Important Legal Notice
Disclaimer: This article provides general educational information about home buying in the United States and should not be construed as legal, financial, tax, or real estate advice. Real estate laws, mortgage regulations, tax codes, and lending requirements vary by state, county, and municipality and are subject to change.
Professional Consultation Required: Before making any financial decisions related to purchasing real property, you must consult with licensed professionals, including but not limited to:
- A licensed real estate attorney admitted to practice in your state
- A licensed real estate agent or broker
- A qualified mortgage lender or loan officer
- A certified public accountant (CPA) or tax advisor
- A licensed home inspector
Verify Current Laws: Federal, state, and local real estate laws change frequently. Always verify current regulations on official government websites, including HUD.gov, ConsumerFinance.gov, and your state's official real estate commission website before proceeding with any transaction.
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Information Currency: Laws, regulations, tax rates, lending criteria, and government programs are subject to frequent changes. Information presented may become outdated. Always verify current information through official sources and licensed professionals.
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Choosing the wrong apartment creates problems that follow you for the full lease term. Many renters focus only on nice kitchens or great views while missing factors that affect daily life much more.
Housing costs are the biggest expense for most families, making how to choose an apartment one of the most important money decisions you'll face.
Using clear apartment selection criteria is the key to finding a great home. Pair this guide with our Apartment Hunting Tips to plan your search. If you are weighing renting versus buying, review our Investment Property Analysis for a long-term cost view.
Think about your last apartment search. Did you:
- Test your real commute during rush hour traffic?
- Add up total monthly costs including rent, utilities, parking, and insurance?
- Read reviews about the management company?
- Visit the property at night to check noise levels?
- Look up crime statistics for the specific street?
If you skipped more than two of these steps, you may have missed factors that really affect how happy you'll be renting there. This 39-point guide helps you rate apartments fairly and compare options clearly.
Location Factors: What to Look for in an Apartment (1-10)
Location shapes your daily life more than any other factor and should carry the most weight in your choice.
1. Commute Test Drive your actual work commute during rush hour, both morning and evening. GPS apps tend to understate real travel times during heavy traffic. Include how long it takes to park at work. This is a key part of your apartment selection criteria.
2. Walkability Check Can you handle daily errands on foot? Needing a car for everything adds a lot to your costs through gas and car wear. Add Walk Score ratings to your apartment selection criteria to get a number to compare.
3. Safety Lookup Check crime statistics using local police reports or city crime maps. Safety is a non-negotiable item for any apartment selection criteria. Look at data for the specific street, not just city-wide averages, which can hide big differences between blocks.
4. Noise Check Visit at several times: weekday evenings, weekend nights, and early mornings. Listen for traffic, neighboring units, nearby bars or restaurants, and outdoor activity levels. Noise levels are often overlooked in basic apartment selection criteria.
5. School District Even without kids, school ratings affect neighborhood stability and property values. Higher-rated districts tend to have lower turnover, creating a more stable community.
6. Transit Access How far is the nearest bus stop or train station? Think about what that walk feels like in bad weather and whether the schedule matches your routine.
7. Parking Reality Street parking changes a lot by time and day. Visit during evening hours when residents are home to see what parking is really like. Ask about guest parking policies and costs.
8. Daily Errands Map out the distance to grocery stores, pharmacies, gas stations, and other places you visit often. Drive these routes to know actual travel times.
9. Neighborhood Direction Is the area getting better, declining, or staying the same? New shops and building updates suggest growth. Empty storefronts and rundown buildings point to decline.
10. Planned Projects Research any building projects planned nearby. Construction during your lease can mean months of noise, traffic jams, and parking headaches. Call the local planning office for details.
Building Quality Apartment Selection Criteria (Factors 11-20)
The overall building matters a lot, no matter how nice your individual unit looks. Knowing what to look for in an apartment building is crucial.
11. Building Age Newer buildings usually have modern amenities, better safety features, and fewer repair needs, but higher rents. Older buildings may offer lower rents but often need more fixes. Building age impacts your apartment selection criteria for maintenance.
12. Management Reviews Look up the management company or landlord through online reviews and tenant forums. Check if there are complaints filed with your city's housing office. Bad management is one of the top reasons renters hate where they live.
13. Repair Speed Ask current residents how fast repairs get done. Ask specifically about emergencies after business hours. Fast repairs should top your apartment selection criteria. Slow maintenance creates ongoing frustration through your whole lease.
14. Amenity Condition Check the amenities in person rather than trusting photos. Test gym equipment, look at the pool, and observe how clean common areas are as you refine your apartment selection criteria. Confirm hours match your schedule.
