So you are ready to rent a new apartment. Whether you are renting for the first time or thinking about moving into a different apartment, there are many things you need to do to make sure you both have a good experience in your new apartment, but also ensure that you are getting your money’s worth out of the place.
There is more to renting an apartment than just moving your stuff in and handing the manager or landlord a check. Not going through these 15 things can mean the difference between having a good renting experience or being miserable and frustrated every night when you come home from work.
Let’s go through our checklist of the most important things to consider before signing that new lease.
Affordability
This is at the top of our list for a good reason. Costs are the number 1 reason why tenants end up being evicted or why they choose to move to another location. Knowing exactly what costs you are going to end up being responsible for and what all the costs are going to cover can mean the difference between being short every month on funds or being perfectly fine.
Remember that you are going to have to pay your security deposit and your first month’s rent upfront. If your rent is $1,000, you are going to be shelling out $2,000 and that is probably not where the initial costs are going to end.
You are going to have to get your electricity turned on, which usually means some sort of deposit as well to the utility company. Anything else you want to turn on, such as cable or satellite TV or internet is also going to have first month costs. Finally, the apartment complex itself may have move-in costs that they will require you to pay that is above and beyond your rent and security deposit.
All of these costs have the potential to add up to a pretty significant bill that first month. At Apartment School, we have seen a higher number of people be late on their 2nd payment more times than we would like to say. These costs add up so quickly, and many of them are unexpected, that they can become overwhelming to the renter when they move in and it gets hard for them to get caught back up.
Make sure you go over with your manager what is covered by the apartment complex and what you are going to have to be responsible for. Also, make sure to check with them to see if the apartment complex charges any move-in fees to new renters. You want to make sure you have plenty of funds to not only rent the apartment during the first month but have plenty to pay the rent during the subsequent months as well.
Make Sure To See The Apartment Before You Sign A Lease
You would be surprised by the number of people that are willing to sign a lease and hand over their security deposit without even seeing the unit they are going to be renting. Many times, they are placing full dependence on the photos that the complex has posted on their website, instead of getting that first-hand information that they really need.
Unfortunately, some complexes, like many hotels do, don’t necessarily have all their rooms renovated and updates as well as the room they took the picture of and posted on their site. To make sure you aren’t walking into something you weren’t expecting, you need to actually go to the complex and do a thorough walkthrough of both the complex and the unit you will be living in.
This is the only way you are going to know you are getting exactly what you are paying for.
Try To Meet Your Neighbors
While this can sound like more work than it is worth and a little bit awkward, it is absolutely worth your time to do if you can. Virtually all managers and landlords will let you knock on the doors of the people that are going to be your new neighbors.
This is a good way to get some good information on your behalf.
First off, you are going to be able to quickly gauge who your new neighbors are going to be. Is their apartment clean? Do they have junk lying around? What does their physical appearance tell you about them? You don’t need to be judgy, but these are the people you are going to be living right next to, so meeting them before you move in is very important.
Secondly, you now have the chance to ask them a couple of direct questions about the apartment complex. And they don’t have to be very direct or specific. Simply ask a couple of general questions about how they like living in their apartment and what their experience has been like so far.
If they just can’t stop talking about the complex and how great it is and the people are awesome and the facilities amazing, then you have some good information that at least someone here right now likes living there. If they are hesitant to tell you much about the experience or just roll their eyes or shrug or are not very forthcoming with information about the place, you are going to have a pretty good idea that the environment is less than perfect.
It is a simple thing you can do in less than 5 minutes when the manager or landlord brings you up to walk through the unit and can potentially provide you with extremely valuable firsthand information about where you are wanting to rent.
Visit The Apartment Complex At Night
Everything looks and feels different in the dark, apartment complexes are no different. Just by the nature of apartment complexes, there are going to be a good number of people in a fairly small area. Knowing what the apartment looks and feels like at night is important to feel safe where you are staying.
Know the neighborhood you are going to be renting in. Are people walking around the common areas at all times of the night making noise or is the complex quiet, safe, and secure? Find out where all the outside lights are on the buildings, especially those that go from where you are going to be parking up to the door of your building.
