How To Find A Perfect New Apartment
Finding the new apartment can be overwhelming. Time and patience are your friends to help you find a variety of listings, make numerous phone calls, and book appointments. Whether you’re a veteran apartment hunter who has moved into 10 apartments in the past 5 years, or a young adult who has decided to go solo, the whole process can take its toll. Below are some handy tips you can use to help you find the perfect apartment.
Make a Checklist
Sit back and think through what you really want in an apartment. Before you actually start booking appointments for that apartment viewing, you ought to have a checklist on hand. This way you can easily keep your most important factors in mind without having to think about it. Looking for apartments can be overwhelming, sometimes so overwhelming that we might forget about the things we consider critical to have in an apartment.
Are you looking for particular amenities, like a gym or pool? If yes, does the rent include use of these? Do you have pets? Are they allowed in the apartment? What sizes and breeds are acceptable? Does this new apartment ban dogs of a specific breed? You have to be careful because even if dogs are allowed, some apartments might not allow specific breeds including Rottweillers, Pit Bulls, German Shepherds, Chow Chows, Akitas.
Also consider the parking arrangements. Do you get a space or a garage or underground parking. Whatever the options, do they cost more or is something included in the monthly rent?
Having this kind of checklist will help you narrow down your apartment choices, leading you to the perfect apartment faster. Since the apartment hunt itself is already tough enough, having a well-developed checklist will help you keep your thoughts organized.
Talk to Your Friends
Word travels fast so let your friends know that you’re on the lookout for the new (and perfect!) apartment. Chances are they can provide you with some good suggestions. People see for rent signs all the time and can provide you with good apartment leads.
Go See the Apartment Yourself
So you’re done setting appointments left and right, and the day has finally come for you to visit that dream apartment. Do you want to visit on a rainy day? Some apartment hunters say this is a good idea because it allows them to see how the roof is holding up. Possible leaks will not be seen during a sunny day.
Be sure to walk around the area wotj cell phone in hand. Check to make sure each room of the apartment has cell phone reception. Nothing would be worse than moving into a new apartment only to discover that you have to go outside just so you can make a call or send an SMS message.
Checking every nook and cranny including inside cupboards, cabinets, and closets in the kitchen. These spaces are often overlooked, so be sure to double check for holes or other damage. Also, check under the sink. The last thing you want is to allow rodents to find an entry path into your home. If you find things that need to be fixed, ask your landlord to take care of any issues before you sign the lease and move in.
That apartment for rent with the cute façade may seem inviting, but inside, it’s actually a trouble spot without you knowing. It’s always a good idea to check before you are commited to living there.
Read Your Lease
If you can have someone of the legal profession read your lease, have them do so. Be sure to read everything including the fine print before signing the contract so you actually know what you’re getting into. If there are things that you want to negotiate with your landlord, be sure to have them put into writing. If your landlord promises you a garage with extra storage space or another parking spot, have them put everything into writing including the date when it will be available for you. A promise of an extra storage or parking space may sound enticing, but if it’s not in your lease, then do not expect that garage and extra parking space will ever be ready.
These simple tips may seem obvious, but when we’re too busy with the apartment hunt, such little things as these can easily slip our minds. These tips will certainly help you choose the perfect apartment.