When you think about apartment hunting, you probably think about the practical details: What neighborhood do you want to live in? What’s the availability of parking and public transportation? Will the landlord accept your pet?
But beyond the practicalities, what you’re looking for may be different from other people. A good place to start is figuring out what you want from an apartment.
Do you want to live in a quiet, secluded neighborhood? Do you want to be around lots of diverse people? Are you looking for a party school? If you have specific requirements, like a specific layout or a specific price range, you can narrow down your search.
Here’s a guide to help you decide what type of apartment you want.
If you’re just starting the hunt for your next apartment, it’s a good idea to write down some of the things you want to see in an apartment. For example:
- A balcony or roof deck for summertime hanging out and people-watching
- A pool or gym in the building
- A washer/dryer in the building
- A rooftop or dining area where people can hang out and relax
- A washer/dryer in the building
- A doorman or concierge
- A fully equipped gym or pool in the building
- A bike room where you can store your bike
- A pet-friendly building
- A place for students to study with a quiet, clean space
- A washer/dryer in the building
Most people look for a one-bedroom apartment, but you can find studios, two-bedrooms, and even three-bedroom apartments if you’re willing to compromise. Figure out how many people will be living in your apartment, and make sure you’re in a space that can accommodate that many people.
This one is kind of like the bedroom situation; most people need one bathroom, but you can find studios with two bathrooms. What you’re looking for here is a space that can accommodate your entire apartment and your friends who visit.
You can find studios with two bathrooms, but you might need to share bathrooms with your friends. If you have a lot of visitors in your apartment, you might want to add a guest bathroom.
Depending on how much space you want in your apartment, you may or may not want to be in a building with high ceilings. You could want a high ceiling for the aesthetics, or you may prefer a high ceiling because it means the apartment is larger.
You can find a wide variety of apartment configurations in various building heights.
When it comes to your commute, distance isn’t always everything. If you love the subway and don’t need to be right by any landmarks, you might be more comfortable in a neighborhood less than 15 minutes away from a subway stop.
But if you need to be right near a landmark you love, you may prefer a more walkable location. It’s up to you to decide what’s important to you.
Certain places offer free storage space; other places charge a monthly fee for it. You’ll want to find out if this is something you’ll need to pay for.
Another important thing to keep in mind is how easy it will be for you to take your furniture from place to place. Some places allow you to take your furniture as part of your lease, while other places charge you a fee to move your stuff.
As you start looking at apartments, you’ll quickly realize that the apartments you like aren’t necessarily the apartments people want to live in. The apartment you want may not be the apartment that’s available.
If there’s anything you want to make sure doesn’t exist in your new apartment, make a note.
Some common requirements for students include:
- Microunits: If you have a small bedroom and don’t want to compromise on space, this is a must for you. Otherwise, it’s a nice-to-have.
- No bedbugs: If you are allergic to or avoid this kind of bug, make sure there are no signs of bedbugs in your apartment.
- A washer/dryer in the building: If you have to pack up and move frequently, making sure you have access to a dryer can make a huge difference.
- A doorman or concierge: If you think you might not be able to manage walking up to a building and asking to get in, having a doorman or concierge can make your life a lot easier.
No matter what type of apartment you’re looking for, this guide will help you figure out what you want and how to find it.
When you search for your next apartment, keep these tips in mind and you’ll find the perfect apartment for you.