Make sure you are comfortable with how the apartment complex looks and feels when it is dark.
What Is The Pet Policy?
For anyone with pets, this is a must-know. Many times, people will try to sneak a small dog or cat inside their apartment hoping that nobody but their closest friends and relatives are going to know. But almost always, they get found out, which makes you look quite poorly in the eyes of the landlord.
Even small animals like rabbits or ferrets or even reptiles are considered pets because, over time, they can do significant damage to the apartment itself. Also, certain pets smell and neighbors close by may not appreciate you breaking the pet policy for the complex.
If you are going to be bringing in a pet of any type other than a fishbowl, check the lease to see what is allowed and what isn’t. The last thing you want is to be evicted for breaking the pet policy of the complex and forfeiting several month’s rent and your security deposit on top of that.
How Far Away From Work Is The Apartment?
This is an important factor to consider because it can effectively raise the rent of your apartment without you knowing. If you have to commute 30 minutes to work every day and are spending $10-15 in gas for that commute, over a month’s time, that is going to add up to $200-$300 in extra gas. Essentially, instead of renting an apartment for say $800 a month, you really are locking yourself into $1,000 a month or more due to all of the extra expenses you are causing yourself.
Figure out if the apartment you are looking at is in the right location for the majority of the places you need to go. Finding an apartment solution that is close to work, schools and commerce are going to save you more money in gas than you know.
Also, if your apartment is in close proximity to where you work, consider getting a bike and storing it in your apartment. There are many solutions for this, and it can save you hundreds of dollars a month in insurance, gas, car payments, and repairs. Check out some of the ways you can easily store your bike in your apartment.
What Utilities Are Covered In The Lease?
There can be some confusion about this for some renters. Different apartment complexes cover different things, but you are almost always going to have to cover your electricity, gas, and water. Some apartments will pay for one or more of these, but just expect to cover all of your utilities when you move in.
There is also trash to consider as well. Is this cost rolled into the price of the apartment, or is it a separate cost entirely? Check with the landlord and read the lease to see how all of the utility costs are spelled out for that particular complex, and how payment works for each of them every month.
Check The Faucets and Outlets
Checking these two things are more important than you think. As far as the faucets go, not having sufficient water pressure can make a year’s lease feel like an eternity! Turn the kitchen sink on, the bathroom faucets, and especially the showerhead. Make sure that not only do all of them work properly but that they are giving good enough water pressure that you would be satisfied with.
The outlets are another example of preventing future hassle. Just the way the outlets look in an apartment can tell you a lot about how the last people treated the unit. Do they look new, like they have just been replaced or updated? If so, more than likely the power throughout all the circuits work fine. But if they look a decade old or more, they may not even have power coming to them.
Take your phone with your charger and plug it into as many outlets as you can. Finding something before you ever rent is going to give you the power and option to negotiate something with the landlord before you move in. The last thing you want is to get all moved in and try and set up your TV and find that the outlet has no power.
Check The Furnace And A/C
Don’t overlook these two things that most of us take for granted. Kick on the furnace for a couple of minutes and make sure that it is blowing nice hot air. Do the same thing for the A/C unit. Make sure that both are working well and as you would expect them too.
Not doing this is giving yourself a liability for something to go wrong, and even if the landlord does replace it, it is going to take time to do so and could mean some very cold nights or some very hot days. Just kick them both on and make sure that everything is as advertised.
Ask When Your Rent Increases
This feature may or may not be in the lease that you sign, but it is something you should absolutely bring up with your landlord. How often does the rent go up?
More than likely they are going to be pretty honest with you. Obviously, they can’t just raise the rent during the middle of your lease, but if you are at the end of your lease, or on a month-to-month lease, they absolutely can raise your rent on you.
Find out what the options are to keep your rent where it is now, even if that means potentially signing a longer lease to keep it there.
What Are The Safety Features Like?
Check the door and windows. Are they locking securely? Do they shut all the way? Or are the locks broken and the windows don’t stay secure? You need to feel safe in the apartment that you are going to rent, and doors and windows are some of the primary ways both you and other people gain access to your place. Test the doors and locks, not just of your own unit, but the door and lockdown at the front door of your building as well.
