Choosing the right location will make or break your apartment experience. Start your apartment hunt a month out and remember the most important things to you.
Use a tool to narrow your search by finding insights on each listing that will tell you the truth about the building, neighborhood, transportation, schools, crime rate, construction sites, essential stores and much more.
Accessibility
It’s always a good idea to visit the apartment you’re interested in renting before signing the lease. This will allow you to ensure that it is everything advertised and can help you spot any issues before moving in. While you’re there, check out the accessibility features of the apartment for the disabled or elderly. These should include accessible light switches, a large enough bedroom to accommodate a wheelchair and adjustable shelving in the closet. Also, familiarize yourself with the neighborhood, including traffic patterns, restaurants, outdoor spaces, and shopping. Use tools to understand the area better and see how you’d navigate it daily. It’s also important to understand your rights as a renter with a disability.
Convenience
For some people, convenience is a big factor when selecting an Air City Lofts apartment, whether it’s easy to access a highway if you’re frequently commuting, good restaurants nearby if you don’t cook or need to eat out often, or an all-inclusive utility package that will save you money on bills like water, gas and electricity. Before you rent an apartment, it’s important to visit the neighborhood at different times of the day. This is when you can see how the streets feel at night, what noise pollution may be, and what the locals think about the area.
Safety
It’s important to ensure the neighborhood you’re considering renting is safe. You can find the crime rate, school ratings, and local restaurants using online resources like Localize. You should also physically visit the area, especially at different times of day, to get a feel for it. This way, you can drive past the apartment, make sure it’s on a quiet street with no construction nearby, and visit parks, shops, and other places essential for your lifestyle. It’s worth the extra effort to ensure you feel good about where you will be living.
Affordability
The first step in finding an apartment is to know your budget and what you can afford. This will help narrow your options and save time looking at spaces outside your price range. Knowing your budget can save you a lot of frustration. You can use tools to understand better the surrounding area and how it would fit your lifestyle. However, it’s also important to physically go out and explore neighborhoods at different times of the day. Visit restaurants, coffee shops, essential stores, parks, and other amenities. It’s also a good idea to walk your commute route to see how it feels at different points of the day.
Amenities
Apartment amenities add value to an apartment community by making everyday living more convenient. They can be small, like a microwave, or large, like an oversized swimming pool. The amenities you choose to prioritize will depend on your lifestyle. A fitness center might attract tenants who are into staying healthy, while a dog park will appeal to pet owners. Some apartment buildings even offer smart features, which let renters remotely lock their doors or turn off the thermostat. Consider the objective factors this blog post outlines when choosing your ideal location.
