It’s tempting to minimize concerns about your commute when you finally find a New Jersey apartment that has all of the features and amenities you want. Unfortunately, no matter how much you like the apartment, it may not be the best choice if it’s too far from work. Before you sign a lease, keep these factors in mind.

Distance Between Your New Apartment and Work

Before you make a trip to look at a new apartment, consider the distance between the rental and your workplace. Try estimating your commute time with Trulia Maps. You can use the “commute” feature by dragging a marker to your work location or entering its address. Although it’s a good idea to come up with a rough estimate of the maximum distance you’d be willing to travel, keep in mind that it’s not just distance that’s a factor.

Time is another important consideration. Somerset County, NJ, residents have a mean 31.9 minute commute, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Depending on the roads you travel, or the public transportation method you use, you could travel 30 miles or just six in that time frame. If you’ll need to drive on heavily traveled roads to commute between your apartment and your job, factor in the additional driving time when determining maximum distance.

Access to Highways or Public Transportation

Your commute will be shorter if your apartment is close to major highways, bus routes or train stations. Traveling five or six miles from the exit to your home might not sound like a major concern, but rush hour traffic and multiple lights can slow your commute considerably.

Major Projects

Do a little research on the route you’ll take to work if you select a particular apartment. Multi-year road construction projects or renovations to railroad tracks or stations can turn a normally pleasant commute into a nightmare.

Your Commuting Style

Some people love long commutes. An hour-long drive or train ride gives them plenty of time to listen to music and relax a little at the beginning or end of the day. Others hate the idea of spending two hours or more commuting to work every day. Acknowledging your commuting style is the key to finding an apartment that will work for you. If you know you’d be unhappy with a long commute, it will be a bad idea to choose a distant apartment, no matter how much you like it.

Before you commit to an apartment, try the commute in the morning or evening. The trip may be worse than you expected, or you might just discover that it’s not so bad. If you’ve found the perfect apartment, but you’re not happy about the heavy traffic, look for alternate routes. Although the routes can add a few miles to your commute, your driving time may actually be shorter.

Your Work Schedule 

Your work schedule will also affect commuting time. A commute that takes 90 minutes at 8 a.m. make only take 30 minutes if you start work at 6 a.m. or 10 a.m. If you work off hours, you can probably expand your ideal apartment location radius.

Special Requirements

Do you work in an on-call position that requires you to be at work in 30 minutes or less when you’re summoned? If you have special requirements, try the commute at rush hour and also during the weekend. No matter when you’re called, you’ll want to be sure that you can always reach your workplace by your deadline.

You may also want to live close to work if you have a child in daycare or school or assist an elderly, ill or disabled relative. Would you be able to reach your family member quickly in case of an emergency or would jammed roads or a long train ride delay you?

Fairway 28, a Country Classics Rental Community, offers an ideal location close to area highways and transportation. The community is minutes from routes 78, 287, 22, 202 and 206 and close to bus lines and train stations. Fairway 28 offers luxury one- and two-bedroom pet-friendly apartments with gourmet kitchens, large bedrooms, private balconies, and onsite fitness and dog-walking facilities. Contact us for information about available apartments.