The post Your Guide to Surviving the Holiday Season With a New Puppy in the Home appeared first on Audubon Parc Blog.
]]>
If you're like most residents of apartments in Cary, N.C., who have recently decided to share their lives with a furry friend in the form of a puppy, you're undoubtedly looking forward to spending many happy years in the company of your canine companion. Naturally, you're taking precautions to ensure the safety and well-being of your pet. However, with the holiday season coming up, you might want to put normal precautions into overdrive because this time of year is particularly dangerous for domestic pets. Here's what you can do to keep your new friend as safe and happy as possible while not sacrificing celebrations and festivities.
Leave Your Pet at Home When You Go Out to Celebrate
Although it may be tempting to take your furry friend along when you attend holiday parades or other outdoor seasonal gatherings, it's best to leave your pet at home. Puppies are often overwhelmed by too much noise and movement, which often causes them to panic, slip out of their collars and run. Many dogs get lost this way every year, and sadly, many of them are never found by their owners, even if they've been micro-chipped.
Create a Quiet Room for Your Pet When You Host Festivities
It's not cruel to create a quiet room for your pup to stay while you're hosting festivities. You may feel as if you're leaving your pet out of the fun, but you're actually protecting it from potentially harmful situations. For instance, with your door opening and closing a lot, your pet may be tempted to bolt. Small puppies also are at risk of being stepped on during seasonal soirees when spirits are high and no one's really paying attention to where they're putting their feet.
Be Mindful That Many Holiday Foods Are Bad for Dogs
Garlic, onions, chocolate and many other foods associated with holiday feasting are flat-out harmful to dogs. Guests may be tempted to slip your pet a treat, which could end up with you having to cut the festivities short to pay a visit to the local emergency vet.
We've got several floor plans designed to fit a variety of living situations. Please reach out to us today to find out more.
The post Your Guide to Surviving the Holiday Season With a New Puppy in the Home appeared first on Audubon Parc Blog.
]]>The post Tips for a Productive Work-From-Home Space in an Apartment appeared first on Audubon Parc Blog.
]]>
Telecommuting is becoming increasingly popular as more and more companies are realizing the benefits of not paying overhead for employees to come into work. If you’re entering the telecommuting world, you’re going to need a productive space to work at home. Even in an apartment in Cary where space may be more limited, you can carve out an effective place to work with these tips.
Choose a Distraction-Free Location
One of the problems of working from home is the distractions. The dishes in the sink and the laundry that needs to be sorted are always facing you, pulling your attention away from work. In an apartment, you may not have a full room you can dedicate to work, so look for a distraction-free spot. Choose a location in your apartment that’s as far from your biggest distractions as possible. Even if it means turning your desk to face away from the kitchen instead of toward it, this will increase your productivity.
Determine Your Needs
What will you need at your workstation to do your job? Will you need a printer and fax or just a computer? Stock the station, but avoid adding too much to the space. The more stuff you have at your workstation, the less work you will actually get done. Remember, the goal is to create a workstation that is as distraction-free as possible, so avoid adding too much clutter.
Consider Ergonomics
If you will be working full time, your work station needs to be comfortable. Choose a chair, keyboard, and mouse that are ergonomically designed to prevent strain and discomfort. Place your computer screen slightly below eye level, so your eyes naturally moisten as they travel down the screen.
Let in the Light
Lighting is also important for productivity at work. Position your work station so it is flooded with natural light, or opt for artificial light that is at a wavelength close to natural light. The better lighting you have at your workstation, the easier it will be to do your job.
Working from home is enjoyable with the right space. Schedule a tour of our Cary, NC apartments to see the spacious, attractive apartment homes available in this desirable area.
The post Tips for a Productive Work-From-Home Space in an Apartment appeared first on Audubon Parc Blog.
]]>The post Why Location Matters in Your Next Apartment appeared first on Audubon Parc Blog.
]]>
If you’re busy searching for a new apartment, you may be tempted to base your decision on price. While you may know that location is an important factor in where you live, it may also seem like it’s easy enough to work around the limitations if you have to. Here are a few reasons to reconsider if you’re just getting started in your apartment hunt.
Quality of Life
When you’re close to all the things you love, it’s easy to develop a routine that really works for you. From yoga classes to a quick bite to eat, you’ll love having options that are a mere walk or short drive from where you live. If you were 30 minutes from all your favorite shops and restaurants, though, you may find yourself feeling cut off from everywhere you wanted to be. You could certainly still go to all the places you love, but the commute might take some enjoyment out of the experience. The apartments in Cary can be far more rewarding if you’re in the center of it all.
A Sense of Community
When you feel like you belong in your corner of the world, it’s much easier to let the stresses of everyday life roll off your back. All it takes is a simple wave or greeting to feel welcome. If you want to live in a place where you can really get to know your neighbors, you need an apartment that encourages everyone to come together. This collaboration may just inspire you to broaden your horizons and adopt a whole new lease on life! In addition, the more people band together in your area, the more likely it is that the entire neighborhood will improve over time.
The real benefits of location may not be easy to quantify, but they become apparent as you take stock of your life in the long run. If you’re looking for an apartment that puts you close to everywhere you want to be, Audubon Parc can help. We have the amenities you need to really get to know your neighbors and make lifelong friends. Give us a call today to take a tour or to learn more about our current availability.
The post Why Location Matters in Your Next Apartment appeared first on Audubon Parc Blog.
]]>The post 4 Ways to Soundproof Your Apartment appeared first on Audubon Parc Blog.
]]>Increase Soft Surfaces to Reduce Noise
Noise has a bouncing quality that is magnified when a home contains more hard surfaces than it does soft — like large wood furnishings, hardwood floors, and kitchen surfaces. Add as many upholstered surfaces into your decor as possible, including padded dining chairs and breakfast bar stools, a pillow headboard, area rugs, table cloths, hanging tapestries, thick bathroom ensembles, and fabric window treatments.
For even greater quiet, hanging acoustic panels, acoustic fabric, or heavy-duty soundproofing window curtains can really reduce the decibels coming in and going out of your home.
Reduce Noise Entering Window and Door Gaps
No home is a perfect vacuum. Windows, HVAC ductwork, and entrance doors all provide gaps or openings that seamlessly allow noise to enter your home. These gaps are also useful for good circulation and help to prevent indoor air from becoming stuffy and dry. Add window inserts, which are clear glass panes that create an airtight fit and can decrease noise infiltration by 50 percent.
A simple solution for gaps at the bottom of doors is to use the same fabric-stuffed draft stoppers that homeowners use in the winter or a commercial-grade door sweep (a thick rubber strip) — allowing apartment dwellers to reduce noise slipping in under doors.
Add Shelves of Books in the Home
Books are great sound absorbers and there are many ways to incorporate bookshelves into homes. Open bookshelves that double as room dividers, standing shelves, corner bookshelves, wall-mounted shelving, tabletop shelves, and finally — piling old books underneath a bed or sofa are all ways you can use books to soak up sounds and increase thermal efficiency.
Hang a Thick Door Curtain
A door curtain can serve as both decor and a noise-reducing element for your entrance doors, interior doors, and wall openings that don't have a door. Consider heavy blackout curtains for bedrooms to gain the greatest sound reducing qualities or consider it a creative DIY home project to make your own curtains.
Find your North Carolina apartment home at Audubon Parc – a serene community that features stunning natural amenities like our outdoor pool with resort-like sun deck, an active clubhouse, modern fitness center, along with a bark park with agility toys, and walking trails around the lake.
The post 4 Ways to Soundproof Your Apartment appeared first on Audubon Parc Blog.
]]>