Everyone has a different ideal for their neighborhood. Even the ideal for a single person can change over time as priorities change. So what are some general areas to consider when looking for somewhere new to live?
1) Education. Whether it's your own education or your children, looking at the education opportunities that are available in an area is very important. It's easier for college students to live near campus and young families generally want a healthy school district with a good reputation.
2) Crime. Crime is an unfortunate fact of life, but some areas are safer than others. By researching crime rates in the area ahead of time, you will know better what to expect when you live there. Feeling safe in your home is an important part of feeling healthy and happy in general.
3) Amenities. Everyone has a different idea of what they want surrounding their home. For some, lots of parks and playgrounds are important. For others, it may be proximity to a certain type of shopping or job. Make a list of amenities you want for your neighborhood so you can compare neighborhoods easily during your research.
Provident Property Management is here to help. We are accepting new clients in all areas of St. Louis, with specific interest in the St. Charles/ St. Peters area. We want to help people find rental homes in quality neighborhoods, and to do that we need a good inventory of units to rent. Please contact us today so we can be your management team!
Showing posts with label community. Show all posts
Showing posts with label community. Show all posts
Monday, January 23, 2012
Monday, January 16, 2012
Beat the winter blues with upbeat decor
Winter can be a real bummer. Especially here in the St. Louis area, the skies are overcast and grey several days a week. When the snow and ice start falling, so do the moods of those around us. A little redecorating can go a long way to beating these winter blahs. It doesn't have to be expensive or elaborate, just a slight modification can work wonders on your mood.
Start by picking something you see every day that just doesn't do it for you. Maybe it's the front door, or the place that collects all the incoming mail and paperwork. On a slightly warmer and sunnier day, wash that door, polish the door knobs, and put out a new welcome mat. Or figure out a new mail collection system. The internet abounds with paper organization ideas. Find one that you like and try it.
If one room always feels darker than the others, find a new lamp for it or some new art for the walls. Thrift stores are often overstocked now from people reducing clutter after the holidays. Maybe a new houseplant will help liven things up, as well as clean the air. A new duvet cover for the bedroom or new throw pillows for the couch can also bring a bright pop of color in and lighten the mood.
Overall, just figure out what makes you happy and try to decorate in that style. When you are happier with your home, you will be happier with your life.
Here at Provident, we are doing our best not to let winter get us down. We are currently looking for new clients to add to our rosters. Please contact us if you are looking for a new property management company. Our prices are right; our people are friendly and easy to work with. We are a full-service company committed to helping you reach your rental unit goals.
Start by picking something you see every day that just doesn't do it for you. Maybe it's the front door, or the place that collects all the incoming mail and paperwork. On a slightly warmer and sunnier day, wash that door, polish the door knobs, and put out a new welcome mat. Or figure out a new mail collection system. The internet abounds with paper organization ideas. Find one that you like and try it.
If one room always feels darker than the others, find a new lamp for it or some new art for the walls. Thrift stores are often overstocked now from people reducing clutter after the holidays. Maybe a new houseplant will help liven things up, as well as clean the air. A new duvet cover for the bedroom or new throw pillows for the couch can also bring a bright pop of color in and lighten the mood.
Overall, just figure out what makes you happy and try to decorate in that style. When you are happier with your home, you will be happier with your life.
Here at Provident, we are doing our best not to let winter get us down. We are currently looking for new clients to add to our rosters. Please contact us if you are looking for a new property management company. Our prices are right; our people are friendly and easy to work with. We are a full-service company committed to helping you reach your rental unit goals.
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Being a good neighbor
Whether you are renting or own a home, being a good neighbor is an important part of bolstering the community. Unfortunately, people who rent their homes are sometimes seen as lower class than people who own their homes, regardless of the reason they choose to rent. As a tenant, being a good neighbor goes a long way to dispelling any prejudices the surrounding neighborhood may feel towards a home being a rental unit, rather than owner-occupied. The following tips are applicable to both apartment dwellers and single-family renters.
