California is one of the priority destinations to visit and live for Filipinos. A friend is moving to Los Angeles, California and knowing that I’m a Real Estate Broker, she asked for my opinion. Aside from the physical features you want to look for in an apartment, there are other things you need to consider in looking for that perfect place. Choosing the right apartment is very important since in this pandemic, you may be spending more time at home than in the office.
Neighborhood
For Filipinos, we always prefer to stay in a place where there are a lot of Filipinos. It would be wise to look for an area where there is an existing Filipino-American community because they can provide you the support system and make you less homesick.
Check the peace and order situation in an area. You don’t want to be in a neighborhood with a very high crime rate. Ask friends and relatives who are living or familiar with the area regarding the crime rate. You can also check reported crime incidents via the website City Protect. Just type the area you want to check in the search box.
Proximity to Amenities
The need to live near our workplace or our kids’ school is very important for a lot of reasons. Firstly, it will save you time and money since you don’t need to travel long distances Secondly, in terms of emergency, you can easily reach hospitals or police stations. Lastly, for your quality of life, you need to have access to the things and places that you enjoy like parks, museums, sports stadium, etc. Everybody needs a work-life balance especially now during the Covid-19 pandemic when we’ve already spent a lot of time indoors. There are a lot things to do and places to visit in Los Angeles which can provide the needed break.
Check Online Listings
If you’re already decided on the area, now it’s time to look for the place to settle down. It is best to do an ocular inspection of the apartment you are considering to rent. However, to save you time and effort, the smarter way to search for the best apartment is to use an online apartment search resource. Through online listings, you can easily see the location of the apartment. If you have a preferred area, you can filter by location. Here you can check whether an apartment is near your office, school, or other amenities you want. You can further search by price range, bedroom count and other features. If you see a unit that you like, that’s the time that you schedule a tour.
Features and Amenities
A tour of the apartment will let you confirm the features and amenities declared in the online listing. Some properties may appear very good in pictures but will not be the same in reality. Here you can check the layout of the apartment and inspect the cabinets and all the nooks and crannies. Ask yourself whether it’s a place where you can be comfortable living.
Other Policies
A tour will also give you a chance to meet your future landlord or property manager. Ask the landlord for other policies like owning a pet or getting a roommate. If these are included in your plans, make sure you ask before agreeing to anything.
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