Blog Posts

On Giving Thanks in WNY

November is here, bringing with it a heightened awareness of the benefits of being grateful with the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday. We, here at Luxury Apts WNY, appreciate members of our apartment community living in homes at Autumn Creek Apartments , Renaissance Place Apartments , StoneGate Apartment Homes , and Windsong Place Apartments in the Williamsville and East Amherst area. Today we are sharing some of the benefits derived from being grateful, plus some ideas about how to express gratitude not only this month but all year long. Benefits of Expressing Gratitude Improves Physical Health According to a 2012 study published in Personality and Individual Differences, grateful people report feeling healthier than other people and they experience fewer aches and pains. Grateful individuals are also more likely to take better care of their health by doing things like exercising often and attending regular check-ups with their doctor, which will ultimately lead to a longer life. Enhances Empathy and Reduces Aggression Robert A. Emmons, Ph.D. has conducted multiple studies on the effects of gratitude on well-being. Gratitude helps to reduce toxic emotions like anger, envy, and frustration. Research has confirmed that gratitude helps to promote happiness and reduce depression, though it still remains unknown how exactly. Promotes Better Sleep Grateful people sleep better according to a 2011 study that was published in Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being. Something as simple as taking 15 minutes to write down a few thoughts of gratitude before bed may help you sleep better and longer. Ideas for Expressing Gratitude Keep a gratitude journal. Make it a habit to write down or share with someone you love thoughts about the gifts, blessings, or simple life pleasures you’ve received or enjoyed each day. Make a Daily Gratitude Post for a Month on Social Media Chances are social media is a daily part of your life. Harness that habit and use it to promote gratitude. During the day, post at least one thing you are grateful for and why. Not only will you be releasing happy feel-good endorphins for yourself, but you will also be brightening others’ day too. Change the way you speak. If there are areas you think your speech could improve, make those changes. Changing how you react verbally to something helps you control your temper and be more of a happy, calm person. That attitude will help you see other people and life challenges as not things that threaten you, but as things you can learn from and appreciate. Happy Thanksgiving to everyone in our WNY apartment community! Thank you for taking the time to read our post today!

How to Find the Perfect Apartment Floor Plan

Finding the perfect apartment for you and your tastes, needs, and desires can seem like a stressful, overwhelming decision. But you can make the best decision for you, without the stress, by remembering a few important tips. Today the Luxury Apts WNY Blog is highlighting some things to remember as you go apartment searching. Start with our apartment communities right here in Western New York — we think you’ll love what you find. In fact, be sure to read the reviews and find out what our residents have to say. Tips for Finding the Perfect Apartment Floor Plan First, evaluate your current state. Having a frame of reference to go off of as you search for apartments is helpful because it can give you an idea of what to say no to and what’s worth indulging in. You’re obviously looking for some sort of change, so first find out if it’s appropriate for you by determining how many things and how much space you currently have. Take this time to go through your things and get rid of what you no longer love, want, or need. Start packing up and organizing (physically, on paper, or even just in your mind’s eye) your things according to where they might go in a future home so you can have an idea for where they’ll go once you unpack. Measure your furniture and get the footage of your current living space so you can know at a glance whether another apartment’s square footage is enough for you. Try out our virtual move in feature. You’ll find it in a tab with most of our floor plans. Write down your needs and wants. There’s more to finding the perfect apartment than just finding a spacious one. Write down what other factors are important to you and organize them according to which qualities are necessities and which are luxuries. Separate lists can help you say no to something that seems lucrative but isn’t up to par, and help you decide between a couple options if you love both. Ask questions. Touring a home in person is important because it gives you the chance to see what it’s like in real time and have the chance to ask a leasing agent questions for answers you may not be able to get elsewhere. As you’re touring, walk through like you’d be living in the space. Does the flow of the layout feel natural? Do you like the lighting and would you be able to change it? Do the outlets work — and are they placed in convenient spaces? Pay attention to all of these and other questions so you can make an educated decision for your new home. Luxury Apts WNY is a fantastic property management company for many of our residents living here in the Western New York area. Call or stop by any of our apartment communities to learn why and learn more about our floor plans and schedule a tour. We look forward to hearing from you! What are your best tips for finding the perfect apartment? Share your wisdom with us in the comments. Thanks for reading! Good luck!

Getting to Know Your WNY Neighbors

It’s a fact: life is busy — for most of us, extremely so — and it’s hard to fit everything in. That includes getting to know our neighbors. But if we do carve out some time to get to know the people around you, lifelong friendships can be born, goodwill can be created, and problems can be solved before they become an issue. In today’s blog post, we have some tips for being a good neighbor at our apartment communities here in Western New York. Smile and Compliment Make eye contact with neighbors and say hi when you see them. Giving out compliments is also a great way for people to feel comfortable around you. You could compliment them on how cute their dog is or how much you like their shoes. Kindness establishes foundations for good relationships. Help Your Neighbor There’s a pretty good chance that you’ve seen someone moving in or out of your apartment community. Helping is a great way to get to know new neighbors. Help them move boxes inside and talk to them about where they moved from and why they moved here. It’s a great way for them to feel welcome as well an easy way for you to make friends. Be Considerate Being considerate can take on many forms. One of the most appreciated by neighbors is in regard to noise. A good rule of thumb is to keep music, TV, and loud conversations down after 9 pm and to avoid using loud machines or power tools early in the morning (even vacuums can be loud). If you are throwing a party, let your neighbor know in advance as well. Communicate Address problems in person rather than through notes or email. So much gets lost in non-personal communications, and people may take things more personally than if you talk to them in a quiet, courteous manner. Be sure to listen as well as talk when it comes to problems. Work toward a win-win resolution and be willing to compromise. Getting to know your neighbors can be a rewarding experience. What are your favorite ways to get to know the other residents in our apartment communities? Let us know in the comments. Thanks for reading today’s blog post!

