How to Find the Perfect Efficiency Apartment

If you have always wanted to find the perfect apartment that will suit your needs, you might have realized that it can be tough to track down the right efficiency apartments to look at. Apartment buildings can have limited space for these kinds of efficiency spaces and you often need to get your efficiency apartment secured as soon as you know when you are moving to a new place.

With rent prices increasing by an astounding 33 percent, apartment seekers are looking for the right balance of location and amenities at an affordable price. And reducing the square footage you are seeking in one way to do this. If you want to find the perfect small space to live in, you need to know how to find the right efficiency living space for your needs.

What are efficiency apartments?

These apartments are like studio apartments, but they usually do not have a full kitchen and the separation between the bedroom and living room spaces is often smaller. Efficiency apartment rental is perfect if you want to have fewer appliances to care for, and you want a cozy space that is easy to clean and care for.

Is an efficiency apartment a studio apartment?

A studio apartment is usually slightly larger than an efficiency apartment and will often have a full kitchen. An efficiency apartment is made to be used by a single person who wants to be cozy and comfortable and usually to save some money at the same time. Both types of apartments have separate bathrooms but will not have other rooms.

This kind of apartment is perfect for students or people who are looking for a quality living space that is functional and offers the benefit of cheaper rent. Many of these apartments are located in a desirable location and may be more convenient for walking to work or school.

Living in a small space with no separate room

Some people worry that they will not enjoy living in a small space that does not offer a separate room for when friends come over to visit. These bachelor apartments are cleverly designed, however, and the single room does not feel at all uncomfortable when people are visiting. Many efficiency apartments also offer built-in storage that helps make this small apartment space comfortable and effective.

You will have to adjust to having a mini-fridge instead of a full-size fridge and this kind of small apartment usually makes it more difficult to have a kitchen table or other seating space between the bedroom and the kitchen space. This works out well for most people as it is not measurably different than a small studio.

How do I find the right efficiency apartment?

Picking the right apartment always requires that you take some steps to research the area that you want to move to. Efficiency apartments are becoming more common, but there is still enough demand for multi-room living arrangements that you might have to look around a little to find an efficiency apartment that fits your needs.

College towns and big cities will be more likely to have efficiency apartments in many buildings, so your search for a minimalistic lifestyle in a smaller apartment might be easier in these locations.

1. Check Local Listings on Craigslist

Many efficiency apartments are not advertised through mainstream means and most of these living spaces are owned by a landlord who does not rent out many properties. This means that you are more likely to find these kinds of apartments if you use local-level listings for your shopping needs.

You can check local rental postings for these typically smaller apartments and you will find that there are going to be more options for you to go and see. You might have to be patient with outreach to these kinds of landlords as they can sometimes be less responsive than management companies.

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2. Check College Campuses

While you may not always be able to rent apartments that are located near campus because they are reserved for students, you should consider reaching out to management companies near campus and asking about efficiencies for rent. These larger management companies sometimes have buildings that are not reserved solely for college students and you can get access to these kinds of living arrangements in nice locations through this method of outreach.

College locations are often very walkable as well, making these great little efficiency apartments snap up. You will be able to park your car and walk to most of the things that you want to do and you will not even miss the full-size kitchen with so many food options nearby.

3. Word of Mouth

You may not know anyone in the local area that would be aware of a small apartment that is for rent, but sometimes you can leverage local connections to discover new availability of small studios or efficiencies. These kinds of apartments are often snatched before they ever hit any rental listings, so you might need to keep your ear to the ground to find these locations before someone else does.

4. Use the Right Apartment Finder App

As these kinds of single-room apartments become increasingly popular, you can use the right type of app to track them down. City locations are experiencing increasing demand for this kind of single-room rental and some apps will help you find efficiency apartments with ease.

These apps know the difference between a studio and an efficiency apartment and this can help you to find the perfect living space to be your next home. You can usually search by square footage on these apps and this can help you sort between studio apartments and other kinds of living spaces.

Benefits of an efficiency apartment

If you are still not sure that this is the right kind of apartment for your needs, here are some benefits of this type of living arrangement.

• Affordability

Many efficiency apartments are more affordable than studio apartments. This is a really nice option if you are struggling to afford studios in your area or you are in a city with high rents.

• Better Location

The location aspect of these kinds of apartments is a huge plus to picking one for your next living arrangement. These apartments are typically located close to the center of town and you will be able to walk to almost anywhere.

• Improved Storage

Despite the small size of effeciency apartments, they usually offer improved storage solutions that make it possible to still have guests over. You will also appreciate having more room for storage than you might get from a studio apartment. The kitchenette might limit your food storage some, but the overall storage arrangements can make a big difference.

• Less Square Feet to Clean

One of the best benefits of this kind of living arrangement is that you will have less square footage to clean daily. Your apartment will be mostly an open space with a kitchenette in it and a small dining area. It can be really nice to only have to clean one room and a small bathroom compared to a bigger apartment with many rooms.

Efficiency apartments are a great choice

If you have been struggling to find the right studio apartment, or you don’t want to take on an apartment with an extra bedroom that you don’t need, these smaller apartments can be perfect for your needs. Finding the right efficiency apartment can mean the difference between comfortable living and less-than-ideal living conditions. 

If you are moving to a new city and you need to find the right small living space with just a single bedroom and bathroom, efficiency apartments can be the perfect solution for your needs. Check out RentLingo’s easy-to-use search tool to begin looking for your next home today!