Renting an apartment can be both great and challenging at the same time. If you’re someone who rents an apartment, you know that it can be hard to find the right place to rent, and can also be quite stressful when searching for your next apartment to live in.
In order to make things easier on yourself, read this article with some good property renting tips so that you don’t make any mistakes when looking for your next apartment to live in.
Research the Area
Before you even think about looking for an apartment, make sure to do some thorough research. You want to be able to make an informed decision when signing a lease. Look at comparable rental prices in your area and find out what kinds of amenities are there in your prospective buildings.
This way, you won’t stuck in a pricey neighborhood or building with few extra perks. Also, remember that apartments might be more expensive closer to downtown areas and less expensive farther away. If you’re planning on commuting to work, consider how far you’ll have to travel every day and how much time it will take before deciding where to live.
There is no point paying a premium if it will add hours to your daily commute! Finally, make sure to check online reviews from past tenants to see what they had to say about their experiences living there. You can often spot red flags in their comments—for example, poor maintenance or unreasonable rent increases—that can help steer you toward other options.
What Type Of Community do you want to Live In?
A good place to start is by defining what you want in an apartment. Do you have a car? Do you need to be close to public transportation?
Are you looking for a doorman or on-site amenities like a pool or gym? Will having a roommate help defray some of your costs? Those are just some of the things to consider when choosing where to live.
If it’s possible, walk through prospective apartments during the day and night, especially if you don’t drive. This will give you a better idea of how well they’re maintained and whether they feel safe after dark.
It also helps to get a sense of their surrounding neighborhoods—are there lots of families around? How busy is it at night? Is there easy access to shopping or other conveniences nearby? You might even find that some areas aren’t as safe as others, so keep that in mind as well.
How Much Is The Deposit?
Before you start a new apartment search, you’ll want to decide how much of a deposit you’re willing to put down. This will help narrow your choices and save you time when looking for places. Your budget should also dictate how long it takes to save up enough money to cover your security deposit; more expensive apartments can cost several months’ rent!
If you know you need to spend $1,000 on an apartment, try saving $100 per month until you have enough cash saved up. That way, if something comes up or if there are extra costs during your lease term (like unexpected maintenance), you won’t be stuck with a hefty bill at renewal time.
Keep in mind that some landlords require first and last month’s rent along with a security deposit. You may need to adjust your savings accordingly.
Get Financing Approval
Before you start looking for apartments, it’s a good idea to get approval for financing. This gives you a nice safety net of funds in case your dream apartment is out of your price range. It also helps avoid lengthy and costly lease negotiations on an apartment that’s above or below your budget.
Make sure you know what types of financial assistance are available to you as well, such as government housing vouchers or down payment assistance programs. You can find all of these resources online at places like HUD.gov and USDA.gov.
This sounds obvious but always read through your entire lease before signing anything. Even if you think you understand it completely, there could be fine print hidden in there that changes everything.
Things to Consider When Looking At Apartments
Even though you’re not buying a home, that doesn’t mean you should rush into renting an apartment. Remember, it will likely be your home for at least a year, so take some time to make sure it’s perfect for you.
First and foremost, think about what you need in an apartment. Do you want to live in a city center or are suburbs more your style? How many bedrooms do you need? What kind of amenities are important to you? Think about these questions and others before looking at apartments and set yourself up for success by knowing exactly what type of place you want.
Focus on Finding Places
This way, you can focus on finding places that meet your needs instead of wasting time seeing places with undesirable features. Also keep in mind that when you rent an apartment rather than buy a house, there may be restrictions on things like painting walls or hanging pictures. Make sure to check with your landlord beforehand!
What to look for in a Lease: There are tons of different rental options out there—how do you know which one is right for you? One way to figure it out is by looking at your lease. Every lease will be a little bit different, but in general, you’ll want to make sure that it includes things like a security deposit (usually equal to one month’s rent), a late fee (if applicable), and information about how long your lease lasts.
You should also read through your lease carefully and make sure that everything makes sense. Make sure that you understand all fees associated with breaking your lease before signing anything! It’s also important to remember that when renting an apartment, you don’t own any of its contents.
This means that if something breaks, you may have to pay for repairs or replacements. If possible, try to negotiate these terms into your lease so that you won’t have unexpected costs popping up down the road. Other Things to Consider When Moving into Your New Place: Once you’ve found a place and signed a lease, it’s time to move in! Be sure to ask your landlord about moving-in procedures beforehand so that you can get moved in as quickly as possible.
