Abandon Nest

Everyone wants a nice place to live, right? When I moved out on my own, I know I did. Finding a great apartment is the first step in striking out on your own, so its something to consider carefully before making a decision. Here are the top 5 things you should do when choosing an apartment.

1. Ask your employer – The most important thing you can possibly do when picking out an apartment is obtain word of mouth recommendations. To do so I advise you to ask your employer if they can inform you of nearby apartment complexes. If you’re working for a good company, they most likely will not give you a bad recommendation.
2. Visit ForRent.com and ApartmentRatings.com – ForRent.com will provide you with up to date apartment listings for most places around the US. Make a list of the apartments that seem good to you. Write down the phone number and any information you deem pertinent like rent rates, utility costs, and security deposit information. After gathering this information, go to ApartmentRatings.com to see if they have any reviews of the complexes you’ve noted. I avoided bad management by visiting this website.
3. Call around – With your list of apartment complexes and phone numbers in hand, start calling. Have a pen and paper handy to write down the information that you get. Ask specific questions like “Is the security deposit refundable?” and “What, if any, utilities are paid for?” Ask each place the same questions, and write down their responses.
4. Visit the top 2-3 – You will never know if you want to live in a place if you don’t see it first. What if the super nice apartment complex that you have picked out is in the middle of a bad neighborhood? What if its 25+ minutes away from your place of employment. These are two things that you definitely don’t want happening. See if you can view a model apartment.
5. Reserve your apartment – After you’ve decided where you want to live, make sure you file an application and place a security deposit as soon as possible. Good apartments tend to go fast and you don’t want to miss your spot.

In my opinion, these are the five things that need to be done before renting and/or signing a lease. Do some research and you’ll end up with a well-priced and nicely adorned apartment. Good luck with your house hunting.