Things to Consider for Your Apartment Hunting

First-timer or not, apartment hunting can be exciting and overwhelming; exciting because it means that we are growing up and moving out from our parent’s house. Overwhelming because it is not easy as we think, there are so many things that we need to consider before renting an apartment. Even experienced renters find it challenging to look for the best deal so I’m sharing some things that might help you in finding your own apartment. 

1. Know Your Budget 

Knowing our budget is very important because it will give us an idea of how much can we afford. Monthly rent is not only the expense, there are some payments that we need to consider before, during, and after renting the apartment. Allot a budget for apartment hunting, processing papers, advanced payments, security deposit, and apartment utilities or amenities. Compute the possible expenses so we will know how much can we pay without breaking the bank. 

2. Location, location, location 

Next to budget is location, it is a very significant factor because it would help us to decide where to start our apartment search. Answer these questions so we have a realistic idea of what kind of neighborhood do we like. 

a) Is it near or far from my office or school?

b) How much will I spend on my transportation? 

c) Is it a safe neighborhood? 

d) Is it accessible to malls, markets, restaurants, hospitals, or other establishments? 

We have to keep in mind that the price of the property varies per location too. Are we looking for an apartment in one of The Most Expensive Cities Around the World to Rent or not? Hong Kong, San Francisco, USA, and New York USA are on the top list.

3. Apartment Preference 

It would be easier for us to find an apartment if we know what are we looking for. There are several types of apartments, the common types are studio, loft, duplex, one-bedroom, or two-bedroom apartments. It varies on the floor plan, style, number of bedrooms, and others. 

4. Research 

Once we know our budget, preferred location, and apartment, it is time for us to do our homework. Looking for a place is quite challenging so it is very important to make some research. Lucky for us because we can do this online, depending on the location, I’m pretty sure there are user-friendly sites where we can do our rental research. 

If you live in the USA, Zumper will help you in finding your own apartment, condo, house, or room for rent by filtering the price range, location, and how many bedrooms do you need. You can discover affordable, expensive, and popular neighborhoods in specific areas like New York. Based on their data, the average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in New York is $2,700 and the average rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is $2,900. Does it fit your budget? 

5. Apartment Tour

Researching online is just part of the process, let us not forget to visit the apartment and make our own self-inspections. We need to take pictures and check water pressure, power sockets, cabinets, the presence of mold, and of course, the neighborhood. 

These are just a few things that you can consider in finding your apartment. Don’t rush, take time to do your research, read more reviews, and visit the space at different times of the day or week so you will have a better sense if you want to live there.