The Power of Centralization at Princeton Properties 

At Princeton Properties, centralization and regionalization are cornerstones of our approach to property management. Thanks to our geographically dense portfolio, we have a long history of successfully consolidating essential functions, allowing our teams to work more efficiently and deliver exceptional service. While centralization has been part of our strategy for years, recent advances in technology have enabled us to take these efforts even further, improving both operational efficiency and the resident experience. 

Centralized Maintenance: A “Shared Responsibility” Model 

One area where centralization and regionalization have been especially impactful is in maintenance. By establishing a “shared responsibility” model, we aim to avoid overburdening our property teams while creating opportunities for team members to cross train and expand their skill sets. This model ensures that maintenance tasks are distributed among qualified team members across multiple properties, which not only reduces burnout but also builds a more versatile team.

The on-call schedule, which can be a pain point with maintenance technicians, can be spread through a larger pool of employees when regionalizing.  Team members at a smaller property might have been on-call every other week, but through regionalization the on-call schedule can stretch to every 6-8 weeks.   Connecting a variety of properties into one regional group can also positively expose maintenance staff to a variety of property types with diverse needs, we’re able to cultivate a team with well-rounded skills, ready to tackle any issue. 

Centralized Leasing and Enhanced Resident Services 

Our centralized leasing offices allow us to manage numerous apartment communities from a single location. By consolidating leasing activities, we can staff more efficiently and make use of advanced property technology to offer residents an elevated level of service, regardless of where they live within our portfolio. Leveraging technology allows for centralized leasing, communication, maintenance requests, and rent payments, freeing up on-site leasing and management teams to focus on community engagement, resident satisfaction, and property upkeep. 

Through centralized management platforms, residents can conveniently submit maintenance requests, make rent payments, and communicate with property teams from their phones or computers. This system simplifies tracking and responding to resident needs, enhancing overall satisfaction and ensuring timely responses.  At Princeton, we understand that swift response times are critical. Residents are not hyper concerned with where our team members are stationed, they simply want to have their questions and concerns handled promptly with quality and care.  

A Hybrid Centralization Model 

While centralization can be a valuable approach, it isn’t one-size-fits-all. Companies can experiment with different models to see what best fits their portfolio. For this reason, Princeton uses a hybrid model that centralizes certain tasks while keeping other duties property specific. For example, while leasing and communications are managed centrally, some unique property needs and resident interactions remain on-site to maintain a personal touch. This flexible approach lets us tailor our service to each property’s unique needs while ensuring that all properties benefit from streamlined, high-level support.  When applied correctly, centralization or regionalization goes beyond cost-cutting. It’s about optimizing resources to support a better experience for both residents and staff. 

Technology as a Driving Force 

Advances in technology have been instrumental in expanding our centralization and regionalization efforts. Cloud-based resident management platforms and app-based property inspection tools allow us to consolidate everything from building inspections and maintenance requests to rent payments and office communications. A resident management platform, for instance, allows residents to submit maintenance requests and pay rent online, while property managers can track these activities from a central dashboard, reducing the need for on-site interventions and enhancing efficiency.  

The Princeton Properties Advantage 

At Princeton Properties, centralization isn’t just about efficiency—it’s about creating a management system that enhances both the resident and employee experience while streamlining productivity. We work to create a property management system that is adaptable, resident-focused, and forward-thinking. By leveraging technology and a hybrid approach to centralization, we’re able to optimize our resources, improve decision-making, and provide an elevated level of service. With this model, Princeton continues to deliver the high-quality, resident-focused property management that sets us apart. 

Hosting Thanksgiving or Friendsgiving in an apartment can feel challenging, but with a little creativity, you can create a warm, welcoming environment.

Whether you’re planning a small gathering or a lively Friendsgiving with close friends, these tips will help make your celebration in an apartment cozy, fun, and stress-free. 

1. Plan the Menu with Apartment-Friendly Dishes 

When planning your meal, consider dishes that maximize flavor but don’t require a lot of oven or stovetop space. Here are a few ideas: 

• One-Pan Wonders: Choose dishes that can be made in one pan or pot to save counter space and minimize cleanup. Think casseroles, baked pastas, or one-pan vegetable sides. 

• Mix Up Traditional and Non-Traditional Dishes: Embrace the flexibility of Friendsgiving by combining traditional Thanksgiving dishes with simpler, crowd-pleasing foods like charcuterie boards, dips, or mini sliders. 

