on their website. Visit the iLoveKickboxing Facebook page for daily at-home classes that are sure to break a sweat and put a smile on your face! Orangetheory Frederick posts several home workout videos each week. Like their Facebook page and follow them so you don’t miss out! Onelife Fitness (both South Frederick & North Frederick locations) is closed, however, you can visit this link to view a list of their online offerings.

Emergency & DIY Maintenance Tutorials

Our team cares about the safety and health of our residents and staff alike. For that reason, we are currently handling only emergency service requests at this time. This article will explain what is considered emergency maintenance, how to place an emergency service request, and also share some tutorials to help you fix non-urgent issues. What Is Emergency Maintenance? Emergency maintenance issues are those that require immediate attention due to health or safety hazards. By placing an emergency service request, a member of our team will respond as promptly as possible. These issues include: Major flooding or pipe breaks Toilet backups & overflows Fire in your apartment or building Gas leaks Lockouts and entry door malfunctions No air conditioning or heat How to Place an Emergency Maintenance Request Contact our leasing team right away at [PHONE] to place your service request. Our on-call maintenance technicians will be paged promptly. Routine work orders can be submitted using our Resident Portal and will be addressed after social distancing restrictions are lifted. To access the Resident Portal, visit [property website], select Residents, then Maintenance. You will be prompted to sign in or set up your account. Once logged in, you will be able to submit your service request. Visit residentportal.com to view a series of tutorials that can walk you through this process. DIY Tutorials These tutorials show you how to fix common maintenance issues. Feel free to bookmark this blog page and refer back to it in the event you’re in need of maintenance during quarantine. Resetting A Garbage Disposal Turn Water Off to a Running Toilet How to Plunge a Toilet Resetting a GFCI Outlet How to Fix a Running Toilet