The expert reveals what is important for women when choosing a new place to live?

Observations made by housing experts reveal interesting trends that show women's careful approach to choosing a new place to live. From the availability of small gardens to safety, women pay attention to many factors in order to ensure not only a comfortable, but also a cozy and pleasant environment for themselves and their loved ones. What nuances do women pay attention to when choosing and buying an apartment, explains Inese Berga, Sales Consultant of "Merks mājas”. 

Closeness to nature and desire for small gardens 

When choosing a new place to live, women try to find a way to combine the seemingly incompatible things, but they often succeed at it. In a conversation with apartment sales specialists, women often state that they want to live in an apartment located near the centre of Riga or the old town, preferably with a closed area that would create a sense of privacy. In such cases, townhouse apartments are an excellent alternative – they are located on the first floor of the building, so they come available with the adjacent green area. It is also important for women to have one of the city's parks or water bodies nearby, as well as to enjoy a small garden that can be used as a recreation area or to grow organic produce. Taking into account that it is still possible to connect the seemingly incompatible, the sales team of the new projects invites you to share your wishes and needs in order to find the most suitable place to live. 

Easy access to the home with baby strollers and the availability of elevators

Especially in the first months of the child's life, women are most often the ones who go on childcare leave and therefore spend most of the day with the child, including going for walks. I. Berga admits that one of the most popular questions from women during the inspection of apartments is regarded to the availability of an elevator from the basement to the apartment, making sure that it is convenient to get to the apartment with strollers and shopping bags; also, women inquire about the availability of separate storage for baby strollers. Elevator accessibility is important not only for new parents, but also for the elderly and people with mobility impairments. That is why the project's solutions focus on the creation of quality living spaces for every potential home owner.

Separate householding area 

When considering different apartment options, women pay attention to whether there is additional space available in the apartment, which would allow to better separate the aesthetic and technical areas of the apartment, which is important not only for owners of private houses, but also for apartment owners. It would be intended, for example, for placing a washing machine and a tumble dryer, as well as for storing household cleaning products, which are usually located in the bathrooms or kitchens.

Two bathrooms 

The bathroom is not only a practical room in the home, but also an emotionally and spiritually important room where you can be alone, relax after a long day or prepare for important events. When choosing a new place to live, women hope to realize their dream of two bathrooms. One that is located right next to the bedroom and another that is intended for other family members or guests. This is a global trend that is also entering Latvia, so the developers of new apartment projects take into account the wishes of customers and have provided two bathrooms in apartments with at least three rooms, which are especially appreciated by both women and men.

A spacious living room or room for work

When choosing a new home, women carefully evaluate the daily rhythm and daily habits of the family. For example, if working days are mostly spent at home, working remotely – apartments with a separate room for setting up a cabinet are preferred. In other cases, apartments with a spacious living room are chosen in order not only to fully relax with the family, but also to receive guests. 

Feeling of safety in the apartment and in the neighbourhood

A safe environment is important for everyone; however, it has been observed that women are more often interested in both the general security of the building, including the provision of video surveillance cameras, and the general "climate" of the neighbourhood. Women want to feel safe in the environment in which they will live, also taking care of the overall safety of their family.  Also, when thinking about a long-term place of residence, women also evaluate the safety of their children in the future, finding out the nearest road crossings, the child's potential path to school, places of extracurricular activities or other places where the children could eventually go alone.