One way to be a good tenant is to respect the terms of the lease. A lease should spell out clearly what the tenant's responsibilities are towards the unit. Parking, smoking, and pets are often covered in the terms of the lease. By respecting the terms in an apartment setting, the tenant shows respect for those who live in the complex with them. Smoking in one apartment often leads to the surrounding apartments smelling of smoke as well. Tenants protect themselves and their security deposits by respecting the terms, but they also protect those around them that may specifically need smoke-free or pet-free areas for health reasons. In a detached rental home, respecting the terms of the lease are less important for having good relations with the neighbors, but just as important for protecting the security deposit.
A tenant who respects the terms of their lease is also better able to create a friendly atmosphere with their neighbors. To create a friendly atmosphere, it is important to say hello and smile when greeting neighbors. It is also important to respect general policies such as noise control. In an apartment building, noises can carry to other apartments or from the common areas, creating tension among neighbors. In a detached home, playing loud music at midnight is likely to earn you a visit from the local police department. Having had a neighbor with a garage band, I can tell you from experience that neighbors only take kindly to listening to your band for so many nights in a row. We don't have to be best friends with all of our neighbors, but a kind word and a smile can go a long way to easing tensions that might otherwise erupt when people live near each other.
A third way to be a good tenant and a good neighbor is to pay attention to what's going on around you. Keep an eye out for your neighbors. We had one neighbor who was away from his home for an extended period. We kept an eye on the property for them. One day, a car showed up. It didn't move for days. We called the police. The car was stolen and would have continued to sit in our neighbor's driveway if we had not called the police. We had neighbors who would escort our dogs back to the yard when they occasionally went for unsupervised walks. We had other neighbors who would bring treats over for holidays or just because. All these actions led to a sense of belonging and acceptance in our neighborhood.
Being a good neighbor, whether the tenant or the owner, is important. A strong community leads to a stronger society in general. Society seems to need all the help it can get these days. Provident is committed to being a good neighbor. We hope that our tenants are good neighbors and do all we can to ensure that they are. As a property management company, we want to improve the neighborhoods our units are located in. We want to be your property management company. Please contact us today.
One way to be a good tenant is to respect the terms of the lease. A lease should spell out clearly what the tenant's responsibilities are towards the unit. Parking, smoking, and pets are often covered in the terms of the lease. By respecting the terms in an apartment setting, the tenant shows respect for those who live in the complex with them. Smoking in one apartment often leads to the surrounding apartments smelling of smoke as well. Tenants protect themselves and their security deposits by respecting the terms, but they also protect those around them that may specifically need smoke-free or pet-free areas for health reasons. In a detached rental home, respecting the terms of the lease are less important for having good relations with the neighbors, but just as important for protecting the security deposit.
A tenant who respects the terms of their lease is also better able to create a friendly atmosphere with their neighbors. To create a friendly atmosphere, it is important to say hello and smile when greeting neighbors. It is also important to respect general policies such as noise control. In an apartment building, noises can carry to other apartments or from the common areas, creating tension among neighbors. In a detached home, playing loud music at midnight is likely to earn you a visit from the local police department. Having had a neighbor with a garage band, I can tell you from experience that neighbors only take kindly to listening to your band for so many nights in a row. We don't have to be best friends with all of our neighbors, but a kind word and a smile can go a long way to easing tensions that might otherwise erupt when people live near each other.
A third way to be a good tenant and a good neighbor is to pay attention to what's going on around you. Keep an eye out for your neighbors. We had one neighbor who was away from his home for an extended period. We kept an eye on the property for them. One day, a car showed up. It didn't move for days. We called the police. The car was stolen and would have continued to sit in our neighbor's driveway if we had not called the police. We had neighbors who would escort our dogs back to the yard when they occasionally went for unsupervised walks. We had other neighbors who would bring treats over for holidays or just because. All these actions led to a sense of belonging and acceptance in our neighborhood.
