Houston Apartment Portfolio

A few weeks ago a secretary telephoned me in absolute desperation. She was desperately searching for accommodation in central London for some VIPs from abroad. She stumbled onto my website, not really understanding what the service was about. I think the words ‘free service’, ‘apartments’ just helped her to figure out that Quality London Apartments had something to do with accommodation. Apologies for my long opening, but it is a prime example of how little travelers in the UK and Europe know about the serviced apartment industry. After explaining the concept of serviced apartments and helping her find an apartment, I realized that I needed to share this knowledge further afield. Thus, this article is my contribution to open up this elusive industry and offer tips to travelers.

What is a serviced apartment?

A serviced apartment is a flat in a block, which has a separate bedroom, sitting room/lounge, fully equipped kitchen, your own private keys to own door. Serviced apartments can be in the form of a studio flat (all in one room with a kitchenette), one, two or three bedrooms.

All apartments enjoy maid service, utilities and a management team to help….just like a hotel. Guests only pay for a nightly rate and can live in a flat with everything they would have in their own home.

Pros: Serviced London Apartment vs Hotels

 More value for money and cheaper. In a hotel, no matter which star rating, you pay per night for one room which will have a TV, bathroom, sofa and a bed. This is similar to a studio apartment! In an apartment there is a separate bedroom, kitchen, sitting room, bathroom and dining table (exception is studio)

 Pay per apartment and not per person. An example would be paying £250 per night for a two bedroom apartment, which could accommodate up to 4 people, that works out at £62.50 per person.

 Freedom and privacy. An apartment is like being in your own home and there is plenty of space. You have your own keys to your own door.

 Booking is easy, just like hotels. The majority of apartments require a credit card to guarantee, pre-payment before you arrive and that’s it. No deposits, no tenants’ contracts.

Cons: Serviced London Apartment vs Hotels

 Apartments lacks the buzz and services of a hotel such as restaurants and Room Service. Albeit some apartments are owned by hotels and offer you the use of their restaurants and other services.

 No 24-hour service around the clock. The apartments are ran by a small team who work Monday to Friday 9:00am – 6:00pm, so you are on your own during the weekend. There are emergency numbers to call should you suffer an electric cut, but no 24-hours hotel Duty Manager to run to your room.

 No pool, massages, saunas like hotels

What to look out for when booking a serviced London apartment?

1. Quality of the apartment – make sure you find out if they are clean, well furnished and well maintained. How? Check the photos, and ask if you can book an appointment to view the apartment. This is very important if you are staying over a long period of time.

2. Do they have a friendly and efficient management team? If you need the comfort of a welcoming face to greet you on arrival, then ask for an apartment with a reception. Some apartments provide key boxes, so you can arrive any time, but there is no-one to meet you. A friendly and small team will be able to give you a very personal touch.

3. Opening time of the apartments office – doesn’t sound important? Well it is because the majority of apartments’ operations team open Monday to Friday 9:00am to 6:00pm. If you arrive at your apartment during office open hours, then fine, but any other time and weekends will mean that you will need to pick up the keys from a different location.

4. Key delivery by car at the airport? – If you are flying from abroad to London, and do not fancy traipsing throughout London at night to pick up keys, the majority of apartments will hire a taxi to deliver your keys to the airport upon your arrival. Convenient for a small charge.

5. Payment procedure and cancellation policy – every apartment vary in their guest terms and conditions. All will accept a credit card as a guarantee of reservation, some will ask for 100% pre-payment at least 7 days prior to arrival and cancellation can range from 12:00pm on the day of arrival to 28 days. So, before you confirm the reservation, be very clear about the terms and conditions. Ask your apartment agents to explain the procedure to you and read the terms and conditions on your confirmation emails. It will save you a great deal of trouble and headache later.

6. Apartments are always allocated on arrival. This policy is the same as any hotel, so unless you are a regular guest to a specific apartment, apartments are on allocations. In the same breath, some apartments only have a small number of flats, so if you are reserving the only 3 bedrooms penthouse in their collection, then you are guaranteed that specific apartment.

7. Rates become more competitive the longer you stay. In this, we mean you have more bargaining power if you are staying for one month or longer. This is when your apartment agent can really help you by negotiating with a variety of apartments to get you the best deal.

8. Using an apartment agent will also save you time searching, but most importantly they will work with your budget and negotiate a great deal for you. Of course, you also need to be realistic about what you can book, don’t expect to spend £80 per night for a luxury apartment. For example, one of our clients had £300 budget per night for a two bedroom apartment and he wanted something luxury. For those readers who know London well, also understands that this budget is actually very small. Despite that, we booked him and 3 friends into the Victoria Park Plaza luxury apartment (£150 per night less than the usual price) for £300 per night with free breakfast, gym and access to the executive lounge. Any apartment agent worth their salt can and will move mountains to help you.

