Apartment Blog

You know that iconic phrase “Houston, we have a problem” from the Apollo 13 movie? Here at For Rent Media Solutions, we prefer to think we have the solutions. We have the resources and the answers to your apartment searching needs.  Not only do we provide you with a moving center and a getting settled center on our Relocation Page, we also provide you with decorating and entertaining tips and apartment living ideas on our Apartment Blog.

So if you’re looking for apartments in and around the Houston area, we are your one stop shop! Check out our newest apartment community videos for Houston apartments:

Hartford Park Apartments

Canfield Lakes Apartments

Briar Park Apartments

Lantern Village Apartments

Steepleway Downs Apartments

Huntington at Stonefield Apartments

The Steeples Apartments

Meadow Ridge Apartments

and Bristol Apartments

When you got ready to leave home today, you knew there was the possibility that someone could wrongly come into your home to steal things, so you probably locked your door, and perhaps set an alarm.  Then, when you got behind the wheel of your car, you knew there could be an accident, so you buckled your seat belt.  No one is telling you not to leave home or not to drive, but both of these activities pose risks.  Everyday we take risks, and the better informed we can be about risks, the smarter and safer we are. 

The same is true for advertisers as they embrace social media to promote their apartment communities.  Social media is a great innovation, but it does have its risks, and the better informed advertisers can be about those risks, the smarter and safer they are.

Remember that a website is a form of advertising.  As a practical matter it is no different than any form of traditional advertising, and the same rules apply.  The things you say must be true, because if they are not, it is libel; you have to be aware of consumer laws (watch out for sweepstakes that are really illegal lotteries); and, you have to honor the trademarks and copyrights of others.

And of course, don’t forget about fair housing considerations.  The point of a website is to advertise the community; what is posted on a website (and that means both words and pictures) must therefore be fair housing compliant.   Quite simply, that means that a “reasonable person” looking at the website cannot see anything that would suggest “any preference, limitation or discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status or national origin.”  Therefore, the words that are used, the directions that are given, the symbols that are depicted, and the photos and pictures that are shown cannot indicate that type of preference, limitation or discrimination. 

The bottom line is that if there are fair housing issues with a basic website, the apartment community will be liable, since this is essentially an “ad,” and the community (its owner or PMC) is the “publisher.”

But what about a website where others are able to post information or are invited to blog?  Who is liable for what others post?  The answer is “it depends.”  It depends upon how much control the owner of the website (the “Publisher”) is exerting over the external posting by others.  It’s all about control.  The more the message is controlled, the more likely the accountability. 

Now, what about Facebook®, Twitter™, YouTube™ or a blog?  Are these a form of advertising?  The answer to that question is “it depends.” It depends on what a judge or jury might say about this.  The folks in the apartment industry who are using a fan page on Facebook or who are sending “Tweets” would ultimately have to admit that the ultimate goal is effective marketing of a community or PMC, and that sounds like advertising.

Social media can be a brilliant form of marketing, but people need to make informed business decisions.  They need to know what questions they should be asking before they take the leap into social media, questions like:

1. Who at the community/with the PMC will be its “voice”?
2. Where will this “voice” be heard?  On your own website or blog?  Or will this “voice” speak through posts at the websites and blogs of others?
3. If you will have your own website/blog, how much time will be committed to monitoring and promptly responding?
4. If you will have your own website/blog, how much control do you plan to exert regarding what is posted by others?
5. What will you do if someone says something bad about you or the community?
6. What will you do if someone says something bad about their neighbors or prospects–a lie, a slur, even an over-the-top compliment?
7. When is your employee your employee?  Are you responsible for their on-line actions?
8. When is your employee “on their own time”?  Are you responsible for their on-line actions?
9. Are you going to provide training for your employees on the proper use of social media as it relates to your website/blog?
10. Are you going to provide training for your employees on the proper use of social media as it relates to the websites and blogs of others?

Lock your house?  A good idea.  Seatbelts–ditto.  And take advantage of the wonders of social media and advertising, but do that with an understanding of the risks and a plan to address them.

REQUIRED LANGUAGE FOR ALL REPRINTING OF THIS ARTICLE: “Social Media- Don’t Take Risks” is written by Nadeen Green, Senior Counsel with For Rent Media Solutions. The information contained in this article is not to be considered legal advice, and the authors and their companies strongly suggest that you consult with your own counsel as to any fair housing questions or problems you may have.

Colorado has a vast array of attractions including everything from sporting events to historical sites, casinos and much more! Take your family to an amusement park or live like an actual cowboy on a working dude ranch. For you artsy folks, Colorado has one of the most unique and complete arts and cultural experiences; check out the Denver Art Museum with one of the nation’s finest collections of American Indian Art or a live production at the Cabaret Dinner Theater and Metro Playhouse.

