|
Users viewing this topic:
none
|
|
Login  | |
|
I WANT AN APARTMENT! - 6/3/2010 12:49:32 PM
|
|
|
G-ROD
Posts: 123
Joined: 12/23/2005
Status: offline
|
What should you consider, and what steps should a person might take when looking for an apartment?
What should he or she look out for to avoid getting scammed or heckled.
_____________________________
www.soundclick.com/galatians
|
|
|
|
|
RE: I WANT AN APARTMENT! - 6/3/2010 1:19:13 PM
|
|
|
stellaluna
Posts: 4250
Joined: 4/11/2005
Status: offline
|
Scammed or heckled by who?
Decide where you want to live and how much you want to spend (take into consideration utilities) and how long a lease you want and then go look. Some places will want a deposit and first month's rent. Some will want deposit plus first and last month's rent. Some will want first and last, but no deposit. If you have a pet, you will likely have to pay a pet deposit.
Read the whole lease before you sign anything.
Move in.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: I WANT AN APARTMENT! - 6/3/2010 2:33:23 PM
|
|
|
Miss Giggles
Posts: 4562
Joined: 4/18/2005
From: MI
Status: offline
|
I doubt you'll get heckled.
It's fairly easy to get an apartment, unless your credit is shot. If you can get a referral from someone that would help. Most property management companies run things by the book. You've got to be very careful renting from individuals or a company that only manages a couple of units. You do occasionally hear the nightmare stories about the tenants that have no water, air, etc on the local news.
You might be asked to submit a paystub and or a reference.
< Message edited by Miss Giggles -- 6/3/2010 2:46:38 PM >
|
|
|
|
|
RE: I WANT AN APARTMENT! - 6/3/2010 2:40:27 PM
|
|
|
reebz
Posts: 1869
Joined: 12/6/2008
From: Indiana
Status: offline
|
It's really not that hard to get an apartment provided you have some money saved up for a security deposit and other deposits that may be required (for instance, the electric company here has a security deposit you have to pay).
Go around to apartment complexes where you want to live and ask to see them. Do the same to ones you find in the paper.
Check to see how much renter's insurance is and get that.
Also ask the landlord if you can talk to other tenets. Ask them if the landlord keeps up with repairs, if there are any issues in the apartment that can't be fixed (for instance, my apartment has horrible insulation so my energy bill triples in the wintertime), etc. etc.
Ask friends who rent if they'd recommend where they live.
It's not all that difficult.
I really don't understand the heckling question though? Care to elaborate?
-reba.
_____________________________
formerly rebakahblam
<<<<<Look! I found a lego baby!
beyond surrendered
|
|
|
|
|
RE: I WANT AN APARTMENT! - 6/3/2010 4:23:56 PM
|
|
|
peace77
Posts: 518
Joined: 4/18/2005
Status: offline
|
It is possible to get scammed. Especially when dealing with an individual landlord or worst of all, someone posing as a landlord.
Never pay out cash. Always use a check or money order and get a receipt.
Look at the apartment an night or on the weekend when most of the tenants are home. Is there enough parking or are people fighting over parking spaces?
How is the noise level?
Ask the police department about the crime rate in the neighborhood.
Make sure that you see the exact apartment that you will move into and not just a perfect model unit.
Check the plumbing, lights and appliances to make sure they work.
If anything needs to be repaired, Don't move in until it is done.
Make sure to mark down anything visibly damaged or dirty on your move in report or on your lease so that you are not blamed for it when you move out.
Ask other tenants with the same size apartments about their average utility costs. Make sure that you can afford slightly more than what they tell you along with your rent before signing a lease.
Peace,
Anne
_____________________________
I GoodSearch for Lance's Deaf Orphans.
Raise money for your favorite charity or school just by searching the Internet or shopping online with GoodSearch - www.goodsearch.com
|
|
|
|
|
RE: I WANT AN APARTMENT! - 6/3/2010 4:49:19 PM
|
|
|
EclecticJoy
Posts: 9367
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: Here . . . and that's exactly where I want to be!
Status: offline
|
G-Rod, what do you mean by "getting heckled?"
Heckling is normally thought of as what an audience does to a stage performer in attempts to jeer and taunt them.
