We would recommend that you visit a property during rush hours and also the hottest part of the day before making any final decision. A road that, at first sight, may seem to be quiet and off the beaten track can turn out to be every Athenian's ideal short cut when trying to dodge early morning/late afternoon traffic. Big picture windows let in plenty of light but also plenty of heat if they are west facing. It is also a good idea to avoid properties that are surrounded by empty plots of land. Your prospective landlord may assure you that they are not going to be built on but he cannot guarantee this and you may find yourself waking up one Saturday morning at 7am to the sound of the bulldozers and months of noise and dust.

The orientation of your property is important. Those that face north and east get the cold wind in the winter and little sunlight. Those that face west get the afternoon sun and, although this keeps the place warm in the winter, in the summer they get unbearably hot and air-conditioning is a must. Properties that face south have the sun above them for most of the day in the summer. Therefore, if you are considering living in a top floor apartment you should verify that it is well insulated, otherwise it will be very hot in the summer and very cold in the winter.

If you are renting an apartment in a built-up area, consideration should be given to the proximity of the balconies. During the summer months, Greeks tend to live on their balconies and you could find yourself listening to endless Greek news broadcasts or soap operas on very loud TV sets. It should also be noted that older Greek properties have very little, if no, noise insulation. Every thing that your neighbours do may carry through the walls or ceilings to you and vice versa.

Noise is also a problem when it comes to Siesta time 14:30 - 17:30. If you have small children you should avoid neighbours who will object strongly to the slightest sound you make during these hours. A swimming pool may seem ideal for the summer until you realise that your neighbours will not let you swim in it when they are having their siesta. Greeks will not hesitate to call the police if they get annoyed with you. If you have children, check on the distance to the nearest park/play area so that they can play there during siesta time if they are not used to sleeping during the afternoon.

It is a good idea to look for a property that has solar water heating. Many older properties do not have solar panels but most new buildings do. Solar heating guarantees unlimited hot water in the summer and this will decrease your annual water-heating bill considerably. If you do not have a solar panel, an electric immersion heater will heat your water, which is costly. Check also that the water tank is well maintained and that its capacity is large enough for your family's needs.

When you visit a property, make sure you check on the heating system. Many old apartments have communal as opposed to independent heating systems. If the heating is communal you should find out how many hours a day the heating is turned on and bear in mind that your neighbours may not want the heating on at the same time as you do and vice versa. Communal heating is also a disadvantage if you are considering an apartment on the top/bottom floors as they are generally colder than the others in the building. Heating is also less effective on upper floors and, if the system is only on for a few hours, by the time radiators have heated on the top floors the system has been turned off again.