Chicago is one of the biggest cities in the USA with the perfect combination of suburban lifestyle and the Midwestern charm. The city is known as the “The Windy City” is the perfect choice for a lot of people to call home due to its clean environment, comparatively low living cost, and of course the deep dish pizza.
From the great view of Lake Michigan, the rich cultural landscape to ample public transportation and job opportunities attract people to shift home which raises the necessity of finding a suitable apartment building. A guide to apartment searching is always helpful and we can help you with that. Here are some things you should definitely consider while choosing the perfect house in the perfect location:
Neighborhood
The city has mainly 77 community areas in nine districts which may give you access to different places and advantages the city has to offer. The things you should consider while choosing a neighborhood include factors like noise level, distance to the lake, outdoor space, public transport access, etc.
The southern part of Chicago offers you with cultural and social offerings of the city while the northern part will give you access to more suburb life like shopping Bucktown and fancy jazz in Uptown. Downtown Chicago is a tourist attraction with the best art galleries and parks while the west side offers a diverse vibe. But at the end of the day, the location of the grocery shop, nearest station, school, and hospitals may end up being the bigger factor for you.
Budget
Probably the single most important factor while deciding this is your affordability. A city of this scale is bound to provide apartments in different neighborhoods at different price points. You should fix your price point even before starting the search for your apartment as the market can be fast-moving and make sure you are ready to apply for an apartment when you see one.
You should start checking out various apartment buildings in Chicago months before the date of your actual search as it will give you the ability to offer the ideal price.
Wants & Needs
Your budget will determine the range of services you can get expect from the apartment and the neighborhood. It is always a good decision to fix your wants or needs, in other words, the stuff you think is useful and the stuff you must have respectively.
Determining the wants and needs, especially in a fixed budget will help you get your priorities straight and choose the best option. For example, to handle the winter of Chicago, an apartment must have a good heating system. Whereas an open dining space is more of a want.
At the end of the day, your efforts will sum up to nothing of you fall into a scam or fail to check out even one of the major factors. If anything sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Look out for any red flags that may indicate a scam. Ask as many questions as you want to and check everything about your apartment and the neighborhood before you choose your new home in this wonderful city.