Steps for A Stress-Free Apartment Search

It’s no secret that finding an apartment can be a daunting task. The process can quickly become overwhelming between scouring classified ads, touring endless apartments, and filling out mountains of paperwork. But it doesn’t have to be that way! Follow these simple steps for a stress-free apartment search, and you’ll be in your new home in no time.

Gather Your Tools

Before you start your apartment search, it’s critical to have everything in order. That means compiling a list of places you’d like to live and having all your financial information at the ready so you can apply for your new apartment right away. Here are some items that will help make this process go smoothly:

List of Apartments and Desired Locations: This list should include at least 5-10 apartments in various locations that meet your needs—whether you want to live by a particular school or somewhere with easy access to public transportation.

Having Your Financial Information Ready: This includes bank statements, credit reports, and any other pertinent financial information you will need to provide when applying for an apartment.

Find the Right Apartments

Now that you’re armed with tools and information, it’s time to go on a hunt for your perfect place! Here are some great ways to find apartments in your area:

Check Your Local Paper: Most newspapers have online classifieds sections where you can search for and view apartment listings.

Search Online: Many online services allow you to create accounts where you can set up searches for apartments based on your desired location, budget, features, and more. Craigslist is one such service, but there are many others. Visit the Apartments section of our website to get started!

Contact a Realtor: There is often no cost involved in working with a realtor, and they may be able to help you find listings that aren’t in the online databases.

Tour Your Favorite Apartments

As you’re searching for apartments, make a note of which ones appeal to you. Then once you’ve found your dream apartment, contact the leasing office to set up an appointment for a tour. This way, you’ll be able to skip the line and get in as soon as possible! It’s also a great idea to bring anyone you might need to help you with your search—whether that’s a parent, spouse, or roommate.

When touring an apartment, here are some essential things to keep in mind:

Be sure you’re viewing apartments at your desired price point. Many ads list multiple price ranges for the same apartment, so read carefully. Also, keep an eye out for fees! Some landlords advertise ‘free rent’ or ‘one month free, but these often mean they’ll tack on additional fees once you sign the lease. Read the fine print carefully!

When viewing an apartment, take detailed notes on anything you like or don’t like. This way, if you go over to check out another place and fall in love with it instead, you’ll have an easy reference for what you liked about the first one. Otherwise, your memories will get jumbled!

Make Your Decision

Now that you’ve found your dream apartment, it’s time to seal the deal! Here are some tips for making your decision.

Be Realistic: Before starting your search, set a budget and think about the most important features to you. If several features are important to you but won’t be available in every apartment you look at, choose the most important ones early on so that if none of the apartments have them, you can rule some out without wasting your time. Then stick to it when searching, so you don’t miss out on an apartment you love because it’s outside your price range.

Don’t Rush: Take your time and make sure you’re ready for this step before making an offer on an apartment. If it’s too soon, you may end up losing out on an even better deal!

If You Can’t Decide: If none of the places you view work out (or if they do and then you change your mind), you do have some options. You can:

Summary

So, follow these steps, and you’re on your way to a stress-free apartment search! And remember, if, at any time you have questions or need help, our experts are here for you. Thanks for reading!