How to Know When It's Time for a New Apartment

Although most people can put up with a few quirks from their apartment, sometimes it makes more sense to find a new place. Before you make the big decision, consider the pains your current apartment is causing and whether or not they are fixable. You’ve Run Out of Space It’s amazing how much stuff we accumulate over the years. If you can barely open a closet door without boxes falling out, you’ve outgrown your place. Limited space doesn’t have to be a deal breaker, though. You can get creative with your storage and find new ways to store items. Replace a bulky bookshelf with wall shelves, use a coffee table that offers additional storage or make the most of the space underneath your bed and couch.

Feeling overcrowded in your apartment is also a great incentive to do some good old-fashioned spring cleaning, no matter what time of year it is. If you haven’t used an item within the past year, you likely won’t use it in the future. Along with downsizing, see if you can replace any of your older items with smaller models. If your vacuum is clunky and old, purchase a more compact version. If you’ve already maximized your storage and are still feeling cramped, it’s probably a good time to hunt for a more spacious apartment. Your Rent Is Too Expensive If your rent has recently increased or you’ve experienced an unexpected financial difficulty, you may worry that you can no longer afford your apartment. If your place has more than one room, consider looking for a roommate to split the rent. Or consider cutting back on other expenses, such as your cable bill. If you aren’t comfortable with a roommate and you’re already living on a tight budget, start looking for more affordable neighborhoods. You Don’t Get Along With Your Neighbors or Property Manager Perhaps you have loud neighbors who seem to host a parade in their living room every Saturday at midnight or your property manager has gone from inquisitive to intrusive. Before you pack up and move your apartment, you may be able to resolve the issue. If your neighbors are too noisy, talk with your property manager about your concerns and whether or not anything can be done. If you are having problems with your property manager, consider talking to the owner of your apartment community. If you’ve attempted communication with these individuals multiple times and no attempts at resolution have been made, start hunting for a new place — and pay close attention to online reviews before making the jump. Your Apartment Community Isn’t Pet-Friendly Our pets are like our children, so the last thing we want is to put them in an uncomfortable environment. It’s no fun to live in a community where you can’t walk your dog without receiving glares from neighbors. If your apartment community has recently changed its pet rules, talk with your property manager about the new rules. If you’ve been living there several years with your pet and there haven’t been any problems, you may be allowed to stay without paying additional fees.

Your Commute Is Terrible If you love your apartment and your only concern is the commute, consider ways to improve your travel. Can you carpool with a coworker? Would public transportation provide you time to catch up on reading or checking email? Can you work from home a few days per week? If you aren’t able to change your commute and you don’t foresee yourself changing jobs for at least another few years, take a look at apartment communities closer to the office. Your apartment is the sanctuary where you can kick up your feet after a long day at work or school and relax — you deserve to live in one you love. As overwhelming as moving can be, certain problems within your community or space may mean it’s time to find your next great apartment. As you hunt for a new place, take the problems you currently have into consideration to help you find the right place for you.