Finding a place that does not only provide shelter but comfort
Hello, everyone.
I welcome you to my blog and another wonderful edition of the Hive Learner's featured post. Here in Nigeria there are so many things to look out for when you are looking for an apartment or house to rent and live in as a tenant or even when buying to become a house owner; looking for an apartment or house to call your own goes beyond just having a roof over your head. Not every house can be considered a home until it meets certain requirements. There are lots and lots of things that are needed for you to be comfortable in the house you are renting or living in as a tenant, and even as the owner, without those things, you will suffer some discomfort.
I used to think all that you need a house for is for the house to provide you with shelter and a roof over your head, and that was it, but in 2019 I lived in an apartment that forced that perspective to change. The apartment was a 3-story building with no electricity supply because the people living there before us owed an outrageous amount of money for electricity bills, and then the apartment was disconnected, and we needed this electricity supply for the pumping of water, which means as it was taken away, a basic amenity (water) was taken away alongside it.
The few months of living in that apartment were the worst period of my life. Imagine living on the last floor of a 3-story building, and then you have to go to another apartment that is like 100 meters away to fetch water and then carry it upstairs. The staircase is tight, and you have to carry whatever you are carrying on your head so it can fit while you climb the stairs. The discomfort that came with living in an apartment like that was one I don't even wish for an enemy to experience; whenever there is a power supply, you have to go begging those that are still connected to please let you plug your gadgets and accessories in their room. Sometimes they even sound rude to you when you come to plug in your stuff, but the need for your gadgets and accessories to be on leaves you no choice but to tolerate the attitude and all.
If the money was small money, we would have paid up, but it was not small money at all; we are not even the owners of the house to start with. The apartment had no power supply and no easy way to get water, which is a basic amenity and is needed for our day-to-day activities. Imagine having to manage water just so you don't have to journey to go get another one. I stayed in the apartment, and I had to leave even before my rent expired. I forfeited the rent because the mental and emotional stress was becoming too much, and I realized it was better I forfeit the rent and go look for somewhere that provides me with the basic amenities I need to live a comfortable life.
So when looking for an apartment to rent, here are the things I look out for:
The first thing on my list is security. Is the area where the house is located safe? Even here in my school area, there are places where you cannot move around once it is past 8pm for fear of getting robbed; if you are in your room, you have to keep the door locked at all times to avoid unwanted people barging in and taking away your valuables forcefully. The house has to be safe enough too, and not just the area; there have to be certain security measures in place in the house before I consider moving in, such as the type of door, burglary proofs, and so many other things that ensure my safety.
Then I look out for basic amenities such as electricity supply and water. We live in an era where almost all of our lives revolve around online activities, and these activities require that your phones, laptop, and every gadget that you need to be online are charged and on at all times. The lack of electricity supply will affect you negatively, just like it did to me in the apartment I was living in back then.
There are so many other things to look out for, but I think these three mentioned above top the chart for me.
Anybody that has been through what you have will understand that this is arguably one of the worst things that can happen to anybody. I am imagining fetching water on taking it on you'd head up three storey buildings... Oooh boy it's good you called quits before you go crazy... Hope you in a better place now
Where I am currently offers me all three things I listed above, an apartment without power supply will leave you feeling frustrated.
Security is high up on the list. I've lived in an area that was and still is terrifying to not just go to, but by hearing the name alone. It is in the center of town, has good roads and access but lacks security. People shouldn't have to live in fear at all.
Security is a very important thing to consider before going to live in any area or place.
Thanks for stopping by.
The three you have mentioned are so important as far as i am concerned. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for stopping by.
You're welcome
I have had a similar experience especially with inherited light bills and it was not funny.
Though we were lucky they allowed us to pay in installments so every month we will pay what we should have paid but with a little money on top, that's how we were managing but even till today we have not still finished paying 😕
Ours wanted us to pay in full which was impossible for us, I just had to run before I lose my sanity.
The issue of electricity is definitely concerning and disturbing but the matter of lack of water supply, that one is hellish. I have lived in an apartment without adequate water supply and I know what I went through. Not to talk of having to carry the water upstairs, Ah I wouldn't last a week.
It's really not a nice experience, it is really frustrating and tiring.