Kinan Beck is the Broker and co-owner of One Source Realty in Austin Texas. Visit Kinan’s Austin Apartment Guide, visit his Austin Apartment locator company’s website, & his Austin Texas Apartments website. He has seen considerable success in real estate, and looks forward to many more years in the business.
"If you are not at the point in your life that you are looking to buy a home or a condo, you are likely looking for a great apartment that you can call home. Once you find a great apartment, however, there are a few things you need to keep in mind before you sign a lease and officially accept the apartment as your new residence.
Consider the Location of the Apartment
While the apartment you are considering buying may be absolutely beautiful, you also need to consider its location. Look for an apartment that is near to the right highways, bus lines, or train lines before you commit yourself to living in the apartment for the next several months. The inconveniences of getting to work or participating in special events simply will not be worth it if the apartment is located too far from the routes you need for community.
Read the Lease Carefully and Ask for Changes when Necessary
If the landlord has developed his or her own lease, there may be a few stipulations in it that you are uncomfortable with. Before you sign the lease, ask for these stipulations to be changed. While you likely will not get the landlord to change certain stipulations, such as not allowing pets to live in the apartment, you may be able to get other aspects of the lease changed.
Consider Your Safety
While the apartment may look beautiful and well-kept, there are a few safety issues you should consider before signing a lease. For example, you should ask the landlord to describe the security measures that are in place on the grounds. This may include a parking garage available to those living in the apartment complex, security cameras and more. If the landlord does not already provide security, you might want to add this to your lease to make sure something is provided.
Another safety issue revolves around the maintenance of equipment on the apartment grounds. For example, if the apartment complex has an elevator, you should look into how often it is inspected and you should find out if there is a number you can call if you have problems with the elevator. In addition, you should find out if the landlord provides a guaranteed turnaround time if equipment such as the elevator should fail. After all, it could fail tomorrow and you could find yourself stuck in a lease and walking 20 flights of steps to your apartment every day.
Find Out About Special Services
Some apartment buildings include special services in the cost of rent while others do not. Before you get yourself tied into a lease, find out what services are included. For example, how do tenants dispose of their garbage? Is there an incinerator, are there garbage receptacles throughout the building, is there regular clean up to keep vermin away?
Know Where Your Money Stands
More than likely, you will be asked to pay a security deposit before you can take over the apartment. Make sure you are comfortable with the terms surrounding the security deposit before you sign a lease. Also, be sure to find out when you will get it back after you move. Similarly, if you think you might move out before the terms of your lease are complete, find out if the landlord allows subleasing of the apartment or what will happen if you move out while still paying your rent. Some landlords will allow you to move back in if you vacate the apartment while still paying rent whereas others will seize the apartment, cancel your lease, and impose penalty fees.
For many people, renting an apartment is a wise decision that fits nicely into their lifestyle. Before committing to a lease, however, it is important to take several things into consideration in order to make sure you are properly protected."
- Related Videos
- Related Articles
- Ask / Related Q&A
- Apartment Finder Uses New Web Site Tool To Help Renters Find Apartments
- Finding the Right Realtor®
- Top Reasons to Use a Real Estate Agent to Help you Find an Apartment
- Should I Use a Realtor to Find My Rental Home?
- Realtor Referrals - Mortgage Marketing Strategies That Work
- San Diego County Realtors Assist in Home Purchase
- Realtor Statistics Everyone Should See
- Considerations in Choosing a Realtor




How to Make Profit from Gurgaon Commercial Properties
By: joseph | 25/11/2009It is the right time to make profit from Gurgaon commercial properties. Gurgaon properties had been on the upswing for several years prior to the recent recession. However, during the recession the real estate market underwent a slump and is expected to bounce back soon. Also, there is considerable urban development in the region and it is the right time to invest and build commercial units and be ready with the product for sale when the growth trajectory is at its peak.
Gurgaon Properties Now Attractive with Low Prices in India
By: joseph | 25/11/2009Gurgaon properties are now attractive with low prices in India. It is an amazing factor because prior to the recent slump, real estate in this urban centre recorded better appreciation above the national average for several years. This was due to the presence of a host of multinational corporate offices and the increased infrastructure sophistication in this stretch.
How to Locate Real Estate Foreclosures
By: Celeste Faucher | 25/11/2009Some properties face foreclosure because they have not been successful in short sales. There are a number of sources for listings of real estate foreclosures in the market including real estate agents, real estate signs, bank websites, asset management companies, government agencies, auction houses, and internet foreclosure companies.
What are the Benefits of Investing in Home Foreclosures and How to Purchase One Successfully?
By: Celeste Faucher | 25/11/2009Investing in home foreclosures has several benefits like tax credit incentives, reduced asking prices and properties located in prime residential areas. Some useful guidelines for buying property through home foreclosures are to plan your housing requirements, subscribe to an online listing service, select suitable properties, survey the neighborhood, inspect property and negotiate with the sellers.
