Navigating the Madness of Apartment Hunting

Moving into a new apartment can be both exciting and stressful. I’m in a stage of life where my mates have either moved out or are in the process of looking for apartments.

And the lore is crazy. They are either complaining that agents want to wound them with the outrageous fees they charge or that the houses are nothing to write home about.

But there are the lucky ones who find a great place that fits into their budget and expectations in less than a month, including all the extra added fees. It’s really a sight to behold.

One thing I can say for sure is Lagos houses are expensive. When I was about to start work on the island, I delusionally thought that I would be one of the few people commuting all the way from the mainland. I wasn’t informed that I was in for a rude awakening.

There were people commuting all the way from Ogun State, three or four hours away. They would come on their first shift and then hang around until their last shift, and then they’d travel all the way back home. And they do this just so they don’t have to pay Lagos house rent. And I can’t even blame them.

The house rent also depends on the location. Where I stay in Lagos, Ago Palace Way, the rent is quite expensive. But it’s reasonable for the kind of environment where the building is. It’s a relatively safe environment, safe for kids, with lots of schools around, and also restaurants, bars, and recreational centers.

For areas that have lower levels of development, the rent prices might be more affordable.

Here are key things to look out for when choosing a place

You have to have a goal in mind when looking for a place. Do you plan to raise a family in this new place? Are you searching for a bachelor or bachelorette pad where you only need space for one person, two max? Do you plan to host people very often and need a guest area where people can stay?

You need to get clear on that before you start searching so it's easy to align the place with your expectations.

1. Location: This is very important because you want your house close to your job location so you don’t spend hefty amounts on transport fare. You also want your house close to other places that matter, such as church, gym, and school. These are places that you would regularly frequent, so commuting should be easy.

2. Cost: Of course, you should have a budget you are working with. The cool thing about budgets is they should be flexible and able to stretch out in case you plan to compromise on certain important things.

So if you find a place that is slightly above your budget but possesses every other key thing that you need in a house, then you should be able to amend your budget so that it takes care of the cost.

1. Landlord Relationship: You should be in good relations with your landlord. You don’t have to like him or be besties, but you should be able to have several productive conversations with him/her and be able to reach an amicable agreement. This is important for future purposes.

These are but a few factors to consider when scouting for an apartment. I hope this was helpful.

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