6 “Beige Flags” You’ll Spot While Touring an Apartment

You know red flags, you know green flags, but have you heard of beige flags? These are things that aren’t inherently good or bad, but rather are inoffensive features you might pause to consider if they’re eventually going to be dealbreakers. In a home or apartment, this could be something like a carport instead of a garage, or two bedrooms right next to one another.

I spoke to real estate agent Angela Carrasco to get her input on what renters should look out for as far as beige flags go when they’re searching for an apartment to rent. And remember, while these may be beige flags for some of you, they might not be for others. “The shade of ‘beige’ depends on personal choice, need, and lifestyle,” Carrasco says.

This is potentially great — and potentially not so great. If you have kids, it’s perfect to have a school nearby for them to attend. But if you don’t, you might not want to be around kids screaming at recess, or to deal with the traffic at the beginning and end of school days, Carrasco points out.

This applies to apartments in two different ways: Either there aren’t enough windows in general, or you might be looking at a garden apartment with smaller windows. If you’re fine with a lack of natural light, it might not be a big deal. But if you have a lot of plants or love sitting in the sun, it’s something to think about.

Apartments and rentals can come with some interesting layouts, from a living room being used as a bedroom to a studio with just a Murphy bed. It’s always great to have enough rooms for everyone who needs one, but consider who you’re living with and the placement of the bedrooms themselves (including how thin the walls are between those bedrooms).

Carrasco says this can be fun on the surface, with easy access to nearby bars, restaurants, and shops a quick drive or walk to pretty much anywhere you need. Remember, though, that you’ll need to consider traffic and noise levels.

I live in a building with no garage. And while I thought that would be fine when I moved in, it turns out that I can’t stand parking on the street — especially after I bought my new car. What was originally a beige flag for me became a red flag over time.

Plenty of people love a good vintage-style home, with older appliances and fixtures that have a retro charm. The trouble comes in when those old things break sooner and may need more maintenance than newer items. The good news is that maintenance is your landlord’s problem.