Guide to Winterizing Your Apartment
The Ultimate Guide to Prepare Your Apartment for Winter
Find Your Drafts
Cold weather always finds some way to sneak into your apartment. Here are a few ways to locate drafts in your home, and seal them up. Not only will your heat bill be lower, but you’ll find it easier to maintain the temperature you prefer in your home.
Love all the natural light your big windows bring in, but hate the cold air they give off? Try to put some insulation between you and your window. You can get window insulators that are simple to install, or you can even use bubble wrap to insulate your windows. If you are looking for an excuse to re-decorate, buy some heavy duty/thermal curtains.
Door frames can shift over time, leading to gaps between your door and the floor. If you have any exterior doors that don’t keep the cold air out very well, try a draft guard. There are even draft guards for sliding glass doors.
Love all the natural light your big windows bring in, but hate the cold air they give off? Try to put some insulation between you and your window. You can get window insulators that are simple to install, or you can even use bubble wrap to insulate your windows. If you are looking for an excuse to re-decorate, buy some heavy duty/thermal curtains.
Door frames can shift over time, leading to gaps between your door and the floor. If you have any exterior doors that don’t keep the cold air out very well, try a draft guard. There are even draft guards for sliding glass doors.
Try a Humidifier Have you ever wondered why everything seems drier in the winter? That is because cold air holds a lot less moisture than warm air. Dry air can lead to flakey skin, chapped lips, bloody noses, dry eyes, and even worsen respiratory diseases such as asthma. A simple solution to help combat the effects of dry air is to get a humidifier. There is a variety of sizes and price points on the market, enough options to appease anyone. You can even add your favorite essential oils and give your apartment an added feeling of relaxation.
Emergency Kit Bad weather can lead to some scary stations, such as power outages, or even getting snowed in. In case of an emergency like this it’s smart to have an emergency kit.
Some good items to keep in this kit include :
1. Bottled water2. Flashlight3. Lighter and candles4. Portable phone charger5. First aid kit6. Extra blankets7. Non-perishable food items
Change out your Bedding and Livings Room Décor As if you don’t need another excuse to go to Target and stock up on throw pillows, here is another one! Make your living room cozier in the winter by adding more throw pillows and blankets to snuggle up in.
You can make your bed warmer by purchasing flannel sheets, bigger blankets, and of course, add more throw pillows!
Have a Winter Storm Checklist Now that we have covered the best ways to live happily in an apartment in the winter, it’s time to implement them! When you know a storm is coming, it is important to double check these things…
1. Is your winter emergency kit all stocked? Did you break into your bottled water stash after your workout? Or did you take the batteries out of your flashlight for your remote? It’s important to double check your apartment’s winter emergency kit is fully stocked.
2. Charge everything! Anything that you can use to communicate with the outside world, or use to keep up on the latest news, charge it while you have the chance. If there is a power outage, there is a big difference between your phone or laptop being at 50% and 100%.
3. Turn up the heat. Keep your home warm in anticipation for a storm. It will get colder as the weather gets worse. If the power goes out, and your heat goes out with it, you will wish you would’ve kept it warmer earlier. Close door to any rooms that aren’t heavily traveled in. Closets, pantries, dens, are all spaces that are unnecessarily using heat.
4. Car Checklist: If you know you will be going out when a storm is approaching, or even in a storm, have a checklist like the one below to prepare yourself.
Full gas tank – If your car is so low on gas, cold enough temperatures can make what little gas you have left freeze. If you get stuck somewhere in a storm, chances are you’ll have to wait for help. Make sure your gas tank is nice and full.
Up to date on maintenance – If you want to venture out in a storm, make sure your car is ready for the elements. Double check that all your fluids are topped off, your car brakes works accordingly, your tires are aired up and have good traction, and that your car is in good working order.
Shovel – If you do get stuck you can use a shovel to help dig some snow out from under your car.
Kitty litter – Another helpful way to help get your car unstuck, is to help get your tires some traction. If your car gets stuck in the snow, sprinkle kitty litter under the tire treads. Kitty litter absorbs moisture and provides traction to give your tires some momentum. You can also use your floor mats from inside your car to give your tires traction. Car emergency kit – Just like you have a winter apartment emergency kit, you should always have a winter car emergency kit in the winter. Fill this car kit with items such as bottled water, snacks, hand warmers, flashlight, and blankets.
