The Apartment-Hunter's Glossary
The Internet has made apartment-searching easier than ever before, but if
you choose to use your local newspaper or tabloid as a resource, you're
going to be met with a few abbreviations which may not ring a bell. Some of
these terms are straightforward and relatively self-explanatory, while
others are "code words" that could be an attempt to put a positive spin on
the drawbacks of the apartment.
Take, for instance, the term "loft." Loft apartments are a hot commodity
these days. People tend to associate them with hip, urban areas and unique
architecture -- brick walls, exposed beams, wood floors and large windows
overlooking the city. We also associate the term "loft" with a unit that
has two levels -- a larger downstairs portion as well as an upstairs
portion, usually just a single bedroom or sitting area. This layout creates
the illusion of more space because the ceiling in such a unit is high in
order to accommodate the upstairs area.
That's why, during a search for a new apartment last year, I was quite
surprised to discover that my response to a "loft" apartment for rent in
downtown Dallas led me to a unit that was a single-room flat. While the
unit contained wood floors and a high ceiling -- both positive selling
points -- it was a 550-square-foot room in which I could stand in the tiny
kitchen and view my bed, living room area and laundry closet
simultaneously. The scene was all too reminiscent of my college dorm-room
days, so I passed. (The rent was also a staggering $810 per month for the
privilege of living in one of Dallas' hippest new neighborhoods.) So it
appears that the term "loft" can also mean one room and nothing more. (By
some definitions, "Loft" may simply mean a unit in a building that contains
anywhere from four to 11 stories.)
Here are a few other translations to help take the confusion out of your
apartment search:
"Cozy" means either very small at best, or claustrophobic at worst.
"Alcove" means an area adjacent to the living room that may be used as
sleeping quarters, a separate sitting area, home office, dining room, etc.
"Convertible" or "Flex" means that the alcove located off of the
living
room area is large enough to be used as an additional bedroom, if desired.
"Junior" or "Junior One Bedroom" means that while you do have an
alcove
adjacent to the living room that may be converted into use as a bedroom,
it's a small bedroom (and of course, "small" is a subjective term). You're
probably going to be able to fit one bed (single or full-size, queen-size
if you're lucky, and definitely not king) and a dresser or nightstand in a
junior bedroom. It's an excellent space for guests.
"Studio" technically means a two-room apartment consisting of a
kitchen
(one room) and the rest of the unit (second room), which serves as your
combination living room and bedroom. Some studios actually contain alcoves
for the sleeping area. (It's somewhat surprising that according to this
definition, a studio is larger than the above-mentioned interpretation of a
loft apartment.)
For those of us who are lucky enough to live in cities that have them, a
"Brownstone" is a brick-row house built in the early 20th century,
usually
three to four stories in height but occasionally reaching five or six
stories. These homes were converted into multiple units in the mid-20th
century, and in many cities today, they're considered among the most
desirable rental properties. Many of them have been restored to their
original grandeur with polished wood floors, beautiful, winding staircases,
leaded glass and bay windows. You won't find any elevators in these
buildings, which makes moving a challenge. Most brownstone units can and do
command a city's highest rents. Waiting lists for these units are common.
"Prewar Building" a term you'll spot often in the real estate
sections of
New York City newspapers, means a building ranging in height from 10 to 30
floors, and built in the period from 1890 to about 1940.
You'll find plenty of architectural anomalies in these buildings, including
high ceilings, hardwood floors, arched doorways, beautiful moulding and
more. A "Postwar Building" is a structure built after World War II (after
1946). Units in these buildings tend to be less expensive than prewar
building units. Postwar buildings usually are made of brick.
"Walk-Up" another popular term in New York City, describes a building
up
to five stories high that contains no elevator. Units in these buildings
tend to be among a city's most affordable. Walk-ups are sometimes called
"Low Rises." A "High Rise" means a building containing more than 10 floors,
and which has an elevator.
"EIK" means "Eat-In Kitchen." If you don't see this abbreviation in
the
description of the apartment, you can't guarantee that you'll have one. In
that case, you're likely to have a high countertop against which you may
place barstools.
"WIC" means "Walk-In Closet." The more WICs, the better. "D/W," of
course,
means "Dishwasher," and "W/D" means "Washer/Dryer," neither of which you'll
want to live without if you can help it. You don't mind hand-washing your
dishes and using the laundromat down the street, you say? Will your answer
be the same in six months?
"F/P" means "Fireplace." Unfortunately, you can't assume you'll get
one in
your unit unless it's directly stated. Even if you get a fireplace in your
unit, you could encounter a landlord who forbids you to light fires if you
live in a historic building.
"DM": "Doorman Building." That's an expense you'll want to consider
assuming in any large city. Buildings with doormen tend to be larger and
taller, with elevators. "Reno" means that the unit or the building in
general was recently renovated. Be careful. The term "renovation" also is
subjective. Don't rent a "reno" sight-unseen. You might be expecting an
apartment in like-new condition, but your landlord may have decided that
the term "reno" was justifiable after he replaced your bedroom doorknob and
left the avocado green carpeting and broken appliances alone.
"Furnished Apartment": means that you'll have the basics covered ...
but don't call House Beautiful and tell them to shoot your apartment for
next month's cover. You'll have your sofa, your kitchen table and chairs,
your bed, a dresser and probably your basic household items. These units
are perfect for people who need temporary housing (for a short-term
business assignment, for example). More often these days, you'll see
corporate housing companies offering their services in major metropolitan
markets; corporate housing is probably your best bet in these
circumstances, because you can be fairly certain that all of your needs
will be met.
A word of caution: All of the above-listed terms are subject to change,
depending upon the landlord's own definitions. While many landlords don't
deliberately set out to deceive prospective tenants, they may simply define
these terms differently than you do. And it's easy in your rush to find an
apartment as quickly as possible to put on your rose-colored glasses and
assume that "cozy" means homey and not tiny.
The best strategy is to allow yourself as much time as possible to find your new apartment. Don't sign
anything until you've walked through the unit and thoroughly inspected it.
If you answer an advertisement and enter a unit only to feel that you've
been misled or that something isn't quite right, leave immediately. Trust
your instincts. If they're telling you that this isn't home in the first
five minutes or that the landlord isn't sincere in his pledge to make
repairs in the unit (a good tip-off is a landlord's reluctance to put that
pledge in writing), you're not going to change your mind later and decide
that you really have found the apartment of your dreams.
The apartment market is more active than ever. Take advantage of these hot markets, and
comparison shop. You won't regret your decision if you proceed with caution.