• Delegate Dishes: Make it a potluck! Invite each guest to bring a dish, making sure you coordinate who’s bringing what. This keeps your kitchen manageable and adds a fun variety to the meal. 

2. Optimize Your Kitchen Space 

Since apartment kitchens can be small, get organized ahead of time to make cooking and serving easy. 

• Prep in Advance: Do as much as you can the day before. This includes chopping veggies, making sauces, and baking desserts. Prep work in advance frees up both time and counter space on the big day. 

• Use Countertop and Storage Hacks: Maximize counter space by using cutting boards over your sink as additional prep space. Move unnecessary items to another room temporarily to make way for serving dishes and other essentials. 

• Use Your Dining Table as a Buffet: Rather than serving food family-style at the table, set up a buffet. This makes it easier for guests to help themselves and keeps the dining area free for table settings and drinks 

3. Get Creative with Seating Arrangements 

If your dining table only seats a few, don’t worry! You can create an inviting space without a huge table. 

• Consider Floor Seating: Set up a low table or even a coffee table with pillows and throws on the floor for a cozy, casual setup. It’s perfect for a Friendsgiving vibe and allows everyone to gather around the table together. 

• Add Temporary Seating: Bring in any extra chairs or stools you have, and consider borrowing foldable chairs if needed. Have a few blankets or throws around to make seating comfortable. 

• Embrace Mismatched Furniture: If you’re using a mix of seating options, don’t worry about matching—it adds to the charm. Make each spot inviting with cushions or throws. 

4. Decorate for the Season Without Cluttering 

Decorating a small space for Thanksgiving doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Choose decorations that add ambiance without taking up too much room. 

• Focus on the Table: A seasonal centerpiece with pumpkins, candles, and greenery can set the tone without taking up much space. A simple autumnal tablecloth or runner can make everything feel festive. 

• Use Vertical Space: Hang paper or fabric garlands, string lights, or wreaths on walls and doors to add holiday warmth without sacrificing space on tables or counters. 

• Keep It Cozy: Use fall-scented candles or small decorative touches like mini pumpkins and seasonal napkins. Little accents can make your apartment feel festive without overdoing it. 

5. Plan a Self-Serve Drink Station 

A dedicated drink station helps keep traffic in the kitchen to a minimum and makes it easy for guests to serve themselves. 

• Create a Beverage Bar: Set up a small table with drinks, glasses, and any mixers you’re offering. A pitcher of seasonal sangria or a mulled cider in a slow cooker can be a fun addition. 

• Include Non-Alcoholic Options: Have a few non-alcoholic options on hand, such as sparkling water, apple cider, or cranberry juice, so everyone has something to enjoy. 

• Decorate the Drink Area: Adding a few decorations here, like mini pumpkins or a small sign, can make the drink station a fun focal point. 

6. Plan Activities for the Group 

Friendsgiving and Thanksgiving are about spending quality time with each other, so keep a few fun activities on hand. 

• Gratitude Sharing: Have everyone write down something they’re thankful for and share it around the table. It’s a meaningful way to connect with each other. 

• Host a Movie Marathon: After dinner, unwind with a classic holiday movie or a fun Friendsgiving episode. It’s a great way to relax and keep the festivities going. 

• Organize a Game Night: Keep a few card or board games on hand for after dinner. Games like charades or Pictionary are great for group laughs in a cozy space. 

7. Make Clean-Up Easy 

After the festivities, keeping cleanup manageable will make the end of the night much more enjoyable. 

• Use Disposable Dishes (If You Prefer): To simplify cleanup, consider eco-friendly disposable plates, cups, and utensils. If you’re using reusable items, enlist a few guests to help wash up. 
  • Our Favorite Eco Friendly Disposables

• Set Up a Trash and Recycling Station: Have a clear spot for trash and recycling so guests can easily help with cleanup throughout the night. 

• Take It Slow: Don’t feel pressured to clean everything immediately. Put leftovers in containers, soak dishes that need it, and save the rest for the next day. 

Enjoy Thanksgiving in Your Apartment! 

Hosting Thanksgiving or Friendsgiving in an apartment is all about making the most of what you have and creating a welcoming environment. By planning ahead, organizing your space, and focusing on cozy touches, you can enjoy a memorable holiday celebration with friends or family that feels just as special as a big gathering. With these tips, you’re all set for a Thanksgiving filled with laughter, gratitude, and delicious food—no matter the size of your space! 

