Get Your Apartment Ready for Spring

As the winter season draws to an end, the season for everything new is almost upon us. The flora and fauna are about to begin their blooms and the

Why not extend spring to your apartment home? Give your home a new look for the season with some modern designs that are quick, easy and affordable.

Add some mirrors to your apartment, especially in the living room. Mirrors add depth and your home will feel bigger. Want to tie in your decor, add a border or frame to your mirror to show off your designer's touch.

You can also bring nature in with fresh flowers from the flower shop or even the grocery. Flowers add color and scents to any home. Bright flowers look great and can compliment your decor. Add vases of flowers to your end tables or coffee table.

Happy Decorating!

Attracting New Prospects with Good Customer Service

As prospects and residents search for their perfect apartment, they are turning to past and present residents' reviews about the communities to help decide their future home. One such site is ApartmentRatings.com. I have blogged about this site before and I think it can only prove to strengthen the apartment industry if used in the right manner.

In reference to this site, I found another article posted on RentalsBuzz.com, a property management site that pools together information on the apartment industry.

Thank you, Mike, for posting this article. As a Community Manager, I hope that we can learn the essence of good customer service by making sure we fix the issues that threaten to burden our communities. As the Community Manager at Asbury Plaza, my goal is to ensure residents and the property is taken care of.

Here is a repost of the article:

How To Find Apartment Rating Gold

This week’s tip is something I discovered when looking for a restaurant. As soon as I saw it, I was amazed how simple yet effective it was and it is something that you really should consider doing especially if you are using social media websites.

So, let me start with a quick story. I was going out to eat with some friends and it was my job to pick the restaurant. I went on a popular website and started checking out all the reviews, and that quickly became a big mistake.

No matter what restaurant I checked out, no matter how many positive reviews they had, I would read the negative reviews and would start to second-guess the place. I just couldn't make up my mind. Then I came across this one restaurant. They had a reputation for having good food and they had plenty of good reviews to back that up, but they had a few negative comments as well and I had to read them.

Of course, as soon as I read the negative comments, I thought it was time to move on, but I then saw something that totally changed my mind and rethink this restaurant. Actually, I choose this restaurant because of what I started reading next and it ended being a great choice.

So what did I see and read that changed my mind...well, immediately under the negative comments there were responses by the manager of the restaurant. She had taken the time to respond back and address every one of them. Now that sounds simple, and it is, but how many actually do it. Plus, it was how she responded that really made an impact.

Here is what she did:

1. She thanked the person for coming to the restaurant and taking the time to write the review online, even though the review was negative and written on a popular website.
   
2. She then apologized for their bad experience and she acknowledged the mistake(s) the restaurant made.
   
3. She explained to the reviewer why something might have happened the way it did or how the restaurant usually handles their situation.
   
4. She very politely hoped the reviewer would visit the restaurant again and have a better time next time.

That's it, again very simple but very powerful and almost every negative reviewer responded back to the manager, thanking her for responding to their critique and all said they would try the place again and one reviewer even apologized and said that they would definitely go back.

It was amazing, it was another way for this restaurant manager to go the extra mile for their customers, even the ones that were criticizing them. By the way, she did respond to every positive review as well, and thanked the person for what they wrote.

So, how can this relate to rental properties?

Well, if you have ever searched online for rentals, you will quickly see many websites (some very popular) that allow apartments to be rated or commented on and it doesn't end there.

People have and will comment on Facebook, Twitter, etc. about their apartment. Think how easy it is, within a few seconds, someone can have their comment posted and with most websites being picked up by major search engines, that comment will be found through Google whenever someone searches for your community.

Can you see the huge opportunity that you have by taking a few minutes each week or even month and responding to reviews or comments about your property. The Internet not only allows anyone to write a review or make a comment, it also makes it easy for us to find that review and respond to it, which is something we were not able to do before and we should take advantage of it.

In addition, by responding the right way to negative comments or reviews, it sends a powerful message to current and prospective tenants, that we are listening to them and we care about what they think.

*reposted with permission from Michael Marcone. He can be contacted at his email address mike@rentalsbuzz.com.

Denver's Restaurant Week 2010 - Feb 20 - March 5

Bon Appetit Everyone!

Denver Restaurant Week will be held for two weeks this year, from February 20 – March 5, 2010. Denver Restaurant Week is a two-week celebration of the culinary scene in Denver. Participating restaurants will offer a multi-course dinner for the fixed price of $52.80 for two, or $26.40 for one (not including tax or gratuity). There will be a host of famous restaurants in and around Denver. No matter what your culinary tastebuds crave, I am sure there will be a restaurant to satisfy. Visit Denver Restaurant Week for more information on participating restaurants.