What are the Benefits of Investing in Home Foreclosures and How to Purchase One Successfully?
By: Celeste Faucher | 25/11/2009Investing in home foreclosures has several benefits like tax credit incentives, reduced asking prices and properties located in prime residential areas. Some useful guidelines for buying property through home foreclosures are to plan your housing requirements, subscribe to an online listing service, select suitable properties, survey the neighborhood, inspect property and negotiate with the sellers.
What are the Benefit of buying Brooklyn Foreclosures and How to proceed?
By: Celeste Faucher | 25/11/2009Brooklyn foreclosures offer various benefits for home buyers which include housing assistance, community developmental programs and famous tourist spots like the Art Museum. Important guidelines for buying a foreclosure in Brooklyn are to understand local laws, find the latest foreclosure listings, select suitable properties, carry out a comparison test, assess property and neighborhood, evaluate property value and bargain for a better deal.
How to Get a Budget Priced Property through San Antonio Foreclosures?
By: Celeste Faucher | 25/11/2009Buying a property through San Antonio foreclosures has several benefits such as home owner’s incentives, quality educational facilities like the St Anthony Catholic School and affordable living costs. Guidelines for purchasing a foreclosure in San Antonio include understanding foreclosure process, sourcing, selecting and comparing the latest deals, examining the property and finally negotiating for a bargain price.
Charlotte Foreclosures - Benefits of Buying Property in Charlotte and How to Buy Foreclosure One
By: Celeste Faucher | 25/11/2009Buying a property in Charlotte has various benefits such as numerous housing options, friendly business centre and its popular public walking tours. Important instructions for buying a foreclosure in Charlotte are to research the web for foreclosure listings, choose appropriate deals, compare asking prices, assess the community, inspect the house and bargain for a better deal.
Apartment 101: a Guide to Apartment Shopping
By: Kinan Beck | 06/10/2007 | Real EstateWhen looking for the perfect apartment, there are several things you will want to keep in mind. The main factors to consider when apartment hunting include:
Real Estate 101: Purchasing With No Money Down
By: Kinan Beck | 06/10/2007 | Real EstateMany of us have seen those late night infomercials promising that you can get rich by purchasing real estate with no money down. While purchasing real estate with no money down does have a few inherent risks, the ability to buy a home with no money down is a reality that you might want to consider taking advantage of.
Apartments 101: What is an Apartment Locator?
By: Kinan Beck | 06/10/2007 | Real EstateLooking for an apartment can be a time-consuming and tiring ordeal. If you use the old fashioned methods of searching for an apartment, such as looking through the newspaper classified ads or relying on word of mouth, you may feel as if you are caught up following endless leads that result in nothing but dead ends. Therefore, to make your search easier, you should take advantage of the help provided by an apartment locator.
Real Estate Investment 101: Avoiding Scams
By: Kinan Beck | 06/10/2007 | Real EstateThe sad reality is that there are always people out there that are looking for people they can take advantage of. In most cases, scammers will take advantage of those that are already down because those that are already on hard times tend to be more desperate. Since desperation often leads to gullibility, scammers are more than happy to prey upon them in order to make a quick buck.
Real Estate Investment Clubs: Should I Join?if you are Interested in Becoming Involved With Real Estate Investment, Joining a Real Estate Investment C
By: Kinan Beck | 06/10/2007 | Real EstateIf you are interested in becoming involved with real estate investment, joining a real estate investment club can be a great first step. Although you will likely be expected to pay membership fees and may have to pay additional dues into the club, there are many advantages to joining a real estate club.
Leasing Apartments: What you Need to Know Before Signing
By: Kinan Beck | 06/10/2007 | Real EstateIf you are not at the point in your life that you are looking to buy a home or a condo, you are likely looking for a great apartment that you can call home. Once you find a great apartment, however, there are a few things you need to keep in mind before you sign a lease and officially accept the apartment as your new residence.
Building a Home That you Love…. That Will Bring a Profit Later
By: Kinan Beck | 06/10/2007 | Real EstateWhen building a home, you are likely hoping to build a home that is exactly to your needs and wants. After all, this is why many people choose to build rather than to buy a piece of real estate. At the same time, you want to consider the resale value of the home as well. Even if you think you will remain in the house until your golden years, you never know when life will throw an unexpected curve your way.
Real Estate 101: How Much Homeowners Insurance Do I Need?
By: Kinan Beck | 06/10/2007 | Real EstateWhen you buy real estate, one of the first things you need to consider is how you will keep your investment properly protected. Whether you are purchasing real estate as a place for you to live or you are purchasing it as an investment property, you still want to make sure it is protected from damage or other problems that may occur.