When looking for your first apartment, there are a number of apartment building amenities and features you may want. Whether it’s walk-in closets, a clubhouse fitness center, in-unit washer and dryer, or smart home technology—these 25 apartment must-haves are among the most desired features and amenities for apartment hunters!
Best Apartment Unit Features
In-unit apartment features can be found inside your apartment unit, offering convenience and ease of use. Here are some of the common in-unit features to consider during your apartment search.
Accessibility
Keep an eye out for accessibility features while looking at potential apartments, such as wide hallways, braille on interior signage, wheelchair ramps, accessible parking spaces, elevator access, and accommodation for service animals. These can go a long way in providing convenience for accessible living.
Closet Space
Even with homes for sale, closet space is a desirable feature, so it’s no surprise that closets are a make-or-break amenity for apartment renters, too. Check floor plans of apartments to see what kind of closet spaces they offer, including walk-in closets, his-and-hers closets, linen closets, coat closets, and even pantry space.
Hardwood Flooring
Not only do hardwood floors add style to an apartment living space, but they have practical benefits as well. Compared to traditional carpet, hardwood floors are easier to clean, more durable, and can improve the air quality in your space. Be sure to look out for hardwood flooring in prospective apartment units, especially in areas where the floor may come into contact with moisture like kitchens, bathrooms, and entryways.
Heating & Air Conditioning
You might be surprised that this is considered an amenity and not an always-included feature. But if you live in a region that gets extremely cold or hot during the year, you may want to find an apartment home that includes an HVAC system. HVACs provide more benefits than just allowing you to control the temperature in your apartment—they also play a vital role in ventilating your space and maintaining healthy air quality.
Washer & Dryer
In-unit washer and dryers are one of the more popular apartment features due to how much time and money they can save. Instead of having to take your chance at finding open machines in a communal laundry room or spending more money and time at the local laundromat every week, you can clean your clothes in the comfort of your own home with this convenient apartment feature.
Kitchen Appliances
If you want up-to-date kitchen appliances, that’s something to note on your apartment amenities wish list. Microwaves, stovetops, ovens, and dishwashers aren’t always standard in rental homes—especially with older buildings—so you’ll want to make sure the apartments you’re considering do have these features. You might also look for apartment options that offer upgraded, eco-friendly appliances if you want to save time and money on utilities like water.
New Carpet
While hardwood flooring is attractive for many renters, carpet is still an apartment amenity to look for—just make sure the carpet is new! Used carpet can carry lingering odors, allergens, and bacteria even after regular or even deep cleaning. There are a lot of benefits to having new carpet, as well—it improves the air quality in your home, provides extra comfort, and keeps up with current design trends.
Patio or Balcony
Apartment patios and balconies allow you to get fresh air and make your apartment feel more like home. Because of this, they’re a popular amenity with many complexes and high-rise buildings. When looking for an apartment with this amenity, consider how much space you’d prefer. Is a Juliet balcony enough for you to enjoy the views from your new apartment, or do you want a larger outdoor living space where you can set up an outdoor table and chairs?
Security
One of the most important factors of a home is its safety. And while you should have renters insurance, you shouldn’t have to worry about your apartment getting broken into or having your personal belongings stolen. Apartments with good security will have things like video surveillance, gated property access, key fob building entry, smart locks, and third-party security patrols to ensure residents are safe.
Smart Features
Smart home technology is gaining popularity as more rental communities modernize their complexes and units. These features may include smart thermostats that control the temperature in your apartment throughout the day, motion or remote-controlled LED lights, and Bluetooth locks on your front door.
Best Apartment Community Amenities
Apartment community amenities are shared amongst all residents. In some cases, local businesses may partner with the building or property to offer complimentary memberships. Here are some top community amenities you may want to consider during your apartment search.
Bike Storage
If you prefer to commute by bike, you may want to look for rental apartment homes that come with a rack or hooks for bike storage. Instead of having to haul your bike up to your unit every time you get home, these storage spaces provide a convenient place for you to lock up your bike when it’s not in use.
