Renting an apartment is an important decision-making time for anyone. You are choosing the location, quality, and features of your next home, and your life for at least one year will be shaped by the choice you make. Naturally, you want to choose an apartment that is comfortable, efficient, safe, and suits your lifestyle well. The most important thing is to find an apartment that feels right and avoid the quality-of-life drop from accidentally renting an apartment too shabby to be comfortable.

How do you know a winner from a lemon when looking for an apartment to rent? Start with this quick ten-point checklist of things to look out for during your next house-hunt:

1. Well-Maintained Grounds and Public Spaces

When you arrive, take a look around the grounds. Does it look clean and polished or old and run-down? The nicer the grounds, the more attentive local management is to keep your unit and amenities in good repair. Property quality can also indicate how responsive your maintenance service will be and how secure the property is from potential crimes.

2. Amenities You'd Love to Use

Most people pick apartments based, in part, on cool amenities they'd like to access. Fitness centers and swimming pools are among the most popular, but apartments can have a wide range of amenities. This might include anything from a pet spa room, a spa, or a rooftop lounge. You might want access to the dog park and bike trails around your apartment or the cute bodega shop downstairs to make your morning complete.

3. A "Whoosh" When You Open the Door

Good insulation means energy efficiency and seasonal comfort. So when you open an apartment door for that first tour, you want to feel the whoosh of air pressure equalizing. That means the HVAC is running inside and the windows, doors, and walls keep your conditioned air where it's supposed to be. That simple rush of air means your apartment will be more comfortable in extreme heat or cold outdoors and cost less to heat and cool.

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4. A Freshly Painted Space with clean wood floors

Fresh paint is always a good sign. Clean wood floors are even better. This means your apartment manager has gone through the proper "tenant turnover" process, deep-cleaning and repainting the unit between residents so you get as close to a like-new experience as possible. If the fixtures are also in good shape, fresh paint can tell you that you have a building manager who knows their stuff.

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5. Modern Kitchen Appliances

Take a look at the kitchen appliances that were bought this decade are a good sign, and the last decade often isn't bad for the tank-like appliances often built into apartments. Don't settle for appliances installed in the stone age or appliances that have clearly been poorly maintained and are liable to break or malfunction on you at any moment.

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6. Moderately New HVAC and Water HeaterHow do you know a winner from a lemon when looking for an apartment to rent?

Peek into the utility closet to make sure your HVAC and water heater aren't ancient. Do ask about their performance, just in case. Some ancient water heaters are also tanks and can still reach ample heat and capacity. Just don't be left with a failing essential unit and an unresponsive building manager.

7. A Floor Plan You Can Work With

Every floor plan is unique, and so is every lifestyle. You know the floorplans that work best for you. Be sure to find not just the right number of bedrooms, but a home flow that won't throw you off. This is true whether you want an open-plan space with an entertainer kitchen or just can't a hallway that looks directly in on the down-the-hall toilet.

8. A Pet Policy that Suits Your Lifestyle

If you have a beloved family pet to bring along, check the pet policies to ensure A) they will be welcome and B) the pet prices aren't exploitatively high. And if you don't like pets, be sure to take one of the apartments in a quiet pet-free community with fewer wall scuffs per year.

9. A View that Makes You Smile

Remember to check if you love the view. A home should give you something to smile about in the morning. An apartment should get a "plus" rating if you can imagine yourself staring at the view from your balcony over a relaxing cup of coffee every morning. It doesn't have to be a legendary view, just one that makes you smile.

10. A Comfortable Commute

Finally, compare the commute. Your range of apartments should absolutely be based on the convenience of local travel. Distance to your favorite shops, doctors, and work all matter. And if you work from home, this commute measure should factor in an extra room for a home office instead.

Moving to Hialeah means a lot of things. Hialeah is ranked the sixth most populated urban area in Florida and one of the fastest-growing communities in the United States of America. Besides that, it is the sixth-largest city in Florida. Hialeah has a big Hispanic presence as they make up 95 % of the population. If you want to rent an apartment in Hialeah, you should speak Spanish a bit, since most people state that Spanish is their mother tongue.

11. Neighborhood Looks

Hialeah has so many great neighborhoods. However, as in any other place in the world, there are better-looking neighborhoods, and then there are those that are not as fancy. However, when ranked in some respects, the best neighborhoods are Key Biscayne, Pinecrest, Coral Gables, Miami shores, Bal Harbor, and Surfside. It is good when you can choose a neighborhood that suits your renting preferences. There are parts of Hialeah that can even remind you of Spain.

12. Food

Full adaptation to the area comes with the food. Hialeah offers incredibly delicious, cheap, and large portions of Cuban food. You will enjoy their Latin cuisine, café con Leche, Arroz con Pollo a la Chorrera, and flan for dessert.

13. Entertainment

If you consider renting in Hialeah, you will have nothing short of top-of-line entertainment. All the biggest names across the globe make sure to make a stop in Hialeah and visit the most amazing audience they will ever dream of having.

14. Average rent in Hialeah

One of the main reasons for many people renting in Hialeah is because it's not expensive. If you compare the prices of renting an apartment in Miami, you'll see that the sun shines better in Hialeah.

15. Types of Existing Businesses

Hialeah might seem like it's a city of fast food and national chain stores, but there're plenty of small family-owned businesses to maintain the balance.

16. Average Apartment Size

The average size for a Hialeah, FL, apartment is 806 square feet. Still, this number differs greatly depending on unit type, with cheap and luxury alternatives for houses and apartments alike. 1-bedroom apartments are closer to the average. In contrast, 2-bedroom apartments and 3-bedroom apartments offer more generous square footage. Studio apartments are the smallest and most affordable.

17. Types of Apartments Available for Renting

Hialeah offers various kinds of apartments to rent. The apartments available for rent include 1-bedroom, 2-bedroom, and 3-bedroom. You can also lease a studio apartment.

18. Security

Hialeah's general crime rate is 12% lower than the national crime rate. Typically, there are 6 crimes daily for every 100,000 people. The crime rate in Hialeah has been gradually decreasing in the past few years. Property crime is one of the major crimes in the city.

19. Health and Climate

There are 228 physicians per 100,000 population in Hialeah. Hialeah gets some rain but not much per year. February, January and December are the most pleasant months in Hialeah, while August and July are the least comfortable months.

At Shoma Village, our apartments are crafted with unique wood-style floors throughout, Recessed cable plates, linen closets (In select units), Designer blinds,-Front load, Full-size washer & dryer, private balconies, space maximizing closets, Digital programmable thermostats, Keyless entry, Designer lighting fixtures. Join our waitlist today.

Looking into renting an apartment in Hialeah, Florida? We know exactly how to help you find the right apartment for your lifestyle, family, and commute. Contact us today!