Don’t look at any apartments out of your current price range. If you are seduced into an apartment that is too expensive for you to afford, it only sets you up for failure. [3] X Expert Source Nathan MillerProperty Management Specialist Expert Interview. 15 October 2018. Many real estate agencies require proof of monthly income to secure an apartment; additionally, higher-priced locations may only accept candidates who make above a certain income. If the amount you can afford to pay each month is too low to get your own apartment, consider sharing a place with a roommate. That way the rent, and utilities, can be split in half.
While it’s great to have a wish list, chances are you won’t get absolutely everything on your list. Prioritize your wants from most important to least important. This will help you weigh each feature against the others when you are actually looking at apartments. You may want to add a few things that you absolutely don’t want as well. You may not know what these things are at first but as you start looking at apartments, feel free to add to your list and make note of the things you can’t live with.
There are websites, like AddressReport and Walk Score, that can help you get a feel for the safety, cleanliness, demographics, school zoning, and local amenities of the neighborhood. It’s a good idea to have a couple neighborhoods in mind when you start looking for an apartment. This will give you more options to look at and, hopefully, a wider range of prices to choose from.
It may cost you quite a bit to hire a professional rental agent. Some agents may charge around 10% of the rent you will pay in one year on the apartment they find you. Some will simply charge you one month’s rent. [7] X Research source Don’t forget to figure this into your budget!
Many times you will be weighing different aspects of various apartments against one another. If you are having a hard time making a decision, try making a comparison graph. It could help you make a decision to see the pros and cons of each apartment next to each other.
However, if you are not first you still have a chance of getting an apartment. Don’t skip applying for the perfect place just because you’re not first!
Also ask about vacancy rates. If an apartment building has a large number of vacant units, chances are the building is not being managed well.
If you give a deposit, get a receipt. You want documentation of any and all payments you make, so there is no question about it later.
If you need to move within the next week or two, or you are looking for an apartment in a tight market, you can speed the process along by compiling your two most recent pay stubs, your last year’s W2, your credit score, and printouts of your current bank account balances to bring with you to viewings. [10] X Research source
