Tips for Finding that Perfect Apartment

College graduation season is around the corner, and with that comes a surge of young professionals starting to hunt for a new home for their post-grad life. To help ease that search, David Stockert, President and CEO of Post Properties has shared the below tips for recent college grads or parents helping their recently graduated children find an apartment:

1. Location: Without a doubt, location is one of the first things to consider when moving. How close is it to work? Is there a grocery store, coffee shop, drugstore or gas station nearby? You want convenience to the staple places you frequently visit. What is the neighborhood like? If you enjoy the outdoors, see if it is a good area to go for a walk or run, or if a park is nearby.
2. Community: You’ve just graduated college, which probably means you’ve lived with your best friends under the same roof or just seconds away for the past few years. With your new home, look around the community when you visit apartment complexes. Do you see a lot of other young professionals or recent college grads? Choose a place that seems to foster a community of folks around the same stage of life as you. It’s more fun, and you might make some new friends!
3. Amenities: Apartment complexes usually offer some array of perks. You sadly no longer have access to your college campus’ facilities, so make a point to determine what amenities are important to you. A gym, pool, outdoor grill, tennis court, grassy area for pets, balconies and/or updated appliances are some things to keep in mind when selecting a new home.
4. Maintenance: If the drain clogs or your water heater breaks, do you know how to fix it? A good maintenance team at an apartment complex will fix whatever problems you face in your home in a timely manner. And in the digital age, there’s no reason you shouldn’t be able to make a maintenance request online at any hour.
5. Customer Service: From submitting a general inquiry to touring a property to signing a lease, do you feel taken care of? You’re looking for your new home, and you want to feel comfortable. Even after you sign the lease, the property managers should be there for you to help address any questions or concerns you may have. Some apartment communities even host resident appreciation weeks, have cook-outs or offer treats at the leasing office. A good apartment complex will do everything they can to make you feel at home.