Renting an Apartment? What Should you Look For?

Finding that perfect apartment can be time consuming and even daunting. But taking your time and finding just the right place will pay off in the long run for your physical and mental health.

To start, once you have made a list of apartments to look at within your price range, put together a notebook with the following checklist so that you can keep track of the ups and downs of each place you look at.

1. Check out the neighborhood. If you’re new to the area, walk around to see what kind of activity is going on. Ask around at local stores about how safe the neighborhood is.

2. Who are your apartment neighbors? Asking the landlord who is living above you, below you or next to you will help you determine if there are kids, pets, college students or elderly couples. This will help you decide if you’ll enjoy living there.

3. How is the place heated and cooled? This is of particular concern if you are responsible for paying the utilities. Do you have control over heating and/or air conditioning levels? Also be sure to find out average monthly costs of all utilities are, including water.

4. Are there enough windows and which direction(s) do they face? Light and temperature can dramatically affect how much you enjoy your home. If you find lack of light depressing, you may want to avoid basements or apartments with tiny windows. If there is a long wall facing north and you’re in a colder climate, find out how well it is insulated to protect yourself from northern winds.

5. How much closet space is there? Apartments in older houses tend to have fewer closets. Closets are important not only for your clothes but vacuum cleaners and other things you want to tuck away.

6. How old is the wiring? Count how many outlets there are and if they have a grounding socket. Few outlets and/or two-pronged outlets often indicate older wiring, which can be a safety concern. You might even want to take a radio or alarm clock and test the outlets to see if there are any electrical surges.

7. What are the policies and laws regarding pets? If a pet is already part of your family, make sure it is legal and acceptable to have pets. Otherwise, you may have to face a heartbreaking decision.

8. Is there parking? If you have a car you’ll want to know if parking is included in the rent, where it is and how safe it is.

9. Check for insects and rodents. Look in corners, behind furniture and along baseboards for any evidence of critters or repellent. If there are current tenants, they may be forthcoming with such information. And, if possible, visit the apartment at night and turn lights on in the bathroom and kitchen to look for any activity.

10. If the place is in need of repair or paint, find out what will be done before you move in. If the plaster is falling down and you have to repair it, you may find living there more expensive and annoying than you bargained for.

11. Sufficient safety features including smoke detectors, fire extinguishers and carbon monoxide detectors. Look inside the apartment as well as in the hallways and in other common areas.

12. Check the water pressure. Also check the water temperature. How hot does the water get and how cold does it get. A good tip is to turn on the water in the shower when you walk into the unit and see how long it takes to get warm/hot (your bathing preference). Keep the shower on while you complete the rest of your walk through. The temperature should remain comfortable by the time you leave the unit. If the water is cold by the time that you leave, there’s a good chance that you could run out of hot water in the mornings. You might ant to also find out if there is an in-unit water heater or if there is one that is shared by multiple units. This will also affect the amount of hot water that runs to the apartment.

There is no need to rush through your inspection of your potential new apartment. Be thorough and take your time. After all, it will be your home for at least the next year, make sure you choose a place that you know you’ll be happy with.