Blog Posts

How to Make Friends in a New City

Moving to a new city can be tough for a lot of reasons, not least among them is having to make new friends. However intimidating the idea of finding new friends may be, though, it’ll be worth the effort! To help you get started, here are 5 great ways to make some new connections in your new town! Pick Up a Group Activity Joining a group activity is a great way to not only meet new people, but to meet new people who share your interests and hobbies! Like to cook? Join a cooking class! Into fitness? Try a local yoga class. Attend Community Events In cities of all sizes, organizations often host meetups and events to encourage mingling and welcome newcomers. Not only are these events a great way to make new friends, they’re also a great way to discover your new favorite bar, restaurants, art gallery and more! For those new to Wilmington, make sure to sign up for It's Time Wilmington's newsletter for local news and event. And don’t forget the events hosted right here in our community! Make sure you’re following River House on Facebook to stay in-the-know about the Resident events we have planned for you! Connect with Colleagues Don’t overlook the office; it can be a great catalyst for social connections. To spark new friendships in the workplace, try: Eating your lunch in the break room Participating in work events Posting about events or fun ideas in your work’s communication channels Inviting colleagues to join you for lunch, dinner, happy hour, a group activity, or other social events. Use Your Building’s Amenities Community amenities are a great way to find common interests with your neighbors. Plus, you’ll quickly learn who the regulars are. Start by waving or saying hello to the people you recognize. Whenever the chance presents itself, strike up a conversation! If you’re not sure what to talk about, make a comment or ask a question about the amenity you’re both using. For those new to River House, start your morning off with a workout in our 24/7 Fitness Center, wind down after your busy day in our Resident lounge, or enjoy some time poolside at our resort-style saltwater swimming pool! Regularly spending time in these communal spots is a great way to meet the people who are also new to our brand-new apartment building! Throw a Housewarming Party While you obviously don’t know your apartment neighbors yet, it’s quite possible that they don’t know each other, either. A housewarming party is a great way to not only meet them but to provide opportunities for them to connect with each other as well. Having a theme for your event might help take away some of the anxiety. Try hosting a game night, ice cream social or wine tasting to help break the ice. Come home to River House Apartments in Wilmington! Whether you're moving from our of town or from just down the street, make River House your new home! Offering a v ariety of studio, one and two-bedroom floor plans, you'll be sure to find something to fit your needs at our riverfront apartment community on the Christina riverfront! Sign up today to receive updates.

Tips for Living with a Roommate

Having a roommate can be a very rewarding and pleasant experience. Outside of the obvious cost-saving benefits, there’s someone with whom to share the chores, someone from whom to learn new recipes, someone to introduce you to a new circle of friends… But, like with all relationships, it takes work to make it successful. Here are a few tips to make your roommate relationship as enjoyable and supportive as possible: Communicate Up Front As roommates, you'll be sharing a small space for a long time, and you'll need to respect each other's needs and preferences. Don't assume that your roommate will just figure out your preferences and expectations; that could lead to a lot of conflict. What are the rules for guests? How are you going to split the chores? Can they help themselves to your milk if they’ve run out? Make sure you and your roommate have a clear understanding of how living together will work so you don’t get on each other’s nerves the entire time. Don’t Keep It In Even with great communication, problems can still arise. If your roommate is doing something that's bothering you, address the issue as soon as you notice it so you can do so in a calm and friendly manner. Maybe your roommate isn’t even aware there’s a problem. The longer you let it go, the more habitual their behavior will become, and the angrier you will get. Not nipping issues in the bud will almost certainly lead to an argument, not to mention, unnecessary stress and anxiety for you. Be Conscious of Your Own Habits What side of the over-vs-under toilet paper argument are you on? As silly as it sounds, getting used to someone else’s habits can be challenging and even infuriating. Do what you can to be a good roommate – try not to leave dishes in the sink, put things back where they belong when you’re done with them and just be mindful that sharing a living space can be a struggle and takes constant work from everyone involved. Discuss Guests When you’re inviting people over, give your roommate the courtesy of letting them know ahead of time. Maybe they’ve had a particularly hard day and would rather have a quiet night. Or, perhaps, they need to study and will plan on going to the library instead of coming home to allow you the opportunity to entertain your friends. And when you do have guests, make sure they are respectful of your roommate’s space and expectations, as well. Keep an Open Mind Your roommate can have a background that’s very different from yours or even come from a different culture. He or she may have an entirely different lifestyle, ideology, and perspective than yours. Keep an open mind and respect the differences between you. You might even find the diversity this experience brings to be very rewarding. Come home to River House Apartments in Wilmington! Offering a v ariety of studio, one and two-bedroom floor plans, you'll be sure to find something to fit your needs at our riverfront apartment community on the Christina riverfront! Pre-leasing will begin soon, so make sure you've signed up to receive updates!

