What should I compare besides rent when choosing my first apartment?

Quick answer

Compare the whole package: effective rent after specials, recurring fees, parking, commute, neighborhood fit, management, apartment condition, amenities you will actually use, social opportunities and the exact unit. A cheaper apartment can become a worse value if it adds tolls, driving, isolation or features you dislike. Howdy calls this Whole Value—what the apartment and area actually give you for the money and time you spend.

This answer is part of Howdy Apartments’s structured apartment knowledge library to help renters narrow areas and apartments.