There is a tremendous sense of independence that comes with the renting of your first apartment. However, that independence also comes with a large amount of responsibility. Whether you are looking for apartments for rent in Kansas City or Phoenix apartments, you must plan ahead to make sure that your first apartment suits your specific living needs. Otherwise, you may end up in a very undesirable living situation.
The most important thing that must be considered when searching for your first apartment is cost. Your rent is likely to be the largest expenditure in your budget; as such, you need to calculate how much you can actually afford. Many financial planners suggest that you should not spend more than 30 percent of your income on rent. If you spend more than that, you may find it more difficult to spend money on other goods and services that you may need. It is also good to keep in mind that you will need to “qualify” for an apartment. One of the items apartment management firms will require when applying for an apartment home is proof of income. Generally, your total monthly gross income must be three to four times the amount of rent you are applying for. This rule of thumb might just help you when spending money on application fees!
The price that you are willing to pay for your new apartment will help to answer a lot of the other questions that usually arise during the selection process. For instance, the location of your new apartment is very important to your quality of life. Some people like the convenience of living downtown in the middle of the action, but others prefer the space and quiet of the suburbs. This choice will ultimately depend on your individual tastes and desires.
However, the location of your new apartment will affect the price that you pay for it. If you are looking for apartments for rent in Kansas City, desirable neighborhoods such as Shawnee Mission will be more expensive when compared to areas such as Brookside. This price variability will occur with apartments in any city, including Phoenix apartments.
When making a decision about renting your first apartment, you will have to make a lot of trade-offs among different factors that are important to you. If you want to live in a nice neighborhood, you may have to sacrifice in other areas in order to afford it. You may have to get a smaller apartment, or you may have to live in a building without an elevator or an exercise room. Alternatively, you could choose to live in the best building of a bad neighborhood if location is not that important to you.
Everyone must make such choices when choosing their first apartment. This is true for people looking for apartments for rent in Kansas City and for people looking for Phoenix apartments. However, such choices cannot be made for you; instead, you must figure out your preferred lifestyle and choose an apartment that will facilitate such a life.
Once you’ve decided on an apartment, remember to budget for your moving expenses. These include but are not limited to:
Application Fee
Administration Fee
Pet Deposits/Fees
Apartment Deposit
Moving Company
Utility Deposits (if applicable)
New Housewares
Each of our helpful Leasing Professionals will help equip you with all the information you might need when preparing to apply and move into a new apartment home. Visit or contact us today!