15. Pet Rules Get clear on all pet limits including breed rules, weight limits, and extra deposit charges. Monthly pet rent adds up fast over a full lease. Know what happens if you break the rules.
16. Security Setup Check building security including door locks, cameras, lighting, and mailbox security. Does the parking area feel safe at night?
17. Sound Between Units Concrete and steel buildings block sound much better than wood-frame ones. Visit when neighbors are likely home to hear what noise transfer is really like.
18. Laundry Options In-unit washer and dryer hookups offer the most ease. Shared laundry rooms take time and require coins or cards. Count machines and compare to building size.
19. Storage Space Does the apartment have enough storage for your stuff? Ask about storage units, their cost, and how secure they are.
20. Internet Speed Call internet providers to check what speeds they offer at that address. Some buildings have deals with only one provider, which may limit your options.
The Unit Itself (Factors 21-30)
Beyond the building, the specific unit you'll live in matters a lot too.
21. Layout Logic Does the floor plan work for how you live? Check traffic flow between rooms, where your furniture could go, and whether odd spaces waste square feet.
22. Natural Light South and west windows get the most sun during the day. Note what might block windows including other buildings, trees, or outdoor structures that may shade you at certain times.
23. Climate Control Do you control your own heat and air, or is it shared building-wide? Check windows for drafts. Poor climate control hurts both your comfort and your utility bills.
24. Storage Sizes Measure closets yourself, since rental photos often use wide-angle lenses that make spaces look bigger. Check cabinets, pantry, and any extra storage spots.
25. Kitchen Test Is there enough counter space to cook? Test all appliances. Check cabinet storage for your needs. Think about flow between fridge, sink, and stove.
26. Bathroom Check Test water pressure during your visit. Check storage space for your bathroom items. Make sure ventilation works and fixtures are in good shape.
27. Floor Level Ground-floor units are easy to reach but often noisier, less private, and possibly less secure. Upper floors are quieter but involve stairs and may get hotter in summer.
28. View and Privacy What will you see from each window every day? Can neighbors or passersby see into your home? Privacy issues may mean you need to buy curtains.
29. Current Condition Look carefully for water stains, wall damage, flooring wear, and needed repairs. How the unit looks now shows how well management maintains things. If you are touring a newly built unit, bring the New Home Walkthrough Checklist to document finishes.
30. Real Size Measure room sizes yourself rather than trusting the listed square feet. Make sure your key furniture will fit with space left to move around.
Money and Lease Terms (Factors 31-39)
Knowing the full money picture prevents budget shocks during your lease.
31. Total Monthly Cost Add up base rent, utilities (estimate), parking fees, pet fees, renter's insurance, and any other regular charges. Compare apartments using total cost, not rent alone.
32. Lease Terms Read the early exit rules, subletting policies, and month-to-month options. Know the costs and results of breaking your lease if things change.
33. Upfront Payments Clarify the full amount due upfront: security deposit, last month's rent if needed, and any other deposits. Learn exactly what you must do to get your deposit back. Your credit score for apartments may affect deposit requirements.
34. Rent History Ask how much rent went up in past years. Increases of 3-5% yearly are normal, but bigger jumps will hit your budget harder over time.
35. Utilities Included Get clear on which utilities are covered in rent and which you pay separately. Ask for past utility bills or average costs, so you can budget right.
36. Move-In Costs Total all upfront costs: first month's rent, deposit, fees, and moving expenses. Make sure you have enough cash on hand comfortably.
37. Guest Rules Know any limits on overnight guests, visit length, or guest sign-in requirements. Some places have rules that may clash with your lifestyle.
38. Parking Rules Clarify permit needs, assigned vs. open parking, and costs for extra cars. Understand guest parking policies for visitors.
39. Renewal Benefits Ask if the property offers perks for renewing, like locked rent, free upgrades, or other benefits. Knowing renewal terms helps you plan ahead.
Scoring Your Choices
Use a weighted score system to compare apartments fairly:
- Location Quality: 30% of total score
- Building Quality: 25% of total score
- Unit Features: 25% of total score
- Money Terms: 20% of total score
Rate each apartment from 1-10 in each category. Multiply by the weights and add up the totals to find the best overall pick. This method keeps emotions from overriding practical factors.
Helpful Resources:
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: consumerfinance.gov - Renter rights and money guidance
- HUD Fair Housing: HUD.gov - Protection against discrimination
- FTC Consumer Protection: consumer.ftc.gov - Avoiding rental scams
Use this apartment selection guide on every place you tour. Finding housing that truly meets your needs and fits your budget will serve you well through your entire lease.