Your apartment search will need to be specific to the number of bedrooms and bathrooms you need. The size of your household and your pets will obviously have a huge impact on what you need. However, there are common factors that will work well for a three-bedroom apartment as well as a studio.
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On-Site Management
When you put in your application for an apartment, you would do well to make sure that there is management on-site. An on-site manager can be the contact for
- emergency damages or failures, such as a faulty air conditioner
- problem neighbors, such as loud, argumentative people
- pet challenges, such as folks who don’t pick up after their dogs
It would be nice to think that everyone in your complex would be respectful of shared spaces and the need for a quiet, peaceful home, but that’s simply not logical. Emergencies happen, arguments crop up, and sometimes people forget their puppy poop bags. However, if you notice someone abusing it, an on-site manager can help you manage the challenge.
Quality Security
From your front door lock to a well-lit hall, making sure that your path from your car or bus to your home is critical. If you notice lights burned out, complexes with quality security will address the lighting challenges quickly. If reports are made on a vandalized vehicle or any form of theft, the right leadership will contact the police and increase on-site security.
If at all possible, check your local crime map before you choose a complex. If you’re in the area, drive through the complex lot at night to see how full the lot is, how well-lit the lot is, and how noisy the complex is at night.
Money-Saving Amenities
For those moving to a new city, amenities like the gym and the pool at community apartments like the Paradise Valley Village apartments, can be a huge bonus. With these amenities, you don’t have to
- pay for a gym membership
- pay for the gas to drive to the gym
- pay to use the community pool
- drag around a gym bag for your post-workout shower
If the place you find offers a 24-hour gym, you can work out on your schedule and enjoy a secure entry to the space. Carefully check the gym for cameras to confirm your safety and security inside the gym.
Ready Maintenance
Carefully check the reviews of the complex to make sure that the maintenance team is on-site or close by. While there are challenges you can wait to get fixed, if your refrigerator quits completely or you suddenly have no hot water, you need help quickly.
A simple way to be sure that maintenance is spot on is to check the pet waste containers. Take a walk across the facility. If these are obviously emptied frequently and there is no pet waste all over the grass, you can be fairly confident that the space is well-maintained and carefully monitored.
It’s also a good idea to take a look at the air conditioning options. Depending on where you’re going to live, moving into a space that is cooled only by a window unit could be a misery. If you can see the AC unit sticking out the wall, do your best to get into a building that has free-standing AC units on the concrete outside.
Secure Parking
If you can possibly check out the complex before you sign the lease, visit the complex at night. For those with dogs, take your dog on a walk through the parking lot and look for movement. If you see a lot of folks hanging around the cars or notice anyone peering into multiple cars, you may not be safe parking your car at this complex.
Review the lighting as well. Your access from the lot to the complex sidewalks should be smooth and well-lit. Walkways to stairways and secure entrances should also be free of garbage and well-lit. Make sure the stairways are in good repair as well.
The interior of your apartment is yours to personalize. The exterior is the responsibility of the complex owner and their management company. If you see multiple bad reviews of the condition of the complex, the apartments or the shared amenities, it’s a good idea to look elsewhere.