What if I don’t like the apartment when I get there?

If you really feel that you have been hard done by, tell the apartment management team and ask to be moved to another apartment. All of the apartments that we work with are very customer focussed and try to help guests enjoy their stay. If this does not work, talk to your apartment agent, if that is how you booked. Best advice though, is to ask all the right questions before you book an apartment.

Your appetite for apartments is now whetted – how do you find London apartments?

1. As already explained, you can choose a free search and book service of an apartment agent or go direct to a specific apartment that you know. Both methods are absolutely fine, dependent of your knowledge of London apartments. Using an agent will mean that they will search far across their portfolio and present you with a variety of choices…all within 10-15 minutes. Agents are impartial and will only (good agents anyway) recommend the quality apartments for your needs.

2. You can use search engines like Google, Yahoo and MSN to find apartments. Type in keywords like ‘London serviced apartments’ or ‘quality London apartments’ and so on.

3. Stating the obvious but, ask for a recommendation from friends and acquaintances.

4. Check on Tripadvisor and other customer review websites.

Summary

If you have read this far, then thank you for your time. I have tried to make this article clear and as helpful as possible, but I welcome your comments and any further information that you feel is very important.

When it comes to where to stay on holiday there are lots of options from travellers to choose between. However, making the choice that is right for you can be difficult – especially when they are travelling to a new location and do not have a chance to check out where they are staying beforehand. For many people, vacation apartments are becoming the most suitable option.

Business Travellers

If you are going away on business then renting out a vacation apartment could be the best choice for you. When people go away on business, staying at a hotel can be unsuitable for a variety of reasons. Firstly, they will find it difficult to get on with their daily work in the same as they otherwise would at home which leaves them jaded and in a position where they are coming home to a heavy work load. With vacation apartments, a laptop, telephone line, and an internet connection, it is possible for business travellers to get on with their daily work and not fall behind while they travel on business.

Travelling With Children

Many parents complain that they never feel comfortable when they are travelling with children. This, of course, is understandble. Many people who are staying at the hotel will be there on their honeymoon, there for a relaxing break, or are even there to get away from their own children! When this is the case, parents who are there with their children feel awkward and like they are causing a nuisance . For parents, a vacation apartment could be a great choice. It will be like a home away from home, and they will not have to worry about what other guests think – since there won’t be any.

Travelling On A Budget

If you are travelling on a budget then there is no better option than opting for a vacation apartment. When you go for this choice, you will not be fully catered and will not have to assume the expensive service charges that are indirectly charged to every customer staying at a hotel. You will be able to buy your own food, or eat out if you like, and will be able to save money which you can put towards enjoying your holiday.

Freedom

While some hotels will force you to eat at certain times, leave at certain times, and be in by a certain time at night; this is not something you will have to worry about when you opt for a vacation apartment. This is one of the main advantages of staying in your own apartment while you are away. It is essentially like having a home away from home for a limited period of time.

Travelling With Pets

If you want to take your pets on holiday, then staying at a luxury hotel is almost certainly out of the question. However, with a luxury apartment you can live in luxury while not having to miss your pets and worry if they are being taken care of while you are away.

An apartment is very special and personal to any one individual. A place that you can call your own, a place that you can look forward to returning to after a hard day’s work. However, searching for that perfect apartment can be very tedious and there are so many things to consider before you decide on one.

Apartment size is the foremost consideration. Before beginning your apartment search, you have to decide on your ideal apartment size. The number of bedrooms and bathrooms, study and storage space is also important considerations. If you have kids, then you would need extra rooms for them. Budget is also an important issue and you should look for apartments that are within your budget.

Newspaper listings are the best place to start your apartment search. It gives you an overall view of what is available and you can also find out which part of the city the apartment is located. Many people prefer brokers, though you may have to pay them a hefty amount once you decide upon your apartment.

You should ideally check out 5 to 6 apartments before you make your final decision. After you have listed down your apartment requirements, it is time to start your search. During your visit to any prospective apartment, make sure to check that the various amenities in the apartment function properly. Check that the taps, sinks and toilets do not leak. Remember to also check all electrical wirings and connections. An apartment should be sufficiently airy and should allow in enough sunlight during the day. Also check what other apartment amenities are available, such as security, elevators, parking space etc.

Other than the apartment itself, you should also check out the neighborhood. Many apartment ads in newspapers over exaggerate the apartment features and advantages, only to be found out later that all is not as advertised. The transportation options in the area, and proximity to department stores or shopping malls, parks or playgrounds, schools and libraries should all be taken into account. You will be lucky if you are able to find an apartment that has everything that you are looking for.

