Apartments and their selection of amenity options have grown leaps and bounds from where they were just five to ten years ago. Tenants are demanding not only high-end features, finishes, and fun from their dwellings, but also options such as yoga studios and indoor basketball courts. A single pool and a shabby workout room no longer cut it for apartment shoppers!
Today, many tenants often look for as much luxury as their budget can afford in their first apartments, which in some cases may seem a little over the top for military rentals. However, most renters usually find themselves shopping somewhere in the middle where affordability and desired creature comforts clash.
Just for fun, here’s what The New York Times reported as high-end luxury apartment extravagances in Tribeca. Services like a “deluge shower” and “ice room” are now available in some apartments. Luckily, most of us won’t have to grapple with the quandary, “Do we need a Turkish-style hamam?”
Remember the adage, “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder”? The same concept holds true for apartment amenities.
Although it certainly would be nice to have a car wash or a wine cellar attached to a military rental property, is it worth the extra money paid in rent each month? Maybe or maybe not. Personally, because getting my car washed is at the top of my hated chore list, I could pay a few extra bucks. Although I do love wine, a private cellar isn’t necessary in my life, so to pay more for access seems a bit much.
Evaluating the costs and benefits of higher rent versus the added frills is a very personal decision when you’re searching for military rentals. Stepping back to analyze which extras are worth the money will be different for everyone. During an apartment search, there will likely be a tradeoff of sorts while hunting for the perfect home.
For example, paying for a game room you won’t use to have access to secure parking will likely be worth the payment. Or, if a safe location that includes a door attendant, gated entry, and video monitoring puts you at ease and is the top priority, then paying for the included exercise room you know you won’t use will add peace of mind, regardless the of non-existent fitness room visits.
Some amenities provided when renting, such as a convenient location or walkability to work, give hours back to tenants' daily lives. These comforts may be difficult to quantify monetarily, but it is often worth the higher rent price for the extended quality of life factor.
You may be wondering if these fancy amenities extend the amount of time necessary to process a rental application. It's possible, for sure. Circumstances like strong demand or a stringent apartment application assessment will take time. In normal circumstances, property staff can process an application in 24 hours to three days. However, extenuating circumstances may push the process past the one-week mark.
The application process varies depending on things like an overwhelming amount of applicants, or if it includes a deep dive into your credit history and finances. This is often the case with high-end apartments with unique amenities that require significant rent payments each month. Also, keep in mind that incomplete applications or applications with mistakes will lengthen the timeframe.
If you don’t happen to be looking for a luxury apartment in Tribeca, MilitaryByOwner offers an apartment filter option in the Advanced Search features. Simply select "apartment" under "property type" in the left-hand column as you search. Browse the listings and rental resources to evaluate the amenities you might want for your apartment needs during your next PCS move.