How to Find the Best Apartment for You
Step by step breakdown for entering the renting stage of your life
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Apartments
I like to think that many of my subscribers come from all walks of life and backgrounds, but I have a hunch most of you are just like me: in your early twenties and renting an apartment so small it should be free. That is why writing this newsletter was so fun. The topic today is going to explore the great adventure of finding the perfect apartment for you.
All of us will most likely live in an apartment at least once in our lives (I say as I am writing this from my apartment). So, let’s get you ready for one of the most daunting challenges in life thus far.
Define Your Needs, Then Explore
The trickiest part about finding the best apartment for you is explicitly defining what you will need in an apartment, the apartment building, and the location of the building.
Something that can be easily overlooked is thinking about where your life will be in one year, and what kind of apartment that life is going to need.
What do I mean by that? Think about the number of bedrooms you may need, the area in which you live in, and the surrounding community. All of these things are connected to your life outside the apartment but need to be considered when choosing the best apartment for you.
A great example of something you will have to plan in the future for, will you be getting a dog in this apartment?? That is something that will shift the requirements of the apartment you choose.
Get out a note pad and write down your first list wants. Then start a column of actual needs as it pertains to your life and how you see your life going while in this apartment. An example of wants would be side-by-side washer and dryer rather than stacked. Another example would be granite countertops and stainless-steel appliances. A list of some needs would be maybe, in-unit laundry, or enough space for a home office. Are you seeing what I am saying?
Once you have these lists, you are now ready to begin searching for an apartment!
Where to Start Looking
In today’s world there are so many resources out there to help you find an apartment, but there are a few that stand out. My favorite places (which I linked below) are as follows:
Why are these my favorites? The answer comes down to a few key reasons:
Large databases of options in every major city
Secure/safe credited options (Unlike Craigslist sometimes)
Ability to easily compares prices
What more do you need in a great website for renting an apartment!
Time to Filter Your Wishlist
Each of these websites allows you to filter your search to your exact specifications. This helps to narrow your search window, weed out the apartments that are simply not a possibility, and save you time in the long run.
Side note, though, I would suggest starting your search by casting a wide net, and slowly narrow your search as you start to find places/areas that catch your attention.
In my opinion, the list below is everything you should absolutely be considering when searching for an apartment:
Distance from work (long commutes, traffic, walking distance)
Potentially needing more bedrooms in a year or two
Total costs of living are more than just rent (utilities, amenities, parking, gas, groceries, etc.)
Pet friendly building
Amenities like gym, common areas, storage areas, rooftop deck
The surrounding area – is it a downtown city, lakeside, on a major road, etc.
Enough square footage to fit your stuff (Measure things out when you tour!)
Potential deals buildings are offering (Ex. 2 months free rent, free parking, no extra charge for gym)
Washer/Dryer in unit? Or does the building have communal laundry?
Surrounding businesses (grocery store, hardware store, restaurants)
Potential construction nearby
Apartment operating systems (Ex. how you will be paying bills each month)
This is a jumping off point for things to consider, I am sure everyone has their own lists, but some of these things are easy to overlook so make sure they are a consideration for you and whomever you are moving in with.
Touring Potential Apartments
Alright, let’s fast forward. You have picked out a handful of apartments that fit your lifestyle. Now, it is time to tour them. Luckily booking apartment tours for buildings can be done online or with a quick phone call. Honestly, you could even drop by most of these places with no appointment as they are always looking to give tours.
During the actual tours is your time to ask questions, measure things out, and really get the feel of this potential building you could call home. That is an important piece to apartment hunting, your initial reaction to the building and its units. If it feels right, follow that instinct. It could be hard for some of you living on your own for once, so you want to make sure the place gives you that safe/comfortable feeling.
When it comes to asking questions, you cannot possibly ask too many. The leasing agents want to give you all the information, even if you think it is a dumb question. Remember from elementary school, no question is a dumb question.
Lastly, measure the space. Make sure you know how big your couch and bed are, so when you are in these units you can measure out if it will fit properly. A great thing about these apartment buildings is some even have “show room units,” which is basically a fully decorated apartment set up so you can visualize a unit filled with furniture, rather than walking through completely empty units. I know I am not the only one that has a hard time visualizing all my stuff in an empty apartment unit, so this feature is helpful if an apartment has it.
Pro/Con Lists
Ok, you have toured all the buildings and taken all your notes. But now you feel like you cannot decide. Time to break out the pro/con list.
Lists like these can help you differentiate the apartment buildings you saw, because after a few they really do start to blend together. Decide on the things that matter most to you. These are make or break kind of things. This will easily calm all your nerves and help you make the best decision for you.
Also be sure to evaluate the deals each apartment building is offering. These deals can help lower prices on everything, so if two apartments are basically the same, go for the one that will help save you any financial stress in the long run.
Negotiating
You are now headed in to sign a lease and get that apartment locked up. But you have heard about being able to potentially negotiate for a better deal. This part is tricky, and my best advice is it never hurts to ask.
If you are looking in a major city with a big apartment complex, there is a good chance you will not get far with trying to negotiate. The companies know there are going to be more people coming through that door willing to take the offer, so that does not leave a lot of leverage in your hand.
Leverage comes into play when you are negotiating with a smaller, not in a major city kind of apartment.
These apartment buildings want your business, so they are already comparing their prices to other buildings around the block. So, at the end of the day you will usually see the same prices in a similar area.
Sign the Lease
You did it! You landed your perfect apartment. Congrats! I hope this guide helped people that are currently in the market or will be soon.
I know there are a lot of people out there that can benefit from this article, so please share it around with anyone who needs an apartment hunting guide!
Thank you again for all of my subscribers and their support.
Cheers!
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