Spot the Red Flags: Apartment Hunt Like a Journal Square, New Jersey Pro
Moving isn’t an activity most people consider “enjoyable,” and underlying reasons for a move, like relocating for work or saving money, complicate the process by adding restraints on time and budget.
While the act of moving may be a pain, the search for a new apartment can be quite enjoyable. In an ideal scenario, we take our time and choose among units that appeal to our sense of luxury and style. The reality, though, is that most of us are rushed through the process. This is why many renters fail to see the red flags until after they sign a lease.
There are countless rental horror stories online. In fact, Architectural Digest published twelve rental horror stories from their staff’s own experiences. From avoidant landlords to bed bugs, the AD team offers full transparency in their story-telling.
Thankfully for you, we’re rental veterans here at MRK Journal Square, attuned to the red flags notable to Jersey City residents. If you’ve just moved to the area and you’re looking for Journal Square apartments, keep the following in mind.
Distance from the PATH Train
Private residence landlords and realtors like to play the game: post false verbiage about proximity to mass transit. In reality, the unit is likely several city blocks distanced from a bus or train. Since one of the primary reasons commuters choose apartment rentals in Journal Square is because of its location on the New Jersey PATH Train, close proximity to the PATH is an important selection criteria.
So why is this a flag? Well, if you’re relocating to Journal Square and visiting apartments by car, you may forget to actually step out of your vehicle. It’s important to locate the nearest PATH stop on Google Maps, but we also recommend actually walking the distance. This is the only way to gauge how long your commute will take door-to-door.
Jersey City Flood Zones
It may surprise you, but Journal Square has a handful of neighborhoods situated within the FEMA flood zone. If you’re interested, take a look at this Journal Square map from PropertyShark to see which streets fall within the flood neighborhood. Thankfully, most of Journal Square is considered out of range, but neighboring regions aren’t so lucky, like Jersey City’s downtown district or Hoboken.
Why is this important? Monthly costs. The average property damage cost due to flooding for New Jersey households is estimated at $4,400 per property in 2021. According to PolicyGenius, an online insurance marketplace, the average monthly premium for New Jersey residents for flood insurance is $960.79.
Absent landlords and apartment neglect
The avoidant landlord is another staple of a bad rental experience. While it’s not unusual to keep your distance from the landlord until the lease-signing, you can sense how a landlord manages his or her property by reviewing the state of the unit itself.
Absent landlords typically manage properties with unpainted walls, shoddy appliances, unclean surroundings, cracks in the walls, or bad flooring. It’s not enough for a landlord to promise a cleared or painted unit prior to moving, his or her management style will be evident within the property itself.
If you’re lucky enough to view an apartment rental with existing tenants on-location, be sure to ask them questions (if they’re comfortable). Some recommended questions include:
How frequently are you in contact with the landlord?
Was the apartment painted or cleaned when you first moved?
Were there any surprise requests from the landlord after you moved? (I.e. shoveling outside when it wasn’t specified in the lease)?
Any flooding issues?
No pest control
While rental units in private residences typically do not include pest control or extermination as part of an ongoing, regular maintenance program (like larger apartment complexes do), it’s important to gain a full sense of the pest problem in the neighborhood.
Given its close proximity to New York City, Jersey City is unfortunately similarly impacted by roaches and mice. However, a good residence is well-insulated and supported by a responsive management office. The response time is imperative as a clean environment, free of pests, is critical for your health and the health of your family.
Enjoy the apartment search with peace of mind
If you’re the kind of renter who prefers to bypass any potential headaches and opt for a hassle-free search experience, consider renting from an apartment complex. With maintenance requests just a phone call away and buildings fewer than ten years old, you can rest assured your new apartment will be cleaned and maintained by a team of professionals.
Up-to-date appliances, furnished units available, and coworking spaces for remote work are other features to consider when looking at apartment complexes in Journal Square..
Check out MRK Journal Square’s website to view 1-2 bedrooms floorplans. Units start at $2,043 with virtual tours available.
Questions? Email mrk@cmpnd.com or call (201) 448-9569.