Have you ever wished you could just have a list with all the best tips for apartment hunting in one place? Look no further!
I know how difficult and intimidating apartment hunting can be, so I’ve gathered all the tips I’ve learned along the way to help make the apartment renting process a little easier for you.
This post provides all the tips for apartment hunting you’ll need before, during, and after the process of getting your apartment.
This post contains affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my link, at no extra cost to you. Full disclosure here.
Tips for Apartment Hunting Before You Even Start the Search
Consider Your Budget
Before you type “apartments for rent” into your search bar, take a second to figure out your budget. The common consensus is that you shouldn’t be spending more than one third of your income on housing.
However, that doesn’t mean you can’t spend less! Before you decide on your apartment budget, make sure you track all your other expenses and narrow down exactly how much you can afford to spend on rent each month.
Once you have a number in mind, I suggest dropping that by a couple hundred. This is because many apartments come with hidden fees, like water, sewage, trash, and pest control, that won’t appear on the original monthly cost.
It’s best to find an apartment that is a little cheaper than your budget so that you have room for these extra costs and don’t suddenly find yourself paying more than you can afford.
Know When to Move
You may not always have a choice in this matter. Sometimes you just need to find an apartment as soon as possible and don’t have the luxury of timing your move.
However, if your timeline is a little more flexible, it’s best to avoid moving in the summer, which is the most common moving time. From May to August, apartments may go for higher rents with fewer deals.
If the place where you’ll be moving to is near a college, find out their term start and end dates, and try not to move during those times! Moving to a new apartment in the off-season will be a much cheaper experience.
The Ultimate Checklist for Apartment Hunting
Before you start visiting any apartments, take a second to look through this checklist and make a plan for yourself. This will streamline the process so much!
Choose your location
While you’re looking for apartments online, keep a map pulled up. Find out how far each apartment is from key locations, like work, school, the grocery store, parks, friends or family, church, etc.
If you love working at coffee shops, look around the area to see if there’s one nearby. If you love eating out, don’t forget to look for restaurants near your new apartment.
Prioritize the amenities you want
Apartments can come with a lot of amenities. Amenities are the extra features that an apartment complex provides for its residents.
These might include: swimming pools, grills, picnic areas, tennis courts, dog parks, dog wash rooms, walking trails, car wash areas, gyms, parking, in-unit laundry.
Amenities could also mean the size of the apartment itself, the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, whether there is a walk-in closet, patios, sun-rooms, and kitchen appliances.
Make a list of which amenities are most important to you and which you can do without. You may not get exactly what you want, but you’ll get a lot closer if you start out by knowing exactly what you want.
Know the fees involved
It’s no secret that finding a new apartment can be expensive. Many apartments have an application fee, which you pay whether or not you are approved.
Once you find an apartment, you’ll have to pay a deposit, an administrative fee, one-time pet fees, and any other fees the apartment has.
Other fees to consider are utilities such as water, electricity, and gas. Make sure you can cover your first month’s rent with all the extra fees associated.
Also remember that the cost of moving itself will be high. Whether or not you hire a moving service or pay for moving help, there will still be unexpected costs for cleaning, moving, and buying necessary things for the new apartment.
Schedule Apartment Tours
You have a good idea of what you want in an apartment and you’re ready to start looking. Follow these steps to make sure you make the most of your tours.
Prepare some questions ahead of time
Write your questions down! When I first started touring apartments, I was sure I would know what to ask once I saw the place. Instead, I clammed up and didn’t ask a single question at the first apartment. Yikes!
It may feel weird to write down your questions and interrogate your tour guide. But keep in mind that you will be living in this apartment for a while, and you want to make sure that it has everything you need.
The leasing managers are used to answering questions. I promise they won’t be upset if you ask questions that are important to you. Here are some good questions to ask:
- What are your lease terms? (Is the lease available for three months, a year, fourteen months?)
- What utilities, if any, are included in the rent?
- What are the income requirements?
- How do you request a maintenance order?
