Along with the classic limitations of location and budget, renters tend to have specific preferences when searching for an apartment. But what exactly are they looking for? Do they value hardwood floors over designated parking spots? Is a roof deck really a selling point? We looked at which amenities Zumper users nationwide searched for the most, and you might be surprised by what we found.
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Renters like to keep it cool. A large part of the U.S. gets hit with hot temperatures throughout the summer, but a cooling system isn’t required by law in every state. So, it makes sense that air conditioning was the most-searched amenity across the board on Zumper.
Doing laundry can be a relaxing chore or a huge nuisance; it really depends on where you have to go to clean your clothes. Having an in-unit washer and dryer makes doing laundry easy: throw your dirty clothes in, binge a show on Netflix, and only getting up to switch your clothes from the washer to the dryer. Before you know it, your laundry is dry and ready to go.
Hand washing dishes is a thing of the past, and we’re all pretty thankful for that. Still, it’s somewhat surprising that dishwashers ranked in the top 10 most-searched amenities among renters, considering they fall more in the “nice-things-to-have” category than the “must-have” category.
Raise your hand if you like going to the laundromat. Anyone? Everyone has to do laundry and having a washer and dryer at your apartment complex is a huge convenience to renters who would otherwise have to spend hours elsewhere just to clean their clothes. While it’s not as luxurious as in-unit laundry, having a laundry room on site is still a highly desirable amenity for renters.
Picture this: you drive home after a long day of work only to find you have to circle the block for 30 minutes just to find a parking spot. Renters love knowing they have a specific, assigned parking spot for their car no matter what time or day of the week it is–and we don’t blame them.
Like most of the country sees high temps in the summer, the same can be said for very cold winters. Having a heating system is required in all states, but it doesn’t have to be central heat. Having a central heating system is preferred by renters, though, and makes our top 10 most-searched amenities.
The rise of the renters’ generation is real, meaning more millennials are moving between cities–and they’re moving fairly often. For someone who’s constantly moving, lugging furniture from one spot to the next is inconvenient. Furnished apartments offer renters the benefit of not having to hire movers to get their belongings to their new place.
Who doesn’t want a place to lay out and catch some rays, start a small garden, or read outside on a nice day? Balconies are perfect for all of these things, and require minimal maintenance given their size. Again though, it’s a bit surprising that it made the most-searched list, since it’s also usually thought of as a “nice to have”, but not “must-have” amenity.
Next to an assigned parking spot, garage parking is the next best thing for renters. While this option doesn’t designate renters an exact space, a parking garage still offers ample places to park and allows for guest parking in the spare spots, too.
As experienced renters know all too well, carpets can absorb wine, coffee, and lots of dirt. They’re difficult to clean and it’s hard to know what previous renters left on them. Renters see hardwood floors as the cleaner, easier, and safer option compared to carpets.
Notable Mentions
Top 10 Runner Up: Just missing the list of the 10 most-searched amenities, and landing in the #11 spot, was…drum roll please…a ceiling fan. It’s small but mighty, and in places where summer sees high temperatures, it’s a major perk.
Most Interesting Self-Typed Search: The award for the “Most Interesting Self-Typed Search” goes to Chicago renters for typing in, and searching for, “jacuzzi”. While this isn’t a filter we (currently) have, that hasn’t stopped Chicagoans from trying their darnedest to make it happen. We see you, Chicago.
Least-Searched Amenities
On the other hand, what do renters care about the least when it comes to their rental? These 5 amenities ranked at the bottom of Zumper renters’ searches: 
While these might seem like nice amenities to have in an apartment or complex, renters tend to stick to the basics when looking for their next place, and the top 10 most-searched amenities are fairly consistent in many cities nationwide.
Here are the most popular amenities, broken down by select cities.
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