A residential psychologist gives advice: Which apartment is right for me?
Too small, too dark, too expensive! And we'd actually prefer hardwood floors: apartment hunting can often be stressful. It's good when you at least know what you really want - and what's dispensable.
Bathtub, view of greenery - and a balcony would be nice too: whoever is looking for an apartment has more than just the number of rooms and the maximum rent in mind. Especially in tense housing markets, tenants often have to say goodbye to one or two ideas to find something affordable. For example, the desire for floor-to-ceiling windows.
But which ideas can you easily let go of and still live happily? And which ones should you hold on to? And how do you find out what's really important to you in your new home?
Hamburg-based housing psychologist Melanie Fritze has tips for people looking for a new place to live.
Weigh your own needs
To feel comfortable in it, an apartment must meet our needs. According to housing psychologist Melanie Fritze, these are mainly security, privacy, community, relaxation, aesthetics, and self-expression. Positive self-presentation also plays a role. "This simply means that the home also reflects my status or my values, what's important to me," says the diploma psychologist.
We all have these needs, says Fritze. "But how strongly they are expressed is very individual." And it's best to be clear about this before you start looking for an apartment or even sign a rental agreement. Because often we let ourselves be guided solely by housing trends. "But what we often forget is to ask: Does the apartment also suit me and my needs?"
Fritze gives an example: the currently popular floor-to-ceiling windows. "Maybe I move into an apartment and I like how bright it is with the large windows there," she says. "But if my need for privacy is high and it's a ground-floor apartment, with people passing by, then I won't feel comfortable there in the long run because I feel observed and can't relax properly."
So, before you start, you should ask yourself: "How important is it to me to be unobserved or alone at home?" If the need is high, you can pay attention to the new apartment having niches. "So that there aren't windows everywhere, but you also have protected corners for the sofa or on the balcony or terrace."
If it's important to you to be able to individually design your surroundings, the need for self-expression is high, you should ask yourself during viewings: "Can I still make some changes here according to my wishes? Does the apartment offer possibilities for change for me?", says Fritze. In that case, you probably won't be very happy with a beautiful but furnished apartment.
What does my daily life look like, what's my current situation?
How our housing needs look depends on our current life situation. You should take a close look at this - and think about what in an apartment could make your daily life easier, what could make it more difficult. Because often, it's initially seemingly unimportant quirks of an apartment that can bother you a lot later, says Fritze.
An example from the housing psychologist: a long hallway between the kitchen and dining room. "Maybe you look at the apartment and say: Well, it would be nice if the kitchen and dining room were closer together. But that's okay too." For singles, this might be the case. "But with a family, this little detail would mean a lot of effort over time," says Fritze. "Because you always have to bring the dishes back and forth. These are small inconveniences that can cause enormous dissatisfaction in the long run."
Square meters aren't everything
In property portal search filters, you might see many people specifying the minimum square footage they want for their new apartment. However, Fritze advises not to fixate on this. The layout is more important. "You can have two identical apartments in terms of square footage, but one can feel much larger or the other much smaller due to a different layout."
Additionally, don't underestimate storage space. You might need a lot for your hobbies or if you have children. "I have to assume I'll need more storage space," says Fritze. "A apartment with many great qualities but no storage will become unpleasant in the long run because there's nowhere to put things away."
It's also useful to consider the placement of windows. "Windows on multiple sides in a room can make it feel much more pleasant and larger," says Fritze.
Location, location, location
Often just as important as the apartment itself is the surrounding area. For example, someone living alone who values community might not be happy with the nicest apartment if all their friends and acquaintances suddenly live on the other side of town, or if the transportation is so poor that they hardly ever see each other.
As one gets older, the surrounding area can play a big role, says Fritze. "It's useful if things like the supermarket or doctor are nearby. Or at least the right public transportation." And someone with children might benefit more from a playground in the courtyard that they can watch from the window than from five more square meters of living space or a bathtub.
While considering property prices, it's essential to evaluate your needs and priorities. For instance, if you value privacy more, you might be willing to sacrifice a larger living space for an apartment with fewer windows or one located in a less bustling area. Alternatively, if self-expression through your living space is crucial, you might be ready to pay a premium to customize an unfurnished apartment.