Also, make sure that the apartment has a smoke alarm installed in at least a couple of rooms and that they all test positive for battery charge. If they don’t, simply ask your landlord to replace them, that is a requirement that they must do, and virtually no landlord ever has a problem doing it because it protects their property as well.
What Amenities Does The Complex Offer?
There are three primary amenities that you should look for when renting an apartment.
The first is the parking. What sort of parking lots or structure does the complex have? Is it close to your unit or are you going to have to walk quite a way to get to your building from your car? Are there garages that you can rent to store your car and other belongings in, or are there just basic flat parking spaces? Good parking options can be worth more than you think, so make sure you know exactly who can park where.
The second thing you should look for is laundry features. Nobody likes having to haul all of their clothes to the laundromat. Having these machines on site can be a major plus. In fact, ask the landlord or manager if some of their offered units actually have a washing machine and drier inside the apartment itself. This could be worth an extra $50 a month if they have it offered. If a common laundry room is available, figure out where it is located in relation to your apartment, how much it costs, and what it is going to take to haul your laundry back and forth.
Lastly, look for good common areas. Does the apartment complex have a pool? Maybe a grilling area or a small hut or shack that has games and entertainment for tenants? Who is allowed to come into the space and what is the guest policy for bringing friends and family over to hang out? If you live in a southern area where it is hot a good portion of the year, finding someplace with a pool may be worth the extra money.
Check the amenities that several different apartment complexes have, figure out what is important to you, and then compare those features against the price and location of where you are thinking about renting.
Make Sure All The Appliances Work
The same way you checked the faucets and water pressure and furnace, you should check to make sure all the appliances work.
Different complexes are going to furnish their units with different appliances, but most are going to have a stove, a refrigerator, and a dishwasher for you to use. Turn on the burners on the stove and start the oven. It only takes a few seconds to make sure that everything is working properly. Open the refrigerator and stick your hand in. Does it feel cold?
Ensure that all of the provided appliances that are featured in the listing are there and work because after all, you are paying for them.
Read Your Lease Completely
Try to get a copy of the lease before going over to look at an apartment. Many complexes will have a copy of their lease available for download on their website, but if they don’t, ask the manager or landlord to email you a copy. This way, you can read through the lease and have any questions prepared for them when you go over to walk through the unit.
This can prevent any unexpected surprises from taking place after you already move in. From the guest policy to the pet policy, to potential move-in costs and utilities. The lease will more than likely have all of this spelled out, and you can compare one complex’s lease to another to determine which set of guidelines you are most comfortable with.
Remember, the lease is a legal document that you are going to sign. This means you are going to be financially and legally bound by that agreement when you sign it. Regardless of the terms, just for your own personal protection, you need to read through the entire thing and become familiar with it to avoid anything unexpected in the future.
Take Good Photos
While this is the last point on the list, we made it the last one so that you would remember this crucial point. When you go in and walk through the apartment you are going to rent, you need to take a few dozen pictures of the place from multiple angles.
Just save these pictures on your phone or your computer or the cloud until you are ready to move out. This will help you in several different ways.
First, if something isn’t right, to begin with, and you ask for it to be fixed, you will have the photos that show that something isn’t right with the apartment. This can save a lot of time and hassle arguing with management whether something really was like that when you moved in or not.
Secondly, this is a huge thing to have when you move out. If you took good care of your apartment during your time at the complex, then you absolutely deserve to have your deposit back. Landlords, and justifiably so many times, can find things that they are going to need to repair to get the unit ready for the next renter to move in. If you have the photos showing that you are leaving the apartment in the same condition as when you moved in, you are going to get your deposit back. If you don’t, the going could get rough trying to get them to see that you have done no damage to the place.
It is a quick and easy thing to do that a surprising amount of renters overlook for whatever reason, but when you consider all the money your deposit is, you can see how worth it is to take a few pictures and keep them around until you leave.
No matter where you end up renting, do your due diligence when inspecting a new apartment unit. Compare those good features and bad features against a couple of different places to make sure you are getting your money’s worth with your new apartment. Checking off these simple things can mean the difference between having a good couple of years at your apartment complex and miserable ones.
