The Apartment Search
by Kyle Haley
The
Apartment Search By Kyle Thomas Haley
The
Apartment Search When you are apartment hunting, prepare a rental
search plan. Be sure to know in advance what you want in an apartment
and what you can live without. Decide in advance what areas of the city
you could consider living in and make a list of apartment buildings
within that perimeter. Be sure to consider how far and how convenient
it will be for you to travel to your job or your school or your family
and friends. Also, how far is the apartment from stores, banks,
hospitals, Church (if you attend) etc. If you have a car, make sure
that there is adequate and convenient parking space 24/7. If you don't
drive make sure that there is close by public transportation.
Narrow
your apartment locating to the size of rental unit you need. Studio
apartment or one bedroom apartment or 2 BR apartment or more. Are you
considering a furnished apartment or do you possible need a short term
rental. If you are renting an apartment with a cat, dog, or other pet,
you need to find out which apartments allow renting with pets and which
do not. And, if they do allow pets, is there an additional security
deposit required and if so, how much it is. Do you need an apartment
complex with an exercise room or tennis courts or a pool or a
recreation room, etc. or do you simply need and desire a nice clean and
quiet pad.
Be
realistic about what you can afford. Most apartment renting guides
suggest that your rent should not be more than 25% to 30% of your
income. This can vary depending on the income bracket, but be sure to
be "real world" when budgeting additional apartment expenses such as
heating and air conditioning and other utilities. If you fall short of
affording the apartment of your choice, you might consider sharing an
apartment with a roommate or roommates. Keep in mind that living with
roommates can help you afford an upscale apartment or even, in some
cases, luxury apartments, but it also has extreme restrictions to your
privacy.
If you
are familiar with the area and its neighborhoods, that gives you a
distinct advantage for your apartment search. If, however, you are
relocating to a new city or are not particularly knowledgeable about
the city, you may want to contact an Apartment Locator or an Apartment
Finder.
Once you
narrow your search for apartments down to apts which suit your needs
and desires you must be well organized & well prepared for your
visits to the apartment complexes. When inspecting the rental premises
be on the alert for unsafe conditions, excessive noise from traffic or
playgrounds or neighbors. Visit the apartment building at night as well
as the daytime hours. This will give you a more comprehensive
understanding of the total space you will be residing in. When you find
the apartment complex that meets your renting needs and desires, you
must be ready to put your "best foot forward" when you meet the
apartment's rental agent. This person may be the apartment building
manager or a renting agent for the apts. You should prepare for this
apartment renting interview in a professional and intelligent manner.
Be advised that you are going to be asked to provide proof that you are
a reliable prospective tenant. You are most likely going to need
references from previous landlords. You may also be required by the
apartments to show that you are gainfully employed and can afford the
rent. Many landlords may require a credit report. If you are a first
time renter and/or you have limited credit history you may be asked for
references from family, friends, employer, professionals, etc. Likewise
if you are renting with bad credit you will certainly want to come to
the interview with a strong selection of references. You are not
necessarily restricted from apartment renting with less than perfect
credit, but you may be required to put up an additional security
deposit and possibly have a credit worthy person co-sign the apartment
lease with you. Don't unprepared for by requests for any of these
things. Be sure to fill out a 100% truthful apartment rental
application and come to the interview with references, proof of
employment, credit information and any other renting resources at the
ready. If you do have a credit history or renting history that might be
detrimental, going through an apartment locator or apartment finder may
be the best solution. They will present your history to the landlord
for you, (make sure they are 100% truthful about it) and they can also
be quite helpful and save you a lot of time because they most likely
will know which landlords and apartments are more lenient in these
circumstances. They can also advise you as to exactly what kinds of
references and documents you might need to prove that you can be a
responsible tenant.
You Have
Located Your "Dream Apartment"
Once you
have located your "dream apartment", or as close to your perfect
apartment as possible, now it is necessary to pay extremely close
attention to the particulars of the rental agreement. An Apartment
Lease is a contract between you and the landlord. Once agreed upon and
signed by the tenant and the landlord, the rental lease creates
obligations and restrictions for both parties. The most obvious
covenants of the apartment lease are the length of the rental, (Six
month lease, one year lease, two year lease, etc.) The amount of the
security deposit, when the rent is due, who is responsible for what
utilities. Also in that apartment lease, however, are stipulations,
(sometimes in small print) that can cover a great variety of landlord
and tenant obligations and restrictions. They can include, but are not
limited to, the following: * Maintenance of the apartment * Care of the
premises * Cleanliness * Insurance * Governmental regulations * Eminent
Domain * Nuisance and noise clauses * Stipulations as to the
circumstances whereby the landlord can enter the premises * Use of
Common Areas * Keys and locks * Loss or damage * Parking * Pets *
Plumbing * What the landlord may do if the rent is in arrears * What
the tenant can do to bring the rent current before any kind of action
might be started * Non performance or breach of the contract by the
renter * Renter's penalties in the event of early termination *
Circumstances which might cause the tenant or the landlord to break the
lease prior to the end of the term * Heat and other utilities * Removal
of goods * Surrender or Non-Surrender of the premises * Waivers of
various obligations * Prohibited reprisals * Garbage disposal *
Recyclables * And the list goes on and on and on.
Prospective
tenants should read an Apartment lease thoroughly. Prospective
apartment renters should understand everything that is contained in
that lease and make an informed decision to be 100% accepting of all
the provisions for both the tenant and the landlord, that you are
positive that you can live up to your end of the bargain and that you
are comfortable with the provisions on the landlord's end.
If you
do not understand every single clause of that apartment lease then do
not sign it until you do understand it. If necessary and if possible,
request assistance in interpreting the lease from a trusted source such
as a knowledgeable friend or family member or employer or professional,
or anyone else who can understand it and explain it to you. If
necessary get legal advice. It can cost additional funds if you do not
qualify for free legal assistance, but that additional cost might save
you a ton of money and save you a ton of heartache and aggravation down
the road.
If you
do not agree with any of the provisions of that apartment lease and/or
you feel that you can't live up to the tenant's obligations, or if you
are not in agreement with any of the landlord's rights under the
agreement, then do not sign the lease until/or unless it can be changed
to your satisfaction. If the apartment rental agreement cannot be
amended to meet your needs and desires and comfort level then do not
sign the lease and do not rent that apartment. The Apartment Rental
agreement that you sign as a prospective tenant will not change once
you become the actual tenant of that apartment.
Good
luck in your apartment search and good luck in your new apartment.
©
1999 - 2005 STANZEEKAY Inc. Kyle Thomas Haley of Chapel Hill, North
Carolina has been helping people find apartments on the Internet since
1999 with STANZEEKAY Inc. Websites such as:
http://www.apartment-rental.net
and
http://www.relocation-guide.net
Kyle
Thomas Haley of Chapel Hill, North Carolina has been helping people
find apartments on the Internet since 1999 with STANZEEKAY Inc.
Websites such as:
http://www.apartment-rental.net
and
http://www.relocation-guide.net/Moving/
