Whether you’re just moving out of your parents’ house or are looking to downsize, an apartment can be a great place to live. You can get help from your landlord, and you can enjoy living in a community. It doesn’t matter if you’re looking for an apartment lakeside Oakland CA or somewhere in a smaller town. Here are a few things to consider when choosing what apartment to live in.

1. Help From Management

The first thing you should consider is how much help you can get from your landlord or property manager. Consider if someone works on the premises or if you have to visit another office. Determine if you can contact the company and get help after the office closes or if you’ll need to wait. If you have to wait a while before reporting an issue, it can get worse. The easier you can contact management, the better your experience will be.

2. Apartment Amenities

Everyone’s needs and wants will vary here, so think about what you want in a home. Maybe you want a washer and dryer in your unit. Or perhaps you need a certain number of bedrooms. Whatever it is, keep that in mind when viewing and applying for apartments. If a complex doesn’t offer a washer and dryer in their units but you want that, you will know not to waste your time.

3. Neighborhood

You should also look for apartments in a decent neighborhood with access to a grocery store. If you do a lot of driving, you may also want to have a gas station close to your apartment. And if you do a lot of walking, you may prefer to live somewhere near a trail or with sidewalks.

An apartment is a great housing option when you don’t need a ton of space. But keep these things in mind to help choose the best apartment for you.