Buying an apartment is a significant milestone worth celebrating. Not only does it mark the day that you leave the family nest, but it also means you’re becoming more independent and can now take the wheel of your own life.
You’ll have to earn your keep and do everything for your welfare. But once you start living in your first apartment, you’ll be likely to find more ways to enjoy living on your own.
Of course, before you start getting excited about decorating your own space exactly the way you like it or throwing parties, you must first pick out a perfect place to live in. To help you out, here are six tips you must keep in mind when looking at apartments for sale in Dubai:
1. Think about the commute.
Unless you already have a private vehicle before acquiring your first apartment, you’ll likely need to take public transport to and from your apartment for the first couple of months after the move.
Since this can take up a significant amount of time and money, you should consider the commute when choosing an apartment to buy.
No matter how impressive an apartment is, you may not be able to make the most of it if you must sit through a two-hour commute from work just to get home. In this case, apartments along the Business Bay area or near your place of work are your best choice.
Say, for example, you just got a new job and are searching for a 1 bed apartment for rent san jose. You’ll want to calculate the distance from your apartment to your new office.
It would also help to map out routes between the apartment and other locations you frequent (e.g., the mall, school, or office). This will also help you determine your maximum travel time to get to places you need to be.
If you adore an apartment that is a bit farther away, try to test out the commute before signing the lease. This way, you can get a feel of how much time the commute requires and whether it’s tolerable at the very least.
2. Check out the neighborhood.
When you sign the lease to an apartment, you’ll be committing not only to the place you’ll be living in but the neighborhood around it as well. Besides the actual residential area, you’ll also need to check out the rest of the community.
Explore the place and determine whether the amenities you need are available nearby. For example, if you’re a busy bee who cannot go a day without a morning latte, look for a café in the area. Enquire about their business hours and whether they have free Wi-Fi that customers can use for work or leisure while enjoying a drink.
Take the time to observe the places surrounding the apartment during different times of the day. If possible, talk to the people already living in or near the apartment building. Ask about any common nuisances that you should know about, but be sure to filter out gossip from useful information.
Take note of the traffic situation in the area and potential noise sources like bars and clubs that open at night.
You may also want to check the crime reports and determine whether the place is safe, but this shouldn’t be an issue in properties in Dubai. You won’t have any problem with safety and security as Dubai is considered one of the world’s safest cities as of 2020.
3. Have the apartment inspected.
Another thing you should do to ensure that your first apartment doesn’t give you any headaches (or more than what’s tolerable) is an inspection. Building inspection companies like Inspect East will know exactly what to look out for.
Although usually performed before buying a house, inspections also help apartment buyers make informed decisions about the purchase.
There are two types of inspections you’ll need to make sure that your apartment is trouble-free: a building inspection and a strata inspection.
If you require further advice in this area you may want to seek advice from an expert like Michael Teys who has experience in strata advisory and consulting as well as over 30 years of experience as a specialist strata lawyer.
Building Inspection
This type of inspection is often conducted to verify details about the site and the building itself. It determines whether certain parts of the property require repair, particularly these:
- Building exterior and interior
- Roof exterior and space
- Underfloor space
- Fences, paths, and driveways
- Stormwater run-off
- Separate buildings (e.g., garages, carports, sheds, and laundries)
Strata Inspection
On the other hand, strata inspection is useful in determining both the integrity of the physical building as well as its financial status and other intangible factors that may affect your life there.
Among the physical points covered in this type of inspection are the exterior and interior of the unit, and fire and asbestos policy compliance. It will also cover the building’s intangible attributes, such as:
- Insurance policies (whether they are up to date)
- Special levies
- Voting entitlements
- Peace within the building
If you require further advice in this area you may want to seek advice from an expert like Michael Teys who has experience in strata advisory and consulting as well as over 30 years of experience as a specialist strata lawyer.
4. Figure out how you’ll get the mail.
Moving into your own apartment means you’ll also need to have all of your correspondence sent to your new address. To make sure no important letter or bill is left behind, think about how you can get your mail.
Does the apartment complex have a community mail center where you can pick up your letters? Or maybe each apartment has a door slot where the postman can deliver it directly to the address? Is there a doorman who can hold onto your packages while you’re away?
The key is to determine how it all fits your lifestyle. If you travel frequently, having a doorman or post center is best. If not, you may need to ask your neighbor to pick it up for you, which can be a bit of a hassle if done often.
You may also need to set up a PO box to ensure that your letters and packages are safe. Many of these boxes also support 24-hour access.
5. Check the apartment plan.
When buying an apartment, you must also check the apartment plan and overall layout. Ask for 3D images of each room or visit a display apartment to get a feel of what living there would be like.
Doing this will help you determine the amount of space you’ll have and help you plan your interior fit-out. You can also use this to find out whether you can fit all your belongings there and have room for more, and if the place can support your initial plans for when you move in.
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6. Determine how much an apartment will cost you.
Last but certainly not the least of your apartment buying concerns is the cost. Although many apartments are offered at a very low down payment, some of them come with more fees than most first-time real estate buyers know.
There are affordable apartments for rent in Arlington that suit every type of renter. Some of the most affordable Arlington apartments for rent can be found on. Choose from the boutique building or family-friendly neighborhood
To make sure you don’t fall into a debt trap, ask about the application fees, inspection charges, insurance, and other costs that may be added to the initial down payment. All this could add up to a more considerable amount, so you need to check if it fits your budget. A mortgage rate calculator can likewise equip you with a clearer overview of your financial capacity to make the investment.
The Takeaway
When buying an apartment, you have to consider a lot of things – from the location, neighborhood, and building, to the apartment costs. Take your time to learn about these factors with the help of this article so that you can make an informed choice.
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