The Foreign Service Journal, January 2006

Are guest rooms or apartments available to rent on the compound in case you have overnight visitors? Another consideration: a relatively new establish- ment will have younger, more active residents, and — on a realistic, actuarial note — more men about. Ceiling heights seem to vary from floor to floor, so you will want to know whether the apartment model you buy will have the same height as the model you vis- ited. On the whole, rooms in retirement living estab- lishments are not spacious, so you will want to measure your furniture, rugs and pictures against the square footage of apartments under consideration. Find out what extent of alteration and remodeling is permitted: you may want to remove a partition, build in bookcases, add hardwood floors, enlarge a kitchen. In this connection, there is a distinct advantage in looking at a facility that is new and under construction, or being remodeled, as you can then prescribe configuration, colors, window treatment and so forth. Storage is at a premium. Most senior living facilities have a storage cubby for each apartment in the basement or garage, usually about 4’ by 4’ by 8’. Fancier apart- ments feature walk-in closets, but take a realistic look at how much storage space you will actually have for clothes, books, pots and pans, skis, suitcases, etc. As mentioned earlier, retirement living implies paring down. It is important to inquire closely about just what expenses are included and not included in monthly fees. For example, if a certain number of meals are included (as they almost certainly will be), to what extent are these transferable to guests, and to what extent can they be held over to the next month if you are away on a trip? What in-apartment maintenance of appliances, electri- cal or plumbing systems is included, if any? Are any state or local taxes left to be paid separately? Finally, check what restrictions may exist on your abili- ty to sell or to sublease. Are you required to list through the management of the facility (what are the transaction/ commission fees?), or can you retain your own realtor? Good luck! n F O C U S J A N U A R Y 2 0 0 6 / F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L 55 * per night, single or double occupancy subject to availability Y our search is over, choose a hotel where the federal per diem rate is available year-round. * t Luxurious Suites t All rooms with full size kitchen & stove tops t Fitness center t Complimentary in-room coffee t Full service restaurant t Parking available t Across fromMain State t White House, The Mall, and Metro Foggy Bottom station (blue & orange lines) within walking distance Accommodations State Plaza Hotel 2117 E. St. NW Washington, DC 20037 Telephone: (800) 424-2859 (202) 861-8200 Parking Available Rated HHH 1 / 2 by AAA www.stateplaza.com E-mail: reservations@stateplaza.com