Every year, close to a quarter of renters search for new apartments, according to the United States Census Bureau. Unfortunately, some of them will never find the ideal rental unit. If you don't want to settle for a space that barely meets your minimum requirements, you’ll want to keep these tips in mind when you search for your new Bridgewater apartment.

Choose the Ideal Location

How close do you want to be to work, highways, public transportation, stores, and schools? Do you expect your circumstances to change in the next year or two? If you’re thinking about finding a new job or expanding your family, you may want to consider an apartment that’s centrally located or search for a child-friendly complex that offers units with multiple bedrooms.

Think About the Features You Want

When your free time is limited, you probably don’t want to spend every evening or weekend visiting apartments. Narrowing down the features you want will help you eliminate the apartments that don’t meet your standards. For example, your list of wants and needs may include:

• Newer construction
• Rent that fits your budget
• A building with an elevator
• A pet- or child-friendly community
• Two bedrooms
• A master bathroom
• A large modern kitchen with updated appliances
• An in-unit washer and dryer
• Fitness facilities located on site
• A balcony or patio
• Ample parking
• Garages
• Outdoor recreation areas
• Storage units
• Responsive maintenance service
• Carpeting in the bedrooms
• A dog run
• A tot lot
• Cable TV and WiFi

Weed Out Unacceptable Properties

Once you determine the features and amenities that are important to you, you can begin to delete properties from your list. Removing apartments that don’t meet your requirements sounds easier than it often is. Even though you might have decided that you want to live no more than 10 miles from work, you may find it hard to forget about the gorgeous apartment located a few miles outside of your preferred radius.

At this stage, there’s no harm in keeping a few apartments on the list that don’t exactly meet all of your needs. As you compile more information, you may eliminate some of the questionable apartments or might decide to add them to your must-see list.

Gather Detailed Information

A more in-depth information gathering session will help you decide which apartments you want to tour. If the apartment community or rental agent has a website, click beyond the photographs and floor plans, and look for the nitty gritty details, such as whether utilities are included in the rent or how many apartments are currently available.

Many apartment communities offer virtual tours on their websites. Unlike photographs, which can be deceiving, virtual tours provide a more realistic view of an apartment’s size and features. Venture beyond the official website and take a look at the information other sites, such as Apartments.com and Trulia.com, provide.

Take a look at online review sites too. Although reviews can provide helpful information from actual tenants, keep in mind that they aren’t always completely accurate. Disgruntled tenants may exaggerate issues or even leave reviews that aren’t true. Of course, if all the reviews are negative, you’ll want to think long and hard before signing a lease.

Negative reviews that are several years old aren’t always a cause for concern. It’s possible that the community has made improvements or changed management since the reviews were first posted.

Schedule Apartment Visits

Before you visit the top contenders on your list, create a checklist of desirable features or download a free checklist from forrent.com. Reviewing your checklists can jog your memory if you can’t quite remember if it was the two-bedroom by the mall that offered the fire pit or the one-bedroom just off I287.

In addition to formal visits, stop by the complex at other times of the day. If that perfect apartment located far from your office is still on your list, you’ll want to find out just how long it will take you to get to and from work in rush hour traffic.

Are you looking for a spacious apartment located close to all the conveniences? Bridgewater’s Fairway 28 – a Country Classics Rental Community offers brand new luxury one- and two-bedroom apartments with gourmet kitchens, spacious rooms, balconies, elevators, in-unit washers and dryers and other desirable amenities. Contact us to discuss apartment availability and schedule a tour.

United States Census Bureau: U.S. Mover Rate Remains Stable at About 12 Percent Since 2008, Census Bureau Reports

https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2015/cb15-47.html

Forbes: 9 Tips for an Effective Apartment Search

https://www.forbes.com/sites/rent/2014/11/15/9-tips-for-an-efficient-apartment-search/#1ab1bc12610d