How to Find the Perfect Apartment!

Number one:

Decide at home, before making the first phone call, exactly what you want. First, what is your price range? As a general rule of thumb, your rent should not exceed 1/3rd of your total gross income. Secondly, what is the time frame within which you need to move? Availability is a big factor in the pricing and even in the quality of service you will receive from the leasing agent. May through August is the major season for moving, and if you can move off season you will find a larger selection of apartments at reduced prices or with move-in specials.

Number Two:

Decide what features are must-haves, and which are preferences. Beware carpet, as it is one of the most common reasons that security deposits are not returned, and require extra care from the renter. Now that you have a rough paper draft of what you are looking for, begin looking at the ads. Apartment guides and news papers ads are worth skimming, but realize that the apartment complexes offering the big glossy ad’s are never going to be the best deal. Private owner properties almost always have lower rents, less fees, and less restrictive policies. They can also be less responsive when it comes to maintenance requests, so when you become interested in an apartment try to research the management company as well. Craigslist is an excellent place to search for an apartment, as well as simply driving around your desired neighborhood looking for ‘for rent’ signs.

When touring the apartment, make sure you ask:

What are the lease terms? Ask for a disclosure of all fees and deposits. Make sure you understand exactly what utilities you will be responsible for, and if laundry is in unit, in building, or down the street. Ask about policies regarding pets and children as they pertain to you. Ask their policy for lease breakage and maintenance. Emergency maintenance is also a nice feature. Not all leasing agents have the power to negotiate, but a lot of them do, so it may be worth your time to act less than impressed (But never be rude or overly critical) to see if you draw the offer of a concession or a waived fee from the agent in an attempt to close the deal.

Once in the apartment, make sure to check:

The number and location of outlets and phone jacks. Always check water pressure of both the shower and the toilet flush. I had an apartment once that was almost perfect except for the tiny little spray of dribble I had to shower in for a year. Open cabinets and drawers, look in the oven. It doesn’t even hurt to knock on walls to test their thickness. If in an urban location, make sure to ask where the closest hospital is—landing on an ambulance route can make for an apartment nightmare. If the apartment seems to be the closest to the specifications you made out on paper before hand, Step away from the leasing consultant to consult with your moral support (if available). Never make the decision without leaving the presence of the leasing agent for a brief period, the power of sales people on even savvy consumers can be quite persuasive. If it is go, return to the leasing consultant and ask if there is a time period of refundability on the deposit required to take the apartment off of the market. Most places offer this. If the deposit is refundable within a certain period of time, put it down immediately. While the deposit is still refundable, it is time to do the last leg of your research. 1. If you are paying for utilities, call the utilities companies and ask for an average bill.

IMPORTANT:

Make sure you know how long the unit has been vacant. Aside from the sales advantage of knowing that a unit has been on the market for a while (it means that you are in a good position to negotiate if that is an option) you really need this information to make sure the numbers quoted to you by the utility company are accurate. More than one renter has moved in on the promise of low utility bills, only to find out that those numbers came from when the apartment was vacant and unused. This is another good reason, if utilities are not included, to check the age of the windows and heating and cooling systems, and to factor in the height of your ceilings.

If you originally viewed your apartment building in the day, make sure you drive by at night. Conversely if you toured your apartment in the evening, make sure you drive by during the day. I once rented an apartment that looked perfectly safe at night, only to find out that during the day people sat out on there stoops all day and drank alcohol.

If the deposit is immediately non-refundable, I recommend doing this research before putting down money, unless you are hunting in a very competitive housing market. If everything pans out, ask if you can get a better deal. We are often raised that this is not polite, but often times there are specials or discounts available if requested, and if not, you are not the worse off for asking. Welcome Home!