The important character traits of an apartment really depend on the person moving into the unit. Some things to ask yourself:

• Will I be happy with the current design of the kitchen?
• Is the bathroom suitable for my taste?
• Is the bedroom big enough to accommodate my furniture?
• Is the neighborhood safe?
• How close is freeway access?
• Where is the nearest grocery store?
• How far is my commute to work from the apartment?
• Is there ample storage inside the unit?

If you want the cleanest floors possible, then you need to opt for tile floors, laminate floors, or hardwood floors. In this day and age, laminate floors are very inexpensive to install but more durable than hardwood and its longevity is comparable to tile floors.

Carpeting must be replaced every few years. The padding underneath can soak up all sorts of debris. Carpets - while they might appear to be clean - are typically very dirty. In direct contrast, any type of hard flooring whether it be laminate or tile or hardwood, remains much cleaner over the years.

Do you like to cook and entertain? If so, then you will want an apartment with a fully remodeled kitchen. Granite countertops and new cabinets are the very basic essentials for a quality kitchen that is both functional and enjoyable for entertaining.

Another important consideration for the kitchen is the refridgerator and stove. Are they provided by the landlord? Most landlords do provide a kitchen and stove, but it's best to ask ahead of time and make sure it's in written in the lease before you sign any documents.

Not all apartments have a dedicated water heater, but they should. Imagine being late to work and in a rush to get ready. You jump in the shower only to find out that all the water is gone and you are forced to either take a cold shower or head to work without showing before the day. This type of situation is common for some people, and leads to getting up very early in the morning in order to take a hot shower. Before you sign a lease, ask whether or not the unit has a dedicated water heater.

How many flights of stairs are between where you park your car and your front door? As a person gets older, they typically want fewer stairs to deal with on a daily basis. If you are on the 2nd floor, then you are going to be going up and down the stairs several times a day at the minimum.

On the other hand, a 2nd level apartment is usually safer than a first level apartment, at least in regards to burglary and home invasion. Of course, if there is a fire, the first floor apartment is much safer!

Your personal preferences will help determine whether or not you should rent a 1st floor apartment or a 2nd floor apartment.

While it may not seem like a big deal, the distance you have to walk everyday from your front door to your car makes a difference. Is your car parked right in front of your unit? Or do you have to walk to the other end of the property? If you do have to walk to the other end of the property, are there any locked doors or gates between you and your car?

It's very important to consider the distance you have to travel from your front door to your car because you'll be taking that walk several times a day. Unless you work from home or you're retired, the ideal situation is when you don't have to walk far to get to your car.

Closet space and general storage space are typically in short supply when it comes to your average apartment. This is particularly true when it comes to apartments located near the beach.

Before you sign a lease agreement, take stock of the material obejcts you have and compare it to the available storage space of your new apartment. If you've got too much stuff, then you're going to either throw stuff away before you move in or you're going to need to rent a storage unit.