Monday, May 27, 2013

What to Keep in Mind Before Buying an Apartment

By Henry C Drake


Deciding to get an apartment is such a major step, and it doesn't matter whether you're off to get your first one or you're moving to a new place. The process remains exciting, worrying, and scary, which is pretty normal because you are, after all, undergoing a change. There's no doubt that you will want to know if a particular apartment really is the right one for you or if it has any hidden features that will make you think twice about getting it.

Your feelings about the properties you look at affect your decision to buy or to not buy. However, other factors also come into play. If you're looking at apartments in Lisle, IL, for example, you have to know that the community is perfect for your needs. You might like how a certain apartment looks, but the management of the building is said to be unconcerned and incompetent, or the neighbors may be total headaches to deal with. That's why you have to have a list of what you want and what you don't want to see in your future apartment. Having a clear idea what you want your apartment to have is great, but it's even better to know what you won't tolerate so you can eliminate some properties accordingly before you even waste your time visiting them. Here are some things that you might want to keep in mind.

Assess the area. Naturally, your apartment has to be close to everything--transportation, shops, schools--but that's not the only aspect you should look at. You have to look at the immediate community. What also matters is what the entire area and its residents are like. Is it a safe place, or have any shady incidents occurred there? It helps to get feedback from the residents, and you should also make it a point to spend some time in the area and get a feel for the place.

Examine the features of the apartment building, complex, or community. Here, you have to know what kind of features you'd like to see. You might want an apartment building with a pool, a doorman, and laundry services. Or you might prefer a sprawling residential complex like Green Trails, which has open spaces and water features. Keep in mind that whatever feature you need tacks on extra costs to what you will potentially have to pay for your apartment, and be ready to spring for them if you find a place that you really like.

Know how the property is managed. You want to make sure that the management company who runs the residential building or complex is really actively taking part in the concerns of the residents and looks out for their welfare, and that they quickly respond to any problems raised by the residents. Having good property managers is a plus for an apartment building; apartments that are not managed can be a bit troublesome, as there is no one to enforce building and community guidelines and regulations. So make sure to check every aspect of the properties you're interested in. When you know what you want and you look for properties that have what you're looking for, it's much more likely that you won't encounter a lot of problems once you've settled in.




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