Things to Consider When Apartment Hunting in the City*

Moving house is one of the most stressful times in a persons life, in fact that’s something that has been proven and is up there with divorce, death of a loved one and losing a job. But for me, it’s also exciting! I love the idea of new beginnings and a fresh start, and if I’m honest, it’s something I’m craving at the moment. It’s something I wanted so badly as a child, I don’t think I’m built to exist in small remote towns, especially not on my own. I love the hustle and bustle of city life and it’s something I want to get back to. It would be my dream to live somewhere like London or even New York, in fact, New York is my ultimate dream destination when it comes to places I want to live. I think I’d thrive there. But until then, I’ll probably settle on somewhere a little closer to home.

While not everyone would choose to live in a city, but may have no choice due to work or lifestyle, or even people who just find the whole apartment hunting overwhelming, here are a few things you should consider while looking;

The Area

Think about the area you want to live in. As cities tend to be large, there are always different areas that appeal to different people. Do you want to live somewhere on the outskirts that’s still a little more remote? Or perhaps you want to live somewhere within the city with good transport links? Or maybe you want to live right in the centre, in the heart of the hustle and bustle? No matter where you pick, there is usually something within all budgets, even if you have to compromise on something like size. The most important thing is you pick an area you feel both safe and happy.

The Apartment

Then you need to decide what is important in the apartment itself. Such as how many bedrooms does it have? What floor is it on and does it have a lift? I once lived in a third floor apartment with no lift, it was a nightmare with groceries but I imagine it would be even worse these days now that I have a kid. If a dishwasher is a must for you, then you need to make sure there is plumbing and a space for it. Or if you work from home you need to be sure there is somewhere for a desk (a big problem in my current house). Only you know what you want. Make a wish list with two columns, the must have stuff you can’t compromise on and the would like to have that you know you could go without if everything else was good.

The Price

Finally, one of the most important thing when it comes to apartment hunting is the price. You need to be in a bracket you know you can afford every month without fail because should you decide to move again, if you haven’t kept up with your rent, you’re not going to get the best of references. Not only that, but you need to decide if you need bills included, and if not, work out how much they’ll be on top of the rent price. Ultimately, you can only live within your means and the more you know about how much you can afford, the easier it will be to find somewhere that fits what you want and what your budget is.

While the process might be stressful, just keep an eye on the prize, that first night in your new apartment, ordering take out and sitting there surrounded by boxes!