_____________________________
>>> Profile Stalking? <<<
>>> Facebook Etiquette <<<
|
|
|
|
|
RE: I WANT AN APARTMENT! - 6/3/2010 8:27:21 PM
|
|
|
relady
Posts: 626
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: Greater St. Louis Metro
Status: offline
|
quote:
Make sure that you see the exact apartment that you will move into and not just a perfect model unit. Sometimes this is easier said than done, especially if you live in a state whose landlord tenant laws are tilted heavily in favor of landlords.
Go online and search for apartment review sites in your area. Could be enlightening.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: I WANT AN APARTMENT! - 6/3/2010 8:49:02 PM
|
|
|
iluvatar
Posts: 3540
Joined: 4/12/2005
Status: online
|
Generally speaking, you can usually get a better deal renting from an individual than a big complex. Though for your first apartment, it might be easier & safer to go with a bigger complex since, as stated earlier, they're more consistently reliable and by-the-book. Individual landlords can run the gamut.
-Dan.
_____________________________
Well, I've been to one world fair, a picnic, and a rodeo, and that's the stupidest thing I ever heard come over a set of earphones.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: I WANT AN APARTMENT! - 6/4/2010 2:38:19 PM
|
|
|
kernsfamily
Posts: 572
Joined: 4/26/2006
From: Dallas (originally Detroit)
Status: offline
|
quote:
ORIGINAL: rebakahblam
quote:
One word of advice though: Do not get an upper floor apartment unless you are young enough to lug the furniture up the stairs if there is no elevator.
Completely agree - I'm on the third floor...was not a bright idea. Legs hurt for DAYS after moving in. 
-reba.
THOUGH...i have a friend who has a 3rd floor apt....and she LIKES it...(no one walking around "above" her.....well, at least she hopes not!)
it's all preferences.
your rent can sometimes be "negotiated" down a bit for having a 3rd floor apt....because there's greater demand for 1st floor apts.
_____________________________
Proud dad of 3 great girls....Blessed to have all of them in a "totally awesome" public elementary school!
|
|
|
|
|
RE: I WANT AN APARTMENT! - 6/4/2010 2:51:06 PM
|
|
|
stellaluna
Posts: 4250
Joined: 4/11/2005
Status: offline
|
I'm in a third floor apartment. It's fine. <shrug>
|
|
|
|
|
RE: I WANT AN APARTMENT! - 6/4/2010 2:52:48 PM
|
|
|
GregandJenny
Posts: 480
Joined: 2/16/2006
From: Near Seattle Washington
Status: offline
|
i live in a 2 story building on a top floor... I love it. I don't usually burn heat in the winter that much because heat rises.
G
_____________________________
It does not have to be well with my circumstance to be well with my soul!
|
|
|
|
|
RE: I WANT AN APARTMENT! - 6/4/2010 5:07:09 PM
|
|
|
iluvatar
Posts: 3540
Joined: 4/12/2005
Status: online
|
My wife refuses to live below anybody, because of footstep noise. She's also overly worried about making noise for others, so living above anybody is worth avoiding. Side-by-side duplexes for us.
-Dan.
_____________________________
Well, I've been to one world fair, a picnic, and a rodeo, and that's the stupidest thing I ever heard come over a set of earphones.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: I WANT AN APARTMENT! - 6/4/2010 5:08:36 PM
|
|
|
Miss Giggles
Posts: 4562
Joined: 4/18/2005
From: MI
Status: offline
|
I am on the first floor, it really isn't too bad.
It depends on the noise level of the apartment, which is kind of hard to guess before you move in. I've been lucky that this complex is pretty quiet. Others aren't so much.
There are people on the 3rd floor really struggling to get the furniture up and down.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: I WANT AN APARTMENT! - 6/4/2010 6:48:45 PM
|
|
|
eaglelady11
Posts: 308
Joined: 7/20/2005
Status: offline
|
I lived in an apartment complex and rented a room from people's home. living in the apartment is much better, I feel more like it's my place. I paid a security deposit in money order and got a receipt. I did have to put up a little deposit for utilities, telephone, cable, all that. but after a year, I got it back. I paid 500 a month for rent plus utilities which came to about 600 for my share. nice neighborhood near the mall and the town village where the police and fire department were located. We also had a security guard in front who was retired police.
