Abberly Green Blog

With the MLB Playoffs right around the corner, it is a great time to enjoy a meal right in the “dug out” at Big League Hot Dog.

Present your Abberly Green Resident Advantage tag while ordering for 10% off your entire meal. For directions or menu selections, call 704-799-6660.

Finding your new apartment in Mooresville, NC is just the first step in creating your home. Interior decorating makes your apartment feel like a home. It is important that you have a welcoming space to come home to after a long day at work.

Start with a focal point for each room such as a piece of furniture that can multitask. In your living room, your coffee table could be a chest which can also be used for storage. Pick a piece of furniture you love or a color that feels inviting, and the rest will begin to fall into place. You can find affordable furniture at a number of stores as well as by asking around your new apartment community.

Once you've got the furniture, make the space feel comfortable. There are several things you can do to warm up the space. Pay extra attention to lighting, which can make a room feel larger and increase the ambiance. You can use both natural and artificial light to make your apartment feel big and bright. Lamps can add great lighting effect to your apartment.

Along with light, think about colors as well. Lighter colors on the walls with a darker throw rug will make the room look and feel larger and taller. For bright colors, you can use toss pillows with exciting and bold colors.

Accessorize your space with mirrors, plants, vertical pieces and lamps. Also, be sure to keep your eyes open at flea markets and garage sales for interesting items with character. If you keep the color, texture, and feel consistent in the items you buy, they're sure to look great in a room together. Plants are a simple and inexpensive way to enhance any room. They give your new home a splash of color and life.

Apartment hunting can be a stressful experience. Not only does it take a lot of your time, but the process can leave you frustrated, desperate, and overwhelmed. For your search to be as effective and fun as possible, do your best to keep stress out of the picture.

Fortunately, this isn’t as hard as it seems. Here are some tips to help you find the right apartment without the stress:

1. Know what you want. Before you venture out there to look at apartments, take the time to decide on what you want in an apartment. Ask yourself questions like how many bedrooms and bathrooms do I need? How much closet space? How important are size and location? What kinds of amenities are important to me: crown molding, updated kitchen, a good view? Do I need a parking space? Do I have or want a pet?

As you ask yourself these questions, decide on your limits. For example, if you need to walk to work, look at a map and decide on how far you want to walk.

Once you understand exactly what you're looking for in an apartment, keep all your criteria in mind while you are searching. Don't waste time checking out apartments that aren’t a match.

2. Set realistic goals and expectations. Understand that it may be a longer process than you expected, but keep in mind; this is an important decision, where you live has a dramatic effect on every other aspect of life. Now, if you find an apartment immediately, great. If not, you'll know that it's just a matter of time until you reach your goal.

3. Stay organized and take good notes. Once you start to see a few apartments, it's easy to get them confused. Stay organized by taking good notes about your apartment hunting efforts. For example, make a chart (by hand or on your computer) that lists the addresses, the owner, number of bedrooms and baths, all pros and cons and any additional notes.

In a file to hold any brochures, advertisements, floor plans, listings, photos, or other printed material you have.

4. Ask questions. Choosing a community in which to live is very important, so ask questions. If you don't like the answers you hear or you suspect that the broker or a landlord isn't being honest, move on.

Hopefully, you'll feel less stressed with a plan in place. Keep your plan in mind as you search for your new apartment. Soon you’ll find a place to call home.

Apartments.com is searching for America's BEST roommate. Right now they are holding the 3rd annual Roommate of the Year Contest. Guess what the lucky winner will receive? The outstanding roommate will be the winner of FREE Rent for a Year plus $10,000 cash.

Could the next Roommate of the Year be living at Abberly Green? We think so because the best apartment home communities have the best residents! But, you only have until June 13, 2011 to submit your video entry to www.RoommateOfTheYear.com for a shot at living rent free! For the third year, Apartments.com is searching for acts of roommate excellence. Submit a video of 2 minutes or less, illustrating what makes you America's most desirable roommate and you could walk away with FREE Rent for a Year, $10,000 in cold, hard cash, a year membership to FreeCreditScore.com and the coveted title of Roommate of the Year.

Calling all Abberly Green residents! To register, visit www.RoommateOfTheYear.com for full details on the Contest and to view previous Hall of Fame entries for inspiration like the one below from 2010!