Interested in renting an apartment? You might find that a good one is hard to come by.
There are more than 20 million apartments situated throughout the country at the moment. But experts are warning that the U.S. needs for almost 5 million new apartments to be built between now and 2030 to keep up with the rising demand for them.
It’s not always easy to track down a great apartment in a city of town, even if you’re very familiar with the area. But by learning how to pick an apartment, you can give yourself an advantage over others searching for apartments and put yourself in a better position to find the right one for your lifestyle.
Check out some useful tips that will help you choose an apartment below.
Look for an Apartment in the Right Location
You’ve no doubt heard the cliche “location, location, location” used time and time again in reference to real estate. But there’s a good reason for that: Location is the most important aspect when shopping around for a home or apartment.
If you absolutely love spending time shopping and eating out in the middle of a big city, the last thing you want to do is rent an apartment on the outskirts of town where you won’t be able to do those things. You need an apartment situated near the places you like to be day in and day out.
Your apartment should also be at least semi-close to school or work so that you don’t have a hard time getting to where you need to be every day. You’re going to make life harder than it has to be by picking an apartment on the wrong side of town.
Consider Which Type of Layout You Like for an Apartment
Do you want an apartment that is one big open space—or would you prefer one that has a bunch of different rooms that each have a specific purpose?
You’re going to want to ask yourself this question before you begin looking at apartments. You can narrow down your options by choosing the type of layout that you like from the very beginning.
Some people don’t mind studio apartments at all. They’re able to use different design tricks to make them feel larger than they are.
Other people need for bedrooms, living rooms, and dining areas to each have their own designated areas. It’s all a matter of personal preference and what you like the most.
Create a List of Amenities That You Need in an Apartment
There are certain apartments that come with hardly any amenities at all. There are others, like these apartments, that seem to have every amenity in the world.
Which amenities do you need to see in the apartment that you rent? Do you want an apartment that has:
- Furniture already in it?
- A washer and dryer?
- A parking spot that comes with it?
- Internet and cable services included?
You will, of course, have to pay the price for these amenities. But if you consider them to be must-have items for your lifestyle, you won’t mind shelling out a little extra for them.
Check Out Who Lives in Neighboring Apartments
When you’re taking a look at an apartment, you should be prepared to scope out more than just what’s happening inside the apartment. You should also be aware of what’s going on around it and, more specifically, who is living in the apartments that surround it.
If you’re a young person who enjoys having people over and letting loose on the weekends, you might not want to rent an apartment that has nothing but families or older people living in it. If, on the other hand, you’re a middle-aged person who enjoys peace and quiet, an apartment building full of young people might not be ideal.
Try to find out who your neighbors would be if you were to move into an apartment. They could make or break the experience of living in the apartment for you.
Make Sure an Apartment Isn’t Out of Your Price Range
How much can you afford to spend on an apartment every month? This is yet another important question that you should consider prior to starting your search for one.
The average cost of an apartment in your city or town is going to depend on where you’re located. The median cost of a one-bedroom apartment in Wichita, Kansas is under $500, while the median cost of a one-bedroom apartment in Atlanta, Georgia is up over $1,500.
But generally speaking, you should take the same approach to budgeting for an apartment no matter where you live. Crunch the numbers to see what you can afford and resist the urge to talk yourself into renting something out of your price range.
Be Decisive When You Find an Apartment You Love
At some point, you’re going to find an apartment that you love while hunting around for one. It’s going to have the location you want, the layout you’re looking for, and a price that you can afford.
Don’t hesitate to say, “I’ll take it!”
When you’re thinking about how to pick an apartment, it’s very easy to overthink things. You’ll drag your feet at times and hem and haw while trying to make a decision.
If you do this, you could miss out on the perfect apartment for your lifestyle. So be decisive and snatch up an apartment as soon as you know that it’s what you want.
Learn How to Pick an Apartment Before You Begin Looking for One
Many people make the mistake of starting an apartment search without learning how to pick an apartment first. This often makes the process more stressful and challenging than it has to be.
Rather than going in blind and trying to learn how to pick an apartment on the fly, use the tips found here to prepare yourself in advance. You’ll have a much easier time finding an apartment, and you’ll enjoy the experience so much more overall.
Learn more tips for finding great apartments by poking around on our blog and reading through our other articles.
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