Tips for Moving During Winter

Let’s face it… moving during any time of the year is stressful , but moving during winter can seem especially daunting. On top of having to pack up all your belongings, changing your address and finding a mover (or convincing your friends to help), a wintertime move comes with the added burden of inclement weather, fewer daylight hours, and moving during the holidays. To take the stress our of your wintertime move, we’ve gathered the best tips and tricks so you can get back to enjoying the cozy season and focusing on the joy of moving into your new home! Focus on the Positives Yes, moving during winter comes with its cons, but there are also many benefits to moving in the winter! For one, it’s cheaper! Summer is the most popular moving season, which means moving companies and rental trucks are in high demand with higher prices. During the slower winter moving season, it’s easier to find a deal or discounted prices on moving companies. Plus, they’ll be more flexible on availability as well! Check The Weather After you’ve shopped around to find the best deal on a moving company, check (and keep checking) the weather. You’ll potentially need to plan your move around snowstorms, icy conditions, or freezing temperatures. Be prepared to have to reschedule a move; ask your moving company about cancellation policies and inclement weather policies. The safety of yourself and your movers is the top priority. If bad storms are predicted, make the call on whether to postpone the move. Pack Safety Items Make a list of everything you need for your move. In addition to the usual packing supplies, stock up on kitty litter, salt, and shovels for melting ice and clearing snow, moving blankets and plastic tarps for preserving furniture and floors, and plastic moving boxes for your most valuable items to prevent water damage from snow or icy conditions. While planning to take care of your items during the move, remember to plan to take care of yourself as well. Have a first-aid kit readily available for moving day equipped with thermal blankets and a flashlight. Before you pack away your clothes, set aside a warm, layered outfit along with non-slip boots and gloves to wear on moving day. Make a Plan for Pets and Children Moving day can be hectic, so you’ll want to make sure your pets and young children are in a safe and warm spot out of the way. While preparing for your move, check that your pet has a collar and an ID tag and that they’re microchipped with up-to-date information. If you’re moving locally, plan to either board your pet or have a trusted family member or friend watch them while you move. If you’re moving locally with children, have a trusted person watch them for the day. If you’re moving a long distance, you’ll need to factor in the trip while you’re preparing to move. Set aside everything your pet and children might need for the journey, like food, medicine, water, and comfort items. Plan to make stops along the way to give everyone time to stretch their legs and use the restroom. Once you get to your destination, put pets in a designated room of your new home with the door closed and heat running. Apartment moving is stressful for animals, so make sure they’re comfortable by providing them with access to water, their crate or cage, and other comfort items like a bed and favorite toys. For children, bring a trusted person along so that they can help watch your child during the move and make sure they have snacks and toys with them to occupy themselves as well. Pack Early Two weeks before the big day, make sure your packing is going according to plan. Everything should be packed before moving day, so it can be loaded onto the truck and unpacked at the new place as quickly as possible. Remember, it gets dark early during the winter, so don’t waste time packing while you’re supposed to be moving. While on the topic of packing, make sure to set aside delicate items (like electronic) that should not be exposed to freezing temperatures. Place these items in a secure container where they will remain dry, and temperature controlled. Ensure Utilities are Transferred About a week or so before your move, double check that your utilities are transferred and ready to be switched on at the new place. Even one night without heat is dangerous in freezing weather. You’ll want to confirm that at least your water, power, electricity, and gas will be on by moving day. New Year = New Home! A winter move is the perfect time to start fresh in the new year, and by following the tips above, you’ll make it as stress-free as possible. River House Apartments in Wilmington, Delaware will soon begin pre-leasing, so stay tuned for information on hard hat tours, move-in specials and more!

