Apartment Searching Tips


Don’t let the agent push you into signing. If the agent starts saying things like “today only” or “I guarantee it won’t be available tomorrow”, then be wary. These agents can be super-smooth salespeople who just want a chunk of commission or a landlord desperate for income. Don’t be pushed into anything. If you don’t like the unit, leave it. If you don’t love the unit, keep looking. You’re going to be there for a while so don’t settle.

Watch the Ads
  The best way to get a good deal is to watch the ads every week. This is the best advice for house and used-car buyers. You will begin to notice that the less popular units that stay on the market for a long time tend to drop in price. And the more popular units go quickly with little added benefits. Some units offer specials on occasional periods, but it never hurts to call a landlord and ask if there are any specials. Sometimes they will throw in a discount just to get your business even if it is not advertised.

Bring the competitor’s ads. Ask the landlord to match another landlord’s specials or rates. Most likely, they will match it.

Warning Signs:
  If you take a tour of an apartment, take notice. Be on the lookout for any signs of bugs – dead ants, spider webs, left over bug baits, etc. This is a warning sign that the apartment will become infested periodically with creepy crawlies. Even if the landlord claims to spray, usually they don’t spray enough. Bugs from the landscaping will easily find their way into your new unit. Are there a lot of ant piles in the surrounding grass or nearby landscaping?

Take notice of things that look broken or recently repaired. If a wall was recently repainted, there may have been some water damage. If something looks broken, then perhaps the handyman is never around to fix it. Nothing is more irritating than waiting months for a handyman to come fix something. Don’t allow the landlord or agent to simply blow it off with “It’s on the list of fixes” or “That won’t be a problem”. If you really like the unit, get the landlord to fix the items before you sign the contract or make the lease contingent to the repairs (such as “deposit paid after repairs made”). If a landlord or agent doesn’t agree than you should

The copyright of the article Apartment Searching Tips in Apartment Living is owned by Wendy Waid. Permission to republish Apartment Searching Tips in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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