Managing more than 7,800 high-quality, affordable apartments in Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky, BRG Apartments takes pride in helping residents find the next place they’ll call home.

One major reason that residents choose BRG Apartments is because it offers a large portfolio of homes that are well located, well maintained and reasonably priced. Another key factor is that its employees are dedicated to the idea of working with customers as true individuals.

Every resident has their own unique preferences and requirements. Whether that means making sure a home is pet-friendly, getting a kitchen that’s big enough for all of your appliances and gadgets, or having amenities like a swimming pool or a gym, no request is too big or too small for BRG Apartments to assist with.

“Traditionally, BRG prospective residents would go to a leasing office to tour the community and apartment homes,” said Jennifer Illanz, BRG Marketing Manager. “BRG has adopted new technology that now allows prospective residents to view via virtual tours on our website.  This allows the resident to find the perfect home for their needs”.

When making hiring decisions, the company seeks out people with a genuine commitment to service and to making a difference for their residents as individuals. It also looks for employees who derive satisfaction from working together as a team.

Finding the right match for each position is important. In an industry that often has high employee turnover, BRG Apartments boasts a loyal workforce in which more than 40% of employees have been with the company for longer than five years.

That low turnover is in line with the company’s credo of providing careers, not jobs. To prove that point, BRG Apartments frequently pays for educational and training opportunities and provides a very competitive benefit package with performance-based bonus programs.

In return for employees’ dedicated service, BRG Apartments goes above and beyond to take care of them. Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, the company has been fortunate enough to maintain its payroll. It’s also working with employees to accommodate their schedules and other needs, offering as much flexibility as possible at all times.

“As a result of COVID-19, BRG was forced to quickly shift away from our 2020 business priorities and focus quickly on the health & safety of our residents and employees,” Jeff March, CEO of BRG, said of the COVID-19 pandemic. “The company also adopted three guiding principles for how we would operate the business. These priorities included: team member and resident safety; job and financial security for BRG team members; and housing stability for the nearly 8,000 families who live in BRG apartment homes.

“As a business that provides housing to our communities, BRG has operated throughout the pandemic while instituting new protocols and safety measures. BRG has also provided relief to residents experiencing hardships by eliminating late fees and rent increases, providing access to rental assistance programs and suspending all evictions.”

Company management also offers employees an understanding ear, during both the pandemic and more normal times. Since the leadership team has extensive experience working at properties on-site, it can draw on that experience when advising employees and setting expectations.

Many members of the locally owned BRG Apartments team live in the same communities that they serve. In addition to providing excellent service through its work, BRG Apartments supports the community by donating to local organizations.

BRG and its principals provide meaningful financial support to over 25 local organizations both financially and through volunteer efforts that include the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Cincinnati, The Children’s Home of Cincinnati, United Way, Apartment Association Outreach, Inc., Fisher House and more. BRG is very active in the Apartment Association’s Charitable Outreach Program which provides financial and other support to individuals who face difficult circumstances.  This includes a partnership with the Freestore Foodbank for rent assistance and food drives, low income senior events, a back to school program, educational scholarships and supporting 21 food pantries.

As the largest owner and operator of apartment communities in the Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky market, BRG Apartments looks forward to welcoming you home.

The post At BRG Apartments, finding the right home for every individual is personal appeared first on BRG Apartments Blog.

1. Choose the right plants for your space

This one seems obvious, but it’s a simple step that will pay off for years to come. Wherever you buy your plants, talk to the vendor about where you’re thinking of keeping the plant. A bright balcony that receives tons of light? A dining room table more than twelve feet away from a natural light source? An apartment where you never open the windows, or one where the windows stay open all summer long? These conditions matter when it comes to plant care, and a few questions (or a handy Google search!) can set you up for success.

2. Remember to water according to the plant’s needs

One of the most frustrating things about maintaining a plant is knowing when and how much to water it. Some plants like a lot of water, some only a little, and how can you remember when you watered last before that grim morning when you glide through the kitchen and realize your plants are drooping and brown? The answer? Schedule it. Research the optimal watering schedule for your plants online, and set an appointment in your online calendar the same way you do your Monday morning staff meeting or your bi-weekly walk with friends. What gets scheduled gets done, and if you feel confident that you’re watering your plant correctly, you’re more likely to stick to the plan. Not a digital person? Label each plant with its ideal schedule and keep a stack of post it notes nearby, jotting down the date each time you water the plant and sticking it next to the label. With just a glance you’ll see when you watered last, and when you need to water again!