Be sure to bookmark our blog for more tips and tricks on making the most of your Princeton Apartment Home!

 

At Princeton, we know that making a big difference usually starts with small steps. The journey to an eco-friendly household can seem daunting (and expensive), but it doesn’t have to be! We’ve compiled a list below of our favorite 10 ways to repurpose disposable household items, that would normally be single use.  

1. Mascara Wands: Next time you finish up a tube of mascara, toss the body but keep the wand to help rehabbers care for orphaned wild life! You can find exact directions on how to donate your brushes here. 
2. Wine Bottles: Enjoy your next night cap without the guilt. Wine bottles make excellent décor, from flower vases and center pieces to room lighting that will be the center of your guest’s conversations! La Crema winery has plenty of ideas to help you get creative with your wine bottles. 
3. Tooth Brushes: Dentists suggest throwing your toothbrush away every 3 months. That means the average person uses and replaces 300 toothbrushes in their lifetime. The next time you need to replace yours, clean it off and save it in your cleaning supplies to help scrub those hard to reach or small spaces like around your faucet! 
4. Plastic Bottles: No matter how many reusable water bottles you have, sometimes you’re in a pinch and need the hydration. Not to worry! You can cut the bottles in half and use them as planters for your garden seedlings. As an added bonus, with clear bottles you can see when the roots are set and ready for their permanent home.  
5. News Papers: If you’re like most of us, and just can’t seem to remember to cancel that newspaper subscription, you’re in luck! Newspaper makes great wrapping paper in a pinch, or you could make it a regular habit that sets your gifts apart. Plus, your friends and family will be impressed by your green initiative!  
6. Food Scraps: Composting can be time consuming, and isn’t always renter-friendly, so what should you do with your food scraps? Save your parmesan cheese rinds to use in your next soup or stock to add the Umami flavor that will have everyone asking what your secret is. You can also save money on store-bought stocks and broths by making your own with your veggie scraps and meat bones. Simply freeze them until you’re ready, then add water and seasonings and let it all come together in a pot! 
7. Old Clothing/Bedding: Sometimes, clothes and bedding just can’t be donated, they’ve been too thoroughly loved. Instead of tossing them, cut them into squares and use as cleaning cloths. This is a two-for-one as you’ll reduce your paper towel usage too.
8. Gallon Jugs: It seems that plastic jugs are everywhere, but luckily, the uses for them are just as plentiful. If you cut your jugs in half, you can use the top half for an all-purpose scoop, whether for dog food or soil for your plants, or use it as a large funnel. The bottom half can be painted and repurposed as a cute planter, or used as a rain catcher for water to water your house plants.
9. Packing Peanuts: Once you’re done sweeping them up because they launched out of your new package as soon as you opened it, you can put them aside to use for your next planting project! Packing peanuts can be added to the bottom of a planter to reduce the weight, making it easier to move, while creating more space for additional drainage to keep the roots nice and happy!  
10. Bread Tabs: These single-use, plastic tabs can be turned into one of the most useful life hacks for anyone who works at a desk. Gone are the days of searching for the right wire in your power strip because now, with just a permanent marker and bread tabs, you can neatly label every wire!  

We hope these tips help you on your eco-friendly efforts! For information on how Princeton Properties is caring for our communities and environment, visit our Princeton Cares page. Happy Earth Day!  

Shaking off the winter blues with a thorough spring cleaning is not just a task; it’s a rejuvenation for your living space, and your mindset! Spring is the perfect time to infuse new life and energy into your home, preparing it for the brighter, warmer days ahead. Here’s an in-depth look at how you can effectively and eco-consciously cleanse your home, ensuring it’s as fresh and inviting as the season itself.

