Looking for a new home is an exciting process. When you shop for a new house, most buyers want to wait for a home inspection. When you shop for a new apartment, there are some other ways to ensure you’re avoiding low-quality homes that will cause you problems and frustrate you in the future.
Before you even set foot in a potential new apartment, you can look at a few things to tell if it’s high quality. Look at the pictures to get a sense of the space, and read the descriptions that go along with the images. What is the management company’s online presence like? A quality website means they care about how potential tenants view them and want to make their properties accessible.
Arrange to see the space in person. Is the management company responsive? The company’s involvement in the initial viewing process may be indicative of its relationship with tenants. Direct any questions to the leasing agent. How knowledgeable are they about the space? How willing are they to make accommodations for you to see it? Honesty, helpfulness, and transparency are all good signs, especially during initial contact.
The Big Picture
When you’re viewing the space, look for information about the overall building as well as the specific unit. Is there someone on site to manage the building? Is there regular or preventative maintenance scheduled? It’s okay to ask what maintenance they have scheduled and that will give you a sense of how they’re reinvesting in the building. Administrative support and contact information should be readily available in case tenants have questions.
What kind of heating and cooling systems are in place? Is it central forced air, radiator or baseboard heating? How new are those systems? Can you control your suite’s temperature with your own thermostat? Winnipeg winters are tough on both people and heating systems, so you’ll want to make sure those are working properly. Same goes for cooling. Is it central or window A/C? How new are those systems and are they up to the job of cooling the place in a heat wave?
Look for additional amenities to round out your home. This includes in-unit amenities like appliances, laundry, outdoor space, and internet access, but also community amenities like parking, restaurants, shopping and public transportation.
What is the walk score like? In addition to convenience, a high walk score means the developer put effort into choosing a great location, thinking of its tenant’s wants and needs well before the property was even built. If you want to learn more about walk scores, read our previous blog.
Sustainability
High-quality rentals not only serve tenants, but also the long-term goals of the surrounding community. One of the ways Paragon Living develops sustainable properties is through infill development.
Infill is developing previously vacant or underutilized properties in well-established areas. In Winnipeg, this often means replacing old, decaying houses with duplexes or multi-family homes. This revitalizes and adds density to a neighbourhood, which over time makes cities more sustainable.
We strictly adhere to all City of Winnipeg infill guidelines and consult extensively with the community when developing an infill property. To learn more about our process, read our blog on what infill development is.
Unit Layout and Orientation
Looking for a high-quality home means knowing what’s right for you. Are you an early-riser or a night owl? Do you want a view of a busy street or an urban canopy?
When viewing a property, notice which direction the unit is facing. How does the space flow when walking in or out of each room? Look out the windows and take in each view.
Get out your compass (or a compass app) and see which direction each window is facing. Since the sun rises in the east and sets in the west, east-facing windows mean you’ll see a sunrise. West-facing windows will give you a view of Winnipeg’s breathtaking prairie sunsets. North-facing windows shield you from most direct sunlight, and south-facing windows make for an all-around bright space.
Lots of Space
No matter the square footage of a property, how it uses space is a good indicator of a well-designed space. Is there lots of storage available? Look for closets, drawers, cabinets, and any other nooks and crannies you could use to put your belongings.
But remember you’re not limited by a property’s designated storage space. Think about how you can get creative with the storage provided, like versatile furniture, vertical storage, and bins or baskets within shelving to keep everything organized.
It’s All In The Details
Charles Eames, an architect and furniture designer, once said, “The details are not the details. They make the design.”
Test out any appliances, lights, plugs, drains, and taps. Look at the handles, doorknobs, and other smaller items within the property. Quality finishes mean the developers spent their money on quality materials from the start.
At Paragon Living, we proudly create high-quality, affordable properties. To check our current listings, visit our Properties page.
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