The Apartment Triangle & Prioritizing Your Needs
Let us introduce you to the ‘apartment triangle.’ It can either serve as your guiding light or become your biggest headache. Much like a triangle, this concept is built on three key factors in your apartment search: price, finishes, and location. The challenge is that it’s rare to find all three in perfect balance. In most cases, you’ll only be able to prioritize two of the three. As the saying goes, ‘two’s company, three’s a crowd.’ And if you’re hoping for all three? Well, okay moneybags!!!
Not only will this set realistic expectations for the current market, but it will also help narrow down your search, so we can focus on the details and waste no time. But don’t worry—if you start your apartment search knowing your top two must-haves, it’s completely normal for your priorities to shift once you see what’s actually available and what makes you feel most comfortable sacrificing. Just think of your apartment search as one big game of F*ck, Marry, K*ill.
Not sure where to start? Much line the canes menu, let’s run through our combo’s
Combo 1 | Location & Price
When considering this combo, it’s really about “price for location.” Every city has its trendiest neighborhoods—those spots that offer a great vibe, all of the views, the best nature trails, and restaurant walkability. But what they don’t tell you, is as these areas become high in demand, so do the prices. Ask anyone in New York City why do they live in shoe boxes with outdated finishes, and community laundry in a wet basement? Because it’s Manhattan baby! Why would anyone pay for smaller square footage, and black appliances? Because of the prime location duh!
Sometimes location takes priority over finishes anyway, like if you absolutely need a close commute, or three pets mean three monthly pet rents and other monthly costs. Are these fee’s going to mess with your comfort zone? And is there any wiggle room in the budget to handle the current market for your dream neighborhood.
Combo 2 | Price & Finishes
But what if you’re flexible on location? Maybe living a little further out is totally fine if it means you get a better quality of life. If that’s the case, this combo could be perfect for you.
For some people, must-haves include things like a full-size washer and dryer, fancy stainless steel appliances, and hardwood plank flooring (especially handy for pets, roommates, or growing families). And let’s be real, who wouldn’t love a wrap-around balcony with floor-to-ceiling windows?
Back to my main point, though: it’s key to think about what apartment price and finishes matter, and what’s actually going to make living together(or by yourself) comfortable and enjoyable.
Combo 3 | Finishes & Location
If you’ve got 99 problems but money ain’t one, this setup’s calling your name! Into the aesthetics? Think gold hardware, marble countertops, LED vanities, sleek green cabinets—basically all the fancy-schmancy amenities you could dream of. The simplest way to narrow these options down is creating a ‘wants, needs, and deal-breakers’ list.’ That way, you can see where the shiny finishes might outshine the location—or vice versa. Easy peasy!
Finding The Unicorn Deal
A unicorn deal is just like an actual unicorn—super rare, but magical when you find one. It’s essentially when you find that perfect apartment where the price, location, and finishes all align in perfect balance. These hidden gems don’t pop up often, but when they do, Smart City usually snags them! And when we find them it’s so important to act fast because they usually go quickly. Think of it like stumbling upon that perfect thrift find that’s so good, you can’t believe someone let it go. You know if you don’t jump on it now, you’ll never see it again. So, do you go for it, or keep searching for that hidden treasure?
Our agents are always out there touring and scouring the market, so it’s only a matter of time before our experts find that one-off unit that ticks all the boxes. We work hard to find these unicorn deals. While not every match is a ‘unicorn,’ we make sure it fits your top priorities. Whether you’re using an apartment locator or going solo, every renter can use Smart City’s apartment triangle to explore hidden options, refine your search, and find the perfect spot that’s totally you.
Need some extra eyes to track down that unicorn deal, or just curious to see which combo fits you best for your next move? Let our agents help you find your perfect spot and fine-tune your must-haves. We gotchu covered!
