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Unless you’re planning to hold frequent parties, you’re probably looking for a reasonably quiet apartment. Walk around both outside and inside the apartment building and see if there are any prospective sources of loud noises that could keep you from resting when you’re home. If 1 building in a large complex seems like it will be too loud, ask the property manager if they can offer you a room in another on-site building.  For example, if the building houses the indoor pool, gym, or party room, you may experience more noise than you can tolerate. A building that’s within a few dozen yards of a freeway, railroad tracks, or commercial buildings that take early deliveries, also experience a lot of noise. Elevators can be noisy, as can exit doors to stairways. If your apartment is near the entrance, you will have to listen to neighbors walking past your door at all hours. Many sizeable apartment buildings or one in urban locations lock a gate at night to keep out non-residents. Talk to the property manager and make sure that the gate is routinely locked nightly. The slight inconvenience of having to stop and use your key to enter the building is often worth the peace of mind you get from knowing that you won’t be easy prey for criminals, door-to-door salespeople, and people who would hang take-out menus on your doorknob. If all of the apartment doors open to the outside and there’s not a fence around the property, this step won’t be relevant. The way the building interior is kept reflects the quality of the apartment overall. A clean, well-lit, and well-maintained interior will also help you feel safer and more at home. If the interior hallways are dimly lit and covered in cobwebs, the doors are unpainted, and the carpet is filthy, find a different building. These are signs of negligent management, and indicate that cleanliness isn’t a priority to the maintenance crew.  Also keep your eyes open for any signs of bug or rodent infestations, leaky ceilings, or broken windows. It also wouldn’t hurt to research the age of the building online. An older building may result in higher premiums for your renter’s insurance because it isn’t up to the latest safety codes. The people who live around you in an apartment building can have a large impact on what living there is like. For example, an apartment may be appealingly cheap because the building is near the local college and full of partying, noisy students. Or, the building may be the last resort for troublesome tenants who’ve been evicted from better places. These are both good reasons to choose another building.  You can also ask the apartment manager or the building’s owner what the tenants are like. Or, spend an hour or 2 walking through the halls and make polite conversation with residents who emerge from their rooms. It would also be wise to read online reviews of the apartment building to find out what previous residents have to say about the noise levels, cleanliness, and management.
Gauge how noisy an apartment will be based on its surroundings. Ask if the building’s outside door or gate is locked at night. Confirm that the building’s interior is well-kept and clean. Meet your prospective neighbors and find out what they’re like.