Scrolling listings can feel like a little rush, right? Like, rent’s outrageous, more than anything you wish you could become a homeowner, everything looks the same, and then boom, there it is, an apartment that’s hundreds cheaper than anything else. It’s easy to tell a hopeful story in that moment. Maybe it’s just an older building. Maybe the landlord’s “low-key.” Maybe it’s a hidden gem that other people missed because the photos are bad. Maybe this is that, but you get the whole idea here.
But of course, sometimes it’s cheaper because living there quietly costs more in all these annoying, nickel-and-dime ways that don’t show up on the listing. Sometimes it’s not even all that quiet, like with that cheap rent, there’s a lot more cost than you might not have even expected to begin with.
Usually, there’s a “Utilities Surprise”
Well, not always, but a good chunk of the time, a cheap apartment loves to come with expensive temperature problems. Okay, but in what way? Well, in the summer, that can mean one tiny window unit trying to cool an entire place, and it’s basically working overtime like it’s paying rent too. But even in the winter, it can get bad, basically it’s the opposite: cold rooms, drafty windows, well, you get the idea here.
And yeah, space heaters feel like the obvious fix, but they add up fast. Actually, that’s the problem here, unless you’re renting just one little bedroom (which a space heater can heat just fine), well, they’re high in electricity. The same goes for the other stuff like plastic window film, door drafter stoppers, humidifiers, you get the idea. It’s a shopping list.
And its so expensive to move too, and so if you’re thinking about a cheap apartment then you need to do some research like checking public records, asking specific questions, and running something like a StreetSmart apartment background check can help spot patterns that explain why the rent is low in the first place (but keep in mind there might be embellishments from the landlord or company if you ask hence why you need reviews and records).
You’ll Be Paying to Fix What isn’t Yours
Then there’s the stuff people end up paying for because they’re tired of waiting. Actually, this is a major one because the property management company or landlord is intentionally shuffling their feet. Like, you might need a better showerhead because the water pressure is bad. Maybe a stronger lock because the old one looks questionable, a cheap air purifier because the building smells like old carpet and hallway cooking, you get the point. But one of these is huge expenses alone, but together they start to feel like the apartment’s taking “fees” in random installments.
Expect Some Pest Problems
It might not happen, but don’t keep your guard down. One mouse can turn into a whole shift. One roach sighting can make a person start storing cereal in the fridge. Well, it just makes it so uncomfortable to live there. Plus, it doesn’t help to know that pest issues don’t just cost money; they cost comfort. Like, there’s the traps, sprays, sealed containers, maybe a cleaner, maybe a professional visit that should’ve been handled by management, but of course isn’t.
