I asked you guys a while back if you would be interested in seeing a post about what I look for when house/apartment hunting and the response was strongly in favor so here we go! Growing up looking at model homes every weekend and tagging along with my mom on her Realtor’s caravan, the basics (and specifics) of what to look for in a home were pretty much ingrained in my memory. I think there are a lot of oversights when people are looking for their next home and in turn a lot of under-sights as well. In this “guide” I’m going to be referring to either apartment/condo/house rentals or homes for purchase that you are not looking to completely renovate and what I look for, what is important to have and things that aren’t actually that big of a deal.
Things That Matter
1. Location, Location, Location:
Growing up with both parents in the home development/real estate world, I heard this phrase constantly and now that I’m older I have to say it really is all about location, location, location. With that being said, sometimes your ideal location isn’t an option, especially if you live somewhere as expensive as San Diego. However, it’s still crucial to make sure the neighborhood you’re moving to fits YOUR vibe and your lifestyle. I know far too many people who moved to an area that everyone raved about and that looked good on paper only to realize it just wasn’t their vibe, didn’t fit their lifestyle and none of the other perks and benefits of where they were living mattered. So if you want a chill, quiet area where you can walk to the park etc maybe don’t move to a high rise in a noisy downtown.
I’ve also seen people justify moving an hour away from the city so they could have a larger space only to feel totally secluded once they were living there. My best advice, especially if you are thinking of moving to an area you are unfamiliar with, is to hang out and explore said area a bit, maybe even stay a night in an air bnb nearby so you really get a feel for the area before signing a lease/buying. Also make sure you get a feel for the specific building/street you are thinking of moving to. The area may seem your vibe but if the complex you’re moving to is full of frat boys and you just want to be able to having relaxing weekends at home, you’re going to have some problems.
2. The Overall Vibe/Energy:
When I’m house or apartment hunting or helping someone else do so, the first thing I observe is the energy and overall feel of the house/apartment. I can’t tell you how many places Alex and I saw when we were moving that looked amazing online but once we saw them in person were a NIGHTMARE. You want to make sure the unit itself and the complex/building/neighborhood has a good vibe. The first place Alex and I actually moved to had the worst grimey hallways that had no light and the unit itself felt like a depressing garage. It looked great on paper but in person the energy of the space and complex was awful and we moved out after a few weeks.
3. Aesthetics Must Haves:
These are the cosmetic or aesthetic features that are my personal must-haves when looking for a new home. First off, great lighting. If the house/apartment is dark and depressing thats how its going to make me feel. Second, enough space (given your budget) and a good flow. For example, our current place is not very large but its set up like a little town house and we have very tall vaulted ceilings that go to the second floor, the bedroom is a loft stye so it feels super open and airy and we have enough living space and outdoor space to not feel cramped even though we are in a one bedroom. Not feeling cramped and having a good flow in my home is very important to me.
Third, (and this is a big one for me) no carpet in the living space. I know a lot of people don’t have a ton of options when finding a place but if you can find one without carpet, do it. That being said, I was so against carpet in any capacity but when we found our current place I really loved the community and the unit but the bedroom did have carpet. Luckily it wasn’t a bad carpet and it was only the bedroom so I settled and I made it work but if I had my way I wouldn’t have a foot of carpet in my home. If you do have to have carpet in the bedrooms, cover them with large area rugs, it makes a huge difference!
Fourth, the kitchen is pretty important so make sure its going to work for you and your cooking needs. As far as aesthetics, you obviously want to find a place with as beautiful as a kitchen as possible but when rents/the cost of homes are so expensive, sometimes you have to settle. I really didn’t love our kitchen backsplash and counter so I did a renter friendly diy and now it looks beautiful, but obviously having the pretty white kitchen to begin with would have been nice.
Lastly, parking. Parking seems to be something people often overlook when apartment/house hunting and then move in and are faced with a major dilemma every time they come home for work. I can’t stress this enough, make sure you have a good parking situation. It can be a total nightmare if you don’t have guaranteed parking in a busy area. You also have to consider where guests will park when you have visitors. If your guests can never find parking no one will want to visit you because of the hassle.
Things That Don’t Matter
1. Paint Color/Staging
If your complex/landlord allows you to paint then don’t get caught up on the paint color or how the home may be staged. This is the first thing l learned about selling/buying homes. People get caught up on how the home is styled and painted and that can drastically make a difference in a home selling or not selling, thats why home staging is so important in real estate. The same goes for rentals, as long as you’re allowed to paint etc you have to see past how the place may be painted or styled and just looked at the core features that matter such as lighting, layout, and the features that are permanent like flooring.
2. Fancy Fixtures/Features
Of course having nice fixtures and fancy features in your home or complex is great but apartment complexes often use them to try to sell you on the place and get you to overlook the important things like square footage or other issues the unit may have. The place may have a fancy lobby and the unit may have fancy fixtures but if it’s only 400 sq ft and an hour away from the city, you have to consider what’s actually important to you.
I hope this guide helps you on your hunt for your home!
