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What To Keep in Mind When Hunting for Your First Apartment

Posted on November 25, 2020

Looking for the right apartment can be a daunting task, whether it’s your first or your fifth time. Some steps are easy, while others are just plain confusing. To help you make the right decision when choosing your next place to live, here are some useful tips that can help you have an overall good experience.

Know Upfront and Long-Term Costs

Especially for first-time buyers, you may think that the rent is all you’ll have to pay at first. However, living in an apartment means more than that. You can’t get an apartment without having to pay some fees in advance, such as a deposit for the first month of rent and a security deposit in case you skip town. Also, because your apartment comes with amenities to help your living experience be better, you will have fees for these services including your trash service, utilities, and renter’s insurance to protect you in the case of damage or theft. Before you sign a lease, make a list of your expenses and create a budget for what a typical month would look like so you can be sure you can afford an apartment with your lifestyle.

What to Bring with You

Moving from a single bedroom to a full-size apartment with a kitchen, bathroom, and more will require more furniture than a bed. When renting, you typically will have the choice between a furnished or unfurnished apartment. If you choose an unfurnished one, you will need to bring your own bed, couch, table, and some chairs. Other items you’ll need for either a furnished or unfurnished apartment are towels, shower curtains, utensils, and cookware.

Don’t Pay Until You’ve Seen the Apartment

Apartment scams are a thing, which is why you should always see what you are agreeing to rent. Red flags should immediately go up if someone tries to get you to pay for an apartment that you’ve never seen, especially if they are too eager to sell it to you.

Look at the Pet Policy

Even if you don’t have a pet currently, keep in mind that you may eventually want to get one. Some apartments will allow you to have pets, while others will require a large fee or limit what breeds you can have. If you know you will have a pet, keep in mind that you will have to pay a large deposit upfront along with a monthly fee. Plus you have to pay for any damage they cause to the apartment.

Take Pictures When You Move In

If anything looks messed up or damaged when you move into an apartment, you’d better make sure it’s documented and noted by your landlord. Otherwise, who’s to say you didn’t cause the damage? Also, make a checklist of each issue you see and have your landlord sign it to make sure you won’t get charged for damages you weren’t responsible for.

For more information on leasing with us, give us a call at 615-663-9400 today. We would be glad to answer any questions you may have!