Apartment hunting tips?
- Thread starter Katrina
- Start date
What type of neighbors are sharing the same area of living(are they quiet and trustworthy, basically), does it include a washer/dryer or at least a hookup/laundry room, how close stores are for shopping, and of course last but not least the cost.
The first thing I would look for is reviews online by searching "apartment complex + reviews" . If the reviews were generally reasonable, tenents sounded positive or at least neutral about management, and if the photos online looked promising, then I would schedule a walkthrough. This is obviously considering things like budget, the neighborhood, and other needs/wants.
The walkthrough is important because it gives you a chance to see how clean the complex is. Are the grounds maintained? Are the hallways between units swept? Some places will take you to the show unit, but you can ask to see the unit you're interested in renting. Then I'd find out how recently it got new carpets and paint, and get a chance to inspect things. Honestly, I wouldn't rent from a place that wouldn't let me walk through the unit I would be renting.
I would test A) my phone signal in the unit, B) that the plumbing worked (and satisfactorily), C) that the lights worked, and D) that the locks on the outside doors worked. Also would look for signs of pests, like feces, damage around the floorboards (gnaw marks), and dead bugs -- especially in the cupboards and closets.
If everything looked good and I was ready to sign, I'd take the lease paperwork home so I could read it over thoroughly. Sometimes there's sneaky stuff in there, like extra charges and rules about your deposit. Always read the paperwork.
Oh, and if you can avoid it, don't have an upstairs neighbor! Nothing worse than someone stomping around at 3am while you're trying to sleep.
The walkthrough is important because it gives you a chance to see how clean the complex is. Are the grounds maintained? Are the hallways between units swept? Some places will take you to the show unit, but you can ask to see the unit you're interested in renting. Then I'd find out how recently it got new carpets and paint, and get a chance to inspect things. Honestly, I wouldn't rent from a place that wouldn't let me walk through the unit I would be renting.
I would test A) my phone signal in the unit, B) that the plumbing worked (and satisfactorily), C) that the lights worked, and D) that the locks on the outside doors worked. Also would look for signs of pests, like feces, damage around the floorboards (gnaw marks), and dead bugs -- especially in the cupboards and closets.
If everything looked good and I was ready to sign, I'd take the lease paperwork home so I could read it over thoroughly. Sometimes there's sneaky stuff in there, like extra charges and rules about your deposit. Always read the paperwork.
Oh, and if you can avoid it, don't have an upstairs neighbor! Nothing worse than someone stomping around at 3am while you're trying to sleep.
That will be a lot of fun for you!
Usually this is mandatory for any landlord to have in their rental property.
I just got out of an apartment 6 months ago and I will never go back. Renting is not for me.
You want to make sure that the complex fixes repairs in timely manner.
Look up real reviews and you should absolutely knock on other's doors and ask them how they like living there and how long they have been there and that you are interested in becoming a tenant. They will give you a God honest truth.
Ask yourself if the place is worth what you will be paying in rent.
Can you afford it? Factor in the other costs of living such as water bill, electricity bill, maintenance dues (if any), internet bill, cable TV (if any), etc. These things add up and you need to be ready to afford it.
All good tips! We moved our daughter into her apartment in the city over the weekend and the bad part about living in the city is the parking...it's difficult finding a spot! My daughter will find out once there is a good ice storm why a garage is a nice luxury to have 😉
A garage is the best thing that ever happened to me... You don't truly appreciate it until you're scraping ice off your windshield, you're already freezing cold, and you're late to work.
Sometimes that added expense is really worth it!
Last winter I went outside to scrape my daughter's car while she got ready for work because I'm a homemaker and had time to do it for her. Maybe she should start a new business in the city of getting people to pay her to scrape cars in the morning?? That could really work!
I have been in this business for a long time - I bought my first apartment at the age of 21 and it was not a big apartment of 35 square meters. Now I buy apartments and rent them out - so I have already bought 7 apartments, 2 of the last apartment in Miami. For me, an apartment is primarily an investment.
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