A few of the apartment guide books feature another item to help prospective homeowners; small yet detailed maps which show the location of each of the properties, not only geographically, but in relation to the various shops, restaurants, entertainment venues, schools, community centers and gas stations. If the full address is listed, you can also look on Google Maps to get even more details, such as reviews and more. Knowing this kind of information in advance is essential if you have a family.
The guide will have photos of the interior of the apartment, and details about whether it is furnished or unfurnished. If you are just starting out in life with a first apartment, then a furnished apartment might be ideal so you do not need to start buying a lot of household items all at once.
Also, carefully look at the other amenities in the building or the apartment complex. It might have parking, or a pool, and many modern buildings are now putting in gyms for the tenants to enjoy.
Circle the listings of all the apartments you are most interested in and then phone the broker handling the property to find out more about each place, including the price. Arrange with them to view the apartment and hopefully you will be able to find the one of your dreams.
There are a couple of things to consider in relation to the financial aspect of renting before you start apartment hunting. The first is that you will probably need one month’s rent, two month’s deposit, and a broker’s fee. The broker’s fee might be a flat fee, a percentage of the annual rent, or one month’s rent.
Therefore, while the apartment may seem reasonable at $1000 a month, you would need $3000 to move in plus the broker’s fee. Put aside at least another $1000 for moving and other unexpected expenses, and more if you have a lot of things or are moving your whole family.
The second thing to consider is that in most cases these days, you will have to pass a credit and employment check. The landlord will want to know that you can afford the place in the short and long term. If you do not have a great credit history but you are employed, this can help. Expect to pay a fee of $35 to $100 for the credit and employment check, depending on how extensive it is.
In the next section of this article, we will discuss apartment hunting online in more detail.