Tips for Moving With a Pet

As excited as you may be to make River House your new home, there’s no denying moving is one of life’s most stressful events. In the flurry of cardboard boxes, packing tape and checklists, you might not realize how stressed your pets feel, too. Following the tips below can help make the transition as safe and easy as possible for your fur babies. Choosing a New Neighborhood Before you pick out your dream home, make sure your pet will love it just as much as you do! Pet-friendly River House in Wilmington, Delaware will offer an onsite pet-washing station where you can pamper your pooch before heading to one of the many nearby pet-friendly spots such as River Front Pets, Brandywine Park, Constitution Yards, and the Christina Riverwalk. Choosing a New Apartment For your feline friends, ensure your potential new space allows for plenty of room to build vertically—it’s easy to create a lot of vertical space with items such as kitty blocks and cat trees. Consider your dog’s needs on a case-by-case basis. Older dogs, puppies and dogs with house training issues will need to go outside often, which might be difficult in an apartment building with lots of stairs. For your convenience, River House will offer an elevator so you and your pup can get to and from your apartment with ease! Packing Up Your Home Bring in moving boxes early to help your pets easily adjust to the moving process. You can also keep them in a room that’s familiar to them and make sure to pack up that room last. On moving day, keep your pets in a quiet room with the door shut and a few of their favorite toys to ensure they don’t get scared and try to make a quick getaway while you’re loading up the moving truck. Planning Your Road Trip In the weeks or months leading up to the move, prepare your pets by gradually acclimating them to their crates. Start off by placing their food inside an open crate and work up to having them eat their meals in the crate with the door shut. Help your pets develop a positive association with the crate by providing treats and playtime at the conclusion of crate time, and by carrying them around the house or for going for short drives while they are crated. Pet-Proofing Your New Apartment When you look at your apartment, you may not see many opportunities for pet injury or damage. But at your pet’s level, it may be a different story. Take steps such as covering electrical cords, placing remote controls on a high shelf and ensuring all plants are non-toxic to make your home a safe haven for your pets . Settling In A new and unfamiliar space can be overwhelming to your pets, so start by allowing them to adjust to one room—their “home base”—which should include their favorite toys, treats, water and food bowls and litter box for cats. Gradually introduce them to other rooms in the house, while keeping some doors shut. And remember to keep your pet’s routine as familiar as possible during the moving process. With some patience and over time, your pet will be the king or queen of their new apartment at River House! Come Home to River House’s Pet-Friendly Apartments! Coming 2023, River House in Wilmington, Delaware will offer the best in living for you and your pet! Our waterfront apartments will offer world-class views and best-in-class features including stainless steel appliances, ceramic tile bathrooms, hardwood floors, and more. All of this in a location that puts everything Downtown Wilmington and the Christina Riverfront have to offer in walking distance including dining, shopping, entertainment venues and more! Submit your contact information to receive construction updates, availability and wait list information, events and more!