Pro Tip: Experts recommend swapping out regular water for flat club soda once a week to give your plants extra pep. The minerals in the soda are extremely plant-friendly!

Pro tip #2: Leaving town for a week? Invest in a watering globe or convert an empty wine or soda bottle into a DIY watering can by cleaning the bottle and filling it halfway with water. Then, turn the bottle upside down and bury it deep in the pot of a large plant (like a fig tree). The water will leech into the soil over time, keeping your plant perky while you’re away.

3. Fertilize like a (DIY) pro

It makes sense that occasionally adding fertilizer to your plants will help them grow, but there’s no need to buy an expensive mixture from the nursery. You can use your spent coffee grounds as a fertilizer instead. Ideally, you’d mix your fertilizer with other organic waste to form a compost, but that arguably takes time and effort. Instead, just sprinkle coffee grounds lightly over the soil about once a week and see how your plant responds. Remember—go light! You don’t want to deep roast your plant in coffee grounds.

4. Clean your plant (yes, really!)

Just like humans, plants feel better with a little tending. It’s a great idea to dust the leaves of your plants or mist them with a water mister (if they’re a water loving variety), on a regular basis. This allows you to really look at the plant, make sure it hasn’t become a new home for any plant-dangerous bugs, and also helps you reconnect with nature (which is probably part of the reason why you got a plant in the first place!)

Pro tip: Experts say that rubbing a little mayonnaise on your plant’s leaves every few weeks can make them extra shiny in a healthy way…you be the judge!

The post Keeping your plants healthy in your apartment appeared first on BRG Apartments Blog.

1. Assume the worst, and plan accordingly

This seems unnecessarily harsh, but particularly in our current highly unsettled environment, you should err on the side of being too cautious when it comes to taking care of your roommate. What if that individual did have a potentially life-threatening disease, one which resulted only in mild symptoms for her, but could hit you harder? It pays to be prepared by stocking up early on all the items you might need to care for a sick person, including disinfectant, gloves, bleach wipes, over the counter flu/cold medicines, Tylenol or other fever-reducing pain reliever, a thermometer, isopropyl alcohol, and enough food/toiletry supplies to hunker down until your roommate is feeling better. Also, figure out a plan to ensure your roommate will have plenty of reading material/access to the internet or TV access in their room, ideally before anyone falls sick.

2. Practice sensible self-care

Though you want to make sure your roommate knows you are present and taking care of them, it’s best to limit your time in close contact. Avoid being face to face (even if you have a medical-grade mask, which are often hard to find), and stay out of their room as much as possible—while they stay inside. You can both deep clean that bedroom once everyone is feeling better! In addition, make sure you’re getting plenty of sleep, are eating healthy foods and getting exercise, and are drinking lots of water. If you can get outside and into the sunshine on a regular basis, that’s also a great idea!

3. Keep the rest of the apartment (and yourself!) extremely clean

Speaking of cleaning, use this time to deep clean the rest of the apartment, sanitizing all surfaces and washing your own hands frequently. Avoid touching your face until you’ve thoroughly washed your hands after you deliver anything to your roommate’s room or after doing their laundry or handling their dishes. Washing your hands for at least twenty seconds should become almost a meditative routine for you—do it early and often! If soap and water isn’t available, you can use an alcohol-based hand rub, but soap and hot water is best.

4. Watch their symptoms carefully

Most likely, your roommate will recover after several days or a few weeks of mild to moderate symptoms, but if you’re their primary caregiver, it’s important to watch them to make sure they don’t need more help. This list, provided by the CDC for adult flu sufferers, is a great one to keep handy. Seek medical care if your roommate experiences any of the following:

• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Persistent pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
• Persistent dizziness, confusion, inability to arouse
• Seizures
• Not urinating
• Severe muscle pain
• Severe weakness or unsteadiness
• Fever or cough that improve but then return or worsen
• Worsening of chronic medical conditions

Caring for a roommate when they’re sick is an incredible act of service, and you should be commended for taking it on—while caring for yourself, too. Here’s wishing you and all you know a safe and healthy Spring!

The post How to care for a sick roommate while staying healthy appeared first on BRG Apartments Blog.

