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Jennifer Fry
RentSMART: Renting in 2011
February 1, 2011
Filed under: Apartments, Relocation, RentFAST

If one of your top priorities for 2011 is finding a new apartment, you no doubt want to accomplish your goal in as little time and with as little stress as possible. Whether you’ve been looking for a while or you’re planning to start your search now that the holiday season is over, here are five tips to help you find a great apartment:

  1. Determine what you want. You don’t want just any apartment, but one that’s right for you. This means you should think about what you want and then design a search around those parameters.

    Most apartment hunters begin their search knowing how many bedrooms they want. But what about bathrooms? If you think you need two, have you considered whether one-and-a-half bathrooms would work? (If it would, giving up the half-bathroom could save you money in rent.)

    Aside from basic considerations such as the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, take a moment to decide what other features are important to you. For instance, if you don’t own a dog, you might not care if a building is pet-friendly. On the other hand, you might want the flexibility of knowing you can get a dog later on. Already knowing what you want means not having to waste time visiting apartments that won’t fit the bill.

  2. Know how flexible you can be. Landlords may offer tenants different rental options, and you need to know what you feel comfortable with before you commit to anything. For instance, you might agree to a two-year lease so you can lock in a good rental rate. Or, if your goal is to rent an apartment for a year and then look to buy, a one-year lease is probably your best bet. However, if you’re concerned you may need to relocate because of a job you might want to find a landlord who’s open to a shorter term or offers a transfer clauses.
  3. Answer the roommate question. Living with roommates is an important decision to consider. Roommates can provide needed companionship and make your apartment living more affordable by splitting expenses but they are not for everyone. Before asking someone to room, weigh the pros and cons carefully. Apartment complexes almost always require everyone to be on the lease and therefore you are all held responsible.
  4. Anticipate the finances. It’s not enough to find an apartment you love; you must also be able to afford it. The biggest expense you’ll face is the monthly rent, but you must also be prepared to pay for utilities, security deposit, and other expenses. Keep in mind that most apartment communities require you to make at least 3 times the monthly rent to qualify. You may also qualify under a savings account.
  5. Take your search online. The Web has a wealth of resources for apartment hunters, including sites that let you search for apartments in the area you want at no charge. However, for even more personal assistance, let RentFAST, a FREE apartment locating service in Ann Arbor do it all for you! Just call Jennifer Fry at 734-669-5937 with your wish list, set your price range, bedroom size, pet preference, and more (remember Tip #1?) and you will be on your way to finding the perfect apartment!



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Jennifer Fry

You have signed the lease and are ready to move into your new apartment. However, there is one step that many people do not take seriously – completing the Apartment Inventory Checklist. This important process is vital to making sure you and your landlord are on the same page when it comes to the condition of the apartment upon move-in. If, when you move out, you don’t have a completed apartment checklist, you could be liable for damages in the apartment that were there before you.

The apartment checklist is a tool to provide written record of detailed aspects of the rental property and its visible and hidden condition. It’s also a good way to make a list of any repairs that you would like to the landlord to complete.

  1. Start in the bathrooms. Check the faucets to make sure there are no drips. Turn on the shower as well to check both the hot water and water pressure. Make a note of any visible stains, chips or scratches on the tub, sink, counter, walls and floor. Record anything out of the ordinary, such as the towel holder being dented or broken, light fixtures or outlets not working or ripples in the flooring from previous water damage. Always flush the toilets and gauge the force of the water.
  2. Check out all appliances. Turn on each burner on the stove until you see the coils start to glow. Turn on the oven and check to see it is heating up. Inspect the freezer and refrigerator, paying special attention to the seals on the doors. Turn on the heat and air conditioner if possible. Any other appliances that come with the apartment, such as a microwave, garbage disposal, dishwasher, washer/dryer or garage door opener should also be tested. Don’t forget to check each electrical outlet in every room as well.
  3. Check the windows and walls. Record every dent, ding, peel and hole on all the walls in all the rooms on the apartment checklist. Open and close the doors of each room making sure they are operational. Look behind doors, especially for doorstops so you don’t punch a hole in the wall with the doorknob accidentally. Open and close each window and make note of holes in the screens.
  4. Check the rooms. Do a complete inspection of each room in the apartment and its features. Some other things to remember on the apartment checklist are checking the door locks, inspecting the furnace and water heater, testing the smoke detectors, caulking around sinks, tubs and showers and carpet tears and stains.

Once you’ve done a complete walkthrough and finished a detailed apartment checklist for the apartment, sign the document. Your landlord should sign it and both of you should receive a copy. When you move out, the apartment will be compared to the condition as outlined on the apartment checklist.

Taking time out to complete this important checklist will be worth your while in the end.