Recycle More, Recycle Right | America Recycles Day 2022

November 15 th is America Recycles Day; a day aimed towards recognizing the importance and impact of recycling. Environmental Protection Agency encourages every American to contribute by recycling right, not only on America Recycles Day, but all year long. This means not only checking with your local recycling provider to know what they will accept in your recycling bin, but also learning how to properly recycle item that do not go in the curbside bin , like plastic bags, electronics, and batteries. Benefits of Recycling Recycling offers many benefits; some of which you are likely already aware and others which you may not have considered! Beyond reducing the amount of waste sent to landfills and incinerators, some of recycling’s other benefits include… Conserving natural resources such as timber, water, and minerals Increasing economic security by tapping a domestic source of materials Preventing pollution by reducing the need to mine raw materials Saving energy Supporting American manufacturing Creating new jobs What You Can Do to Reduce Waste Whether you're at home or on the go, there are many opportunities to go green by reducing, reusing, and recycling. For example, ask yourself these questions before making a purchase: Do I really need it? Do I have something similar? Will I use it often? Can I borrow this from someone? Can I buy it secondhand? Do I just want it because someone else has it? Recycle More, Recycle Right How often do you ask yourself what's right to put in your recycling bin? Making sure we know how to recycle the items we are discarding is important to preventing contamination, because too many contaminants can make the recycling load unacceptable. Recycling machinery and sorting lines must slow down to sort through additional waste material. This slower processing increases operating costs and puts our national recycling efforts in jeopardy. You can help improve the recycling rate by following these steps… Check with your local recycling program to know what goes in your recycling bin . Keep recyclables clean and dry. Keep food and liquids out of the recycling bins. Place your recycling bin and trash bin together so it’s easy to recycle. Consider composting your food waste . Keep plastic bags and wraps out of your recycling bin. Instead, find a drop off location that accepts these items for recycling. Empty and flatten cardboard boxes before you recycle them. Pizza boxes are recyclable; pizza is not! Spread the word about the benefits of recycling and recycling right. When in doubt, throw it out. On this America Recycles Day, River House Apartments encourages everyone to revitalize our efforts to help address the climate crisis and meet the obligations we have as a Nation to future generations. Together we can create a cleaner and greener Wilmington and country! Offering a variety of studio, one and two-bedroom floor plans designed to fit your needs, River House is the ideal location for your next apartment! Regardless of the layout you choose, your apartment home will feature stainless steel appliances, ceramic tile bathrooms, hardwood floors, and more! Don’t miss out on your opportunity to live in Wilmington’s newest apartment community! Make sure you've joined our interest list to be among the first to receive updates on pre-leasing and more!

Location, Location, Location – 3 Reasons You’ll Love Living at River House Apartments in Wilmington, Delaware

Downtown Wilmington is a Destination City for Innovative Chefs and Foodies The culinary scene of Wilmington and the Brandywine Valley has its roots in the taverns and inns of Colonial times , but over the centuries, those roots have grown far and wide. Today, Wilmington’s chefs are James Beard Award nominees and culinary explorers. New restaurants that challenge the status quo open next door to beloved family-owned restaurants – giving Wilmington its reputation as the Delaware city with the best food scene ! There’s Always Something To Do In Wilmington and the Brandywine Valley, all four seasons are celebrated in their glory, which means you’ll find something to do from the first touch of winter's chill to the hot summer nights of August. As we shed our winter coats and reclaim the great outdoors as a place to play, events that embrace the season, like City Restaurant Week mark springtime in Wilmington, while events like A Brandywine Christmas round out the year. Summer offers nearly unlimited options for things to do in Wilmington and the Brandywine Valley, with music festivals to spare, Shakespeare shining in the warm night air , and festivals celebrating everything from burgers to jazz. It’s a Nature Lover’s Paradise Those who prefer to spend time surrounded by nature will not be disappointed in Brandywine Valley, a region that boasts miles of trails and pathways for hikers, bikers and horseback riders, connecting all corners of the Brandywine Valley (and even the city of Wilmington, DE) with each other. Not to mention, the largest urban park in Delaware, Brandywine Park features inviting wooded trails, formal gardens, sculptures, a sports stadium and a zoo! Come Home to River House Wilmington and Discover all Wilmington Has to Offer! Offering a variety of studio, one and two-bedroom floor plans designed to fit your needs, River House is the ideal location for your next apartment! Regardless of the layout you choose, your apartment home will feature stainless steel appliances, ceramic tile bathrooms, hardwood floors, and more! Don’t miss out on your opportunity to live in Wilmington’s newest apartment community! Make sure you've joined our interest list to be among the first to receive updates on pre-leasing and more!