1. Learn that one thing

We all have things we wished we’d taken the time for—knitting, cooking, mastering a new language, reading all the classics, learning to write a book, making art—the list is overwhelming. But take the time now to whittle it down to three things you feasibly could do during your “downtime”… and then take a few hours a day to try out each one for size. You’ll find out really quickly if you truly have a passion for learning French or if that is still a “maybe someday” idea, vs. another subject that feeds your soul. After you’ve test driven your three most likely options, choose one…and commit to spending a set time every day pursuing it. It could be thirty minutes—it could be three hours—but whatever minimum amount of time you can spend, make a pledge. This could be the start of a brand new hobby, passion project, small business or lifestyle change!

2. Ramp up your self-care game

You know how you’ve promised yourself you’d give yourself a makeover, finally learn how to use that “beachy wave” haircurler you bought, or sort the half-dozen facial products you’ve purchased over the last several months but never tried? This is the time. Whether you’re interested in starting a yoga, spiritual or meditation practice, exercising on a daily basis, creating a customized skincare routine or even simply walking in the fresh air while giving thanks for your health and future possibilities, making a conscious effort to improve your self-care will pay dividends long after life returns to its usual hectic pace.

3. Spark apartment joy

This one is probably not surprising, but it absolutely should be on your list. There has never been a better time to go through your apartment and decide what you truly need, and what someone else could possibly use more than you. Check to see what charitable organizations are still open and accepting donations, and determine what you’re able to part with in order to open up space in your home. If you have items that you would be embarrassed to give away, but which no longer make you happy, this is your permission to throw those items away. Just do it! You’ll open up space and energy in a time where both are rare commodities.

4. Become an ambassador of hope

Now more than ever, people are in need of those who are willing to reach out either online or via snail mail. As nursing homes and other care facilities shut their doors to visitors, a great many people are alone and probably scared, cut off from outside contact in a time when they need it most. Contact your local nursing home (or church, or community center) and ask if there’s some way you can help by sending cards and notes to those who may not have anyone contacting them. Don’t worry about saying the perfect thing—any positive, caring message will help, to let the recipient know you’re thinking about them. You will do more with a simple, cheerful card than you can possibly realize.

Beating boredom takes effort, but it’s effort that is well worth it! Here’s hoping you find an activity or passion that becomes an important part of your life, and that you remain healthy and safe.

The post Stuck in your apartment? Try these boredom-busting ideas! appeared first on BRG Apartments Blog.

1. The wonderful world of stickers (and vinyl cling wallpaper!)

Trendy wall decals are all the rage for decorating, from small flowers, stars, and artfully stenciled words to full-wall images of Starry, Starry Night. With minimal prep (clean, flat walls are the best for these kind of stickers) you can dramatically change the look and feel of a room without any special skills, other than the patience to hang strips of sticky paper straight. Do a quick internet search on wall decals and lose yourself in the idea of sleeping next to a serene tropical beach or beneath a tree swaying in the breeze or beside a spray of positive messages!

2. Make a splash with colorful furniture

If you can’t do anything about the walls, what about your furniture? With some brightly colored throw pillows, blankets, and furniture coverings for your couches and chairs, you can make your furniture do the heavy color lifting in the room, serving as a bright distraction from the cool stillness of the walls behind them. Area rugs with bold color and funky patterns can also give some much-needed dimension to a neutral space.

3. Hang a collage of fun and funky art

Pick a theme—any theme—and start hunting for great art to transform one (or more!) of your walls into a celebration of what matters most to you. Whether you find your artistic treasures at thrift stores, flea markets or garage sales, you won’t have to spend an arm and a leg to make a fantastic statement. Most art can be hung with your basic hammer and nails, but if you purchase a particularly heavy item, you may want to invest in a stud finder as well to ensure that your art stays on the wall.

4. Light it up!

Whether your idea of a star-filled night is a curtain of falling strands of fairy lights or a delicate twine of lights strung along the ceiling, there are dozens of artful light options from classic white to multicolor to LED. Just make sure to have sufficient outlets (and extension cords) that make sense for your space, plus an easy one-click option for turning your lights off and on, and you’ll be ready to light up the night.

5. Drape your walls in color

For an easy solution that requires nothing more than a few yards of fabric (or colorful bedding) and tacks or wall staples, consider draping your walls in fabrics. From pretty silks to airy gauze to bright cotton, there are literally thousands of patterns, colors, and textures to choose from. Cloth is an easy-up, easy-down decorating option that can help your rooms stay fresh and fun all year round. Be careful to keep cloth away from any sources of heat, and if you have pets (or small children) this may not be your best decorating option. If it suits you, however, decorating with fabric can be an inexpensive, artful feast for the eyes.

Bottom line, let your imagination flow and cover that creamy canvas in whatever bold color you wish—without cracking open a single can of paint!

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