The needs of each renter are different, so exactly what you’ll need in an apartment will vary from one person to the next. That said, there are a few things that all apartments worth your time should have. You never want to pay rent for something that’s unsafe or in poor condition. Here are some things to look for and a few places to look.
Cleanliness and Condition
When you’re looking for a luxury apartment, it goes without saying that it should be clean and in great condition. There shouldn’t be any signs of things like mold or mildew in the unit. If you notice things like peeling wallpaper, water stains, or any other signs that care has been neglected, keep searching.
Package Delivery Lockers
Package delivery lockers may not seem like much of a priority, but they’re quite important. One of the best advantages of these is convenience to renters. They make it easier to get your packages, regardless of the day or time. Then there’s the security factor. Instead of parcels being left at your door and being stolen, they’re secured in a locker that only you can retrieve them from. They’re also easy to access and use.
Appliances
Let’s say you used an internet search engine to find an apartment. You may have found pictures, floor plans, prices, amenities, and more. This doesn’t mean that you don’t need to see it in person. One of the things to look for when you’re looking around the unit is the appliances. Check out the oven, stove, fridge, and anything else there to ensure that they work properly
Water
Water is critical for life. If you found your apartment on an apartment finder website or anywhere else, just as above, you can’t just rely on what you find on the site. You need to ensure that both the cold and hot water work. It needs to work everywhere, too – toilets, sinks, and showers. Also, check the water pressure. There’s nothing more aggravating than poor water pressure.
Organization
As you’re searching through all of the apartment sites on your hunt, you might want to keep track of which units you like. If you don’t, you might forget just where you found that perfect listing and won’t be able to apply on time.
As you find options that catch your eye, bookmark them so you don’t lose them. You might even want to list them on a spreadsheet or a Word doc complete with direct links so you can easily access them. Doing this can also help you weed out multiple listings if they happen to be on a variety of sites. You can also share these listings with your roommate or partner.
When to Look
A great rule of thumb for apartment shopping is to begin about two months before you want to move. There are a few reasons for this. The first one is that you’ll have to give your landlord sufficient notice that you’ll be moving out of your current apartment.
There are some landlords that require you to give them 30 days’ notice. Others require a full 60 days. Check to ensure what the terms of your lease are so that you’ll know exactly when you need to notify the property owner.
Secondly, you never want to start your search too early. You might find the ideal one for you, but the move-in date will be too far away. In cases like this, the landlord might choose not to hold it for you. A few months will give you plenty of time to find and apply for a new apartment.