Ready to Shed Unused Space for Worry-Free Living at Oak Crest?

Parkville, Maryland--There is a lot to consider when you plan a move to Oak Crest. How much space will you need? Do you want a second bedroom for an office or overnight guests? Maybe you prefer a one-bedroom with an outdoor space. Or maybe a no-frills studio that focuses on function over fancy is more your style. Your home is a reflection of you. 

That's why Oak Crest, an Erickson Living-managed community, offers a diverse selection of practical and beautiful floor plans to ensure you find the perfect apartment home. Oak Crest also features a variety of tools including on-line 3D floor plans and photo galleries, virtual tours, as well as help with decorating and furniture placement from Personal Moving Consultant Ashley Ruth. 

"When you are downsizing from a multi-bedroom home, it's important to be honest and consider the space that you actually use on a day-to-day basis. Chances are, you really aren't using all of those rooms. You may be surprised to find that the amount of space you use is equivalent to the square footage of the apartments you'll find at Oak Crest," says Ruth. 

A study by The Center on Everyday Lives of Families at the University of California supports Ruth's theory. The study followed 32 middle-income families for four years. Researchers collected data on which rooms the families spent most of their time. What they found was the families spent 68% of their time in the kitchen/eating nook and the family room. The formal dining room, living room, and porch were rarely used. 

"Many people have formal spaces that they don't use," says Ruth. "Your inclination is that you will want to bring that furniture with you. Instead, we encourage you to make your apartment a place that is functional while still being beautiful and not just for show."

Make it yours 

The apartments at Oak Crest feature one-level living and can be customized to your personal style. A variety of upgrades including custom carpentry work, custom closets, new lighting, upgraded carpet, tile or hardwood flooring, tile backsplashes, and window treatments allow you to turn your apartment into a beautiful, unique home. 

"You can modify and adjust anything in your apartment. Picture your perfect home, and we can most likely create that space for you," says Ruth. 

Choose from a wide variety of floor plans with open layouts, contemporary fixtures, and elegant finishes. Take the Ellicott floor plan, for example. This spacious apartment home has the largest bedroom of all Oak Crest's one-bedroom floor plans, as well as three large closets including a large walk-in, a linen closet, and a coat closet in the foyer. The Ellicott is just one of more than 20 floor plans at Oak Crest. 

The two-bedroom Kingston features an open floor plan with either a recessed balcony or patio allowing you to step outside—while still being shaded from the sun—and look out onto the beautiful Oak Crest campus. 

"We have courtyard views that look at garden areas. We also have views that overlook the entrance to the community, where you can see the comings and goings of the campus," says Ruth. 

Oak Crest's 87-acre campus is an extension of your living space. Every apartment at Oak Crest comes with quick, easy access to amenities including an on-site medical center, fitness center, indoor swimming pool, restaurants, chapel, television studio, woodshop, salon, bank, as well as outdoor gardens, a lake, bocce courts, and walking trails. 

Ruth says once you have a general picture of the space you'll need and selected your favorite floor plans, it's important to continue to keep an open mind. 

"The more flexible you are when it comes to specific floor plans, the more likely you are to move within your schedule," says Ruth. "Instead of focusing on one floor plan, be willing to explore a range of options and realistically weigh the pros and cons of each apartment home as it becomes available." 

If you've been considering a move to Oak Crest but aren't sure if now is the time, Ruth says now is a good time to revisit your plans. 

"Now is a great time to sell your house. It's a seller's market and houses are selling quickly," says Ruth. "We also have incentives on specific floor plans, as well as our Move on Us program, which reimburses you up to $2,000 of your moving expenses for using one of our preferred realtors."

Written by Danielle Rexrode

About Oak Crest: Oak Crest, one of 20 continuing care retirement communities developed and managed by Erickson Living®, is situated on a scenic 87-acre campus in Parkville, Maryland.  The not-for-profit community of more than 2,100 residents and 1,250 employees is governed by its own board of directors, affiliated with National Senior Campuses, Inc., who provide independent financial and operational oversight of Oak Crest.  Additional information can be found at OakCrestCommunity.com.