The average monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment is $1,406 in the North Side neighborhood. Facts like this are vital when considering where you want to live and looking for apartments.
It helps to create a checklist for apartment hunting. That way, you stay focused on your needs. This guide will help you create a list by listing crucial elements of your new apartment home.
Determine Your Budget
There’s no point in looking at apartments that you cannot afford. So don’t waste your time and theirs. Determine your budget in advance so that you can narrow down your search to viable locations.
When determining your budget, there are two costs you need to consider. The first is your monthly living budget. This included your rent, electricity, water, sewer, trash, and parking fees.
The other cost is your moving budget. You’ll need to pay for movers, an apartment deposit, and the cleaning costs of your old place.
Square Footage and Layout
How large of an apartment do you need and how many bedrooms are suitable? The size of the apartment you can rent will greatly depend on your budget. The more square footage, the higher the cost.
Consider the Available Parking
If you own a vehicle, you’ll need a place to park it. Some apartments have onsite parking. You may even have your own assigned parking spot.
Other places do not have parking, which will leave you to find parking on the street. This may not be a big deal if there’s plenty of parking available in the area.
What Is the Pet Policy?
If you own a pet, you need to find an apartment that allows them. This goes beyond just allowing animals. They need to approve of the species, breed, and size of your pet.
Some apartments have limits on the number of pets you have. Others are more welcoming but require you to pay a pet deposit and monthly pet rent. You’ll need to factor this additional cost into your monthly budget.
Look at the Included Amenities
The amenities included in your apartment can make or break your decision to rent a particular apartment. You may find that there’s an apartment slightly out of your budget; however, it has a gym, pool, and in-unit laundry. This means you can cancel your gym membership and no longer go to the laundromat, which makes up the rent budget deficiency.
Consider these amenities and how important they are to you when apartment hunting.
- Pool
- Gym
- Dog Park
- Dog Wash
- Playground
- Laundry Facility
- In-unit laundry
- Balcony or patio
- Barbeque
- Energy-efficient appliances
- Additional storage
- Garages
Move Day Plans
Once you pick out your apartment, you need to figure out how you’ll move all of your personal items to your new home. Contact the professionals, like these movers, to make arrangements for your moving day.
It helps to call movers in advance. That way, when you find your perfect place, you can move forward quickly with packing and not have to spend time looking for an available mover.
Have Your Checklist for Apartment Hunting Ready
Keep things items in mind when creating your checklist for apartment hunting. It helps to determine in advance what your needs and wants are. Then you can look for a place that will check off as many need boxes as possible.
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