Editor’s note: This is a guest post by Miranda Benson. Miranda is in charge of content production at Dolly.
When you’re comparison shopping apartments, it’s easy to get sucked into a place by the crazy amenities. Sure, the rent is $500 over your monthly budget, but it has a pool, and quartz countertops, and in-unit laundry! It’s easy to forget to ask yourself a very simple question: do you need all those wild apartment amenities?
While it’s tempting to say, “I need it!” every time you see a helpful (or just downright cool) apartment amenity, so many of them go unused in the long run – and since your rent pays for them, you should make sure you’re going to use them before you bump up your budget. We’ve compiled a list of the most common apartment amenities to help you decide which ones are necessary and which ones are just nice.
In-Unit Apartment Amenities
Hardwood Floors
In all honesty, hardwood floors look better than carpet or linoleum, and they’re certainly much easier to maintain. But they almost come with an increase in price. If you have a pet that sheds frequently, opting for hardwood floors makes sense. It’s also sensible if you live in a particularly hot climate where the cool floors will keep your unit temperature down in the extreme weather. For everyone else, hardwood floors are just a nice add-on apartment amenity that’s nice, but unnecessary.
In-Unit Washer & Dryer
If you’ve ever dealt with shared laundry, you know an in-unit washer and dryer can change your life. Being able to do your laundry whenever you want without leaving your unit really gives you more free time and the chance to wash your stuff more frequently, which is why this one is a definite need.
High-Tech Appliances
First, let’s clarify – “high-tech appliance” means high-end appliances from the past five years. It’s absolutely necessary to have fully-functional appliances that are from this century, but what’s unnecessary is the bluetooth-connected fridge and app-controlled washing machine. You need functional appliances, not high-end ones.
Dishwasher
You can get by without a dishwasher – really, it’s true. Washing dishes by hand is a great way to deter yourself from letting dirty dishes stack up. It’s also a great way to waste plenty of money and environmental resources on disposable plasticware the second you don’t want to do dishes (which will come around pretty quickly). You can theoretically survive without it, but for the sake of your sanity and the environment, this one really is a need.
Heat & A/C
Img: Flickr
In Portland, Oregon, you may need the air conditioning three weeks out of the year, just like how in Tampa, Florida, you’ll only need heat for a few days out of the year. Whether or not you need heat and air conditioning depends on where you live, but keep in mind that the average apartment has just one, not both, unless you live in an area that has four extreme seasons. Since it’s an extra expense in most places, both heat and air conditioning together are nice to have – not a need.
Pet-Friendly Building
Whether or not pet friendliness is necessary depends entirely on one question: do you have, or plan to have a pet? If you said yes, then yeah, you need a pet-friendly place (no rehoming your loving creature because it’s not allowed in your new apartment!). If you don’t have one, don’t plan on getting one, or don’t particularly care to be around one, then you can say no thanks to this apartment amenity.
Modern Kitchen
Granite countertops! An open-concept floor plan! All-white cabinetry and stainless steel appliances! Yes, a modern kitchen is beautiful and might just tempt you into cooking more, but unless you’re an incredibly frequent chef or baker, you’ll do just fine without one. It’s not worth the extra expense, you don’t really need it.
Private Balcony
You might picture yourself overlooking the streets below with a fresh coffee in your hand, but for a good part of the year, it’ll be too cold, too rainy, or too hot to make use of a private balcony. Most of these balconies are so small you can barely fit one or two chairs, but their impression on the rent is strong. You don’t need it, so save some money and pass.
Community Apartment Amenities
Reliable Internet Access
One key thing to check before move-in is which internet service providers are available in the building. While some apartment complexes offer internet to the whole building, in most places you’ll have a few choices – and some service providers are…well, less desirable than others. And while provider is important, so are available internet speeds, and if you’re lucky, your new building will be equipped for ultra-fast fiber internet. Good internet is necessary for just about everything you do – including (ironically) paying your internet bill. A good service provider and quality internet isn’t just a nice to have apartment amenity, it’s a necessity.
Parking Garage
Img: Flickr
This one’s pretty simple: if you have a really nice car, or the unit is in a neighborhood notorious for car theft, and you don’t mind paying a few hundred dollars more for car parking, then this is a need. If you don’t fit into one of those categories, save your cash – a parking garage isn’t necessary for you.
Elevators
It might seem basic to classify elevators as apartment amenities, but anyone who’s rented a too-old apartment without elevators knows: they make a big difference. On move-in day, when you’re trying to move your couch up three flights of stairs, you’ll be kicking yourself for ever renting the place. They’re a necessity for sure. (But if you’ve fallen in love with an elevator-less space, have no fear! Dolly Helpers can move your stuff in and out regardless of stairs.)
Badge or Key-Secured Building
Regardless of whether you keep your apartment door locked, having the entire building secured with badges or keys that are distributed to residents adds an extra layer of security. It prevents unknown people from entering the building, keeps out solicitors, and keeps you (somewhat) safer in the event you forget to lock your own door. Though you may think you don’t need it, you’ll be grateful you have it in case of an emergency – which makes this a need.
Rooftop
Is it really cool to have a rooftop space shared by all the residents? Yes! Will you actually use it? No. With the possible exception of LA, most areas’ weather patterns will keep you from immersing yourself in the rooftop year-round. You’ll use it a few times, but not enough to justify the rent increase. It’s not necessary at all.
Fitness Center
Img: Flickr
If you’re a casual athlete, an in-building Fitness Center actually makes sense: it’s open whenever you want to go, has just what you need, and saves you from paying for a gym membership that costs more than you can justify. But that doesn’t mean it’s necessary, especially if you’re a gym power user who needs more than just a few treadmills. In building fitness centers are nice, and a very good idea, but not in the least necessary.
Swimming Pool
If this is an open swimming pool, you’ll try to use it once when the weather is nice, but won’t really enjoy it because everyone else in your complex will be there. If it’s a lap pool, you might use it a few times… But you don’t need it. It’s an apartment amenity that is just nice to have and not necessary (with the rare exception of Michael Phelps, but he probably has a lap pool all his own).
Now that you know what you need (and what you don’t need), it’s time to find the perfect apartment to call home. Zumper can help you find the perfect apartment with all the amenities you need, and once your lease is signed, Dolly can help with your move. Dolly Helpers are background-checked and vetted pickup truck drivers ready to help you move to your new home, without all the cost and confusion of a traditional moving company. Dolly can help make moving to your new home feel downright homey.
Related content
