Rent is indeed one of the most important monthly expenses as shelter is one of the basic human needs. As a result, a lot of people want to know more about finding cheap 1 bedroom apartments. They want to keep their apartment as small as they possibly can, while at the same time making sure they don’t spend more on it than needed. However, they also want to live somewhere comfortable and safe, that they can call “home”. If you are interested in cheap one-bedroom apartments, then take note of the next three tips to help you in your search.
Top Tips for Finding Cheap 1 Bedroom Apartments:
1. Start by defining “cheap”. What is cheap for one person may not be for another. Hence, you need to specify your budget, which basically means how much you can afford. You also have to consider geographical location. What someone from New York City would class as cheap, is something that someone from California would consider as expensive. You need to consider your income, average rental prices in your area, your budget, and so on. You do also have to make sure that you commit to your budget. If something looks nice but it costs more than you can afford, you need to have the strength to walk away.
2. Look into the rules and regulations associated with that apartment. Sometimes, things are cheap because very few people are able to meet the rules stipulated by the landlord. For instance, you may not be allowed to bring pets or even children into the apartment. This makes sense to some, as pets are smelly and children are noisy, but it does mean that potential tenants become more limited. Interestingly, for some apartments, these rules and regulations make them more “exclusive”. The result is that the price actually goes up. Hence, don’t assume that heavily regulated locations are cheaper.
3. Make sure the location is actually right for you. It is all too easy to focus on price alone and to forget about everything else. Perhaps the apartment is cheap because it is located in a drug infested, high crime, gang controlled area. Other apartments are cheap because there are virtually no local amenities, no parking facilities, and poor access to public transportation. In other words, there are situations in which an apartment is cheap because it is almost unlivable. Consider, therefore, what amenities you particularly need in order to be able to live a comfortable life. Essentially, you need to calculate the cost of living in an apartment beyond its rent. For instance, if you have to drive for miles every day to get to work, the supermarket, and the kids’ extracurricular activities, then you may as well live somewhere more central where the rent may be higher, but your fuel costs will be much lower.
With these three tips, finding cheap 1 bedroom apartments should become a whole lot easier. It is important to note that “cheap” does not necessarily mean low quality, and you can find a nice, but affordable apartment.
