You may have heard the term “luxury apartment” and wondered what’s so special about this type of unit. The answer varies greatly by location, as “luxury” is a popular term in today’s promotional materials. It’s important to understand what truly constitutes a luxury community, so you can find the right unit for your needs, regardless of the branding and marketing that any particular property uses.
What is a luxury apartment?
A tricky question is what makes an apartment luxury because each apartment community will have its own answer. The simplest answer is that a luxury apartment is a high-end dwelling that goes above and beyond when satisfying your needs and wants. You’ll find more amenities in luxury apartments than in regular apartments.
As you’re exploring communities, it’s important to ask each one for their luxury apartment definition. This information alone can help you better understand what perks you’ll enjoy in a particular living space.
Pros and Cons of Selecting a Luxury Apartment
At first glance, a luxury apartment may seem like an obvious choice for your next living space. Who doesn’t want to live in an amenity-packed space? However, there are both pros and cons to living in a luxury apartment community, so you’ll want to consider all of the following.
Pros of Luxury Apartments
- Well-maintained units
- Numerous amenities in the community
- Generally larger apartments
- Amenities that offer convenience, like dry cleaning services and business centers
Cons of Luxury Apartments
- Longer waiting lists for a unit
- More exclusivity, which can make it difficult to secure a unit
- Higher rent
- Stricter rules on personalization and decor
Luxury Apartments vs. Regular Apartments
Compared to regular apartments, luxury apartments simply offer more — more square footage, more conveniences, more responsive maintenance, more luxurious landscaping. As you hunt for apartments, it’s useful to check out both standard apartment communities and luxury properties, so you can better assess the differences. Many of these distinctions will change by location. Some luxury apartments are truly packed with perks, while others may have just a few distinctions.
When you’re exploring a luxury apartment property, you should check out the following areas to determine just how luxurious that luxury apartment is.
Communal Space
A luxury apartment building is often designed with a few gathering spaces for residents. Luxury apartments often cater narrowly to a certain demographic. You want to make sure that the apartment you’re considering is the right fit for your personality and preferences. Some of the communal spaces features you might find include the following:
- Fitness room
- Coffee bar/cafe
- Movie theater
- Lounge
- Snack bar
- Game room
- Coworking space
- Pool
- Sauna
Landscaping
Luxury apartment communities will nearly always have more refined landscaping. This might include gardens, walking trails, playgrounds, parks, benches, lakes or ponds, a bike path, and other features. Lap pools and lounging pools are common as well. As you’re strolling the grounds, you may also want to look for features like charging stations for electric cars or car washing stations.
Location
Consider where the community is located. Do you have easy access to shopping, dining, and entertainment? How close are hospitals, dentist offices, and physicians’ offices? Some luxury apartment communities have their own boutique shopping center attached or feature an upscale coffee shop on the property. If you no longer have to travel as far to get to your most frequented destinations, you’ll have the kind of luxury you can really appreciate.
Pet Amenities
If you have a pet, you’ll want to make sure that your community caters well to that furry friend’s needs. Some luxury communities work hard to provide outstanding perks for pets. These might include a fenced dog park complete with agility equipment or a dog washing station outside. Dog owners may especially appreciate communities with fenced yards for ground-floor apartments. All of these additions provide an element of luxury.
Apartment Features
If you can’t tour the exact unit you’re considering renting, you should ask to see one with the exact layout and finishes that your apartment will have. A luxury apartment community should offer plenty of perks throughout your unit. Look for things such as the following:
- Stainless steel appliances
- Granite countertops
- Ample square footage
- Walk-in closets
- Plenty of windows
- A spacious balcony or patio
- Wiring for high-speed cable and internet access
- In-unit laundry facilities
- Hardwood floors
- Smart technology
Why should you choose a luxury apartment?
There are many compelling reasons to choose a luxury apartment. This type of community is ideal for residents who like to spend time out of their apartment and in the community. In this case, even a studio apartment can feel spacious and luxurious. A luxury apartment community may be just the thing if you want to live near your friends while maintaining your own unit. You can even have your friends over to hang out at the pool, game room, lounge, or movie theater.
If you like to stay fit, a luxury community with an expansive workout room, running trails, and lap pool will have everything you need on-site, so you no longer need to worry about a gym membership or finding space in your apartment for workout equipment.
Carefully consider the features that matter most, and look for luxury options that are a good fit for your needs. Don’t pay more for an apartment with a coffee bar in the clubhouse if you prefer to drink your morning coffee in the peace and quiet of your home. The right apartment will feel luxurious to you, whether it’s branded as a “luxury” community or not.
Comparison shopping is the best way to find out what a luxury apartment really is. Take the time to tour several communities in the area that you want to move to, so you can find out just what this term means in the area where you’ll be living.
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