You have recently made one of the
most important decisions of your lifetime... getting
married. Now you must decide what and where your first
home together will be. The majority of us today, choose
to make an apartment community our first residence
after marriage. The following are a few tips which
should prove helpful in selecting an aparment.
LOCATION - In most cases you will want to find
an apartment which is located conveniently to one
or both of your jobs. It is important to weigh the
benefits of cheaper rent with commuting time. One
suggestion is to "test drive" a potential
commute during the week versus a weekend.
COMMUNITY - There are benefits to selecting
a large apartment community as well as a smaller
one. A larger development will typically offer more
amenities such as pools, spas, weight rooms, tennis
courts, etc. A higher rental rate may need to be
charged for comprehensive staff for leasing, maintenance,
etc. The advantages to a smaller complex may include,
a homey environment, personal service by the resident
manager and potentially lower rent.
SERVICE - Regardless of rental rates. service
is extremely important. The least expensive apartment
is no bargain if your needs are not met. Questions
to ask an on-site manager include: What staff members
live On-Site? How fast are maintenance requests
handled? How long have you been on the property?
Is there a Professional Management Company involved?
If any of the questions are not answered to your
satisfaction, then this may not be the apartment
for you.
RENT - Most communities qualify their prospective
residents initially through an income to rent ratio.
The standard ratio used today is, the rent should
not exceed one fourth to one third of your combined
income. In other words, if your combined income
(you and your husbands) salary is $3,400 per month
you could typically afford a $850 to $1100 per month
apartment This is, of course, a guideline only and
you need to take other fixed expenses into consideration
when figuring your budget. Good rent paying residents
are a valued commodity to the apartment housing
industry today. You deserve a clean, quiet, well
maintained home in which to live. It is important
for you to select your first home together recognizing
not only the rental rate and amenities but the level
of service and care you will receive by the resident
manager and staff.