I have lived on the first floor and the third floor (at different times of course). I like the third floor because there was no one above me. But don't get an apartment next to the road or freeway unless you want to hear the drone of traffic all night long; same with the swimming pool. First floor was nice too. It was in back facing the field, not the front facing parking lot.
Went through some interesting neighbors: the party girl who always had guys over, the lonely hearts guy who kept hitting on me, the professional guy who was nice and normal and respectful and the lady and her kid with blue and fuchsia pink hair who was going through the normal phase of adolescence.
the only thing is when I moved out, I cleaned the place as best I could but after seven years, there is normal wear and tear and they didn't give me back my security deposit. I fought it and said that it was normal wear and tear from living, but they didn't budge and I lost my deposit. Stuff like stains underneath the sink, dirt behind the refrigerator, dirt on the walls (even though they were going to repaint). So ask about normal wear and tear from living life.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: I WANT AN APARTMENT! - 6/4/2010 9:37:47 PM
|
|
|
iluvatar
Posts: 3540
Joined: 4/12/2005
Status: online
|
quote:
ORIGINAL: eaglelady11
the only thing is when I moved out, I cleaned the place as best I could but after seven years, there is normal wear and tear and they didn't give me back my security deposit. I fought it and said that it was normal wear and tear from living, but they didn't budge and I lost my deposit. Stuff like stains underneath the sink, dirt behind the refrigerator, dirt on the walls (even though they were going to repaint). So ask about normal wear and tear from living life.
IIRC, the complex I lived in had an itemized list of things they'd charge you for that weren't clean. $10 for a dirty stove, $25 for a dirty fridge, etc. I had spilled bleach in the hallway so a chunk of carpet had to be replaced, which was $50 or $75. If your stuff was actual wear & tear, you probably could have taken them to small claims court.
-Dan.
_____________________________
Well, I've been to one world fair, a picnic, and a rodeo, and that's the stupidest thing I ever heard come over a set of earphones.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: I WANT AN APARTMENT! - 6/5/2010 1:15:45 PM
|
|
|
rgod
Posts: 2376
Joined: 4/25/2005
Status: offline
|
I'd second checking with the police department and asking about crime stats for that area (even that specific street). When I moved to the city where I live now, I didn't do that. It looked like a nice area and there were lots of college students. I thought there would probably be parties and noise, but that would be about it. Little did I know that it was a haven for crime. Rapes, shootings, and break-ins were common place. I was never so happy to leave a place in my entire life. Crime stats would have given me the entire story up front. Contact the police department directly; they'll probably be able to give you a dump of the data that is in their database on a spreadsheet - or direct you to a website.
I second what everyone else said, but would also say, visit a site like http://www.apartmentratings.com/. I've read the reviews for the last three apartments that I lived in and they were pretty accurate (including the complex that I absolutely loved). Lots of really low ratings are a definite red flag.
Definitely, drive by places in the evening and at night. Would you feel safe there coming home by yourself? How's the lighting in the parking lot? What's the noise level? Places at night often are sooo different than what they seem to be during the day.
_____________________________
Be yourself; everyone else is already taken - Oscar Wilde
|
|
|
|
|
RE: I WANT AN APARTMENT! - 6/5/2010 3:09:11 PM
|
|
|
blueeyedgirl2
Posts: 3783
Joined: 8/31/2008
Status: offline
|
One other thought for you. . .Are you planning to someday buy your own home? If so, (and maybe even if not), make sure your rent amount allows for left over cash each month to save toward a house or apply to debt etc. It'd be a shame to rent a beautiful apt and then be broke because you're paying so much in rent.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: I WANT AN APARTMENT! - 6/6/2010 2:58:56 PM
|
|
|
peace77
Posts: 518
Joined: 4/18/2005
Status: offline
|
ApartmentRatings.com or Yelp.com can be good places to look for reviews. Just be careful if it seems to good to be true. Sometimes the reviews are written by the owners, staff or employees of the apartments.
If the apartment does not have laundry facilities, check out how far it is to the nearest laundrymat. If the apartment complex has laundry facilities, find out where they are. In each building or in a separate building? Do you have assigned times or are there enough machines that you can wash when you want to? Some new buildings have washers and dryers in the apartments. That can be nice.
Peace,
Anne
_____________________________
I GoodSearch for Lance's Deaf Orphans.