Being a good neighbor, whether the tenant or the owner, is important. A strong community leads to a stronger society in general. Society seems to need all the help it can get these days. Provident is committed to being a good neighbor. We hope that our tenants are good neighbors and do all we can to ensure that they are. As a property management company, we want to improve the neighborhoods our units are located in. We want to be your property management company. Please contact us today.
Friday, January 6, 2012
Bolstering community pride by stopping vandalism
Today's news article doesn't have much to do with real estate investment or tenant-landlord relationships, but it does have to do with something else we are interested in: community pride. The article is about St. Louis area brick being stolen from abandoned houses. The brick is prized for its rich color due to the natural color of the soil in the area. Unfortunately, the thieves are leaving dangerous shells of buildings behind that can collapse at any minute.
Community pride is important. When we are proud of where we live, we take care of it. We care for our neighbors and those around us. We care for the buildings and the streets and the green spaces. We want what's best for the area. These thefts are seriously damaging the communities they occur in. The pieces left behind are unstable and ugly. The city officials are left with the task of safely demolishing the rest of the building, and the list of buildings to demolish just gets longer. Luckily, there is a plan being discussed that will hopefully stop or deter the thieves.
If you own a vacant house, don't just let it sit and gather dust, or become a potential target for vandals or thieves. Provident wants to be your property management company. We can fix any cosmetic problems and minor structure issues and then find a tenant for your units. If there are larger problems, our sister company Provident Development Group has the experience and resources to correct them. Please contact us today so we can talk about how to help you make money.
Community pride is important. When we are proud of where we live, we take care of it. We care for our neighbors and those around us. We care for the buildings and the streets and the green spaces. We want what's best for the area. These thefts are seriously damaging the communities they occur in. The pieces left behind are unstable and ugly. The city officials are left with the task of safely demolishing the rest of the building, and the list of buildings to demolish just gets longer. Luckily, there is a plan being discussed that will hopefully stop or deter the thieves.
If you own a vacant house, don't just let it sit and gather dust, or become a potential target for vandals or thieves. Provident wants to be your property management company. We can fix any cosmetic problems and minor structure issues and then find a tenant for your units. If there are larger problems, our sister company Provident Development Group has the experience and resources to correct them. Please contact us today so we can talk about how to help you make money.
Friday, December 23, 2011
Strong Families equal Strong Communities
While it doesn't address real estate issues, I liked this article from STLToday.com. With two young kids, it's important to me that they understand the real reason we celebrate Christmas, and it's important to me that they aren't so swept away in getting what they want that they forget to give. Being part of a family that fosters these values definitely improves the communities we live in. So this Christmas, let's try to instill a sense of gratitude in ourselves and our children. It will better our lives and the lives of those around us.
Provident Management is committed to building better communities. We are constantly trying to maintain and improve the houses we manage, so the overall neighborhood is not diminished by the rental presence. Let us be your management team. Contact us today.
Provident Management is committed to building better communities. We are constantly trying to maintain and improve the houses we manage, so the overall neighborhood is not diminished by the rental presence. Let us be your management team. Contact us today.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Two units to rent!
Update- these units have been rented. We will let you know when more come available!
We currently have two units to rent! We have a one bedroom and a studio apartment. (Those are the links to our Craigslist ad. If they go dead, please let me know. You can find our ads by searching for our address- 729 N 2nd St.) They are located in the same building near Historic Main Street in St Charles.
What's so great about this area? Well, I recently had the opportunity to visit it myself for the first time. Alann works in the area, so he is there often. But I had never been downtown before. It's called Historic Main Street, or First Capitol, or Frenchtown. It's so cute! I ended up walking from one end of Main Street to the other. There are so many fabulous little shops. I wish I had had more time to visit them all. I did manage to stop into Grandma's Cookies though. Oh man, were they good! And pretty cheap too. It was a very nice treat. From the St Charles Website we read this:
Besides the darling Historic Main Street area, the units are also close to Mid Rivers Mall, Lindenwood University, and area easily accessible from I-70 or Mo-370. Contact us if you are interested in viewing our units!
