What sort of things do you need to consider when looking for an apartment to lease? How can you be sure that you’ll be happy with your decision? While this article can’t promise to foretell every scenario that will happen over the course of lease in your new home, it should be used as helpful guide with rules to follow when searching for your best home.
Know Your Budget
The more pricey the prospective apartment, the higher the chance it will be appealing. More money tends to get you more amenities, a larger space, and a better location. Know your budget and stick to it to avoid the temptation to sign on for something that will be hard to afford. It can help to only look at homes that fall into your price range. If the floorplan you can afford isn’t available, then walk away without seeing what else is offered. Other costs should be factored into how much you’ll end up paying each month. Some apartment communities cover the bill for certain utilities and services, and others expect the renter to pay for everything from water to pest control and landscaping fees. Estimate what your total monthly expenses will be, and make sure that the number fits comfortably into your housing budget.
Prioritize
Once you know how much you want to spend, create a list of absolute necessities. Have a large dog? It’s essential that the apartment you lease allows large pets. Some don’t allow animals at all, and others have a maximum pound allowed. Know all the details before you find yourself putting Fido on a diet just to keep eyebrows down. What else is on your list? Dishwashers, laundry machines and balconies are not standard in every home. If you choose a home without a washer and dryer, find out if there is a community coin operated laundry room, or be prepared to make frequent visits to the laundromat. Other things to consider are square footage, outdoor space, number of bathrooms, storage space, kitchen size, location, and parking availability. Think about this for a while and make your own personalized list, as everyone’s needs are different.
Get a Feel for the Community
There’s no surefire way to tell if you’re going to be happy with your decision, but taking the time to research and read articles like this one can help prepare you to make your best decision. Just as important as researching how to find your new home is researching what the general attitude is like about the new home you’re eyeing. Talk to management and don’t be afraid to ask lots of questions. How are repairs handled, and how promptly? What is the noise level like? Talk to residents and ask them how they like the community. Ask them the same questions you asked management and see if you get a consistent answer. Residents are more likely to give you a fair picture of daily life in the complex than the people trying to sell it to you. Finally, consult online ratings, but beware that these can be negatively skewed. You’re unlikely to find a complex with a four star rating, but that doesn’t mean you have to settle for a one and two star community. Remember that one or two highly negative reviews can drag down the overall rating of an otherwise greatly loved community, so be sure to read through the reviews and use your good judgment.
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Carey Howard is an apartment locator in San Antonio, TX. She has written online content for apartment complexes and leasing sites. She highly reccommends
apartments in Houston, TX.
License: Creative Commons image source
License: Creative Commons image source
License: Image author owned
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