Know the Answers before You Rent Your Apartment

You have decided to move into a new apartment and you are looking around the city at various apartment buildings that may fit your tastes. You schedule a meeting with the landlord, but before you go there are some questions that you should have ready before you do a walkthrough of a new apartment.

First of all, make sure that everything in the ad you that lead you to the apartment is true. Always make sure you get exact descriptions that go beyond descriptions like “cozy”.
You should also ask what the square footage of the apartment is and what the square footage for each room is. This will allow you to compare it to your current apartment and get an idea of whether or not you will be saving money in terms of square footage.

Always make sure you find out if they allow pets if you are going to be bringing in a dog or a cat. Often landlords will say pets are okay, but they will have a list of dog types that are allowed and others that are not. Always get all the information on this beforehand.

When you are doing the walkthrough, test all the appliances and sinks to make sure everything is working the way it is supposed to. As well, keep a look out for any signs of rodents or insects and if you can, ask a current tenant if there have been any problems with pests. Look at all the outlets and make sure they are not in odd places that are going to create a problem when you move in. If you want your desk next to the window, but the outlet is seven feet away, that could be a problem.

Find out how much closet space there is and make sure you will have enough room to fit everything into the apartment. Look at the windows as well and see how much light comes in through them, double check that they open and close properly.

Security can be a big issue, so find out what type of security is in place in the apartment. The last thing you want is someone stealing everything you own a few days after you move into the apartment.

Ask if the apartment will be cleaned before you move in and find out what will be done in the cleaning process. Ensure that you know if there will be any painting done or anything else that is related to cleaning or renovations.

Utilities are a big part of living in an apartment, so find out if utilities are included. If they are not, ask the current tenant what they pay for their services. You might be moving into a place with a horrible heating problem and the last thing you want is to save money on rent compared to your old place, but pay double in heat.

If you enjoy being in quiet surroundings, find out about your neighbors and see if there are any unruly children living in the building, or people with noisy pets around living in the units around you. You do not want to move into a place that is going to be noisy and disrupt any type of sleep patterns you may have had. This is especially true if you work from home and do not want to be disturbed.

You should find out if parking is available in the building, if it is included in the rent and if not, how much it costs. Often, parking can be a huge plus when moving into an apartment, especially when it is underground parking that will allow you to protect your vehicle from vandals and the elements.

Getting the answers and knowing the questions to ask or two of the most important steps in finding the apartment of your dreams.

Kevin Lloyd writes tips for Atlanta Apartment Living at www.AtlantaApartmentstv.com and Memphis Apartment Living at www.MemphisApartmentstv.com