It can be an overwhelming process trying to find an apartment. When I first started looking for my first apartment during college, I didn’t even know where to begin. Where do you start looking? What’s the best resource to find a great apartment? Who can you trust?
First, know what you want. Before you even start looking, know what you want in an apartment. My very first apartment search ended up taking incredibly long because my roommates and I never discussed what we wanted out of the apartment beforehand. I swear we looked at every available apartment in every neighborhood in Chicago until we finally got the sense to sit down and discuss what exactly it was we wanted in an apartment.
Here are some questions to consider:
- How much do you want to spend?
- What neighborhood do you want to live in?
- Do you want to live in a high-rise apartment building, a three-flat, a coach house, etc.?
- How many bathrooms do you want?
- Do you need to be close to public transportation?
- Can you pay rent online?
- Do you need an apartment that can accommodate pets?
Start looking online. Craigslist is a great resource for finding apartments. Realty companies also post their listings online. You can search by price range, neighborhood, and number of rooms all from the comfort of your house. If nothing else, searching online will give you a sense of what’s out there and can help guide you in your search. I’ve found all three of the apartments I’ve lived in on Craigslist and they’ve all been great.
Sometimes you need some guidance. If you don’t want to deal with contacting people on your own through Craigslist and scheduling your own apartment viewings, use an apartment rental service or a real estate agent. It’s important to know what you want so you know exactly what to tell them so that they can best serve your needs.
Talk to the previous renters if you can. I once found a great apartment that was in my price range and in a great neighborhood. My roommates and I told the landlord that we wanted to put an application in for the apartment and were all excited about signing the lease - until we ran into the current tenants. They took us aside and told us that the landlord had crazy rules like not allowing guests over past 10pm and no more than two guests unless given 48-hour advance notice. These were rules that were not told to us while viewing the apartment. Sometimes the best resource you have is the current residents.
