How to pick your next apartment?

Do you want to find your idea apartment within your budget? The following 8 steps with guide you to the best decision for your next home.

1. Pick an General Area
A good first step is to pick an area or location that you think you want to live in.   Do not forget to check the area crime rate in select the area.

2. List What You Want

• What you need to live near, examples are your desired stores, public transportation, parks, schools, places of worship, restaurants, or something else. 
• How long of a commute you’re willing to do?  Check the distance to major high ways and the estimate commute time at different time of the day.
• What the apartment size that’ll work for you? 1 or 2 bedroom? Size of the rooms for your furniture? 
• What about the amenities?  a pool and clubhouse?  washer or dryer connections? 
• What about security? Do the community has security surveillance or patrol
• Do the complex has easily accessible parking.
• If you have a cat, dog or any other pet, and want to bring them, add that to your must-haves.
• Your list should include good, reliable management and maintenance services. That’s something that everyone needs, but not every apartment community provides.

3. Determine What You Can Afford

• It’s one thing to know what you want, but can you afford it?  Before head out for a tour, you need to decide who much budget you can or want to allocated to rent

4. Find out what is available

•  A quick google search for apartments in the desired area will generate a list of multiple communities. 
• Check the community websites and put together a list of apartments that offer everything on your checklist.

5. Decide a Short list of communities meet your budget

• Now you know what you want. You also understand how much you can afford to pay for it and how much it might cost. Take another look at the apartments that are available with your budget in mind and come up with an appropriate list of prospects.
  

6. Look at the Reviews

• You likely only want to visit apartments that are worth your time, so check the online reviews of all the potential communitieson your list. This process may help you weed out some options that are poorly managed or maintained or noisy.

7. Visit the Finalists

What to look for when touring an community?

• Drive around the property for the assessment of the neighborhood.
• Check the Security measures in place
• Friendly staff
• Cleanness of the property

Question to Ask

• What will it cost to move in
• Terms of the lease
• Any additional fees or deposits (other than the application fee and security deposit).
• What utilities are included in the rent? and if so, which ones?
• How to file maintenance requests?
• If the apartment is pet-friendly, are there additional deposits, fees, etc.?
• Parking—is it limited, assigned, or a free-for-all?
• Location of the mailbox and the leasing office’s policy on receiving/holding packages.
• Any special discounts or move-in offers.

8. Decision Time
After visiting, you likely want to compare apartments, among other things, on value and location, lifestyle, and reputation.