New apartments hold much promise. Many have new carpets, sunny window seats, and cute neighborhood coffee shops around the corner. However, when you’re looking for an apartment, you need to consider more than just the carpets and the coffee shops. This post offers you some tips on what to look for when you’re choosing your next apartment so that you don’t choose the wrong one.
Where Is It?
The old adage in real estate is still true, even if you’re only renting an apartment and not buying a home. That is, where is it located? For your next apartment to really serve you, it must be close to all the goods and services that you need to function well in your life. It’s important to be close to work as well if you don’t work at home. Usually, the less commute time you have not only to work but to these important community amenities, the better.
What’s Your Budget?
Budget usually plays a big role in people’s choice of apartments. A college student’s budget is going to be different than the average professional’s budget.
Additionally, for upwardly mobile professionals, the budget may come second to convenience and professionalism. For example, the C-Suite officer who works at home may require a luxury apartment because he/ she works out business deals with important clients in the apartment.
When you’re considering what apartment is right for you, the budget will be important. However, even more important than that is getting an apartment that serves all of your needs, including your possible work needs. This means you may pay a bit more to get the apartment that’s ultimately right for you.
Find Out Who Pays Utilities
This is somewhat related to the point above. Many times when people are considering their housing budget, they forget to factor in the cost of utilities. That can wreak havoc with the budget.
When you’re looking at potential apartments, find out who pays utilities. Are they included in the cost of rent, or must you pay them separately? Knowing the answer to this allows you to avoid any potential financial surprises after you move into your new place.
Are There Online Reviews You Can Read?
If you’re moving into a big apartment complex, it’s in your best interest to see if there are reviews of the apartment building on sites like Yelp or Google. This will give you an honest look at a potential apartment.
If it’s a great place, then you’ll know it right away and can feel good about moving in. If it’s awful, then you can thank your lucky stars that you’ve dodged a bullet. Either way, read as many reviews as you can in order to make a more informed decision.
Finding the right apartment for you can take time. It requires you to investigate the neighborhood and the building you’ll move into. It also requires you to honestly consider your budget and to think about how you’ll use your apartment. Finally, it may also be best to hold off on signing the rental agreement until the exact right space comes along, even if that means you have to wait a bit longer to find a new place to live.