Practical Guide for Apartment Hunting
Moving can be an ordeal! I can attest to this fact due to personal experiences. My most recent move was completed on very short notice. My husband and I moved to Charlotte, NC within a ten day time frame due to an employment promotion and relocation. Even though it was an interstate move, our new home would be located more than 4 hours away. We had never been to Charlotte before and did not know anyone in the area.
Since our move to Charlotte, we have settled into our community and have even helped another couple relocate to the area. These experiences have prompted me to come up with a practical guide to moving. If we did it in 10 days, with proper planning, you can easily enjoy a smooth transition to your new residence.
Following these steps will help you on your way to your new apartment.
Get your finances in order.
You will need to assess your current financial situation and gather important financial documents. Documents to gather include copies of tax statements, bank statements, and pay stubs. Each apartment community will have their own standard of financial information collection. Having a basic list of items available will allow you to spend more time gathering additional documentation.
You should be aware of the fact that many apartments require your gross monthly salary to be 3 times your rental amount.
It is also a good idea to examine your credit report. Try to clear up any discrepancies before you start your apartment search. Having blemished credit may not prevent you from renting your preferred apartment. But, having blemished credit could cause you to pay higher security deposits. It’s just a good idea to know where you stand so you won’t have any surprises!
Establish your move in timeframe.
If you are currently renting a house or apartment, you will need to give your landlord proper notice. Proper notice can vary from place to place. You can find the specific details regarding when notice needs to be given in your lease. There may be additional steps such as exit inspections to complete. Take all of this into account when deciding your move in timeframe.
Sometimes job demands can put a strain on your timeframe. Negotiate with your employer to receive the best new employment start date possible. Having all of your information available and researched will work to your advantage.
Knowing your timeframe will also be helpful when you start searching for apartments. A beautiful apartment may catch your eye today but may not be available until 2 months from now!
Establish your prospective move in area.
This step is always important but becomes extremely necessary if you have little knowledge of your relocation area. Do your homework carefully! Internet searches for information about the population, schools, and other characteristics can be a great starting point. If you know people in the area, ask their opinion about the best places to live. If your move is employment related, ask your new co-workers their opinions.
For parents, school districts can be an important factor. Research prospective schools on community websites and bulletin boards. A useful site to use is www.greatschools.net . This site features school profiles, test scores, demographic information, and parent reviews.
If at all possible, make a couple of trips to the area. Look around and judge the new city for yourself. If you know where you will be working, pay careful attention to the immediate surrounding areas. You may want to write down any apartment communities down that interest you. You can stop by for a look if you like but keep in mind that some communities offer look and leas same day specials. Look and lease specials are only good for 24 hours after you view the apartment. The choice is yours.
Research apartments in your established move in area.
The internet is a valuable source to evaluate apartment communities. There are websites such as www.rentnet.com com and www.apartments.com that list multiple apartment communities. You are able to search by location, price, and many other criteria. Pictures of the apartment communities common areas and model apartments are usually available. Pricing and amenities are also usually included in the apartment profile. Contact information is available if more information is needed.
Alternatives to traditional community listings include renter initiated apartment review websites. Sites such as www.apartmentratings.com and www.apartmentreviesw.net feature reviews written by current and former apartment community residents. The apartments are rated on several characteristics including amenities, security, floor plans, parking, management, and many other criterion. These sites can be extremely helpful to get a real person’s point of view about the apartment community.
Apartment books such as Apartment Guide and Apartment Finder are also useful tools in your apartment search. These books list detailed apartment community profiles with pictures and contact information. Apartment search books are readily available at rental locations as well as many supermarkets and news stands. These books are free of charge.
When conducting your apartment search, remain organized. I recommend keeping a list of your favorite apartment communities including pricing and contact information, applicable fees, and viewing hours. Follow up with the apartment community via telephone or internet whenever you need more information. Additional floor plans, brochures, and applications can be emailed or faxed to you. Sometimes a phone call can help rule a property in or out.
Establish apartment viewing days.
You should gather the list of your desired apartments and contact each community. Keep track of each agent that you talk to and the deals that you may be given Ask questions! Keep track of the needed financial and additional information you will need to bring with you to the viewing. Some apartments may require an appointment in order to view their properties. If you are relocating due to employment, the apartment community may even require you to bring a note from your new employer to verify the move Write down telephone numbers of personal references as well as supervisor and previous landlord’s contact information. Take all of this into consideration when planning your schedule.
You may want to plan your viewing according to apartment location. You can print out directions to the apartments from the internet on sites such as www.mapquest.com.
View your prospective apartments.
On the day of your apartment viewing, be sure to bring all of your needed documents. This includes financial information and any other information that you were instructed to bring. It is important to note that information will be needed for each adult applicant. Make sure that each applicant brings a photo ID such as a driver’s license. Many apartment communities require photo ID to be able to view their apartments. You may also want to bring a non cash payment form. A check book works nicely. You may also use money orders or debit and credit cards at most locations. Payment is only needed if you plan to make a lease agreement or place applicable fees on the apartment. It is just better to be prepared.
Plan to spend a lot of time viewing the apartments. You will be given a lot of information by each community. Keep up with everything and take notes as needed. Remember to ask questions.
Carefully view the prospective apartment communities including the common areas. Is the pool clean? You will need to also take note of the people around the area. These are your potential neighbors. If the current residents are undesirable factor this into your final decision. The model apartment that you will be shown will be fabulous. Ask to see an available apartment to get a feel for the actual rental you will receive. You may be very surprised at what you are shown!
Try to stick to your viewing schedule as much as possible. If there are many apartments on your list, factor in rest periods and meal times. Packing snacks may be a useful option. You may also want to leave yourself time to stop by other communities that you see along the way. New apartment communities are being built all the time and may not be listed in apartment books or internet apartment sites. The more time you have the better. You may want to schedule an overnight visit to view with the least amount of pressure.
Decide where you will apply.
You have taken the time to prepare yourself for the move. Take the time to make an informed decision. Consider all the factors including location, school districts, amenities, and price. Decide what is the most desirable to you and apply. I advise to narrow down your search to the bare minimum. Some committees require non refundable application fees. Fees can range in amounts from $10 per applicant to upward of $75.
Most applications can be approved the same day. Be prepared to pay applicable fees and rent amounts.
