Moving into a new apartment can be very exciting. Whether it is your first time renting or you are just looking to relocate, you want to make sure you are getting the best bang for your buck. Each apartment will come with different amenities and options. Try to get your list down to about 3-5 apartments you are considering. If you have too many, you will be overwhelmed, whereas not enough will not allow you to make an educated choice. You want to find one that is best tailored to your specific needs and wants. In order to do this, we created a comprehensive checklist to consider. Use a scoring system of 1-5. Let 1 represent not adequate, while 5 represents superb. Talley up your apartments at the end and discover the winner.

Location

One thing you should consider is the location of your apartment. What is the neighborhood like for your lifestyle? Are you near work and family? Try using this checklist on your apartment options.

• Distance to work
• Distance to loved ones
• Distance from gas stations
• Distance from freeway entrances or main roads
• Distance from grocery stores
• Safety of the community
• Is the location quiet

Cost

Your budget will play a massive role in your apartment search and this goes deeper than just rent. Additional fees may add up quicker than you think. Here are some things you may need to consider:

• Rent
• Security Deposit
• Water
• Parking
• Waste Management
• Gas
• Renters Insurance
• Late Fees
• Laundry

Appliances

Since we are looking at if your apartment offers laundry, we should consider appliances. Not all apartments come fully loaded. This may happen problematic to you. Remember to view all the appliances:

• Laundry Machine
• Dishwasher
• Stove/Range
• Microwave
• Refrigerator
• Garbage Disposal
• Services/Amenity

Services/Amenities

While everything in your unit may make a significant role, do not forget amenities. Look at services you plan on using–this can quickly create an outlier for some apartments:

• Gym
• Movie Theater
• Pool
• Entertainment
• Convenient Store
• Maintenance Office Hours

Before ranking everything, you should consider what is important to you. If you do not need a garbage disposal, do not make it a deciding factor on your list. If you are not looking for an apartment with a gym, do not add it to the list. Once you determine what is important to you, rank each item 1-5. This can give you a definite number ranking for each apartment. However, if you feel like you are in love with one option over another, always go with your heart. For more lifestyle and living tips, make sure to subscribe!