What do you need to know when you rent an apartment in Sofia?

Whether you are interested in the real estate market and actively following the current trends in the field or not, you are surely aware of the differences between selling an apartment and renting a flat. Although these differences appear to be significant at first glance, things are slightly different when you look at them closely.

In fact, when it comes to living in the capital, there are many similarities that we can compare. Mostly all of them lie in the priorities of the people who are searching for their new home, no matter whether they want to buy or rent an apartment in Sofia. Like in any other case, when choosing something for ourselves among all of the possibilities which lie before us, we tend to have specific requirements. This is why when we want to buy or rent an apartment in Sofia we may pretty much complicate the not so easy task of the real estate agent whom we have trusted even more. He/ she must satisfy these requirements to a high degree in order to make us happy and eventually close the deal. 

Where to rent an apartment in Sofia?

Noisy streets, big crowds, lively atmosphere, many nearby shops, cafés and restaurants – maybe this will be the answer which many people would give you in case you ask them for the preferred location of their new home. When you rent an apartment in Sofia, it is very important to assess what characteristics attract the different groups of people. In case you propose to rent an apartment to a group of young people who are living their life to the fullest, it is correct to suggest that they would be searching for the most central location. It does not have to be like this with young couples who are or soon will be expecting or the ones who already have kids.

However, despite the differences in age and lifestyle, everybody wants comfort. As we are getting busier everyday a comfortable location is what everyone would deeply appreciate. This is why if you rent an apartment in Sofia which is located near bus or train stations and is close to the underground, it will ease one’s movement within the city. Although the urban public transport network is pretty well developed, especially in the recent years, many people still prefer to drive around the streets by car. Especially if you have a busy schedule and need to run from one place to another quickly, in this way you will complete your daily tasks quicker. However, as you have a car, you will need a parking space, a garage or a parking area situated closely to the building, if not in front of it. When you want to rent an apartment in Sofia and you count on a good real estate agent, make sure to address all of your questions concerning location to him/her.

Whom to rent an apartment in Sofia?

It was already mentioned that depending on people’s lifestyle their preferences differ. If you are used to going out often and trying out new places around the city, when you rent an apartment in Sofia, you would like it to be situated in a central location or at least in a communicative one where there is a great choice among transport vehicles. In case you have a kid, you would like to rent an apartment in Sofia and settle somewhere near a kinder garden and a school. In case you like to practice sports outside, all of the green areas will be a plus when you want to rent an apartment in Sofia.

Once you and maybe some other people have made your choice and liked the apartment, the owner of the place has the right to choose among the candidates. Having in mind his/ her own preferences, he/ she has the final word for who will rent the apartment in Sofia.

For what price to rent an apartment in Sofia?

When you buy or rent an apartment in Sofia, the monthly price that you pay depends on several factors. Actually, in most of the cases money is the most important thing to keep in mind when making the final decision to rent an apartment in Sofia or not. When you are looking at the proposals on the real estate market, be sure to become aware of the prices of similar flats to the one that you want. This is needed so that you can make a good deal in your own interest.

When you rent an apartment in Sofia situated in a “comfortable” as described-above location, you will need to pay more. Recently, the prices are higher especially near the underground stations as currently this is the fastest way to go from one point in the city to another. However, if everything that you may need is within walking distance – congratulations! You have just made your life a lot easier! The only not so great thing is that your rent will be higher. We already made it clear how important the location can be when you rent an apartment in Sofia. Still, this is not the one and only factor which may have an impact on the rent.

Does the size matter when you rent an apartment in Sofia?

Most of the times the bigger something is – the better, the more expensive and the most wanted it is. This rule is in effect when we speak of real estates as well. When you want to rent an apartment in Sofia, you may choose what number of rooms you are searching for. Depending on this number, the apartment can be designated as a studio, a one-bedroom, a two-bedroom, a three-bedroom, a four-bedroom or a penthouse. However, keep in mind that sometimes studios located in the most central and communicative places in the city are higher in price in comparison to three-bedroom apartments in the suburbs.

In case you want to rent an apartment in Sofia on your own or together with not so many people you may be searching for a smaller place with number of rooms enough to have you there. Some prefer to rent an apartment in Sofia which is cozy and small because they find it better and more charming. Others, of course, like to rent an apartment in Sofia which is giving them more space and freedom, although sometimes they need to make a compromise with the location. On the other hand, some have big families and just have the natural need to provide themselves with a bigger number of rooms.

How important is the type of architecture when you rent an apartment in Sofia?

Recently, the technologies in all fields, including the construction of buildings, become more and more advanced. This leads to change in the architectural solutions. If you want to rent an apartment in Sofia, you will notice that there are many panel buildings everywhere in the city. If you were searching to rent an apartment in Sofia just a few years back in time, they would have been almost the only choice available. However, in the last let us say ten years, there are more and more new buildings raised, using new and different building strategy.

Usually, if you rent an apartment in Sofia in such a new building, it will have four to five floors and the alignment of the rooms will be quite different than the usual one in the panel buildings. Sometimes the price that you need to pay in order to rent an apartment in Sofia in these new buildings is higher than this for a panel apartment. Keep in mind that most of the times it does not have anything to do with the location! Considering that these buildings were built sooner in time, there is a great likelihood that no one has ever rent the apartment in Sofia before you. Despite your preferences, when you look for to rent an apartment in Sofia, we advise you to see flats built in both ways in order to make the best choice. Do not count on the stereotype that as old as the flat is, it will not make you like it!

What if you rent an apartment which needs some renovation?

Whether an apartment in Sofia needs you to think of a renovation in advance, before your fresh start living there or not is very important! Especially if someone else has been living in the flat for some time and has not kept the home well organized, that may make difference and take you more time.

Usually, when you rent an apartment in Sofia together with the initial monthly payment you have to provide a deposit tax to the owner. You will not have it back until you decide to leave the place and on the only condition that you have not broken or damaged anything inside. However, some people do that and then the newly-came renter needs to deal with the damages or live with them, if he/she does not mind. Sometimes such apartments are lower in rent than the better looking ones that are being proposed on the market. However, arranging renovation can take time and is not always preferred especially if you are in a hurry and need to rent the apartment in Sofia as quick as possible.

Do you need to provide a furnished home when you rent an apartment in Sofia?

When you rent an apartment in Sofia, it could be fully or partially furnished or completely empty. If it has everything that you need inside, what is better than that? In this way you can save extra money and put it into something else. On the other hand, when you rent an empty apartment in Sofia, you can decide how to organize the space inside on your own, you can choose the furniture yourself and make the place really yours. In this way, there are more possibilities to be creative and sometimes this helps you better to feel home and comfortable more quickly.

To sum up, when you want to rent an apartment in Sofia, you’d better be prepared with an approximate budget. When you count on a good real estate agent, you will become aware of the possible location, size, architecture and interior of the places proposed for rent on the market. Do not hesitate to ask everything that you want to know, as you may live in the chosen place for more time that you are thinking now! When you rent an apartment in Sofia make sure that its characteristics match your personal preferences and make you really feel home in order to feel happy!