How to Pick the Right Apartment – Finding A Home to Call Your Own

 If you are on the lookout for an apartment, chances are you will be faced with many options each more enticing than the other! Of course, prices aside, there are other key things to consider when choosing the right living space for yourself or to share with your partner or family. Consider the aspects mentioned below when on the hunt for a new apartment to help ensure your living space will be the home you always dreamed of.

Choose Your Location

Amongst the advantages of staying in an apartment in the city is that you can enjoy a central location in the heart of a commercial centre. Residential housing is not easy to find in such cosmopolitan areas, but with more and more land being turned into apartment complexes, you can easily find one that suits your desired location.

Since you get different locales in the city, check to see if the apartment is in an area that provides convenient access to your workplace, schools, banks and hospitals; also look into how far it is from parks, sports facilities, restaurants, cinemas and other entertainment venues.

Consider the Layout

The layout and design of the apartment are also important; you need to consider if it is large enough to meet your requirements and has been designed as a home you would want to live in. This not only includes the number of people it can accommodate but other factors too; check aspects such as intelligent layouts that optimise space, the amount of light and ventilation, the use of high-quality furnishings, the incorporation of smart technology and suitable areas for work, dining and entertaining.

Ideally, you should visit the apartment first though if it is still being built, you do get other options. For example, when it comes to up and coming luxury apartments in Colombo, properties offer show apartments or virtual tours of their living spaces.

                                                        Img via John Keells Properties

Look for Onsite Amenities

You should also consider what kind of facilities and amenities are available at the complex. This can include something as simple yet vital as car parking space to having areas for recreation and relaxation. Such features will help to make your life easier and will further enhance the allure of staying at an apartment. This can include access to a swimming pool, gym, steam and sauna room, jogging track, multi-purpose function rooms and more.

Of course, for the ultimate convenience, you can stay at luxury apartments in an integrated mixed-use development such as Cinnamon Life in Colombo being developed by John Keells Properties; such properties offer a city within a city experience with apartments being linked to an office building, mall, hotel and plenty of dining and entertainment options too.

Check the Security Level

Be it both for yourself and loved ones, security is another important aspect to look into when choosing an apartment. Check to see if its location is "safe" and is one you can freely traverse in and out of even at night. Also, look to see what kind of security measures the apartment complex has to offer; this could include everything from a barrier gate access control and secured car parking to the use of CCTV cameras and security personnel on-site.

Read the Agreement Carefully

Last and by no means least, always go through the apartment contract carefully before signing it. If it is a lengthy document, spend time going over each point to make sure it is in line with what you expect or were told. See if there are any monthly payments or added fees for amenities as well. Further, check if you get freehold ownership of the property, while non-residents of the country should see if they can own such an apartment and if rental income can be repatriated too.