Apartment hunting

looking for an apartment is truly hard. you have to consider a lot of things. the first i would consider is the neighborhood/commuity. you don't want to live in a place that has people brawling/fighting all time, do you? nor do you want to live in a place where accidents or other crimes happen. im not saying that there is a place that is free of all these "bad elements". but you could choose a place that is NOT necessarily inviting these elements. then you have to consider the proximity of the place to your workplace. you don't want a long commute nor be stuck in a traffic jam. with the high prices of gasoline, we want to save on the travel time as much as we want. or better yet, check if the apartment complex is near or is accesible to public transportation. the physical appearance of the apartment building and the apartment itself. remember this is going to be your "HOME". each day, after a long and tiring day at work, you are going to go home to this place. do you think you would feel happy seeing the place or would you dread going back home. feeling at home at your apartment is a must. facilities and amenities of the apartment complex and the apartment itself are things to be considered too. most of the apartment nowadays come fully furnished. it means it has washer/dryer inside the aprtment, refrigerator, oven/cooking tools and microwave installed. then some has basketball court, gym, leasing office/conference room, package/bulk mail acceptance center, tennis court at the like. ask yourself what convenience you want your apartment complex to have. the most important is the COST. could you afford it? is it within the budget? or do you have to kill yourself working just to be able to pay the rent each month? remember, apartment rent is not the only thing that you have to worry when you are living on your own. you have to start worrying about your utilities bill, your food budget, your transportation budget and so many more. hope this is able to help you. happy aparment hunting!

Congrats and good luck. First, look for a neighborhood that is safe. Check with your local police to see what type of crime is being reported in the area. Read your renter's agreement. Do not let the landlord tell you it is a standard agreement that everybody signs. Even if it is, you should understand exactly what you are agreeing to. 1. If there is a security deposit, be sure you understand the rules for getting your deposit back. 2. Get everything in writing - everything the landlord agrees to do and everything you are supposed to get. If you are supposed to get new carpet every year, get it in writing. 3. Demand repairs and within a reasonable time. If things break they should be fixed - especially heating, plumbing, electric and air. 4. You may need renters' insurance. If the building burns down or if your apartment is burglarized. 5. Look for restrictions in your rental agreement - usually to do with guests, overnight guests, pets, parking, decorations. Be sure you can live with these restrictions. 6. Protect your privacy - find out when your landlord is allowed to enter your apartment, what kind of notice is required for an eviction or if you decide to move, what kind of advance notice you must give. 7. Take pictures prior to moving in as proof of the condition of the apartment. Note any flaws such as wear from aging, carpet stains, broken tiles, etc. Do a walk-thru with your landlord to note any existing damages in writing. 8. Depending on the results of your police report, you may expect your landlord to provide deadbolt locks, window locks and such that provide protection for the tenants. Or, you may need to do something for your own protection. If so, talk it over with your landlord. It is better if the landlord provides these things. 9. Keep the line of communication open between you and your landlord. You can avoid a lot of conflict just by talking. 10 You don't say what type of apartment you can afford or what type of neighborhood you may move into. I would suggest that you consider a postal service so you can receive your mail securely. This is a time for postal thefts. People target apartment mail boxes because they are so easy to get to. A postal service would prevent your mail from being stolen and also make it harder for someone to steal your identify - for example if you receive a bank card or credit card in the mail. 11 Also, if you move downstairs and the tenant upstairs has a plumbing problem that overflows into your apartment, ask your landlord how they would handle your claim for personal property damage. This might determine how you purchase your renter's insurance. I remember those days of excitement over my own apartment. Life was simpler then. I did not worry about half the stuff on the list above. Good luck. Have fun in your new place.

Well I know others will counsel you not to use an agent, but the problem with that is YOU do all the legwork, and a Real estate agent can screen out the ones that are not worth seeing.