The Success Chain

Study after study has found that moving is one of the most stressful events in life. This is due, in large part, to the fact that humans don’t really like change. People may say that they thrive on change, but there is an evolutionary resistance to new environments — places that are unfamiliar mean that it is harder to assess threats, find food and water, and feel safe. So, even those who like change will probably experience a bit of disorientation and stress when the move actually happens.

For many, the stress starts as soon as a decision is made to move. Having to find a new place to live, whether by choice or do to external factors such as a career change, marriage, or foreclosure, involves a lot of choices and choice equals stress.

There are some ways to make the process of looking for a new apartment or rental home easier. Real estate websites are a good place to start. For example, Daniel Drimmer created Starlight Apartments to bring together rental apartments in cities across Canada in one place. There are actually a number of property management and apartment rental companies that pool multiple listings in one site. They make it very easy for a prospective renter to search for available units by location, size, price and amenities. The best sites offer virtual tours to view properties online. This allows individuals to weed out listings that don’t meet their need, leaving a few good prospects to check out in person.

Another option is to work directly with a realtor. Many realtors handle rental properties as well as sales. They may do double-duty as property managers or simply list rentals that are owned by their clients. Identifying property or apartment management companies is another way to narrow the field. Agents will sit down with couples or families to identify the type of apartment that best suits their needs and then the agent will do the work of sorting through all the listings.

The best way to go about finding an apartment is the same as with any big purchase or investment: Identify the absolute needs, such as price range, number of bedrooms, access to transportation or schools, etc. Then list amenities that are preferred, but not necessary, like a heated swimming pool or exercise room. Make sure that deal breakers are clearly identified and then prioritize the remaining items. Use that list when talking with agents, searching websites, or even when looking through traditional classified ads. Keep to the list and the resulting decision will be much easier to make.