Whether you are looking for a ski resort or spa, you can have vacation living right in your home town! And if the attractions aren’t enough, the picturesque landscape should surely lure you in. Colorado has one of the most unique and varied natural landscape in the entire nation, with sand dunes, mountain peaks, emerald green forests and beautiful mountain lakes. This is why it is nicknamed “Colorful Colorado” because of the magnificent scenery of mountains, rivers and plains.

Sound like a place you’d like to live? Get more information and search tips on Denver Apartments or Colorado Springs Apartments, or view all Apartments for Rent in Denver, CO and Apartments for Rent in Colorado Springs, CO

We’ve got a few specific apartment communities that are waiting to welcome you…

Westmeadow Peaks Apartments in Colorado Springs, CO
Peakview by Horseshow Lake Apartments in Loveland, CO
Broadstone Vesta Apartments in Denver, CO
Broadstone Avena Apartments in Thornton, CO
Lincoln Place Apartments in Loveland, CO
TwentyOne 01 on Market Apartments in Denver, CO

Information source: www.colorado.com

History is made every day in Washington, DC. The capital of the United States portrays significance & power with its 19^th century structures and frequent motorcades sightings. The city of politicians, and their constant influx of interns, is always full of action and activities.

Enjoy being a tourist first before sinking your teeth into full fledged DC life.  Taking tours of all the monuments, museums and memorials will surely give you a greater appreciation for your new surroundings. Relatives will be anxious to visit after you have settled into the city, and knowing your way around the city will make the visit smooth and enjoyable. DC’s Metro system is very efficient and can get you around to all of the necessary sites.

Don’t forget your camera.  Although you now live in DC, there are sights and sounds that you may only be able to see and hear once in your life time.  You never know who you will run into.  You could meet the President at a local burger joint or a professional athlete in the mall.

Apartments in Alexandria and Arlington, Virginia also give you easy access to DC and great views of the city without actually living in DC.  In Maryland, Oxon Hill and Silver Spring, also have great communities in the “DC Metro” area.  So, enjoy witnessing history, and if you are savvy enough, you may get a chance to make history as well!

Get more information and search tips on DC Apartments, or view all Apartments for Rent in Washington, DC.

If you are a husband or wife trying to convince your spouse to move hundreds of miles from either coast so that you can work at one of 12 Fortune 500 companies in Dallas, or you are living the single life and want a city where you can “Live Large (and) Think Big”, maybe a little preview of the city will help.

According to Yahoo Travel, Dallas has more “shopping centers per capita than any other major city nationwide and four times more restaurants per person than New York City”. Home to the flagship Neiman Marcus store and 15 Macy’s locations, Dallas should keep the wife/girlfriend happy while the husband/boyfriend enjoys the aura of the Dallas Cowboys.

Galleria Dallas shopping center has been recognized by USA Today as “One of the top 10 places to spend it all”.  According to Visit Dallas “Galleria Dallas is the only North Texas home of Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Thomas Pink, Baccarat, Versace, Tourneau, Sony Style, Zara, Karen Millen and the all-new American Girl Boutique and Bistro.”

Shopping and eating until you drop will complement your work in or alongside the Fortune 500 companies in this business Mecca, and the local pristine apartment accommodations add to the experience.

We recommend you start your apartment search here:

Dallas Apartments

The Verandahs Apartments in Dallas, TX

The Elan at BluffView Apartments in Dallas, TX

City Scape Apartments in Dallas, TX

Fox Hills Apartments in Dallas, TX

The Woods Apartments in Dallas, TX

Get more information and search tips on Dallas Apartments, or view all Apartments for Rent in Dallas, TX.

On Wednesday, August 19^th, For Rent Media Solutions launched a Twitter sweepstakes for multifamily industry professionals. Multifamily professionals had an opportunity to win an iPod Touch® if they logged on to Twitter and sent @AptsForRent a tweet. To be eligible for the sweepstake, multifamily professionals had to enter a tweet that included the ‘Yeah We’ve Got That’ hashtag. This hashtag symbolizes our solutions network to help clients reach renters any time, any place, driving more LEADS for them.

On Monday, August 24^th, we announced Jessica Whitney as the randomly selected winner for the iPod Touch. Whitney works with Resort at Forbes Creek apartment community.  This community has had their Twitter account for a little over a month and loves using the microbloging site for ‘real time’ updates to inform residents of specials, events, etc. In addition to Twitter, we also learned that this community has a robust Facebook page set up displaying updates regarding events in the apartment community.

As a result of this campaign, For Rent Media Solutions saw an increase of followers to our Twitter profile and numerous retweets with our brand message all in less than three days! We also generated a couple thousand page views to our Apartment Blog and had many interactions with multifamily industry professionals.

We want to congratulate Jessica Whitney for winning the iPod touch. We would also like to thank all multifamily professionals who participated. We’re looking forward to running another sweepstakes soon!