These are the most important questions to consider when considering a new apartment.
If anything is stressful, it’s moving. You leave your comfort zone and get a very long to-do list with all kinds of complicated, overwhelming, and unanswered questions for apartment.
One of the things that come with the search for your perfect apartment is to make compromises. For example, you have found a nice apartment with neighbors who like to party on one side and your favorite cafe within walking distance on the other. So how do you make sure you get the “oh my goodness, what kind of nightmare am I in?!” avoid situations, and make as many right decisions as possible? Here are five questions to ask when looking for a new apartment to make sure you find the perfect home.
What am I willing to pay, and what are my final costs? If the end of your current lease is in sight and you are looking for a new home, you may have some additional requirements. You may want wooden floors, soundproof windows, or a parking space. Try to be realistic and take into account the chance that you will probably have to pay a little more rent each month because of these extra requirements. The most important thing is that you know what to expect so that there are no surprises.
Also, don’t underestimate how much money you spend on moving costs (for example, the moving boxes and the moving company) and the new stuff you need. Also, don’t forget that you may have to pay a deposit to the landlord (this usually corresponds to 1 month’s rent, but sometimes more!) and the brokerage fees if you have used a broker. Take all these costs into consideration when considering your budget.
Sometimes certain facilities are included in a rental contract, but it is also possible that it is your own responsibility to arrange this yourself. Be prepared for a scenario where you have to take care of the less “glamorous” things yourself, such as paying the gas, water, and light bills. People also often forget that the internet is not included as standard with the house, but in many cases, it is up to the tenant to provide WiFi (and to pay, of course). These matters may influence your final choice of whether or not to rent the house.
Do you feel at home there?
It is super important that you feel at home in the new home. Therefore, make sure to consider some details so that you feel comfortable. Think about what is a ‘must’ about a home for you and what your priorities are. Here are some questions to ask before you say yes to your new home:
- Do you have coverage on your phone in and around the apartment?
- Is there enough sunlight? Or maybe too much?
- How long is the travel time to your school and/or work?
- Where are you going to do the shopping?
- Is there room to put your yoga mat on?
- How many friends can you have over?
- Is there enough space on the counter for both the microwave and your Nespresso machine?
Once you’ve decided that you’ll be comfortable in the home, it’s time to think about what the rest of the building looks like and how you feel about the neighborhood. Having a nice shop around the corner selling your favorite snacks can help ease the pain of not having a personal parking spot (yes, you’re going to be a pro at compromise!). Also, check who the other tenants are in the area. Are they mainly young people or mainly older people? Or mainly families? This can have a big impact on how you will feel in the environment.
Find out what’s available nearby. It’s always nice to live within walking distance of a pharmacy, dry cleaners, and a supermarket so that you don’t have a good excuse to order a pizza from Thuisbezorgd again.
Who exactly am I going to live with?
Finding the right roommates is crucial. You want to be sure that you are going to live with someone who respects your belongings, sleep, and space. It is also important that you agree on whether or not to share food, who gets the toilet paper, and how you divide these expenses.
Maybe something you don’t like to think about, but what if there are some extra roommates, such as mice? Does your roommate find this just as disgusting as you do, and how do you handle such a situation? Of course, you want to be on the same wavelength with regard to these kinds of unpleasant situations.
It is also possible that you want to share the house with a real pet, such as a dog or a cat. It is important that you are both comfortable with this. So discuss this well before you decide to sign!
Does it feel safe?
Once you’ve found an apartment you love, you want to make sure that both you and your belongings are safe. There are several ways to ensure that you feel safe in your home.
Start with security. Is there a good lock on the main entrance? Can you park your bike inside? Of course, it also depends on the location whether these questions are important to you or not. Are you going to live in the city or in the middle of the center, then this may be more relevant than living in a village?
Another smart way to keep your belongings safe is to make sure you have home Att insurance. Unfortunately, an accident is just around the corner, and the costs can be huge in the event of a break-in, vandalism, or water damage from your washing machine that has decided to overflow.
What is in the rental contract?
Especially if you do not have much experience with moving and contracts, it is wise to have your rental contract thoroughly reviewed by someone with experience. Perhaps one of your relatives or friends has a law degree and wants to help you for a while. But it is, of course, also fine to go through the contract with someone who has the necessary moving experience.
Before you sign and agree to all information pages, you naturally want to understand what you are signing for clearly. It is also possible that not everything is in the contract yet. Perhaps you would like to have the option to sublet your apartment? Can you paint the walls or make other adjustments? Are pets allowed? Can the lease be terminated early? Ask the landlord or real estate agent these questions and make sure that everything is on paper. Sometimes you feel comfortable with someone, and a verbal agreement seems enough, but the written proof is useful when push comes to shove. So put everything you have agreed to within the contract.
Note: have you found your place and want to sign for another year? Then take into account a rent increase.