- How are packages delivered? Do they come to your door, a mail room, the front office, a third-party delivery service?
- Is this a gated community; if so, what are the gate operation hours?
- If there’s a pool, how long is it open during the summer?
- What are the leasing office hours?
- Is there a courtesy officer in the community?
Learn how to set up a tour
Now that you have your questions ready, it’s time to start setting up tours. There are a few places online where you can find apartments and schedule tours, like Apartments.com, Zillow, Facebook, and even Craigslist.
If there’s a phone number provided, I suggest calling them directly instead of relying on automated systems that don’t always work. Nothing gives a bad first impression like showing up for a tour and realizing the leasing agents had no idea you were coming.
Know what red flags to look for
It’s hard to know what to expect just from one visit to an apartment, but at least you can put a feeler out for any major red flags. Here are some things to watch for:
- Unprepared leasing agents even though you set up a tour.
- Angry residents in the office.
- Broken amenities (gate not working, gym closed for maintenance, major building renovations).
- Signs of damage in the apartment itself.
- Not being allowed to see the actual apartment, instead being shown only a show-room.
- Dirty grounds or buildings.
- Uncomfortable or difficult communication with the leasing agents.
None of these signs are in and of themselves a reason to turn down an apartment, but they can give you an idea of how involved the leasing managers are with the community and how quick maintenance will come when you need them.
Have your documents ready
You may end up touring several apartments or deciding early on that you’ve found your dream apartment and won’t be happy with anything else.
If you find that dream apartment, you want to be ready with all your documents in case you decide to sign a lease right then and there. You’ll need recent pay-stubs or an offer letter if you’re moving for a new job.
You may also need reference letters or at least contact information, your credit score, and some form of identification.
5 Best Tips for Apartment Hunting
Ready for some tips for apartment hunting that will make the process even more of a breeze? Here are some things you may not think of doing, but definitely should.
1. Check your cellphone reception
It might feel rude to pull out your phone while you’re on a tour, but you should do it anyway. The last thing you want is to move into an apartment and then realize you have no cell reception in your bedroom. Not ideal!
2. Consider living with roommates to lower the cost
If you’re looking for ways to cut costs and still get a nice apartment, you should consider living with roommates. By sharing the space with one or two other people, you can get a much bigger space for less.
While you’ll have to share the living spaces, you’ll find that three-bedroom apartments tend to also have much bigger kitchens and living rooms than one-bedroom apartments.
3. Read the reviews
Reviews can be really helpful when you’re finding an apartment. As you read them, remember that most people only write a review if they have something negative to say. Don’t be overwhelmed and turn down an apartment just because it has some bad reviews.
But do read the reviews to learn where the problem areas are so you can avoid them. If people complain that maintenance doesn’t respond to emails, you can know that you’ll always have to put in a phone call instead. If people complain that there are bugs, get yourself on the pest-control list and buy some Raid!
4. Create an apartment spreadsheet
After visiting each apartment, take notes. Make a spreadsheet, or at least a list, with the pros and cons of each place. Take pictures of the aspects you love or are worried about.
After touring three or four apartments, they all start to blend together. Having detailed notes and good pictures will help you sort through each apartment so you can make your informed decision.
5. Compare neighborhoods and explore the surrounding area
Beyond the apartment itself, the area where you live is really important. After your tour, take some time to drive around the neighborhood to see what’s around and how the area feels.
It’s also wise to practice your commute to work or look for which apartments are closer to restaurants, shopping, and entertainment. (If that’s important to you of course!)
Final Thoughts
It’s okay to feel intimidated by the moving process, but it doesn’t need to be an impossible challenge to find a great apartment. This article outlines all the tips for apartment hunting that I wish I had when I was looking for my first apartment.
As you gain more experience and move more, you can add to these tips for apartment hunting and create your own moving checklist. This can be a helpful starting place for you, though!
Remember, in the end, you’re looking for a new home, and this should be a fun and exciting process. Hopefully, with these tips, it is!
Related Posts
Best First Apartment Checklist & Ultimate Guide to Staying Under Budget