BRG leaders were joined by Boone County officials and representatives from the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce for the groundbreaking at the northeast corner of Areo Parkway/Rt. 18.

“It is great to have a diversity of housing available to potential and current Boone County residents," said Boone County Judge-executive Gary Moore. "This tremendous project is another example of the growth we are experiencing in Boone County.”

Parkway Trails is located in the heart of a vibrant area of Boone County, accessible to shopping, restaurants, entertainment, interstate highways, golf courses, recreation, highly-rated public schools, dog parks and waking, hiking and biking trails. Monthly rents will start at $950 with pre-leasing beginning in the fall and move-ins scheduled for early 2022.

"Parkway Trails fills a need in the marketplace for attainable, well-built, quality housing that features great amenities at a reasonable price," said. BRG Apartments Chief Operating Officer Don Brunner. "We appreciate the support we have received from the Boone County Fiscal Court and we are honored to be part of this growing and wonderful community."

Parkway Trails' amenities include:

• 1- and 2-bedroom apartments with plank flooring and modern finishes
• Swimming pool
• Fitness Center
• Cyber cafe
• Clubhouse
• Outside exercise equipment
• Bike trail

"As Northern Kentucky continues to grow through economic development opportunities across region, Parkway Trails is the kind of attractive residential development that is critical to providing the attainable housing needed for our booming workforce," said Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce President Brent Cooper.

BRG Apartments is locally owned and operated with experienced property managers. Based in Kenwood, the company owns and manages apartment communities in Greater Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky, Dayton, Lexington, Georgetown and southern Indiana.

13031. company has grown through purchasing existing apartment communities. Parkway Trails is the first community that BRG built from the ground up.

"This is a great location with tremendous exposure," Brunner said. "The Northern Kentucky market is booming. And we wanted to be a part of it by providing good, quality attainable housing for the market."

Brunner said BRG said the company is scouting other potential development sites in Boone County.

"We are looking at additional land in Boone County right now," he said. "We hope this is the first of many new developments for us here and in the tri-state area."

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“Being locally owned and operated, BRG cares about our communities and we are inspired to give back this holiday season,” said Jennifer Illanz, training and marketing manager for BRG Apartments. “This is our fourth year teaming up with The Fisher/Nightingale House, Inc., and we have raised over $25,000 for this organization since we began.”

The first Fisher House opened in 1991, built by Zachary Fisher, a well-known builder and philanthropist in the 1980s and 1990s, and founded by Pauline Trost, whose experiences as the wife of a Naval Admiral led her to want to give back to military members. “The Fisher Houses provide an opportunity for military and veteran families to stay together and support each other when a loved one is undergoing medical treatment, as well as physical and emotional support to these families and individuals,” said Christopher Stanley, executive director of The Fisher/Nightingale Houses in Dayton. BRG Apartments operates apartment communities in Greater Cincinnati, Columbus, Northern Kentucky, Dayton, Marion and New Albany, Indiana.

BRG is committed to connecting residents with homes, and that same spirit of community during the holiday season inspires their annual “A Home Before the Holidays” campaign.

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1. What are the lease terms?

You may be surprised to learn that lease terms can vary greatly, so don’t be shy about asking what lease terms are available in addition to 6- or 12-month leases. While you’re at it, be sure you understand what the lease-break terms are as well. Nobody ever plans on needing to leave an apartment before the end of their lease, but it pays to know up front what your obligations will be.

2. How are emergency repairs handled (and repairs in general)?

One of the most reassuring benefits of renting an apartment is knowing that if something breaks—the dishwasher, the refrigerator, the heater or air conditioner—help will quickly be on the way. But what does that mean, exactly, at your prospective new home? Find out what the process is to report an outage or maintenance issue, and what to do in the event of an emergency.

3. What’s the pet policy?

Whether you currently have a pet or not, ask this question before you move in. You may decide down the line to get a furry friend, or you may want to take on a roommate who has a pet. Be sure to ask about breed and size restrictions too!

4. What about parking?

If you have your own car, you’ll want to know where you can park, and whether there is covered parking available. While an open parking space is manageable in mild climates, there are times in the heat of summer that you’ll appreciate having your vehicle in the shade—and if the winters are harsh where you live, covered parking is a must-have. If parking is available at your prospective apartment complex, find out what the charge is to secure a dedicated parking space. And if you’re looking at an apartment with on-street parking only—be sure to cruise the location at different times during the week to determine how challenging parking will be! For most renters, it’s worth the extra charge to have a safe and secure parking spot.

5. What’s your guest policy?

If you know you’ll have frequent guests or guests who stay for longer durations, definitely ask about your apartment complex’s guest terms—both in terms of where guests can park, and if there’s any specific limit on how long they can stay. This is important not only for your buddy who is looking to crash somewhere on summer break, but if you’re thinking you may want to sublet your apartment for short-term renters. In today’s day of AirBNB rentals, your apartment managers will likely have a policy in place, so be sure to learn it in advance.

Renting a new apartment can be an exciting step—and it doesn’t have to be a daunting one. If you ask the right questions (and get the right answers!), you’ll be on your way to securing your new home with the peace of mind of knowing that it’s the right decision for you.

