Determine Your Price Point:

When looking for your new home, It is essential to decide how much rent you can comfortably afford. By determining the amount of rent you can comfortably afford, you will be able to weed out apartments that might not be the right choice for you. In addition, as you calculate your rent payment, it is critical to keep in mind other expenses that might occur throughout the months. 

Compare the Neighborhoods:

You have now determined the right price point for your future apartment. The next step is to decide what area of town you would like to live in. When researching neighborhoods, it is necessary to consider what you would like to be close to. For example, do you want to be within walking distance from a grocery store or public transportation? Likewise, it might be imperative to consider the distance between your new home and your work. The further away you are from work, the earlier you will have to wake up in the morning! If you are new to the area, there are countless apartment-hunting websites that will compare cities and amenities for you. 

How to Tour: 

Once you have determined your neighborhood, it’s time to start reaching out to apartment buildings. First, call or email the leasing agent and share that you are interested in knowing more about their availability and amenities. Then, suppose you like what they offer, set up a meeting to tour the facility. Do not be afraid to ask questions! The leasing agents are there to help you! For example, make sure to ask if they provide any resident events (these will allow you to meet other residents in your building)! Similarly, it is vital to ask what utilities are included in your rent. 

Submitting an Application:

Do you think you found your dream apartment? Do not rush your decision! Make sure to wait at least 24 hours before making your final decision. Has it been 24 hours? Yes? Now it’s time to submit your application! When submitting your application, assume that the building will ask you to have a co-signer on your application and possibly run a credit check. Also, be prepared to pay an application fee when submitting. 

Read the Lease Carefully:

Congrats! Your application has been accepted for your dream apartment! Now what? Carefully review the lease and make sure that you can agree to all the properties’ terms and conditions. If aspects of the lease are confusing, do not be afraid to ask the property to clarify. When signing the lease, there might be fees that you will need to pay, such as a security deposit. Extra deposits are usually refundable if you follow the terms and conditions of the property unless mentioned otherwise. 

Now you are ready to find your new apartment! Keep in mind that buildings tend to lease fast! Are you looking to decorate your new apartment? Check out our other blogs!