Common Areas
Communal areas are a great way to meet new people in your apartment community. Meant to provide opportunities for residents to socialize, these common areas can be a coffee lounge on the main floor of the clubhouse or office, a rooftop patio, or an outdoor courtyard with public-use grills. Larger complexes may offer athletic facilities such as basketball and tennis courts, dog parks, walking trails, and more.
Community Events
One of the most underrated apartment amenities is community events. To foster a sense of community among residents, apartment companies will host mixers and pool parties, hire food trucks, or hold decor competitions. This is a great way to get out and meet new people, especially if you’re moving to a new city!
Clubhouse
Often more common with larger apartment complexes, clubhouses provide gathering and entertaining space for apartment residents. Not only is this space used by the apartment community for resident get-togethers, but it’s space that can also be rented out by residents for private parties and events.
Fitness Center
Why pay for a gym membership when you can just work out at your apartment’s own fitness center? While not necessarily standard, apartments with gyms and fitness centers are becoming one of the more common amenities. These fitness centers are generally exclusive to residents of an apartment building and can save a lot of time that would normally be spent traveling to and from another gym.
Internet Access
Whether you’re working from home or just want to stream TV shows and movies, internet access is a must. Many commercial apartments offer fiber optic internet, built-in WiFi, or discounted rates to select providers in your area. But internet providers aren’t all that matter—be sure to test out areas in the unit for any dead zones, too.
On-Site Office
Having a landlord, property manager, or leasing agent on-site is a huge benefit when living in an apartment. If you need an issue resolved, plan to have a package delivered, or have questions about your lease agreement, you can talk in person with office staff. This is especially beneficial in emergency situations where you don’t want to waste time tracking down or contacting off-site managers or maintenance personnel.
Maintenance
A good apartment community will have regular maintenance available for any repairs and emergency issues. The rental properties that go above and beyond for residents will also have a maintenance staff or hired contractors that maintain common areas like pools and courtyards and ensure that green spaces, walkways, and driveways are well-kept throughout the year.
Media Packages
Media packages—sometimes called technology packages—are discounted bundles of both WiFi and cable offered by apartment properties. Typically, a media package is more convenient than having to compare prices for individual services from individual providers. This is an important aspect of apartment leasing to ask about when touring potential units. While some apartments offer a technology pack, other apartments mandate this service, which may not work with your budget or preference in providers.
Online Payment Portals
Nowadays, apartment complexes will often have online payment portals where you can pay your monthly bills and fees or set up autopay so you never have to worry about missing a rent payment. Online portals can often be used for more than just payment, too. Some will allow you to contact your leasing agent directly or file a paper-free maintenance request from anywhere.
Parking
Need a place to park a personal car or motorcycle? Most apartments will offer some type of parking via parking lots, gated lots, or access to garages where you can keep your vehicle. Keep in mind that some apartments charge extra for parking, especially if parking stalls or garages are assigned.
Pet-Friendly
For those relocating with a dog, cat, or another animal, pet-friendly apartment features are going to be at the top of the list. Not all landlords and property management companies allow pets, and the apartments that do typically charge fees to cover potential damages in addition to likely having animal type, size, breed, and number restrictions. The best pet-friendly apartments allow you to design a pet-centric home and go the extra mile by offering additional pet amenities, such as grooming stations, poo-bag receptacles, dog parks, and pet meet-and-greet events.
Package Lockers
If you’re going to have packages delivered to your apartment, you’ll want a secure way to receive them. Many apartments are beginning to offer package lockers in addition to traditional mailboxes. This allows mail carriers and delivery companies to put any packages in your assigned locked space, preventing the chances that your package will get stolen or damaged.
Swimming Pool
Swimming pools are one of the most desirable apartment amenities for renters. Whether it’s an outdoor pool and hot tub or an indoor pool that provides year-round swimming—if you’re interested in renting an apartment with a pool, be sure to include it on your apartment hunting wish list!
Valet Trash
Don’t want to lug trash up and down the stairs? Look for apartments with valet trash services offered. For a small fee typically built into your rent, a third-party company will come and take the trash from in front of your door or from your floor’s waste removal center and dispose of it properly.
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