While rental isn’t always the most desirable option, sometimes, for many, it’s the only option. As a tenant, I know the frustrations and joys of renting.
As you browse the listings under “apartments for rent”, you are probably looking for two things in particular: first, the price, and second, the services included. When my wife and I were looking for our first apartment, the price was an important factor for us, mainly because we had a tight honeymoon budget. From our first apartment, I learned that there are many other factors that should be at or near the top of your apartment’s wish list. View the property before depositing money. While the price and included amenities are important, they may not make much of a difference if your apartment is in dire need of repair. The first winter you spend wishing there was insulation around doors and windows can be a apartments in ghana good sign that despite the great price this apartment may not have been the ideal find. While viewing the property first may not always be possible, ideally viewing the property first will at least prevent you from unexpectedly renting a “solver”.
Take a look at your neighbors. Neighbors are great. I’ve had good neighbors, but in an apartment the neighbors aren’t just the people across the hall; In many cases, you are surrounded by neighbors, and as good as some neighbors are, others can be a real headache! Having lived in a couple of college student apartments, this can be the real deal or a deciding factor. If you have young children or just value your dream, it might not be a bad idea to knock on the doors of a couple of potential neighbors and ask how things are going once the sun goes down. Live upstairs. Any scientist or plumber will tell you that water always finds the path of least resistance. It might be helpful to add the footnote that that path is often at the bottom.
My point here is to tell you to live upstairs. In addition to being away from the “indoor rain”, living upstairs also gives you a comfort not in the list of heated floors. Again, any HVAC scientist or repairman will tell you the heat rises, living on any of the upper floors will instantly provide you with heated floors once the cold hits. Renting is a two-way street. As I thought about the possibilities of owning a duplex, apartment or house that would allow renters, I always remember how much work it is to own it. While rental properties may seem like a good self-sufficient investment, not all homeowners are prepared for the hands-on dedication required. Before you get in trouble with the owner, check with the neighbors to see what the management is like. Do they fix things in a timely manner? Are tenants treated as persons or just as wages? Does management make promises and keep them? These are all important questions to ask yourself if you want to assess what living conditions will be like when problems arise that require management intervention.