Tips for looking for an apartment

Grandphoenix

Grandphoenix

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Just curious on some tips on looking for an apartment. I'm trying to find a cheap-o 1 bedroom. Plan on shopping around but would prefer not to have to use a locator service.
 
Find out stuff included in your rent (gas/water/internet)

Make sure it is free from assholes

Does it look secure?

Good toilet?

Noisy?

Close shops?

Why did previous person move out?

Furnished?
 
You could always check craigslist. Not always the most reliable, but the option is there. Also look in papers for apartment deals and talk with friends that have apartments to see if you could get a deal for moving into the same complex. Oh, and make sure it's not in the 'ghetto.' In my first apartment the guy that lived above me was shot to death while his 2 year old son was in the apartment with him and I was in mine. >_>
 
Realia said:
You could always check craigslist.
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This.

Just be careful because you will get those scam adds. Like;

I'm moving out of the country right now and I need to rent out my fully furnished penthouse for minimal cost. Please send me a money order for security deposit.

But yea just make sure you don't check one out alone, chances are what you miss, someone else might catch. Like, stains on carpet, leaky faucet, things you don't want to get blamed for when you move out.

And yea, apartments.com is good too.
 
Been looking at apartments myself lately.

Think I am going with a studio set up because they run at least 150 dollars cheaper than a regular one bedroom. That and I want to live alone. Rule of thumb is you don't want to spend anymore than one paycheck on rent.

It is important to do a lot of research first. Ask yourself questions like:

Do I want to live alone?

What kind of reviews does this place have?

Location?

Safe?

Funished?

What does rent include?

Can I have pets?

a lot of stuff that Kiki recommended is good.

Personally, I am waiting to see if I deploy between now and next year. Still up in the air for October but my name's been dropped with a few units, just hoping they have a slot for another medic. If I am deploying within the next year and a half I'll stay home and bank the rest since I want to transfer back to San Antonio for a few years and teach at the medic school house.

Best of luck with your choices though :)
 
You might also want to check about how much the Renter's Insurance is in whichever area you're going to be in, also any Housing Committee costs or w/e they're called. The Apartment community might have fees for upkeep depending on if there are condos included within the complex. Not sure if that would apply to just the condos though. Does it come with all kitchen appliances or are you going to have to rent/buy a fridge?

One thing I like to check? If I can paint :3 Might wanna check that, too.
 
One thing you can do too is check out the cars parked around the neighborhood. Don't expect them all to look nice, but if most of the cars look at least cared for even if they are old and not in prime condition.. it's prolly a decent sign of the people in the area
 
Javir said:
One thing you can do too is check out the cars parked around the neighborhood. Don't expect them all to look nice, but if most of the cars look at least cared for even if they are old and not in prime condition.. it's prolly a decent sign of the people in the area
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This is really good advice.

And I wouldn't worry about renter's insurance unless you plan to live there more than 5 years.

If you have a pet then definately make sure to check if pets are allowed or not.
 
Make sure there are no minorities or jews close by.
 
LadyKiKi said:
Find out stuff included in your rent (gas/water/internet)

Make sure it is free from assholes

Does it look secure?

Good toilet?

Noisy?

Close shops?

Why did previous person move out?

Furnished?
Click to expand...


Can't stress enough how important it is to know why the previous tenants moved out. You never know what kind of crazy shit the last people could have been doing to the place, looks can be deceiving.

Search with friends, always have a second or third opinion there to point out anything you can miss.

Don't just look at the apartment, look at the neighborhood, what businesses are nearby, etc. You'll be needing to buy the essentials on a constant basis, best to know how far you'll need to go to pick up stuff.
 
You should also, especially if you're stickin' in the Arlington area and lookin' for cheap, call the non-emergency line at the police station and speak with a person in crime analysis. Try to get a report on any occurrences in the area, especially the unit you're lookin' in to (if you have gotten that far). I know they should give you any occurrences in the complex, but sometimes you can get a report of the surroundin' areas from a good one.
 
While we're on the topic.. can anyone tell me about the Korea Town neighborhood of LA? Is it as shitty as my intuition is telling me?
 
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