Recently, we asked the BuzzFeed Community to share their beige flags when searching for a house or apartment to rent. And for those who have no idea what a "beige flag" actually is, it's pretty much something you consider strange but not exactly a dealbreaker. Here's what they had to say:
1. "Close proximity to the pool, gym, dog park, or basketball court. It's great if you use any of those things, but noisy and busy if/when you don't."
2. "Not enough lighting. I wish I had lighting to have plants, but the sun doesn't ever come through any window."
3. "Road noise. I grew up near a freeway, so it doesn't bother me at all."
4. "Outdated decor. I once lived in a place that was stuck in the '80s. It was covered in carpet, had a cheap chandelier, and featured an entire mirrored wall."
5. "Built-in shelves and desks. It just makes it more difficult to rearrange your spaces."
6. "Any kind of flicker from the lights."
—Anonymous
7. "Garbage valet. Great service in apartments, but it makes the halls and walkways have a lingering scent of trash, so gross!"
8. "Open floor plans. I always thought an open floor plan would be great because I would be able to see everything. It sucks! I hate hearing the dishwasher when I am trying to watch my TV show. I want walls! I want my kitchen to be separate from my living and dining room."
—Anonymous
9. "The smell and quality of the hallways in an apartment complex."
10. "The entrance hatches to the attic and crawl space should be easily accessible from a room not requiring a great deal of privacy. In my house, both of them are in the sole bedroom. It didn't dawn on me how much of a problem that would be until maintenance workers needed access to both of them."
—Anonymous
11. "I'm not that tall, but as a long-haired woman, many apartments have shower heads that are too low or immovable, and I get neck aches trying to wash my hair."
12. "Light switches painted over."
—Anonymous
13. "Balconies. I had several as a renter, and even though I had a bistro set on every one, I rarely used it. Too hot, cold, and too conspicuous."
14. "While a history of bedbugs or other pests shouldn't necessarily constitute a hard pass, the landlord's responsiveness to that issue can make or break the deal. Rent at your own risk if the landlord tries to hide it altogether, dismisses it as 'no big deal,' blames or shames the afflicted tenants, or places the full financial responsibility for treatment on them."
—Anonymous
15. "The whole place is painted white. To me, it's a sign of an absentee landlord."
16. "Homes with yards. Great for pets and recreation, but a lot of work and equipment to maintain or expensive to pay someone else to do."
—Anonymous
Do you agree with these beige flags when looking for a new place to live? Share your own beige flags in the comments!
Note: Some responses have been edited for length and/or clarity.