Raise money for your favorite charity or school just by searching the Internet or shopping online with GoodSearch - www.goodsearch.com
|
|
|
|
|
RE: I WANT AN APARTMENT! - 6/14/2010 12:18:50 PM
|
|
|
Aelric
Posts: 200
Joined: 9/18/2006
From: My corner of reality. AKA My Room
Status: offline
|
My only addition to the above. Get a place that has, or will let you install a dispose-all and new shower heads. You will thank yourself later.
Just a side note, if you do like an apartment, find out if they sublease their cable, internet, water, and such, if they do, check with the companies about what they charge normally, most of the time they will give you a range for your area.
Also, if you can, get a metal shower head, and DEFINITELY get one if you plan on having a detachable shower head. Be sure that the clip to hold it is metal as well. (if you have to replace the existing one, take it off and then place it under the sink in the bathroom, that way it can be found should you move)
_____________________________
Ever Vigilant, Ever Present, Never Seen, Never Known, NSDQ.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: I WANT AN APARTMENT! - 7/7/2010 10:04:34 AM
|
|
|
A-Mighty-Oak
Posts: 17638
Joined: 4/13/2005
From: Formerly known as Humbleinspirit
Status: online
|
I can speak from experience renting several apartments through the years. I have rented through both rental agencies, individual landlords and broker real estate services.
Having a broker find a place for you. Keep in mind that these people usually represent the landlord and not you.
Look for certain things before renting: Do the premises look like it is being cared for. Are there nobs missing on the stove or other things that show neglect? Is the smoke detector beeping from a dead battery? Does the place have a fresh set of paint? Is there a case of empty beer cans to be recycled in the hallway?
Other cues, how nice is the realter or person showing the apartment? Do they get angry when you have a question about something that might need fixing? If so then run, they will not treat you nicely.
If the place is run by a management company then this is also a bad sign. It means that the landlord is a corporation and is trying to save money. Does not translate into being tenant friendly at all.
That has been my experience anyway.
_____________________________
|
|
|
|
|
RE: I WANT AN APARTMENT! - 7/7/2010 12:31:09 PM
|
|
|
Miss Giggles
Posts: 4562
Joined: 4/18/2005
From: MI
Status: offline
|
property management companies aren't bad if they are run right. They seem to be more likely to stick to disability and non discrimination laws. they have maintenance staff on hand they can share between propreties. It's a little less likely that you'll be without heat/electricity because the landlord refused to pay the bill. Also if you rent from a place that owns multiple properties they can let you transfer to another apartment they own easier.
There's good landlords but there are a lot of bad ones. You have to be careful.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: I WANT AN APARTMENT! - 7/7/2010 12:35:49 PM
|
|
|
A-Mighty-Oak
Posts: 17638
Joined: 4/13/2005
From: Formerly known as Humbleinspirit
Status: online
|
I had a lot of problems with a property management company, including heat issues. They never put my money for last months rent in an escrow account. When that happens, Massachusetts State Law stipulates that you automatically get 5% yearly interest on your deposit, which you can deduct from your rent on your years anniversary. I did that and then they said that I owed them $40 dollars. They didn't push it even though it was on record of me being short because I told them that was the law and that I was entitled to it.
_____________________________
|
|
|
|
|
RE: I WANT AN APARTMENT! - 7/30/2010 2:18:11 PM
|
|
|
dzehm007
Posts: 125
Joined: 7/27/2010
Status: offline
|
When seeking for an apartment, I would stay away from month-to-month rentals or those units that are up for sale.
Also efficiencies are great way to start, while you are trying out the area to see if you would like to continue living in the area. Then once you decide, you can seek out more permanent solution such as leasing, buying or building.
Also, make sure you lease spells out specifics relating to repairs, etc. Many landlords are trying to get away from responsibility of upkeep and maintenance of their properties. Other than normal wear and tear, tenants should not be responsible for repairs, etc that are considered normal maintenance, as they are not the owners.
_____________________________
But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. -Isaiah 40:31
|
|
|
|
 New Messages |
 No New Messages |
 Hot Topic w/ New Messages |
 Hot Topic w/o New Messages |
 Locked w/ New Messages |
 Locked w/o New Messages |
|
 Post New Thread
Reply to Message
Post New Poll
Submit Vote
Delete My Own Post
Delete My Own Thread
Rate Posts |
|
|
Forum Tools
Printable Version