Denver Restaurant Week 2009 was very successful, with 225 restaurants participating and nearly 300,000 meals served across the city! So far, there are more than 200 restaurants participting and more are signing up. Stay up to date with Denver Restaurant Week. Visit mobile Denver Restaurant Week site at www.denver.org/denverrestaurant/mobile to access full menus. Follow the event on Twitter for everything food in Denver, and friend us on Facebook for even more foodie tips.

Last Weekend for $99.00 Move In Specials

This is the last weeked for $99.00 Move In Specials at Asbury Plaza. This offer will end on 2/21/2010. Do not hesitate to take advantage of this incredulous offer. For this weekend, if you lease an apartment, your application and administration fee will be $99.00 ONLY! That is a $46.00 savings for one applicant or $91.00 savings for 2 applicants.

Next week, the fees will revert back to $45.00 for the application fee and $100.00 for the administration fee. Why not save now and spend on decorating your new home! Contact the leasing office at 303.756.0651 or email asburymgr@greystar.com for more information.

One Bedroom Apartment Home Now Available

Available Date: 2/19/2010

Rent: $540.00

Square Feet: 648

A third floor apartment just became available and ready for immediate move in. This apartment has brand new carpet and vinyl throughout. This spacious and airy apartment has garden views from the panoramic picture window in the living room. Imagine living only 5 minutes from Denver University, reknowed Pearl Street and Washington Park. Whether you are a student at DU or CCD - Auraria, or working in the city, this cute and adorable apartment is the perfect place to call home.

Located near I-25 and Colorado Blvd RTD station, Asbury Plaza is a small, charming community that offers the ease and convenience of modern living. Asbury Plaza is an established community with access to shopping, dining and entertaining.

Contact the leasing office at 303.756.0651 for further information on this apartment home.

Last Weekend for the Colorado Garden & Home Show

Gardening Anyone?

If you are the 'green thumb' in your family, perhaps you should take a trip to the Colorado Convention Center for 2010's Garden Show.

The Colorado Garden and Home Show is the Rocky Mountain region's oldest, largest and most prestigious garden and home show. The show ends on 2/21/2010. A bright and colorful combination of flora and fauna merges in artform to present spectacular trends in landscaping, gardening and home improvement.

Tickets are $12.00 for general admission, $10.00 for seniors and FREE for kids under 12 years. The show times are weekdays 12:00PM to 8:00PM, Saturday 10:00AM to 8:00PM and Sunday 10:00AM to 6:00PM.

Please visit Colorado Garden & Home Show for more information or call 303.228.3000. Get Spring started now!!

Two Bedroom Home Now Available

Available Date: 02/19/2010
Rent: $655.00
Sq Ft: 810

If convenience and affordability is what you are looking for, then this second floor apartment home is waiting for you! This home is spacious and open, perfect for entertaining your guests. The living room is inviting with lots of Denver's natural light. All the major appliances are included in the kitchen. The bedrooms are roomy and comfortable. Onsite laundry facility is available inside the building.

Located near I-25 and Colorado Blvd RTD station, Asbury Plaza is a small, charming community that offers the ease and convenience of modern living. Asbury Plaza is an established community with access to shopping, dining and entertaining. Denver University is only 5 minutes away. Transportation to Downtown Denver is a hop, skip and a jump on the RTD Light Rail station. Whether you are looking for entertainment at DU's auditorium or a quiet meal at reknowed restaurants on Pearl Street, living at Asbury Plaza brings it all to you. Contact us at 303.756.0651 or email at http://www.blogger.com/asburyplaza@gmail.com for more information.

We look forward to having you as a future resident at Asbury Plaza!

Greystar Giving at Asbury Plaza

Greystar Announces Partnership with St. Jude Children’s Research Center

We are excited to share with you the news that Greystar has developed a partnership with St. Jude Children’s Research Center in an effort to raise funds to fight pediatric cancer. St. Jude is an institution that has a long track record of ground breaking research and as a provider of tremendous levels of care to children and families fighting pediatric cancer. At St. Jude, no child is ever denied treatment because of a family’s inability to pay.

Greystar is hopeful that with your help we can make a vital difference in the lives of catastrophically ill children by helping to provide the funds that pay for treatment and cutting-edge research that happens at St. Jude and around the world.

Your monetary donation and contribution to St. Jude Children’s Research Center is very important and deeply appreciated. We’ve launched a secure website to facilitate easy and safe on-line tax deductible donations at www.stjude.org/greystargiving. The on-line link is also available at www.Greystar.com. Any monetary donations would be greatly appreciated and passed on to St. Jude in your name. Please make any checks payable to St. Jude and send to my attention at the address below.

The relationship with St. Jude will allow Greystar and residents just like you throughout the country with a simple and effective way to make a lasting national impact on the lives of others.

We thank you for your generosity; together we can all make a difference.

Sincerely,

Sarita LaTorre
Community Manager, Asbury Plaza
5170 E Asbury Ave
Denver CO, 80222
PH: 303.756.0651
Greystar Real Estate Partners