Apartment Hunting: A Checklist for the Kitchen

We get a little smarter - and pickier - about what we look for in a kitchen every time we move. During this last round of apartment hunting, we came up with a list of things we wanted to check, consider, and evaluate in every kitchen we saw. Take a look at the things we thought were important!

None of these things are actually deal-breakers by themselves, but rather they help give us an overall picture of the kitchen. Asking ourselves these questions as we walk through helps us to visualize ourselves there. We also tend to see what's great and overlook the not-so-great (or vise versa!), so going over the list gives us an objective view.

• How is the counter space? - Is there enough space for appliances? Will there still be room to work? Will the counters be easy to clean?

• How is the storage space? - Will everything fit in here? Would supplemental shelves be needed? Where would things go?

• How is the general layout? - Does it make sense? Is there a logical place for everything? Where are the fridge, oven, and workspace in relation to each other?

• How is the light? - Is there a window? How's the overhead light? Would there be enough light to work by at night? Is the stove area well-lit?

• How are the aesthetics? - Would this be a pleasant place to cook? What are the cupboards and counters made of? Does this kitchen feel cared for?

• How would it be to entertain in this kitchen? - Would it be crowded? Is there only room for the cook? Does the kitchen feel isolated? Is this good or bad?

• Check the appliances - Do they function? What kind of stove is provided?

• How close is the nearest grocery store?

What other factors do you consider when evaluating an apartment kitchen?

(Image: Flickr member ndanger licensed under Creative Commons)

Comments (14)

After living in a place that had many cupboards, but discovering after I moved in that half of them fronted what must have been a chimney at some point, and were therefore only about 6 cm deep, I check the depth of ALL the cupboards.

I think the most important thing is that I can afford the rent!

After that, the most important thing would be a decent sized, relatively new fridge, with a real freezer. Given that my current kitchen has no counters, only one real cabinet, a tiny stove and room for one person...I've found can work with pretty much nothing.

A hood for the stove, especially if it's a small kitchen/apartment, or at least nice big windows for ventilation.

Counter space can be made, so if you don't have enough, just make sure there's room for a kitchen cart or small table.

Check the wiring. I once lived in an apartment in an old building with a system that would conk out whenever we used the microwave. It was SO aggravating.

And this is not a deal-breaker, necessarily, but you should also check if there are enough electrical outlets and that they're in convenient or logical places.

Dishwasher, garbage disposal. My aparment now has the former, not the latter. But it has enough space (both counter and living) to make up for the lack of a garbage disposal.

I'd have to add working outlets to your list. i have a spacious kitchen with lots of counter space but the outlets on the wall with the counter do not work so i've had to aquire pieces to set my appliances on in order to use them. i didn't even bother getting a microwave b/c of the lack of acceptable places to put it!

I second the garbage disposal and dishwasher mention. I have both now, however a lack of counter space and storage. Would be great to have another cupboard or a full pantry and an extra foot of counter space. Or, just a whole new kitchen really. I dream!

I know next time I move I'll be paying attention to the faucet. My new rental house is a period bungalow so the kitchen is small enough that there's no room for a dishwasher (or at least the landlord didn't want to sacrifice the cabinets or drawers to put one in) this doesn' bug me too much, I grew up without a dishwasher, so it always seemed a luxury in the apts I rented before. The sink is small, but that too is not really the issue, it's the faucet which is something I'd never thought about useability wise. Now that I've been here a few months I'm plotting to just replace the kitchen sink faucet without asking permission (because I'd cry if he said no) because it's so low that it makes it next to impossible to clean large pans or bowls and since there's no sprayer I've no option. All it needs is a nice high arc and it would be the perfect sink for the space.

A gas stove and a full size oven are definitely on my list of kitchen prerequisites.

Whoa...is the floor slanted or something. The fridge and the stove and counters appear not to be on the same plane.

This is part of the layout question, but: Can you load the dishwasher while standing at the sink?

I agree when we moved into our first house we thought a lot about what things we wanted in our kitchen. In our other kitchens they were no more than a galley kitchen. No space to barely turn and one had no space even for a dining table. Now I have way too much space. Most of my cabinets are empty. I assume as the years go on I will fill them. But so far I have most of what I need for my cooking needs. Before I barely had a hand mixer. I had no room even for a spice rack at first. And now I have that plus my favorite of all the Kitchen Aid Copper colored stand mixer. A Double Oven. And best of all tons of space to chop and prepare my meals. If you had seen my first apartment you would see that I barely had space to make a frozen pizza.

Here's one regarding layout - I have a galley kitchen with about 3 feet separating the two sides. The problem is that the stove/oven is directly across from the fridge. Overall it's not that bad, but when the oven is on and I have to open the door to add/remove items it heats up the area. Now if i subsequently open the fridge, it heats up the fridge thus increasing my electricity bill.

Next time - make sure the fridge and oven have enough separation.

We bought our first house without realizing the cabinets were so high that even at 5'8" I need a step stool to reach the second shelf and that the gas stove (and fridge) were grouted to the counter!

Combined with a cracked tile floor hiding a beautiful wide pine plank floor, a dishwasher hogging all of the below counter storage (blocking a blind corner), and windows that are partially blocked by the fridge and corner cabinet, I'm counting down to a complete gut-and-renovation (with a dish drawer beneath the sink to free up much needed storage space elsewhere)!

I second the comment about too-high cabinets and cupboards (though I'm only 5'1" so a step stool is a necessary evil in my kitchen :)

Also, not sure if this is a common issue but I currently only have a single sink in the kitchen. I'll definitely be looking for a double in the next place - makes washing large amounts of dishes at a time a huge pain.