We currently have two units to rent! We have a one bedroom and a studio apartment. (Those are the links to our Craigslist ad. If they go dead, please let me know. You can find our ads by searching for our address- 729 N 2nd St.) They are located in the same building near Historic Main Street in St Charles.
What's so great about this area? Well, I recently had the opportunity to visit it myself for the first time. Alann works in the area, so he is there often. But I had never been downtown before. It's called Historic Main Street, or First Capitol, or Frenchtown. It's so cute! I ended up walking from one end of Main Street to the other. There are so many fabulous little shops. I wish I had had more time to visit them all. I did manage to stop into Grandma's Cookies though. Oh man, were they good! And pretty cheap too. It was a very nice treat. From the St Charles Website we read this:
The ten-block, 200-year-old Historic Main Street is Missouri's first and largest historic district. It lies closest to the Missouri River and Saint Charles' frontier history. A trolley travels the streets of more than 125 one-of-a-kind shops. Dress up your home with framed art, antiques, old and reproduction signs, Victorian accessories, lamps, collectible figures and plates, stained glass, quilts, pottery, floral arrangements and decorating accents from every period. Or dress up yourself with textile/craft specialty shops, classic silks, and custom and costume jewelryI'm sad I missed the trolley.
Frenchtown offers a haven for antique lovers, where more than 20 unique stores dot the beautiful neighborhood. Whether the period is Americana, Victorian, 1904 World's Fair, the Depression era or mid-20th century, you'll find fine, authentic furniture, glassware, linens and antiques. Wartime, nautical and aviation memorabilia provide an interesting retrospective of the nation's military history. Frenchtown also boasts the United States' largest selection of vintage architectural products, including hardware, plumbing, molding, ceilings, intricate gingerbread, lighting accessories, weather vanes and cupolas. A large stamp and coin store appeals to collectors who want to buy, trade and sell.
Besides the darling Historic Main Street area, the units are also close to Mid Rivers Mall, Lindenwood University, and area easily accessible from I-70 or Mo-370. Contact us if you are interested in viewing our units!
Monday, October 24, 2011
The importance of a community
How important is a sense of community? In most societies, community is very important. Whether you define community as your town or just your neighborhood, having a sense of belonging is very important to a person's well-being. Why is community so important?
Feeling like a part of a community lends a sense of togetherness to people. We feel we are all in this together. We enjoy spending time together and we care if our neighbors fall on hard times. We have someone to talk to and share our lives with.
By living in communities, we can also utilize a division of labor. One person doesn't need to be the doctor and the farmer and the house-builder. We can hire someone to build our house when we don't have the expertise to do so ourselves. We go to the doctor who has years of schooling to care for us when we are sick, rather than trying to care for ourselves with our limited knowledge. This makes our lives much easier.
As humans, we are social creatures by nature. We seek out other humans. We need other people to talk to and share our lives with.
So we are asking you- reach out to us. We are happy to listen. If you need someone to discuss your current property management situation and how to improve us, we are glad to lend our expertise. That is after all, our portion of the division of labor. Please contact us if we can be of any assistance.
Feeling like a part of a community lends a sense of togetherness to people. We feel we are all in this together. We enjoy spending time together and we care if our neighbors fall on hard times. We have someone to talk to and share our lives with.
By living in communities, we can also utilize a division of labor. One person doesn't need to be the doctor and the farmer and the house-builder. We can hire someone to build our house when we don't have the expertise to do so ourselves. We go to the doctor who has years of schooling to care for us when we are sick, rather than trying to care for ourselves with our limited knowledge. This makes our lives much easier.
As humans, we are social creatures by nature. We seek out other humans. We need other people to talk to and share our lives with.
So we are asking you- reach out to us. We are happy to listen. If you need someone to discuss your current property management situation and how to improve us, we are glad to lend our expertise. That is after all, our portion of the division of labor. Please contact us if we can be of any assistance.
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