Twenty-one things to consider when choosing a serviced apartment
" Location, Location, Location How far away is the nearest BTS skytrain station, MRTA subway station, expressway entrance, hospital, international school, supermarket, mini-mart, restaurant, pub, and park? Are they within walking distance? How easy is it to get a taxi? What is the rest of the neighbourhood like?
" Price Whats the rent and is it negotiable? Do you get a discount if you sign a long-term lease? Are you required to leave a deposit and how easy is it to get it back when you leave? What are the electricity and water charges? Are there frequent rate increases, late fees and charges for additional guests? For example, will you get charged extra if your Aunt Irene decides to come and stay with you for two months?
" Decor Are you happy with the apartments decor and can you re-decorate it yourself if you so desire? Some residences may not allow you to change the interior design of the rooms. So make sure to ask before you start drilling holes in the wall to hang up photos of Fido.
" The Lobby A lobby says a lot about the residence. And because its the first thing people see when they enter and the last thing they see when they are leaving; it is worth taking into consideration.
" Facilities Does the property have its own restaurant, fitness centre, swimming pool, spa, and business centre? What are their operating hours? Are they free for residents and, if not, how much will it cost you to use them? Is the equipment new, does everything work, and how crowded do they get?
" View Views can make or break any home, which is why great views come at a premium.
" Natural Lighting How much natural light does the exposure and windows provide and is it enough to fill the entire apartment during the daytime?
" Service & Friendliness Do things operate in a timely and orderly fashion? Are the staff polite and helpful? Can they speak English and are you easily understood? How long does it take to get your requests filled? Is the GM visibly on the premises and easily accessible.
" Cleanliness No need for a white glove or a magnifying glass but you might ask how often the rubbish is taken away.
" Upkeep Is the outside of the property well maintained? Take a walk around: all the way around. How often does the exterminator come? How often are the air-conditioners serviced?
" Security Are security guards, doormen and front desk personnel on duty 24-hours and do they stay awake? How easily can non-tenants gain access to the residential floors? Are there key card locks and CCTV?
" Housekeeping Is housekeeping included in the rent and, if not, how much does it cost? Also, how often will they come, what will they do while they are there, and how thorough are they?
" Pets Do you plan to bring your big, smelly, English sheep dog into an executive serviced apartment where the cheapest room goes for 100,000 baht per month? Ask first, because some posh places politely say no to life with Lassie.
" Telephone, ADSL, Cable/Satellite TV Find out what the serviced apartment has in the way of telephones, internet and television and whether or not you need to pay extra for it. For private telephone lines, find out what the baht per minute charge is. For high-speed internet access, test it out first to see how fast it really is. With cable/satellite TV, make sure you can get all your favourite channels and ask if the signal is affected during rainstorms.
" Storage Does the property provide additional storage space available for big, bulky items like little Johnnys 10-speed bike or your favourite over-sized, hard-shell suitcase?
" Special requests How far will management go to keep you happy? A good way to gauge this is by seeing how willing they are to grant your special requests.
" Square Metres Once you get all your stuff moved in and add your own personal touches, will the apartment be big enough to keep you from going crazy during the rainy season?
" Closets Does the apartment have ample closet space? Can it accommodate all of your clothes and the items you wish to store? Insufficient closet space can easily undermine an otherwise great residence.
" Garden & Playground Many residences that cater to families with children normally maintain a garden and/or childrens playground area.
" Utilities Check to make sure there is hot water in the shower/bathtub as well as all the sinks. Visit the apartment at night to find out whether the lighting is sufficient.
" Laundry Does the property provide washing machines/dryers in the rooms or do they have a laundry room? How much is the laundry service?
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