When you are apartment hunting, prepare a rental search plan. Be
sure to know in advance what you want in an apartment and what
you can live without. Decide in advance what areas of the city
you could consider living in and make a list of apartment
buildings within that perimeter.
Be sure to consider how far and how convenient it will be for you
to travel to your job or your school or your family and friends.
Also, how far is the apartment from stores, banks, hospitals,
Church (if you attend) etc. If you have a car, make sure that
there is adequate and convenient parking space 24/7. If you don't
drive make sure that there is close by public transportation.
Narrow your apartment locating to the size of rental unit you
need. Studio apartment or one bedroom apartment or 2 BR apartment
or more. Are you considering a furnished apartment or do you
possible need a short term rental. If you are renting an
apartment with a cat, dog, or other pet, you need to find out
which apartments allow renting with pets and which do not. And,
if they do allow pets, is there an additional security deposit
required and if so, how much it is. Do you need an apartment
complex with an exercise room or tennis courts or a pool or a
recreation room, etc. or do you simply need and desire a nice
clean and quiet pad.
Be realistic about what you can afford. Most apartment renting
guides suggest that your rent should not be more than 25% to 30%
of your income. This can vary depending on the income bracket,
but be sure to be "real world" when budgeting additional
apartment expenses such as heating and air conditioning and other
utilities. If you fall short of affording the apartment of your
choice, you might consider sharing an apartment with a roommate
or roommates. Keep in mind that living with roommates can help
you afford an upscale apartment or even, in some cases, luxury
apartments, but it also has extreme restrictions to your privacy.
If you are familiar with the area and its neighborhoods, that
gives you a distinct advantage for your apartment search. If,
however, you are relocating to a new city or are not particularly
knowledgeable about the city, you may want to contact an
Apartment Locator or an Apartment Finder.
Once you narrow your search for apartments down to apts which
suit your needs and desires you must be well organized & well
prepared for your visits to the apartment complexes. When
inspecting the rental premises be on the alert for unsafe
conditions, excessive noise from traffic or playgrounds or
neighbors. Visit the apartment building at night as well as the
daytime hours. This will give you a more comprehensive
understanding of the total space you will be residing in.
When you find the apartment complex that meets your renting needs
and desires, you must be ready to put your "best foot forward"
when you meet the apartment's rental agent. This person may be
the apartment building manager or a renting agent for the apts.
You should prepare for this apartment renting interview in a
professional and intelligent manner. Be advised that you are
going to be asked to provide proof that you are a reliable
prospective tenant. You are most likely going to need references
from previous landlords. You may also be required by the
apartments to show that you are gainfully employed and can afford
the rent. Many landlords may require a credit report. If you are
a first time renter and/or you have limited credit history you
may be asked for references from family, friends, employer,
professionals, etc. Likewise if you are renting with bad credit
you will certainly want to come to the interview with a strong
selection of references.
You are not necessarily restricted from apartment renting with
less than perfect credit, but you may be required to put up an
additional security deposit and possibly have a credit worthy
person co-sign the apartment lease with you. Don't unprepared for
by requests for any of these things. Be sure to fill out a 100%
truthful apartment rental application and come to the interview
with references, proof of employment, credit information and any
other renting resources at the ready. If you do have a credit
history or renting history that might be detrimental, going
through an apartment locator or apartment finder may be the best
solution. They will present your history to the landlord for you,
(make sure they are 100% truthful about it) and they can also be
quite helpful and save you a lot of time because they most likely
will know which landlords and apartments are more lenient in
these circumstances. They can also advise you as to exactly what
kinds of references and documents you might need to prove that
you can be a responsible tenant.
You Have Located Your "Dream Apartment"
Once you have located your "dream apartment", or as close to your
perfect apartment as possible, now it is necessary to pay
extremely close attention to the particulars of the rental
agreement. An Apartment Lease is a contract between you and the
landlord. Once agreed upon and signed by the tenant and the
landlord, the rental lease creates obligations and restrictions
for both parties. The most obvious covenants of the apartment
lease are the length of the rental, (Six month lease, one year
lease, two year lease, etc.) The amount of the security deposit,
when the rent is due, who is responsible for what utilities. Also
in that apartment lease, however, are stipulations, (sometimes in
small print) that can cover a great variety of landlord and
tenant obligations and restrictions. They can include, but are
not limited to, the following:
* Maintenance of the apartment
* Care of the premises
* Cleanliness
* Insurance
* Governmental regulations
* Eminent Domain
* Nuisance and noise clauses
* Stipulations as to the circumstances whereby the landlord
can enter the premises
* Use of Common Areas
* Keys and locks
* Loss or damage
* Parking
* Pets
* Plumbing
* What the landlord may do if the rent is in arrears
* What the tenant can do to bring the rent current before
any kind of action might be started
* Non performance or breach of the contract by the renter
* Renter's penalties in the event of early termination
* Circumstances which might cause the tenant or the landlord
to break the lease prior to the end of the term
* Heat and other utilities
* Removal of goods
* Surrender or Non-Surrender of the premises
* Waivers of various obligations
* Prohibited reprisals
* Garbage disposal
* Recyclables
* And the list goes on and on and on.
Prospective tenants should read an Apartment lease thoroughly.
Prospective apartment renters should understand everything that
is contained in that lease and make an informed decision to be
100% accepting of all the provisions for both the tenant and the
landlord, that you are positive that you can live up to your end
of the bargain and that you are comfortable with the provisions
on the landlord's end.
If you do not understand every single clause of that apartment
lease then do not sign it until you do understand it. If
necessary and if possible, request assistance in interpreting the
lease from a trusted source such as a knowledgeable friend or
family member or employer or professional, or anyone else who can
understand it and explain it to you. If necessary get legal
advice. It can cost additional funds if you do not qualify for
free legal assistance, but that additional cost might save you a
ton of money and save you a ton of heartache and aggravation down
the road.
If you do not agree with any of the provisions of that apartment
lease and/or you feel that you can't live up to the tenant's
obligations, or if you are not in agreement with any of the
landlord's rights under the agreement, then do not sign the lease
until/or unless it can be changed to your satisfaction. If the
apartment rental agreement cannot be amended to meet your needs
and desires and comfort level then do not sign the lease and do
not rent that apartment. The Apartment Rental agreement that you
sign as a prospective tenant will not change once you become the
actual tenant of that apartment.
Good luck in your apartment search and good luck in your new
apartment.
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