How to Convert Residential Lots to Apartment Lots in "the Sims 2"

The creation of the Sims 2 Apartment Life left many players ready and eager to build condos and apartments. Finally players could have multiple families under one roof but still have them live separate lives. But if you're dreaming of creating your own apartment instead of the pre-made ones that come with the game, you've got to take action.

Make sure you've built your apartment correctly in a residential lot first. This includes having the apartment door facing the correct way and making sure there are no other exit doors in the apartment--even balconies should be closed in. The place should also have the basics such as hardware that would normally be found in an unfurnished apartment and absolutely no Sims should be living on the lot. Move them all out before the conversion.

Access the cheat window by pressing control, shift and the letter C simultaneously. The box will show up in the upper-left corner of the screen.

Type "changeLotZoning apartmentbase" and press enter. Look for an error code to pop up on the screen. If you receive an error code, this means you have another entrance or exit to the apartment or you've made an error with the apartment door. Look at each apartment carefully to make sure neither of these mistakes have been made.

If you type the cheat code and the screen stays as-is without a pop-up, you've correctly changed the lot zoning. Save the game and then exit to the neighborhood. From the neighborhood view, you should see the apartment icon--a square, rotating symbol, above the building. When Sims are moved into the apartment, the residential mailbox should then become an apartment, multi-stacked mailbox, showing the conversion was complete.