Choosing Apartment Living

Apartment living can be a great choice for many families, but it is different than living in a single family home. Here are some things to consider before making the move to apartment living.

1. Built in Community: Living in an apartment building means you have instant community in the form of other residents. Like many aspects of apartment living this can be both a positive and negative thing. Having neighbors so close by means an instant community which can be very enjoyable. Meeting friends and creating long lasting relationships often comes from time spent living in an apartment community. However, conflicts can also be an issue. Many different kinds of people choose apartment living, and they bring their own personalities and lifestyles with them. Living next door to a night owl when you work an early morning shift could be a potential problem. Perhaps your neighbor has a lot of friends and family visiting on a regular basis and the guests often park their cars in tenant parking spaces. Become familiar with the rules for your apartment complex so you can be prepared to handle these issues if necessary.

2. Noise Issues: Unlike a single family residence that allows for at least a small amount of space between homes, apartments are usually connected by shared walls. This means that you are likely to hear a lot more of your neighbor than you would in a separate home. It also calls for patience and common courtesy. If it's possible try to keep any sound equipment such as the televisions and stereo speakers off of the walls that separate your living room or bedroom from your neighbor's. Try to keep volume of music and television to a reasonable level especially after eight pm. If you have children try to help them understand the noise issues by practicing "indoor voices" and "indoor steps". This is particularly important if you live in an apartment that sits directly over another unit.

3. Rules and Regulations: Apartments often have rules about what you can and cannot have in or do to the unit you are living in. Make sure to find out about any restrictions on decorating your apartment. Can you hammer nails or hooks into the walls? Can you paint at all? What about hanging your own blinds or curtains? Does the management allow you to keep patio furniture outside or a barbeque grill outside your unit? Another restriction common in many apartment communities is the one regarding pets. Some complexes just prohibit them completely while others will allow only cats or pets under a certain weight limit. An additional deposit for pets is often required so be sure to inquire about this when looking into residency.

4. Parking: Space for parking can be rather limited depending on the size of the apartment community. When you factor in multiple vehicles for one family things can get pretty tight in the parking lot. Be sure to ask if tenants have assigned spaces or if you are supposed to park in any free spot. Ask about where you should have your visitors park during a visit, too. In general strive to be courteous when parking and refrain from parking in any assigned spaces and from blocking another tenant's vehicle in.

5. Yard Space: Many apartment communities do not offer each a private yard for each unit. Often there will be a patio for individual apartments and a larger grass area or courtyard for the entire complex to enjoy. A fun way to make use of your patio is to plant containers of flowers or easily grown herbs and vegetables. This can make your patio seem more private and cozy.

Apartment living isn't right for every family, but it can be a pleasant experience for those that choose it.