When renting an apartment for the first time, it is often hard to know what to look for. The 10 tips below offer advice on what to look for when renting.
When renting an apartment for the first time, it is often hard to know what to look for. The 10 tips below offer advice on what to look for when renting.
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Created 07/02/09
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1
Safety (Visit the neighborhood a few times – especially at night. Check out apartment rating websites and see if people complain about safety. You can also call the police department and ask for crime reports.)
2
Location (How far is the place from your workplace/college? If you plan to bike there, is it a hilly ride? Is there a bus line that passes through the apartment complex? If you plan to drive your car to your workplace/college everyday, how is the traffic? How far is the apartment complex from places that you frequent often – such as grocery stores, malls, banks, etc.?)
3
Price (Obviously a very important factor, but cheaper does not automatically equal better. Price should be viewed relative to other factors.)
4
Landlord (Is the landlord friendly and welcoming? Is he or she responsive to emails or concerns? The quality of landlord contact now might be a great predictor for contact later.)
5
Age of Apartment (Is the apartment old or new? This is a very important factor. If an apartment is too old, you might find yourself calling the property manager more often than you would like asking to get stuff fixed.)
6
Amenities (Does it have a washer and dryer? A gym? Hardwood floors? Ample storage space? Think about all the amenities you care about and make sure they are available.)
7
Tenants (Look around the apartment complex and try to find out about the tenants as much as possible – are they loud? Do they leave trash out by their doors? It is also helpful to see how the landlord screens for tenants. If the screening process is too lenient, you might find yourself not being too fond of your neighbors.)
8
Utilities (Are you expected to pay for all your utilities? This is an important question to consider, as the answer tends to vary from property manager to property manager. Try to find out how much you are expected to pay for utilities by asking how much previous tenants pay on average and researching the energy company.)
9
Lease Terms (Are you expected to get rental insurance? What happens if you break a lease? Can you sign a 9 month lease? What happens if you don’t pay your rent on time? If you have roommates, can each of you get separate leases?)
10
Pet Policy (Will they allow your favorite pet to move in with you? How much will they make you pay for it? Even if you do not have a dog/cat now, you might consider it in the future.)
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