The sooner you get these items checked off your to-do list, the less stressful winter will be. That means all you have to worry about during a snow day is which movies to binge-watch!
Teams from dozens of businesses from Fargo-Moorhead-West Fargo, as well as team members from Collective and our sister company, Great States Construction, descended upon Nemzek Fieldhouse at MSUM to compete in the sold-out Corporate Cup, organized by the Fargo-Moorhead-West Fargo Chamber of Commerce. The teams competed in events like tug of war, human battleships, kickball, human foosball, an inflatable obstacle course, SNAG Golf, and flag football. The Collective-Great States team came out strong, with a dominating performance in the inflatable obstacle course, followed by a riveting battle on the tug of war field that saw the team come out on top once again.
Cowbells. A derby car track. Smoke detectors beeping from every direction. Welcome to Maintenance Mania. The Greater Red River Apartment Association brought maintenance professionals together at the Avalon Event Center in Fargo to compete in a series of timed, scored events based on the real challenges these techs tackle every day: troubleshooting broken sinks, fixing locks, replacing dead batteries, repairing torn screens, and more.
Jade Wahl loves the kind of environment where most people would probably feel overwhelmed. “I thrive in chaos,” Jade said. “Every day brings something new.” Her career in property management started about eight years ago in Bismarck as a leasing agent before being promoted into a property manager role where she oversaw properties and the people who keep them running. Through connections from a previous job, she was introduced to Collective and shifted her focus to a different side of property management: Learning and Development Specialist. It was natural given her experience in supporting team members. "I love the relationships I get to create with each of our team members."
Tori Madilia grew up nearly 2,000 miles from Billings, but the path that brought her to Farmstead is less random than it might seem. After making the move to the Treasure State to be closer to her boyfriend, Tori got a career nudge from someone who knew her well. Her best friend back home happened to be a community manager and had a feeling she might enjoy property management. He encouraged her to give it a try. “My best friend back home thought I’d do well at it,” Tori said. “He was right. I knew from the get-go I’d be a good fit here.”
Thomas Janis has been working in maintenance for nearly 8 years, learning as he goes and picking things up from the people around him. Today, he serves as a Senior Maintenance Technician at 10Bedrock Apartments in Box Elder, South Dakota. He is a proud member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe , a revered culture known for a deep sense of responsibility to others. Spend just a few minutes around Thomas and you’ll quickly see what matters to him. “My culture is based on warriors helping the community strive,” he said. “I carry that into my work.”
Dakota Park isn’t new to Fargo. With a few thoughtful, resident-focused updates, it’s getting even better. The community first opened in 1996 and is noteworthy as one of the largest communities in Fargo, one of the first to feature underground parking, and one of the first to have an indoor pool. It’s no surprise that many residents have chosen to call Dakota Park for decades. It truly does have everything you need. It’s been a few months since we welcomed Dakota Park into the Collective portfolio, and it’s quickly become a favorite among our team. In that time, they’ve come up with some great ideas to make it even better.
Ryan Sullivan found his way into property management when opportunity and timing aligned perfectly. Like a lot of people in 2020, Ryan found himself looking for something new. His wife, knowing how good he was at fixing things, encouraged him to look into a role with Presbyterian Homes. What started as a maintenance position quickly turned into a career as he worked his way up to second in command at one of the largest senior living locations in the state of Minnesota. Today, Ryan serves as a Senior Maintenance Technician at ElseWarehouse and The Copham in Minneapolis’ North Loop.
Collective recently expanded its presence in Minneapolis’ North Loop neighborhood when it added The Copham in March. The Copham is a historic warehouse turned apartment community located on Washington Avenue just down the block from Collective’s ElseWarehous e. With its modern-meets-industrial style and a location in the heart of one of Minneapolis’ most vibrant neighborhoods, The Copham is a natural fit for the Collective portfolio.
Giving back is not treated as an afterthought at Collective. Team are encouraged to spend time away from the office for causes that matter to them personally.
Collective is pleased to announce the addition of The Copham, a 120-unit apartment community located on Washington Avenue in the North Loop neighborhood of Minneapolis, Minnesota.
