What to consider when apartment hunting. Most leasing agents know that apartment levels are a big concern for apartment shoppers, but you should always clarify exactly what you want. There are many factors...
There are many factors you should consider when apartment hunting. For one, the level or floor of the apartment you want can be a big concern riding on a possibility of factors. Our apartment locating expert, Jerry Yelvington, real estate agent for Avery Windsor Properties, says it's a matter of taste, safety concerns, and other issues.
"Generally, most leasing agents on site will ask you the questions that most people ask, you know, "Do you want to live on the top floor or downstairs? I used to ask people if they had a waterbed, and I don't hear that or ask that anymore. Back in the day, residents couldn't have a waterbed on an upper floor, because if it ever burst it would go down and flood everybody else downstairs," Yelvington says.
Yelvington says besides the level or floor of the apartment, there are other concerns you should know about. He says the housing market is competitive, especially for affordable apartments. Be prepared to make decisions quickly and be flexible by a week or two with your plans. Start your search no earlier than four weeks before your desired move-in date since tenants are not required to give landlords more than 30 days notice of their move-out dates. Make apartment hunting your life for two or three weeks - that should be enough time to get familiar with the market and find what you are looking for.
Focus your search according to your budget. Monthly rents will vary depending on several factors; the most important of which is location, followed by apartment size and then amenities.
Another concern when apartment hunting is deciding if you are willing to share an apartment. You can cut costs by sharing a large one bedroom. To find a roommate, check the listings for apartment shares in the OCHA Housing Registry.
Consider where you can afford to live. There are some areas in your town that may be more expensive than others. There also may be security issues to consider as well. What part of town has the least amount of crime?
Determine what size apartment fits your budget and what amenities you can do without. Squeezing into a smaller apartment than your ideal and a willingness to accept some commonly perceived flaws such as street noise or lack of view or natural light may save you some money. In addition, rents will vary with the type of building in which the apartment is located such as whether or not the building has a doorman or an elevator.
Yelvington says when apartment shopping you will also want to take brokers into consideration. If you can afford to pay a broker's fee, searching with a broker is highly recommended for convenience. Brokers can give you an overview of the market, guide you in your search, and do the paperwork for you. Some landlords list apartment availabilities exclusively through brokers.
