Apartment Searching 101
You hop online to your favorite apartment listing website, input your wants, needs and must-haves, press ‘search’ and then the apartment of your dreams pops up. Within a few days you make a visit, love the place and lease. Then you live happily ever after in your new apartment with your two cats. Uhm, reality check! When you press ‘search’ 432 billon apartments just happen to pop up on the screen. The worst part, each and every one of them claim to check all your boxes. How is this possible? How do you afford the gas to drive to all these places? The real question, how do you go from 432 billon options to home sweet home? The Best Things in Life are Free Except apartments. So, unless you’re a Kardashian, price point plays a large part in your apartment search. That being said, the butt sprayer perks of a Japanese toilet may seem pretty cool right now, but 4 months down the road when you're pinching pennies for that European getaway, such amenity might not look so hot anymore. Stick to what matters the most - Euro vacay all the way baby. Want’s, Needs and the I Really Gotta Haves Fitness center, check. Pool, check. Washer and dryer, check. Sweet, there’s 186 places in Omaha where I can get my GTL (gym, tan, laundry) on. If you’re anything like me, you want a pool, not a 5x5 box filled with hot water. News flash, that’s not a pool. Moral of the story, call, look at pictures and ask questions because some amenities may not be as marketed. What’s Good in the ‘Hood? Location, location, location. While you may be looking for a specific area like Benson or the Old Market because of its “hip scene,” keep in mind that may mean it will cost more time and money to get to work if your work is nowhere near your new humble abode. A longer work commute = less time with your cats. Another thing to digest; is there free off-street parking close to your apartment, or will you have to walk a mile hands fully loaded with groceries? Home Sweet Home With these tips and tricks you can cut down on the not so fun obstacles of searching and feel like a total boss when you successfully find your new home sweet home. Happy apartment hunting ya'all!
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