Tips On Renting An Apartment

Tips to make your apartment search as smooth and enjoyable as possible.

Before You See an Apartment:

1. Know what you are looking for. Consider what the most important priority is for you. Is it location, quality, proximity to the T, pet friendly, space etc? Once you have made your list, rank each item from what is most important to have to what you might be able to do with out.
   
   
2. If you’re living with roommates, be sure you have all agreed upon the basic necessities for your new apartment. Oftentimes people have different priorities and you will need to put together a list of requirements everyone can agree on before you start looking.
   
   
3. Ask friends who live in the area what neighborhoods they like/dislike.
   
   
4. Consider where you are commuting to every day. How important is it to be close to public transportation? Will you have a car?
   
   
5. How much space do you realistically need? Do you need that extra bedroom or would a study be okay?
   
   
6. If you are a student or unemployed, you will probably need a guarantor. Make sure the guarantor understands their responsibilities before you start looking for an apartment.
   
   
7. Start looking for a place 30-60 days before you want to move in. If you start looking too early or too late your selection will be limited.
   
   
8. To qualify for an apartment, your income should be at least 3-4 times the annual rent. Please keep this in mind as you’re deciding what you can afford.
   
   

For the Appointment:

1. Leave enough time to view several apartments. We have many to choose from and will generally show you 4 or 5 viable options. This can take between an hour and an hour and a half.
   
   
2. Bring your check book to your appointment. You will need a check to take the apartment off the market.
   
   
3. When looking at an apartment, actively think about whether you like it or not. Give your agent feedback. The more we know about what you like or dislike, the more we can help.
   
   
4. On your showing, keep a ranking in the back of your mind or your favorite places. This will help you decide at the end of the day/showing.
   
   
5. If you apply for an apartment we will check your credit. Please let us know up front if you have any current or past credit problems.
   
   
6. Know your current and former landlords contact info. We will check your references.