Whether you just got offered a job in another part of the country, or if you are just looking to downsize in your home city, you need to take the time to find a great place to make your nest.
After all, home is the place you go to decompress after a long day making it paramount to your mental health. But there are so many ways apartment complexes can fail.
Some of them are noisy, others are insecure, many are in bad locations, and some have amenities that are always out of order. The only way you are going to find a great pad is if you know how to hunt.
That’s why we pulled together these tips. Learn how to find a good apartment with this helpful guide.
1. Decide What You Can Afford
The United States Census Bureau compiles statistics on how much people pay in rent and sadly, 42 percent of people pay more than 35 percent of their income. If you’re one of those people, then you need to reconsider what you can afford.
If you can free up a greater percentage of your income, you will be able to put money into savings and have more to spend on things like transportation and entertainment.
DARO Management offers many great affordable options in the city of Washington D.C. if you are looking for a place to live.
2. Consider Factors That Can Lower Rental Cost
If you lower your rental cost, then you will have more money to spend on things like hotels when you travel. There are a lot of different factors that can affect rental cost and many of them are great places to save.
Look in the Fringes of an Urban Area
If you want to live in a big city, then you may need to look outside of the major urban area in order to find affordable housing. Try to keep an open mind as you are looking at properties.
Consider All Aspects of Transportation Costs
You may feel like you would save money living out in the suburbs, but if you have to drive into the city for work every day, then you will have the cost of parking, gas, and the mental cost of the drive.
Consider renting at a place in the city if you work long hours in a high rise.
Consider Getting a Roommate
Roommates can cut your bills in half. If you want to live in a more expensive area but can’t afford it on your own, it’s a great option no matter how old you are.
Consider Downsizing Square Footage
Do you really need all of that room in your apartment? If you downsize, just make sure you find a unit that has plenty of storage.
3. Check Your Credit Score
When an apartment complex evaluates your application, one of the most important factors they will look at is your credit score. Try to find out what it is at least six months in advance of moving so that you can have enough time to improve it before you apply.
4. Get Pay Statements from Your Bank
In order to apply to live in an apartment complex, you need to have copies of your pay stubs from work. Try to get official statements from your bank to make things easiest.
6. Put Together a Deposit
You need to have at least your first and last month’s rent to get a place anywhere. But you should also pull together some money for a deposit.
Most places that you will rent will want to hold onto some of your money in the event that you damage the apartment before you move out.
7. How to Find a Good Apartment: Talk to Other Tenants
Your apartment isn’t just a single unit, it exists within a community and that community is going to have a huge impact on how your day-to-day life goes. So try to reach out to see what your neighbors will be like.
As a conversation starter, you can ask them what the apartment complex is like. People love to share their opinions, and this is a more genuine way to get an idea of the complex without turning to online reviews that may be harsher.
8. Do a Walk Through at Different Times of Day
You don’t want to just visit your potential apartment complex one time. You need to go back at different times of day like after work so you can see how difficult it would be to find a parking spot.
Try to get as much information as you can to prevent hassles in the future.
9. Consider Lease Terms Carefully
Before you shop for an apartment, you need to decide how long you will be staying there. Certain apartment complexes will make you sign a lease for at least twelve months. If you sign a shorter lease, they may require you to pay more.
10. Look for Reviews Online
Before you sign on the dotted line, you need to make sure that you do your research. With the rise of the internet, there are so many different review sites you can check out to see what others have to say about your chosen complex.
Make sure you read a variety of reviews and don’t listen to every word you read. Experiences are subjective. But at least the reviews can tip you off to things like unresponsive management or problems with bugs.
More Helpful Advice
Now that you know how to find a good apartment, you can make a list of the things that you are looking for and make a confident decision.
For more tips to improve your lifestyle, check out our other blog posts today.