The post Thinking about renting? Here’s what you need to ask appeared first on BRG Apartments Blog.

Here's how to find the best solution the next time you and your roommates need to compromise.

1. Focus on the long-term win, not only the short-term win

It’s human nature to want to win, and to want to keep winning, again and again. But if all you want to do is win every disagreement you have with your roommates, then you aren’t truly committed to the longer-term goal of a successful living relationship with them. Your short-term victory could be setting you up for future pushback from your roommates over far more important issues. So be strategic as you discuss alternatives, and keep an open mind.

2. Don’t be too aggressive

There’s nothing worse than the person who thinks the loudest voice wins. Once again, this is an approach that may absolutely succeed in the short term—but it could be dangerous in a long-term relationship. People want to live with people they both respect and like. That’s not the person who’s yelling all the time.

3. Do be honest and share your emotions

In a roommate disagreement, it’s important that everyone share their side of the story. When it’s your turn, your emotions regarding the outcome you most want matter! State your case as clearly and emotionally as you can, sharing all the reasons why your opinion is the best opinion in the group. If you have data and information to back up why you feel the way you do, even better—but speak up! And then…

4. Truly listen

This should be the easiest part, but it’s often the most difficult. Stop thinking about your side of the story, and listen to opposing views with a genuinely open mind. You may learn something you didn’t know! Don’t be afraid to follow up with questions that help you learn more, either. Your roommates will appreciate it more than you know.

5. Say Thank You

Win, lose or draw, the most important element of a roommate discussion is that you all end up with a stronger relationship. Maybe you got what you wanted, maybe you didn’t, but you should acknowledge that everyone in the conversation was trying to work toward the best solution for the group. Whether that’s rules about doing chores, paying bills, managing noise or handling overnight guests—the end goal is that you create a happy, supportive living environment for both you and your roommates.

So the next time you have a decision to make, don’t be stressed! Take the longer view, identify what’s really important to you, speak from the heart, truly listen…and express your appreciation for your roommates when it’s all said and done. You’ll be glad you did!

The post How to settle disagreements with your roommates appeared first on BRG Apartments Blog.

BRG Apartments has partnered with the Fisher House Foundation to help provide lodging for families of Cincinnati and Dayton Veterans Administration Medical Center patients via its “A Home Before the Holidays” campaign. For every new resident that moved into a BRG community in greater Cincinnati or Dayton from this past November through January 11th, a donation of $50 was made to The Fisher House in that location. BRG is a proud supporter of the Fisher House and the last two years we have raised nearly $20,000 to help them support their mission.
 

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1. Batwing Peanut Butter Cups

For these fun and festive treats, assemble chocolate sandwich cookies, frosting, edible candy eyes and miniature peanut butter cups. First, remove any existing frosting from the backs of the sandwich cookies, then break each cookie side into two pieces, to create half-circle “bat wings.” Add a tiny bit of frosting to the cookies and affix the cookies to the unwrapped miniature peanut butter cups, rounded side up. Then just add two edible candy eyes and you’ve got a miniature bat party!

2. Monster Face Fruit Cups

Nothing could be easier than this! First, assemble a bowl full of grapes, several clear plastic juice cups, large marshmallows, and clear plastic wrap—and a black permanent marker. Then fill the bottom of each cup with a layer of grapes. Follow with two large marshmallows, placed on their side—these will be your monster’s “eyes”—and top with a final layer of grapes. Cover each plastic cup with plastic wrap, ideally the self-adhesive kind! Then it’s time to get creative. Draw funny faces on the side of the cup, making the marshmallows into googly-eyes and adding a goofy smile beneath.

3. Eye Popping Pudding Cups

Don’t put those plastic cups and markers away quite yet! Instead whip up several packets of colored pudding—ghostly white, ghoulish green, boo-tiful blue and pumpkin orange. Fill the clear plastic cups with the pudding, then use the markers to make spooky or funny faces on the sides of the plastic cups. For added interest, top the pudding cups in interesting ways—like using candy corn for ears or crushed chocolate cookies for a thick mop of hair. Have fun with it!

4. Wicked Witch’s Hats

At Halloween, you can never have too much chocolate. So gather the following for this indulgent treat: miniature unwrapped chocolate kisses, chocolate sandwich cookies (THIN Oreos® work best!), colored frosting (say, orange or green) and candy sprinkles. Assembly couldn’t easier: pipe a thin layer of frosting onto the cookie, press a chocolate kiss into the frosting, and dust with a layer of candy sprinkles! Hats off to you!

5. Spicy Sweet (c)Hex Mix

Okay, this one is for those of you who are truly looking for a last-minute save for your Halloween party—(c)Hex Mix for the win! Just purchase a bag of pre-made party mix (like Chex Mix®) and then add some Halloween delight: candy corn, unwrapped chocolate miniature candies or M&Ms, popcorn, nuts, whatever says Halloween to you! Bring this mix in a Halloween-themed bowl and some small plastic cups for serving and you’ll have your Halloween treat challenge solved.

