How to Compare Apartment Properties

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How to Compare Apartment Properties

Staff Writer · Sep 7, 2010

If you’re trying to choose from among several apartment properties, you need to base your final selection on a number of criteria. You’ll be able to narrow down the offerings by making a decision based on the type of amenities you desire, the amount of space you require, the length of the lease, the location of the apartment and the monthly rental rate.

Amenities

Probably one of the main criteria in choosing an apartment is considering its amenities. Ask yourself what you require. Do you need a washer and dryer in your unit? Will you need a carport? How about a patio or balcony? Does the apartment community have to have a fitness facility or pool? How about a fireplace? Do you like the security of having a warm hearth you can enjoy on chilly evenings?  Perhaps you want an apartment community that provides social activities. Do you absolutely need to live in a community that allows pets? Make a list of what’s important to you with respect to amenities. See how the apartments you select stack up in this regard.

Living Area

Do you require an apartment that has more than one bedroom or bath? Or, are your needs simple? Can you get by with living in a studio or one-bedroom apartment with one bath? How many square feet do you need? Making a choice based on the number of bedrooms and baths you need and the amount of square footage can pare down your selections considerably.

Lease Length

Consider the types of leases that the apartment properties you like are offering. Do they provide leases for one year, 6 months, or on a month-to-month basis? What is the application fee? How much is the security deposit? You may have to eliminate certain apartments, for instance, if they only provide leases for one year and you plan on relocating again in the interim.

Location of Apartments

Take note of the location as well. If you want a quick commute, you may have to give up on some of your selections if they aren’t close to where you work or not near enough to shopping. If location is important to you, you can narrow down your choices further by picking apartments you like that are conveniently located.

Apartment Prices

Once you make a determination of which apartments meet with most of your requirements as far as amenities, living space, length of lease and location, you can better make a decision with respect to price. Which apartment offers you the most for your money? Make a checklist and see which apartment property ranks the highest in this area. Factor in utilities as well. Which apartments pay for some of the utilities in the lease price? Which do not? Are certain amenities, for example, more important than paying extra in the way of utilities? On the other hand, maybe you’d rather have your utilities paid instead of enjoying certain amenities. Price is a major factor in determining whether you feel you’ll be getting the most for your money.

Comparing apartment properties is made even easier by using the Internet. Looking at apartments online can give you a fast overview of features and price, which makes the selection process much less confusing. Just keep the above factors in mind when comparing the different communities.

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