Apartment Searching

Apartment hunting: 5 myths that refuse to die

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In the US’s most desirable living locations, finding housing can be seriously stressful. Cultural and professional opportunities abound in places like New York City, Seattle, and San Francisco – but so do sky-high rents and horror stories about unlivable apartments. So before you move into that cramped fourth-floor walkup with a toilet in the kitchen, read this! You’re about to have some long-standing myths about big-city apartment hunting (happily) busted.

Myth #1: You have to choose between price and quality.

Let’s employ some imagery from your high school math classes for a moment. Imagine a graph containing all your possible new apartment homes. The horizontal axis represents quality. Far to the left are images of peeling paint, broken cabinets, cracked fixtures, and flooring: the kinds of places you don’t want to live. Far to the right are images of the places you do want to live: sparkling, sturdy new floors, and fixtures, fresh paint, everything in good repair – dare we even say stylish? These apartments look attractive and bright – just like you and your future here in this exciting city! (If only you can find a place to live…)

The vertical axis represents your rent: lower at the bottom, higher the farther up you go. Cue the anxiety; you know how this works: the farther you move to the right on the graph, chasing those places you really want to call home, the higher up on the vertical axis they climb – dollars vanishing from your bank account. You lower your quality expectations — maybe more than you’d like – in search of rent that you can just barely afford. You prepare to fork over more money than you’re comfortable with for an apartment that feels merely tolerable and prepare to share your own horror stories about housing in this crazy city.

But wait: what is that little point of light there on the graph? The outlier. The dot that doesn’t fall in the trend line. Zoom in, take a closer look. It’s well within your budget, and yet it’s far to the right on the quality axis, too. It’s well-designed, in great repair, chic, sunny, and inviting. Welcome to Common, a coliving community where you don’t have to choose between quality and affordability. Think private bedrooms in attractive shared suites, fully and stylishly furnished. amber vittoriaResidents of Common’s coliving spaces in New York City, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Washington, DC, and Chicago save over $500 each month over a traditional studio apartment while sharing inviting, high-quality common spaces, including high-end kitchens, cozy eclectic living rooms, rooftop decks, and more. 

Myth #2: Beautiful design is out of my price range.

Common’s suites are built from the ground up for a better experience of shared living spaces. This includes professional, artful architecture and interior design, with spaces carefully crafted for functionality, convenience, and comfort. Our design approach is to rely on quality materials to create spaces that are upscale, timeless, and inviting. And functionality is as crucial to us as it is to you: our suites are specifically designed to foster easy shared use and friendly interactions between residents – in short, to make you feel at home in your home.

Myth #3: Sharing spaces means dirt and clutter.

What’s the secret to sharing your living space without also sharing lowest-common-denominator cleanliness standards? Simple: professional weekly cleaning of all common spaces, included in your rent. Whether you tend to be the tidiest member of a household or the messiest, everyone benefits from a cleaner apartment and fewer negotiations about who last scrubbed the toilet or mopped the kitchen floor. Professional weekly cleanings of all shared spaces are included at no additional charge in all of Common’s coliving communities. dinner space

Myth #4: Living with roommates is always a hassle. 

In the most desirable housing and job markets in the country, long-term living with roommates has become the norm for many people. Rent is cheaper shared, and it’s no secret markets like Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York are pricey. Some people enjoy the camaraderie and community shared living spaces can foster regardless of the financial advantages, but many other people do not, seeing roommates as a necessary inconvenience in exchange for housing affordability. The truth is, most of the hassles people encounter sharing living spaces with others are not inevitable.

They can be remedied by thoughtful design – design of both the physical living space and of the services that come with it. Common’s coliving experts have thought long and hard about how to make shared living environments as comfortable and convenient as possible, to eliminate the worst and most frequent pain points. Here are some of the innovative perks of coliving in Common’s communities:

  • Weekly professional cleanings, as we mentioned above
  • Fully furnished, well-designed common spaces proportioned for shared use, furnished with pieces from luxury brands like Restoration Hardware and West Elm, and designed with a unified aesthetic vision
  • Basic household supplies provided at no additional charge. That includes pots and pans, dishes, paper towels, soap and more. So you can cancel those conversations about who last bought toilet paper and never have to make a late-night run to the store for more
  • Free high-speed commercial-grade WiFi
  • Free on-site laundry in every building, and all the supplies you need for it
  • A private messaging app where you and your housemates can chat, RSVP to and create events, and more
  • Access to all of Common’s communities when you travel
  • Rapidly responsive property maintenance. Often in shared living spaces, one roommate holds the lease and others sublet from that person, meaning requests for maintenance have to travel through a game of telephone. At Common, every resident is empowered to put in a maintenance request and can rest assured it will be answered within 24 hours. 

Common’s coliving spaces minimize the potential for things to go awry by eliminating all those well-known pain points and inconveniences that can end in passive-aggressive post-it wars. And we maximize all the nice parts about living with other people – cost savings, built-in friendly faces in a new place, a sense of community and belonging and the potential for lasting friendships. Community is never obligatory at Common, but it is something many of our members come to love most about their living experience.

Myth #5: Moving is a nightmare.

Common’s living spaces come fully furnished with everything you need to function in your new home, so you can focus on the bigger picture. While Common’s community spaces are fully designed, your private bedroom is meant to be a convenient canvas for your unique personal style. It comes equipped with a nightstand, lamp, and comfy bed. We supply the basics – you bring yourself and your tastes and make it your own. With all the essentials provided – along with keyless access and clear, helpful instructions from our Member Services team – moving into a Common community can take as little as 30 minutes. If you’re ever ready to transfer to another room or Common community, just put in a request. Moving in never requires a broker’s fee. roommates


Ready to dive deeper into what makes Common’s coliving communities special? Click here to learn more about the best option in city living, and view our gorgeous coliving spaces in San Francisco, Washington, DC, Los Angeles, New York City and Chicago.

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