Application Process
Make sure you have copies of all your paperwork before you go to see a place. Bring at least three copies of your references (if required), employment verification, and credit reports. Most landlords will ask for proof that you can pay rent on time every month, so having a few months of bank statements showing direct deposits is crucial. Some may also ask for proof that you are employed full-time or part-time—employment confirmation letters or pay stubs will suffice.
Show your Social Security card, driver’s license, and any other documentation that proves who you are. Lastly, if you’re applying with a pet, be sure to bring along any paperwork proving they’ve been spayed/neutered and vaccinated against rabies. If possible, it’s best to do an in-person walkthrough of a rental property before signing anything.
This way you can get a feel for how big it is, what kind of neighborhood it’s in, etc. If it seems too good to be true…it probably is! Walk away from any deal that sounds like something out of an infomercial.
Background Check
Before you sign a lease, make sure to thoroughly investigate your potential landlord and their property. If they have a history of taking good care of their other tenants, chances are they’ll take good care of you. Google search them. Look up reviews on sites like Yelp and Zillow.
And be sure to check out whether or not they have any lawsuits or evictions against them. All of these things can help give you an idea of what kind of experience you might expect if you move in.
Keys, Deposits, and Pets
Before you put any money down on a property, find out about things like whether you’ll need to provide your own house keys and whether or not there’s a pet deposit. These may seem like small fees but they can often be hundreds of dollars each, so know what you’re getting into before handing over your cash.
Also, don’t forget to ask if pets are allowed; while many landlords don’t mind having furry friends around, some have restrictions that could mean you have to say goodbye to your beloved cat or dog. Also, make sure you check with your landlord if it is okay for guests to stay at your place without asking first. Most properties will allow it but it never hurts to double-check.
And remember, just because you’ve signed a lease doesn’t mean you can move in right away—in fact, it could take anywhere from several days to several weeks before you get your keys. Be patient!
Who Should Pay For Utilities?
Typically, you’ll split these costs on a prorated basis based on how long each of you has lived there. For example, if one person has been in an apartment for five months and another has lived there for two years that second person will likely pay more toward electricity and water costs.
The same goes with parking—if one person parks his car at your house more than anyone else, he may end up paying a larger share of your housing’s related bills. Note that some utilities can be negotiated separately; oftentimes, landlords will allow tenants to negotiate a lower rate for cable or Internet service.
If they don’t budge on those expenses, however, it might be time to look elsewhere for housing (or consider canceling services altogether). In addition, certain areas have different utility rates due to geographic conditions.
Also note that many utility companies offer programs designed specifically for renters who find themselves moving frequently. For example, many power companies provide tenant protection plans that help prevent high termination fees from being applied when someone moves out early in a rental agreement.
These plans also offer special pricing for people who move often, helping them save money over time. Check with your local utility company to see what kind of plan is available where you live. Finally, keep in mind that rent payments include not only rent itself but also additional charges such as taxes and insurance premiums. This means that even if both parties agree on splitting all expenses equally, they might still need to come up with extra cash every month depending on their individual situations.
Maintenance Issues and Evictions
Even if you rent from a reputable landlord, issues can arise. This might be something as small as a busted washer or something more serious like property damage. Most leases come with specific terms about what is and isn’t allowed. If you violate any of these terms, your landlord will usually serve you with a notice to vacate before taking more severe measures.
These notices typically give you anywhere from five days to one month to correct whatever issue has arisen. It’s important that you take action quickly so that you don’t end up evicted by surprise. Your landlord doesn’t want to evict you either; it costs them money and time, so they want to avoid it if possible. That said, make sure you understand your lease and follow all rules.
Don’t try to beat your landlord at their own game—if you do get into trouble, work with them to find a solution instead of trying to hide it or make excuses.
Finding the Perfect Match
You don’t want to find a rental that seems like a great deal but ends up causing you more headaches than you can handle. Instead, keep your wits about you and know what to look out for. For example, if you’re looking at a walk-up apartment with no elevator, be aware of what that might mean when it comes time to move in or move out.
If stairs are not your thing, pay attention to how many there are and whether or not they’re steep. You should also inquire about any storage space, especially if you have a lot of belongings to bring along. Finally, ask yourself these questions: Is parking easy? Are pets allowed? Is rent negotiable? What is included in rent (utilities, internet)? These are all things you should consider before signing on to rent an apartment. After all, moving sucks—you don’t want anything else making it worse!
