Every month, someone will be looking for a house, especially to rent. And while they may settle for a convenient place, there will always be something to talk about.
House hunting should be categorized under one of the extreme sports because of how tiring and frustrating it can be to get a house that meets your needs.
There is always one issue or the other: the design does not allow you to arrange furniture in a certain way, the kitchen has been placed as an afterthought, the bedroom cannot fit a closet and bed among other faults.
Landlords have made it their mission to frustrate tenants, especially in the city under the sun. there are a number of estates in the city and most people will want a place that is convenient in terms of accessibility and reach of amenities like hospitals, markets, schools, shopping malls and the rest.
For someone who is just starting to live alone, the idea is always to start small and then graduate to better after some time. The problems that they go through while looking for a better house make it impossible to get a dream rental space. Now these are some of the things that irk tenants:
- OVERPRICED HOUSES
While it is important for landlords to reap where they sow, it is also important to note that overpricing houses will lead to longer waiting period which ultimately leads to reducing the prices to attract the tenants/clients.
This in turn creates doubt among the tenants concerning the credibility of a listing. Longer waiting periods, longer time to get clients, waste of time hence longer period recovering money used in the construction.
- OPEN PLAN KITCHENS
While it is good to embrace change and the latest trends, there are some that I alongside a million more people do not appreciate. Open plan kitchens do not give you the privacy you need while in your moment.
You might wonder ‘what do you want to do that you don’t wish for people to see’? and my answer is, the kitchen is a happy and safe space for some people. They want to cook while dancing or singing or filming. They want to arrange the kitchen in a manner that pleases them. If they wanted one room with everything there, then why not live on the open. A closed plan kitchen is ideal and involves less gambling.
- UNPROPORTIONAL ROOMS
There are houses that will impress you when you see the first room, which is usually the sitting or living room. When you go a little further, you notice that the kitchen, toilet or bathroom is too small for your liking. The sinks are squeezed or there is room for a bed but no closet in the case of the bedroom. It begs the question: do landlords have a say in the plan drawing?
Do they get the chance to review and make adjustments with the help of their architects? Are they properly advised or is it a matter of ‘hurry up and go’? As long as the rooms are not proportionate, then there will always be a problem with everything.
- ROOM POSITIONING
I visited friend over the weekend and marvelled at how the house looked good from the outside. When I stepped into the house, I could not help but notice that the toilet was awkwardly positioned, and I was praying earnestly, that I don’t get the urge to take a leak.
That is just an example of an awkward positioning of rooms in a house. While it is more likely that everyone has their own definition of comfort, some rooms should not be adjacent to some.
- LIGHTING AND VENTILATION
While some houses may look great with a myriad of pros, it is important to ensure the house is well positioned to bring in enough natural light and support great air circulation. Some landlords, even with the congestion of rental building, have tried to make sure their tenants are comfortable. Some are still only focused on erecting whatever building.
Knowing the positioning of the natural light will ensure accurate estimation of where to place windows and rooms. The artificial lighting also plays a big role in ensuring a house looks good. Embracing new lighting techniques including downlighting, silhouetting, accent lighting, gypsum lighting design and use of classy chandeliers could do wonders in attracting clients.
These are just some of the irks of apartments in the city. Landlords may be catching up with the trends and ensuring less cons in their buildings by embracing modern houses, however, it is important that they benchmark often and involve quality designers or architects who will ensure the houses are well built to accommodate an array of clients. Naturally, one man’s meat, is another’s poison, but a middle ground can be found so that all the clients are catered for.
What are some of the details that put you off from moving to a new house?
