The search for an apartment is almost as important as finding a job after graduation. As an independent adult you don’t want to be crashing with mom and dad for too long, so here are some tips for finding the perfect place.
1. Timeline
Depending on your location, you may need to start your apartment search earlier or later. In larger cities, openings aren’t posted until a month before a renter would move in. However, in college towns, you should start looking two to three months in advance to ensure you maximize your options.
2. Where to Look
There are many websites out there to help with the hunt for an apartment. Zillow is a great website to use because you can set your apartment preferences and get alerts when one that meets your criteria is posted. This is a great way to stay on top of your search without spending countless hours scrolling through online postings. If there is an apartment listing you like without pictures, you can request them from the landlord. Oftentimes when pictures aren’t posted, it is because the landlord isn’t as tech savvy, not because the apartment is in bad shape. Asking friends and coworkers about listings is helpful as well, and may lead to finding a great place that hasn’t been listed yet. You could also check out furnished apartments from StayTony, it saves the hassle of buying furniture.
3. It’s too good to be true
When shopping for an apartment, look out for deals that seem too good to be true for the apartment’s location and size. Use common sense and refrain from using unsecured means of payment or revealing any sensitive banking information over the internet.
4. Neighbors
Another thing to consider when searching for that new apartment is the neighborhood you want to live. In living next door to families, you may be expected to keep the noise down and maintain a peaceful environment. However, if you want to live in an area with younger adults and college students, you may hear your neighbors later into the night. Drop by the apartment at night to check out the noise level, and, on a rainy day, to see if there is any leakage or flooding. If you don’t smoke, ask the landlord if there are any tenants that do because smoke can rise into the apartment above it.
5. Lease
Once you have found an apartment you like and are interested in taking the next step, make sure you read over the lease thoroughly. Pay special attention to the consequences of breaking the lease and what types of maintenance your landlord covers. Some landlords include renter’s insurance in your monthly rate, however, if they don’t, it’s a good idea to buy renter’s insurance to cover any break-ins, fires, or flooding. Don’t forget to make sure you’ve compared energy quotes for your new apartment as well! The last thing you want is massive bills that can be avoided. My friend told me he found a fantastic deal at Money Expert (http://www.moneyexpert.com/gas-electricity/). This helped him keep on his feet with the transition period to adulthood. Additionally, make sure you can afford the place before signing to go ahead with it. Acknowledge how much the rent is and work out if your financial situation will allow you to fund this. After graduating and paying off those college loans, you don’t want to be getting a late rent notice. Without payment, landlords are well within their rights to issue one of these notices, so be sure that you can afford the apartment before committing to it.
When apartment hunting, don’t do it alone. Take a friend to help you make good choices and point out things you may miss. And when you find a place don’t forget to find the right mobile storage solutions! Happy hunting!
