The doorway to your apartment and the front door of the building
I once drove a couch from Venice, Florida to Orlando only to find out there was no way to get it through the front door. It was because of how tall the back of the couch was. It was so wide, there was no angle that worked to get it in. My roommate and I had every maintenance guy the neighborhood trying to make it work before we just had to give up and donate it. We don’t want you to ever experience that pain, so read below for the five measurements you must take before moving in.
The elevator
Will it fit your queen size mattress or sectional couch? You don’t want to be lugging these up the stairs!
The path from your parking spot to your apartment
This often overlooked detail can be the difference between a year of apartment bliss or bust. Walking to and from your car is no big deal on a regular day, but how about every time you have groceries? How many trips are you struggling with 16 bags on your arms and balancing the laundry detergent bottle on your head? While you are checking the grounds, also figure out where you have to drop your trash. This again, can be a huge factor in your day-to-day renter life.
The space for your bed when all doors are open
Is there still room for your bed and space to walk around it when the closet doors are open? If not, ask the landlord before you submit an application if they are willing to remove the doors and store them prior to your move in. Many landlords will not be willing to do this, so be sure you ask and not assume.
The distance between the electrical outlet and your bedside
Another silly one, but I promise, it’s a mistake detail you do not want to overlook. How far are the outlets in your bedroom from where your actual nightstand will be? If you are like 83% of Americans, your phone is never more than two feet away from your body. That’s because we use it as an alarm clock, a camera and a lifeline…so we assume you want to charge that bad boy right? But still have it close enough to the bed to hit snooze three or thirteen times? Then you better check where those outlets are!