Tue Jun 23

3 Points To Consider When Finding Your Next Apartment

Apartment hunting, especially in a major city, is an overwhelming and daunting process. Not only do you want to find a place in the right location in regard to your professional and social life, but you also need to find a situation that fits your budget. Considerations such as rent, utilities, and other costs need to be taken into account. With so many options out there, it can be hard to know exactly what you should and should not put on your must-have list.

While you obviously want to prioritize the cost of rent and location, there are a number of other features that your next apartment should ideally have. Here are three points to consider looking for while you hunt for your next apartment.

1. Necessary Appliances

Your daily life can be made infinitely more hectic if your next apartment doesn’t have certain key appliances at your disposal. You might be drawn in by the price of an apartment that doesn’t have a dishwasher, for example, but consider how much time you will have to spend on a daily basis washing dishes if your unit doesn’t have one. It might very well be worth the extra money to have the appliances you want on hand.

Make sure that the unit you are considering also has a washer and dryer available. If the actual unit doesn’t have hook-ups for these appliances, is there a communal laundry room in your building? Look to see that the machines are from a highly rated company such as B&B Laundry Systems coin operated washing machines. When the machines at your potential new home are supplied by a trusted company, then you can rest assured that you won’t run into any issues down the line.

2. Parking

One provision that should absolutely be on your must-have list is adequate parking near your unit. You don’t want to be in a situation where you have to fight for street parking just to be able to leave your car in a safe area. You also want to avoid having to pay an extortionate fee to park near your unit.

Look for complexes that provide at least one parking space per unit. While having a garage is ideal, you might need to be comfortable paying extra for such a luxury. Covered parking is a good alternative to a garage that you can generally find for a more affordable cost. Ultimately, you want to know that your vehicle is in a secure place and is protected from the elements.

3. Renter’s Insurance

While no one likes to consider another monthly expenditure such as insurance, one requirement that is a good indicator that the apartment you are considering is well looked-after is if the landlord or management company requires renters to have renter’s insurance. Such insurance covers the cost of repairs after certain events including fire or water damage. If the landlord requires you to have this, you know that any similar issues that might have happened before you have been repaired and taken care of.