Decorate Your Apartment These Apps Can Help

When it comes to decorating your apartment, the Luxury Apts WNY Blog is sharing some thoughts about effective decoration and what makes it work. We have also found some apps that will help you get the job done. While there are some things that technology just can’t help with like moving couches, for instance, there are plenty of other ways apps can help. Check out these apps and be prepared for the next time you decide to redesign your living space. Decorate to Your Taste Use your own personal design style to turn your apartment into your ideal space. Make it reflect you and your interests. If you like books, maybe consider adding a stylish bookshelf to display your precious book collection. Your style should also reflect your lifestyle , which is a huge part of who you are. Meaningful Items You can decorate your apartment simply to help it look good, but try adding meaning to it as well. Decorate with items that have sentimental meaning to you — things that you love and that you have a deep connection to. Not only will this help to make your space more cozy and personable, but it will also provide great conversation points for when you have guests over. For Buying Furniture and Decorations: Lofty Lofty is an app for buying and selling valuable fine art and antiques. A team of appraisers and auction-house specialists assesses the paintings, prints, furniture, jewelry, and fashion based on sellers’ photos. Chairish Buy and sell pre-owned furniture or decor in a quick way. There are all kinds of fun treasures to discover on this app. For Layouts/Furniture Placement: Ikea Catalog More than a catalog, this app features an augmented reality feature that allows you to virtually place the brand's furniture in your room to see how it will look. Autodesk Homestyler Addressing three common design dilemmas with one app, Homestyler allows users to place high-quality models of furniture, light fixtures, rugs, and other products on an image of a room, browse a photo stream for design inspiration, and connect with design professionals in their area. We love our Western New York apartment communities! We hope this blog post is helpful when you are ready for a change in your apartment decor. Thanks for taking the time to read our post this month!

Packing Tips for Your Next Move

Welcome to the July edition of the Luxury Apts WNY Blog! Last summer, we shared some general tips for a smooth move . To add onto this, we’re sharing specific packing tips to get things ready for a move. Whether you’re moving to Western New York from across the country or nearby, we think these ideas are worth reading about. Pack Smart Before you begin packing, come up with a plan for how you’re going to pack. Whether you pack room by room, by least-used to most-used, or by function, the important thing is to map out how you will progress. Be sure you have all the supplies on hand you will need for packing different types, weights, and sizes of items. Give yourself plenty of time to methodically sort, pack, and label your boxes for the best moving experience. Packing Dishes Rather than wrapping plates and bowls and stacking them up, wrap them and pack them in a box standing vertically. Fill the excess space with package filler, or even towels, socks, etc. Boxes are square and plates are round, so another option for plates and bowls is to pack them into a (clean) paint bucket. Stack them on top of each other (with several layers of newspaper or a styrofoam plate between each plate) in the bucket, and add filler around them. Be sure the bucket is sturdy and has a securely fitting lid. When it comes to cups, glasses, and stemware, newspaper and bubble wrap may not be the best choice. Tea towels, rags, and even tube socks are great for wrapping and protecting glass items. Slip a glass into a sock and tuck the extra inside the cup and say bye-bye to chipped cups or glasses. Be sure to allow plenty of space around the glasses and box for padding, and fill it in completely so the contents don’t shift during transit. Packing Clothing Pre-sort your clothing and donate or toss items that are damaged, out-of-style, or you just don’t wear anymore — there’s no point in moving them to a new place if you’re not going to use them. Once you’ve sorted, go ahead and pack your off-season clothing first. (Be sure to label the boxes, particularly if you will be storing them for several months before your move.) The distance you’re moving can determine how you pack your clothes. If you are doing a short-distance move, use a combination of garbage bags for items in your dresser and zip ties for clothing on hangers (zip tie your hangers together) and pile clothes in the backseat of your car. For longer moves, wardrobe boxes are a good option. Check out these additional ideas for packing clothing for a move from the Life Storage Blog. What are your best tips for packing up your apartment? Do you have a system for identifying the contents of your boxes and bags? Let us know in the comments! Thanks for reading today’s blog post.

Your Home Away from Home WNY Corporate Rentals

In today’s world, there are times when you simply need to have a home away from home or a place to live until you know what your long-term plans will be. Here at Luxury Apts WNY, we cater to this need with furnished suites available at select properties in the Western New York area including Williamsville and East Amherst. Learn more about our corporate housing options in today’s blog post. We have options for corporate furnished housing. Whether you are looking for something for a short-term stay while you are on a job assignment, you want to get to know the area before making other plans, are in the area for an extended visit with family, or simply need a place to stay for awhile, Luxury Apts WNY has got you covered with one-to-three bedroom apartments and townhomes, with furnished and turnkey options to best meet your needs. Another perk is that leases can include utilities for one easy monthly payment. What to expect from our apartment communities. Our furnished suite guests also receive access to many of our community amenities including salt water swimming pools, exercise facilities, clubhouses, business centers, sport court, and more depending on which property is chosen. We provide pet-friendly communities, too. In fact, we have dog parks available. So bring your furry friend along. They take the heavy lifting off your shoulders. Remove the burden of moving your furniture and storing furniture that doesn’t fit in a new home from yourself by choosing something that is furnished. Moving all sorts of heavy and oddly shaped pieces can mean extra time, money, helping hands, and trips between your old space and your new one. Even if you have furniture already, choosing a furnished apartment can encourage you to let go of items you no longer need or use and items that are old or broken in favor of accessories that can last years. Find out the details or our corporate suites by visiting: Furnished Corporate Housing in the Suburbs of Buffalo . Thanks for reading our post today!