If you plan to take an apartment on lease, you must carefully consider the duration of the lease. Most landlords prefer an annual lease. However, if you intend to take an apartment for a shorter duration, then you should opt for a month-to-month or a half-yearly lease. Landlords usually charge an advance payment of two months for apartment rentals. Remember also to figure out if you would have to pay any amount as security.

Searching for Fort Worth apartment rentals isn’t always easy.  In an age when people are increasingly flocking to urban centers to live, affordable rental housing has never been more difficult to find, and prices are climbing accordingly.  If you find yourself fed up with the unreliability of online and newspaper classifieds, and feel that you would benefit from a Fort Worth apartment rental search engine developed under the guidance of licensed Realtors, check out Dallas Site Apartments, a leading provider of apartment rental search in Fort Worth.

Dallas Site Apartments is owned and operated by TexaStar residential leasing.  TexaStar is a company, headquartered in Dallas, that specializes in residential leasing.  They were founded in 1998, which gives them over a decade of experience assisting Forth Worth and Dallas area home-hunters.

Dallas Site Apartments enables users to search for Fort Worth apartment rentals completely free of charge, just as they’d be able to in any kind of free newspaper or online classifieds.  Though TexaStar does not profit directly from the site, or the search engine, they provide it in the hopes that the public will use it to build an awareness of the various housing options available to individuals in the Forth Worth area.  TexaStar predicates its business on the idea that there is a place for everyone, and their Fort Worth apartment rental search engine is designed to promote that idea.

Fort Worth apartment rental seekers can use the site to search for an apartment that meets their criteria exactly.  Users can filter by any of a number of different parameters, including location, floor plan, preferred move-in date, availability of washer and dryer, pet policy, and even maximum price.

TexaStar also provides their Fort Worth apartment rental search engine in the hopes that renters will contact them after viewing some of the locations on offer.  TexaStar is a real estate agency, capable of providing full-service assistance to renters with their searches.  Go it alone if you want to, but know that TexaStar can provide help, if you need it.

TexaStar’s former clients have praised the company’s service.  “Your efforts and sincere concern for my residency replaced a lot of unadditional [sic] stress that I had thought would be on my shoulders. I really do appreciate all that you have done for me and I hope that all the desires of your heart and business are brought to fruition,” said Kristie King, a client from 2006.

“TexaStar Apartment Locators and Cindy Belcher helped us find the right apartment in the right area.  Without their help, we would have wasted a lot of time and effort.  The best part is – it’s free – and we are also getting money back.  It’s a win-win situation for everyone involved,” said Ginger Evans, a client from 2004.

TexaStar also offers a Home Equity Program, for those interested in renting to own.

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Dallas Site Apartments  is an apartment finder  in Dallas that also serves surrounding cities such as Turtle Creek, Fort Worth, Plano, Richardson, Arlington, Mesquite, all of South Dallas, and more. For more information, visit www.DallasSiteApartments.com

If you’re looking for apartments in Wisconsin, you might think that it will be impossible to find the right apartment in the right geographic area at the right price.  You might be looking for apartments in Eau Claire that are near the university, for example, with a budget that limits your choices.  Or maybe you are looking for apartments in Platteville that allow pets and don’t charge a monthly fee for your dog or cat.  It’s true that there are a lot of people looking for apartments in these markets, but if you think outside the box you can easily find the right rental unit with a reasonable monthly cost that you can afford.

One of the first things you should consider when looking for apartments in Wisconsin is the neighborhood, because a rental that is cheap in one neighborhood might be much more expensive in another neighborhood just because of the zip code.  If you’re looking at apartments in Eau Claire, for example, you might find something much more affordable if you travel just a few blocks further than you had intended on searching.  As long as it is a safe neighborhood and you are not so far away from work and/or school that you’re paying twice as much in gas or public transportation, you can find some great deals in the less publicized neighborhoods. 

Whether you are looking for apartments in Platteville, Eau Claire or anywhere else in Wisconsin, there are sure to be some neighborhoods that were once considered “bad” areas but are now being revitalized.  Many of these offer the best rates on apartments.  Look for the artists’ communities and areas that seem to be populated by a lot of young people, as these are typically the neighborhoods that are on the move in the right direction.  You can get a cheap apartment in a neighborhood that’s improving, plus these areas often end up attracting some of the most interesting up-and-coming restaurants, cafes, bars, stores and entertainment venues.

When it comes to apartments in Wisconsin, the price often comes down to the neighborhood.  Your choice should depend on what you are willing to spend, but your personal convenience and happiness must also be heavily considered.  If you find a deal on an apartment in a neighborhood you don’t like or that is far away from everything, it might not be worth it in the end.