Apartment Considerations

As I spend more time here and having visited countless properties since April I have started to come up with a mental list of considerations with regard to purchasing or renting somewhere to live. Some are more important than others and, depending on your own view, these issues may or may not be important to you. The list is not exhaustive and I'll likely add to them as times goes on. The list is largely not in any order of importance:

Building and Design:

• Renovation Noise: This will most likely be an issue if you buy, or are considering renting in, a newly completed block. Condos etc are sold basically as concrete shells and once people start to fit them out, the drilling and hammering starts. The density of units in the block and the prolific use of air-wells will greatly multiply the problem. Believe me, it is hard to describe how immensely irritating the sound of high-impact drilling is from 9am - 5pm day in, day out, for weeks on end, maybe months. I doubt very much that I would rent in a brand new build again because of this. If it's a property you've bought you'll likely put up with it more but for rental I prefer to get the living experience (including peace and quiet) that the finished article would bring.
• Environmental Noise: Either from motor cycles (actually glorified hair dryers on two wheels but damn noisy) at all hours in some of the low cost housing areas, building site and traffic noise etc. All more of an issue if you prefer to sleep without air con (AC) and with windows open. An odd one is also frogs. Yes, frogs!!! dependant on how close you are to greenery and water you will often get a chorus of frogs croaking all night which, while interesting at first, I suspect would become quite an irritant if you are a light sleeper. All these things are worth checking out by visiting the area at various times of day and night and at the weekend. If buying near a mosque you may also want to visit at prayer times to check on noise levels.
• Orientation: An important one. Facing east and you'll get the morning sun beating down, facing west, the afternoon sun. This can create some significant cooling problems for you if you will be in during the day and will likely add to the bills for use of AC.
• Leasehold or Freehold? Freehold is generally considered better for re-sale.
• Design and layout: Some are MUCH better than others and for me a building that uses less, preferably no, air-wells is better. Air-wells conduct noise very well and are great for gathering rubbish. If a building uses air-wells to provide light to some rooms you need to be very high up, otherwise the light you get will be minimal. I have seen some units at 1,100 sf that are much better designed, and make much better use of space than some at 1200 or 1300 sf. The space needs to be usable too. No great tracts of floor area that you can do nothing with or endless 'dead end' off-shoots from rooms.
• End of block: or corner facing units are often preferable to internal units both because of the views and increased privacy (no-one walking past you door and one less immediate neighbour).
• Natural light: How much do you get? Some units are terrible. Some also have windows of bedrooms facing on to common landings (where the lifts are) which thus get no view or natural light and little privacy.
• Drying area: Some units have good utility areas and some don't. Drying your washing and such like can then be difficult if you have no space for the rather large drying racks here. Electric tumble dryers are an option but possibly not desirable for permanent use. Drying washing on balconies is discouraged.
• Density: Buildings with high numbers of units per floor will likely suffer from increased noise, less privacy and an increased risk of dodgy neighbours (simply more chance at 12 units per floor than 4).
• Security: How effective is it?? Many places have guard houses and guards but some are much more effective than others. In some cases just pipping the car horn will get the barrier raised and let you access the car park. If on foot you can often just walk in unchallenged. Try that at Miami Green and see how far you get. Not all security is equal.
• Security: How easy is it to secure your unit completely if you are away.
• Servicing: Some blocks are better cared for, maintained and cleaned than others. Worth checking a few times to check the state of common areas etc.
• Car parking: how much do you need. Many units have just one slot and purchasing extra can be pricey (RM 25,000 per slot).

Fixtures and Fittings:

• Hot Water: Not something that is the norm here, either in bathrooms or kitchens. Some look to add water heaters in kitchens etc. for washing up. If buying new, it's something you may wish to discuss with developers as an optional extra.
• Power-points: How many and where. Some places are very poorly designed in this respect and have a dearth of power-points and often have power-points in less than useful places. In one apartment the bed in the master bedroom would be 'forced' against a certain wall because of layout. But, no power-points for bedside lamps or clocks etc??? Also long stretches of wall without power-points can be a problem if looking to place illuminated display cabinets etc. In some cases the points in kitchens are placed stupidly high, just below the bottom of cupboards rather than just above the work-surfaces (trailing and unsightly cables when plugging in appliances).
• Shaver points: Only seen these in very few bathrooms. Something to consider.
• Double Glazing: Rare. Great for keeping out noise and insulating from heat but I've not seen it in use here. Some people look to fit secondary double glazing and the design of your unit may make this more or less practicable.
• Baths: Very few places have baths fitted in bathrooms, most are shower only. Some that do have baths only fit the very small ones. Larger units (2,000 sf) may have at least one bath fitted as standard (BUT, see hot water above).
• Glazing film: Similar to what is used in cars, some look to apply this to certain windows to reduce the heat, UV and glare from the sun. I'm exploring the use of different types here and will post again with what I consider to be the best option.
• Air-Con: Buying a new unit you may also be able to discuss fitting AC with the developer. This is generally going to be better than the hack and slash that's required for a post-fit. Not all units are equal either. Panasonic is considered to be quite a good brand. Daikin is however considered one of the best because it is almost silent. Hand held remotes a great advantage too, better than wall mounted controls.
• Ceiling fans: I use these a lot. I never use AC. Some are better quality than others and some also come with combined light units. Better units also come with a remote control so you can vary the speed of the fan and even set a pre-designated cut-off time.
• TV Point(s): How many and where placed. If a new or recently built unit you may wish to check that it's wired for Astro TV HD (requires two feeds per box) if that is important to you. Oddly, even some brand new units don't have HD enabled with claims that "It's coming soon". The placing of these points, along with phone points and associated power-points often leaves a lot to be desired!!
• Drinking Water: Two options really. You can either get a free-standing or work-top water fountain and use the large 5 gallon bottles (about RM 50 for five) or fit a filter unit to your supply. These are not the cheap RM 150 particle filters but cost somewhere around RM 4,000 and you then switch between drinking and general use water. I plan to use the latter once I move somewhere permanently. You will need to replace the filters in these about once a year at a cost of about RM 300.
• Storage: Often a problem. How much do you need and how much is there? Storing all manner of things can become quickly problematic once your seemingly spacious apartment is fitted with furniture and such like.
• Gas: Is bottled here if you intend to use it and you will need enough space for the bottle installation (which will eat up some of your kitchen storage).

That's all for now. Not exhaustive like I say, just some issues you may overlook, when considering where to rent / buy. Some of these things can also be rectified after purchase but obviously there more there is to do, the more mess and the greater the cost.