Apartment Renting Tips

These ten Apartment Renting tips will guide you on what to ask and look for during the rental process.

1. First, make sure that you look at the actual apartment you plan to rent. Don't settle for touring the one next door that looks exactly like it. Unless your landlord is hiding something, he or she should be willing to show you the actual unit you will be renting.

2. Walk through the apartment with your landlord, writing down any stains, cracks, or other damage you see. Have your landlord sign off on the paper, and then keep it in your files. (This will be useful when the time comes for you to move out. At move-out time you should walk through the apartment with the landlord again and get another signature regarding the move-out condition.)

3. Check the kitchen appliances, light fixtures, toilet, shower, door locks, and anything else that could possibly be broken.

4. Pay attention to the electrical outlets. Are there enough? If the building is older, check to see if the outlets have been updated to accommodate a ground (that third prong on a plug). If not, be prepared to buy adaptors for many of your appliances.

5. If you require anything to be repaired or replaced before move-in, get a WRITTEN, SIGNED, AND DATED agreement from the landlord detailing the repairs and specifying a deadline by which they must be made.

6. Don't spend the entire time talking. Be quiet long enough to listen and see how much sound carries through the walls of different rooms. Can you hear every car passing outside? Can you hear your neighbor sneeze?

7. Be sure you know what if any laundry facilities are available. If the facilities are on site, check to see how many washers and dryers there are, what hours they are available, and if they are all working.

8. Find out what the rules are for visitor parking, and if there are any restrictions on how long overnight guests may stay with you.

9. If you get a chance, talk with some of the other renters. Does the landlord do repairs in a timely manner? What are utility bills like? Are there any other problems?

10. If you're going to be Sharing An Apartment, make sure you meet and talk to ALL of the people you will be living with. NEVER agree to live with someone you haven't thoroughly questioned about things such as smoking habits, daily schedules, et cetera. See our Sharing An Apartment section for ideas on what to ask.

Apartment Renting

Your one-stop apartment renting resource. Renting a new apartment can be anything from a headache to a legal disaster if you aren't properly prepared. Our site provides you with important information, warnings, and tips, as well as connecting you with available apartments and rental services.