These days, most families can’t afford to buy a property. Yes, there are some government schemes in place to help them on the property ladder. But people need to pay large deposits before getting considered for a mortgage. And that’s what helps them decide to stick with moving to rented homes instead.
If you’ve got a young family in tow, and you want to live near the city, you might be considering living in an apartment. They are cheaper to rent, and are plentiful inside inner-city areas. Today I will share with you some tips on how you can choose the right apartment for your family! Here is how to find the perfect place for your family:
Which area do you want to live in?
The first thing to consider is where you and your family want to move. There is an almost endless list of places to consider. I say “almost” because your budget will restrict you to living in some areas only.
I recommend making a shortlist of places that you might want to consider moving to. That way, you’ve got plenty of options when it comes to searching for an apartment.
Do some research on the neighbourhood
Now that you have a list of possible areas to move to, the next stage is to spend some time researching them. For example, is crime a problem? Where are the nearest schools and what are they like? What types of people live in those areas? Are they affluent or home to blue-collar workers?
Apart from doing online research, I also suggest that you do a “drive-by” of each area at various times of the day. While the Internet is a good research source, you shouldn’t 100% rely on the information you read. It’s best to see the neighbourhood for yourself before making any final decisions.
For example, when I moved to a rental apartment, I made sure I checked the area out first. That’s because I wanted my family to live in a safe neighbourhood close to various amenities.
What facilities are on offer?
You might think that when you rent an apartment, all you’re paying for is the apartment. And that you’re also contributing to the upkeep of communal areas.
Some apartment blocks like Ultris Wynnfield Lakes also come with a whole host of features. A few places offer things like fitness centres, kids play areas and so forth. Granted, you might have to pay extra for the privilege of such facilities. But it’s OK if you plan to make good use of them.
Is the apartment well-maintained?
Before you decide to pay a deposit and move in, you need to check the level of maintenance in the apartment. Just because an apartment block might look modern and well-kept on the outside doesn’t mean it is on the inside!
Check with the management company or the landlord what major work got done recently. For example, they might have installed a new central heating system. That way, you can be sure that you won’t need to call them out to fix things all the time.