There are several options that come to mind when considering renting a place to live, and one of them is the choice of living in an apartment or a house. Apartments can be inexpensive depending on the size, facilities they are offering and the location. Experts recommend apartments as the perfect housing type for young professionals.
Advantages of living in an apartment include security, since there are always neighbors around. What are the basic etiquettes to living in an apartment and how do you ensure you do not become a nuisance to other occupants of the apartment complex? Jumia Ghana has compiled five tips to help you live in an apartment:
- Be Polite – Living in an apartment means meeting several people in and around the property. If you live in a smaller apartment complex where it is easier to recognise faces, make it a point to greet or say goodbye to them. If you are able to establish this kind of contact, interacting in the future becomes easier. Get to know the people who matter – the caretaker and property owner, among others.
- Respect each other’s privacy – Being polite also means respecting each other’s privacy. The fact that you are sharing a building does not automatically make you friends. Do not budge if your neighbour has not invited you into their room. Remember to knock on their door when entering and wait for an invitation before you enter. Do not peek when their doors are slightly opened.
- Learn the rules of living at that apartment – Different apartments have special set of rules regarding what a tenant can keep. What are the rules regarding keeping pets (are you even allowed to keep pets?), car parking (are there designated spots for parking), smoking (is it allowed in the apartments?). Find out what the rules are before signing a tenancy agreement.
- Be ready to offer a helping hand – When you see an older person struggling with heavy items on the stairs, you can offer a helping hand. If you are friends with a neighbor and you have not seen him/her in a long while, you can budge in and find out why he/she has been missing. They may not be doing well and could be looking for someone to help them out. This can serve as the foundation for building friendship with your neighbor.
- Be mindful of noise levels – Whether you are using the stairs or you are inside your apartment, be considerate of the noise level. Have you turned on the volume of the radio or television or other electronics to the highest volume while other tenants are around? Do you have children who keep shouting on top of their voices? What about when you are using the stairs – do you sing or make unnecessary noise? Do you organise parties that last throughout the night without giving prior notice to your neighbors? These are some of the areas you need to be cautious of before your tenants tag you as a nuisance. If possible keep noise levels to their barest minimum.
Do you live in an apartment complex? What are some of your experiences? We want to hear from you.