Apartment living has become a thing in Fairfield County, and while it seems that every building has been branded as “luxury” the experience doesn’t always match.
Here are some tips to help you select an apartment that minimizes the top issues renters face.
Noise From Neighbors
Noisy neighbors can make or break your experience. The first thing you should check out is the quality of the floor. Taller buildings at least have a steel beam skeleton-type structure. That doesn’t always mean solid floors. But anything less than 5 floors, will be “stick” construction meaning wood, and that becomes a problem when the builder skimps on materials.
Pick the top floor to avoid noise coming from the apartment above you.
Pick an outside corner, and eliminate neighbors on at least 2 walls.
Pick a unit that abuts a staircase or elevator shaft, unless it is on a long corridor of apartments.
Pick a unit that does not overlook garage entrances.
Smells
Other people cooking, your own cooking, or the restaurant located on the ground floor. You want to make sure that the building moves air out.
Ventilation is your best friend. Look at the kitchen and find out if there’s a fan that ventilates to the outside.
Where is the kitchen? Near the door like every unit? Of near a window that opens?
Restaurant on the ground floor? Look where the ventilation stack, the large metal conduits are located. If it’s near your windows, then you will smell everything.
Does the apartment you are looking at overlook the parking lot and the garbage area?
In Norwalk, the sewer processing plant, and garbage dump are located along the Norwalk river, less than 1/4 mile from I-95. The wind blows from the west.
In Stamford, the Rubino Brothers incinerate. They are located on Canal Street. The winds blow usually from the West.
Noise From Street life
Pick a unit three floors up or above
Pick a unit that is set back from the street, especially the street front includes a corner traffic light, busy road, or a collection of bars or other late night activity.
Pick a unit that faces an interior street, courtyard or parking area.
Pick a unit that does not overlook train or highways directly.
Maintenance
Ask to see the garbage area. If it is overflowing, messy, and dirty, there is no one onsite performing maintenance or they are understaffed. If the leasing office is on site, then they have high turn over which amounts to low effort maintenance.
Ask to see the mailroom and package delivery area. If they have dedicated area, a system for deliveries and space for the trucks bringing it in, then they will likely have better maintenance.
Is the hallway carpet worn on the second and top floor? You should see even wear on the carpet, but if there’s a difference, then they are only responding to issues instead of ensuring routine cleaning and maitenance.
Amenities
The best apartments you can rent in Fairfield County will have no amenities on-site. You will always have better options than whatever is provided by the building. What you should look for is space to go outside on the property. If the outdoor space is a public park nearby, check out the park during the times you will likely want to use it.
If the building charges monthly fees for amenities then they will overcharge and underdeliver. Up-charges for events or community space on as needed basis is a good sign. It will be kept clean and working.
Utilities
Connecticut has one of the highest electricity rates in the country. Seriously, only Hawaii has high rates, and they generate electricity on an a ferris of islands in the middle of the Pacific ocean.
Electric baseboard is the worst for electricity costs in the winter when it’s cold.
Poorly insulated usually goes with poorly soundproofed, but look at the window frames and hold your hand next to them to see if you feel cold air in the winter or hot air in the summer. Gaps, cracks, and evidence of leaks are another sign.
The Sun Makes A Impact
Pick an apartment on with the windows facing North if you like cold spaces.
Pick an apartment with the windows facing South if you like warm spaces. Make sure the windows have blinds though, because air conditioning will be high in the summer.
Corner apartments with two exterior facades facing north, north east, or north west, will get less sun overall.
Interior courtyard facing facades get less wind, and less sun.
