The first things that people look at when apartment hunting are the location, the space of the unit, and the accessibility of the place. That is beside the price. But part of the essential considerations to make are how the building itself is managed since you’ll want to think about your own living conditions in the long run. If you’re going to check out how they care for their tenants and the space they own, make sure your apartment building does these essential duties.
Proper waste management
You want to make sure that the building uses the right waste management solutions that can consistently keep the whole place clean. Even if the hygiene relies on the behavior of the residents, management falls on those handling the property. It’s much easier to keep things clean if there are acceptable practices in collecting, transporting, and treating waste. This way, you can recycle and throw out garbage accordingly without worrying about inadequate waste segregation or possible build-up that stinks up the place and makes it look gross. Check out their practices and make sure they are consistent with this so you don’t end up with trash that looks bad and can even be a health hazard over time.
Pest control
Think of an apartment building like a hive, with all humans residing within creating a welcoming environment within full of safe shelter and constant access to food and water. Now, any pest would be attracted to that like it is a haven. Many will not be deterred simply because of all the activity within. Regular checks and maintenance should still be done to make sure that there is no infestation of creepy crawlies and other creatures that you don’t want to make a comfortable long-term home of your own space. Rodents and cockroaches are the most common and apparent concerns but don’t feel too comfy about ants, moths, mosquitoes, and even termites. If you know that it isn’t because of something you brought in, make sure any presence of pests is handled by the landlord or property manager.
HVAC and plumbing maintenance
It may seem like a no-brainer, but you need to ensure that the apartment building regularly maintains the HVAC and plumbing of their units, especially when things are centralized. While you get responsibility for anything in your own unit, you still want to make sure that you started with adequate space in the first place.
Have the vents and ductwork been cleaned? Are they free of mold? Are the pipes free of cracks, rust, and erosion? These are just some of the crucial questions you want to ask and get answers to before committing to taking over some jurisdiction over those parts of the unit.
Active security
You want to have a safe home to live in, so one of the most important things to check on is security. Make sure they have proper CCTV cameras installed and that there are security guards on standby to attend to any illegal doings or threats. It may even be better if there are specific security measures for entrance into the building and each unit.
Statistics from the FBI show that the majority of burglaries happen to residential properties, after all. That doesn’t have to be something that puts you in fear, however, if you have a well-occupied building with adequate security. That dramatically lessens the likelihood of an attack, much less one that would go unnoticed.
Resident background checks
It may initially seem like a hassle to you when an apartment building owner asks for stringent proof that you have a good background. However, that adds a measure of security that can assure you that anyone who would be living in the same vicinity as you would have had to pass those same checks. This way, you know that you are in relatively good, or at the very least acceptable, company. Even if you don’t go for the friendly neighbor route, you at least won’t have to spend your nights wondering if you could be living next to a drug den or a wanted killer on the loose.
Although one might think that the pandemic in 2020 has made it easier to find a place to stay, stories keep cropping up about renters having a hard time finding trustworthy properties at reasonable prices. Not only has the situation made it difficult for buyers and sellers alike, but it also has affected the economy. If you’re scouting for your own apartment during this time, you’ll want to remember these guidelines.