Spring Cleaning with Natural Solutions

• Revitalize Your Carpets with Baking Soda – Baking soda isn’t just for baking; it’s a powerhouse for deep cleaning your carpets. Forget the perfume-y sprays and aggressive cleaning products, and embrace a more natural and less intrusive method. Sprinkling baking soda on your carpet and letting it sit for 15-30 minutes before vacuuming can loosen any set-in dust or dirt, while its alkaline nature leaves it smelling brand new! To give a subtle and eco-friendly fragrance, add a few drops of your favorite essential oil into the baking soda before applying it to your soft surfaces!
• Purge your space – Spring is synonymous with renewal, making it the ideal time to reassess your belongings. Before packing away your winter clothes and décor, take inventory and donate anything that no longer #sparksjoy! (Thanks Marie Kondo).  
• Steam your microwave – Gone are the days of tirelessly scrubbing that left over pasta sauce splatter. Add some water and lemon to a microwave-safe bowl and microwave on high for 1 minute. The steam will loosen stuck on residue and the lemon will leave a fresh scent throughout the whole kitchen!  
• Let spring air do the work – As you take your spring linens, bedding, and décor out, consider hanging them by an open window to let the fresh air breathe new life into them!
• Dryer sheets aren’t just for laundry – A fact of life is that garbage can smell less than pleasant even after the trash has been brought out. Leaving some dryer sheets at the bottom of your trash can will help relieve your kitchen from the takeout leftovers you just remembered to throw out! Here are our favorite eco-friendly dryer sheets!

Creative Spring Cleaning

• Lint roll your lampshades – Lint rollers have become our favorite solution to the dust that seems to permanently settle onto lampshades, fabric window coverings, and really any soft surfaces!  
• Add some innovation to your couch cleaning methods – Rid your couch of its winter fatigue by tying a damp microfiber towel with a small amount of dish or laundry soap to a cooking pot lid and running it over the cushions and backs! This will disinfect and deodorize with minimal effort.
• Swiffer those out of reach spots – Utilize your Swiffer mop to dust your walls and even ceilings!  
• Steam clean your mattress – Your mattress is a crucial yet often overlooked element of your cleaning regimen. There is no shame in spending a snow day (or 5) re-watching Friends, but that doesn’t mean you can’t hide the evidence! An inexpensive steam cleaner will restore that pre-winter clean.  
• Organize with a cleaning schedule and checklist – Spring cleaning is a marathon, not a sprint. Make a schedule and check list for weekly cleaning projects and have your whole space done in no time! Canva has many checklist templates that are so pretty, you’ll want to make one for every project! 

By diving into these cleaning tricks, you’re not just tidying up your place; you’re totally revamping your Princeton Properties apartment home. It’ll go from just clean to absolutely glowing with freshness and chill vibes, all set for the sunny days of spring. So, think of spring cleaning not as a boring duty, but more like a fun kick-off party for the great times ahead. It’s all about getting your space to match your happy, vibrant energy for the year to come! See other ways Princeton is helping care for the environment and simplifying your life!

Princeton continues to grow!

We’ve taken on the management of four unique apartment communities located in Chelsea, MA, Newton, MA, Tewksbury, MA and Londonderry, NH. As we expand and enhance our services, we are excited to welcome these four new properties into our portfolio. This expansion is a testament to our commitment to delivering outstanding living experiences.

We would like to welcome the following properties:

Atlas Lofts in Chelsea, MA – Modern loft living in the historic Box District.

Newton Gardens Apartments in Newton, MA – Garden style apartment homes within one of New England’s most sought-after cities.

Village Green Apartments in Tewksbury, MA- Apartment homes where modern meets comfort and convenience in a centralized location.

Woodmont Commons Apartments in Londonderry, NH – Quaint, small town New England living with modern amenities.

Princeton Properties focuses on applying best practices to every management relationship. Our approach involves careful consideration of assignment types and locations, ensuring that our teams can provide our signature exceptional customer service.

Our pledge extends to the valued residents who call our communities home. Our guiding light at Princeton is, “do the right thing, not just do things right,” which is echoed throughout the Princeton Properties’ living experience. Inspired by our ‘Princeton Cares‘ and ‘Princeton Living Made Simple‘ philosophies, we strive to create communities that are not only comfortable and convenient but also enriched with care and simplicity. From our dedicated onsite management and maintenance teams to our unwavering commitment to continually upgrading living spaces to improve the residential experience, our mission is clear.

With every assignment we take on, we work to continually increase the value of our properties. This is achieved through strong hands-on management, innovative marketing strategies, and sound financial planning. Our approach is not just about managing properties; it’s about upholding the values and standards that define Princeton Properties.

During the fifty years that we’ve been providing quality housing, we’ve not only grown in size, but our commitment to excellence has also continued to crystallize. We are thrilled to welcome these four properties and their residents into the Princeton family. There are more exciting additions to our portfolio on the horizon, The James (coming soon), is under construction in Haverhill, MA. We will be welcoming our first residents in Summer, 2024. Check out any of our many offerings to see why Princeton provides the best of apartment home living experiences.