This Halloween, don’t let a lack of time or cooking skills keep you from the neighborhood party—or better yet, throw a party yourself to meet the neighbors! Here’s wishing you a spooky good time.

The post Last-Minute Halloween Party? Scare up some quick and easy treats! appeared first on BRG Apartments Blog.

1. Assemble all your paperwork early

Particularly in competitive rental markets, prospective tenants are required to produce a remarkable amount of paperwork to reassure landlords that they can meet their requirements regarding the lease and upkeep of the apartment or townhome. In most cases, you’ll need proof of employment, your three most recent pay stubs, a tax return, and bank statements. If you don’t have one or more of these documents, ask your prospective landlord immediately what your options are. You may need to have someone else co-sign on your rental agreement, or there may be other paperwork you can supply. But get the information you need away so you don’t miss out on your dream apartment!

2. Reduce your belongings BEFORE you move

Moving can be an exciting, exhausting day, but to cut down a little on the exhaustion part of the equation, take a hard look at your belongings. Do you really need to move that fifteen-year-old loveseat to your new digs? Do you actually wear all the clothes currently stuffed into your closet and drawers? By selectively paring down your belongings before you move to a new place, you not only will cut down on the time (and expense!) of your move, but you’ll start life in your new home with some space to breathe.

3. Measure first, buy once!

Speaking of moving day, before you go out and buy fantastic curtains that will be perfect for your new home—measure the windows. In fact, measure all the walls and create your own grid for where your furniture might go. Don’t just eyeball it and hope for the best. Many apartment homes provide you with schematics with accurate measurements of each unit’s dimensions, but before you buy anything new, it pays to double check!

4. Don’t forget the boring stuff

Nothing will make you appreciate living at home more than your first apartment—at least when it comes to everyday essentials like toilet paper, paper towels, cleaning supplies, laundry and dishwashing detergent, waste baskets, trash bags, and linens—not to mention a full set of cookware, kitchen knives, and serving utensils. Before you leave home, take a hard look at everything stored in your family’s linen closets, kitchen and bathroom cabinets, and pantries and create a list of “essentials” you never really noticed before. You might save yourself a late-night Target run!

5. Read ALL the fine print on your rental agreement (including any move-in instructions!)

This isn’t as fun as picking out curtains or rearranging your bedroom layout, but it’s perhaps the most important thing you can do. Every rental agreement has its own specific requirements, and some apartment homes have move-in instructions you might not be expecting—like how to use the freight elevator (What? There’s a freight elevator?) or whether or not you need to move in during a specific time period of, say, 2-4 hours, depending on the day. If you have any questions, make sure you ask your apartment’s front office or your landlord well before move-in day, to save yourself time and hassle.

Moving into your first (or first-in-a-long-time) apartment should be a fun, uplifting experience—and with these quick tips, you’ll make it a more relaxing experience, too!

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Keep your body cool and hydrated

During the summer, we all tend to perspire more, which means you need to pay extra attention to hydrating effectively. Water is the best choice, but any drink without caffeine or a lot of chemical additives can help! In addition to drinking more water, consider changing up your clothing style to looser, thinner materials that breathe, such as cotton. The more comfortable—and cool!—you feel, the better your body can adjust to rising temperatures.

Have it made in the shade

One of the easiest ways for it to lower the temperature in your home is to close your blinds when the sun is directly hitting your windows—especially if this is during a part of the day when you’ll be at work or running errands. Blocking the sun’s powerful rays can reduce the strain on your air conditioner and keep your home feeling like a cool oasis, no matter how hot it gets outside.   

Enjoy those long summer evenings

With the days getting longer and the sun setting much later, why not try switching up your exercise routine from early morning to early evening? It’s a great time to enjoy long walks along nature trails or to visit metro parks, as both are usually less crowded. Add to that the cooler temperatures and usually breezier conditions, and it’s a perfect time to get outdoors!

Did someone say “pool”?

One of the best amenities of most larger apartment communities during the summertime is, of course, the pool! Take advantage of yours, whether you get in a morning swim when the pool first opens, drop by for a quick refreshing dip after your work day, or enjoy the later hours of the pool’s operation. Even a short plunge will lower your body temperature and melt away the day’s stress, making you feel like a kid again. Even better, swimming is great exercise, easy on your joints and good for your heart.

Hit the gym (especially if you’re new to working out!)

What’s one of the best times to join a gym, or to get the most out of your community’s fitness center? That’s right, summertime! Most die-hard exercisers venture outside during the warmer months, which means that fitness centers are often far less crowded, giving you access to the best machines as you figure out what kind of exercise regimen works best for you. You might even try a few fitness classes if your community offers them, knowing that you’ll get more personal attention with a smaller group. Even better, by working out in an air-conditioned environment near plenty of water, you can monitor your body’s reactions to exercise more easily than if you are battling weather elements too. Then, once fall rolls around and indoor fitness centers get more crowded, you’ll feel far more comfortable hitting the gym no matter how busy it is! 

Summer doesn’t mean you have to suffer through your own personal heat wave. By working with the season and making choices that support your body’s needs, you can enjoy the long hot days and cool summer nights all summer long. 

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