Steps To Renting An Apartment

Hi Everyone!

When apartment searching/hunting for your apartment, you need to know the basic steps to renting an apartment. The main ones you need to focus on are;

1. Hire apartment locator
2. Know what's on your credit & background, before you even apply to apartment complex or even talk to the apartment locator (example of credit is it good or bad or in between and know your score, example of background evictions, broken leases, felonies, bankruptcies, etc.
3. Know if you will lack rental history & job history in advance by asking yourself (Have I paid rent somewhere for at least 1 year?) (Is my most recent job I'm working have I already received at least 2 or more paychecks?)
4. Is my budget planned and the apartments I want to request from apartment locator, fit in it?
5. Do I have the application fees, administration fees, prorated rent, renters insurance, and possible pet deposit calculations all projected and the funds in my bank account in advance?
6. Do I even have renters insurance, and if not will I be ready to provide it if the apartment I like, makes it a requirement?
7. Have backup plan if rejected by providing a cosigner or just seek out 2nd chance apartments
8. Avoid at all cost applying to multiple apartment complexes, since they run your credit each time, and your credit score is dropped, as well as these hard inquiries remain on credit report for 2 years
9. Know in advance before you apply, which fees will be refunded if you're rejected

These steps are pretty much the basics, you need to apply and know, since they will help guide you to your apartment more smoothly. 

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Things to Ask When Renting An Apartment

Hi Everyone!

Do you know what things to ask, when renting an apartment, before you do the application? Here are a few questions to start with;

• Do I have an apartment locator yet?
• Does the apartments I like have available units in my move out date range?
• Have I seen the unit yet, beyond online?
• Do I know what apartment fees will I be refunded, if I'm not approved?
• How often does the landlord raise rents in my complex?
• Did I get a range percentage from the property manager when they were showing me the apartment, for possible rent increases done here at this apartment complex, before I signed the lease, and if so will I be able to afford a rent increase if I stay another year, by projecting this range percentage on my rental rate now?
• Has it ever flooded here before?
• If I lose my job or even relocated, will my landlord offer me a relet option?
• Do I even know what is a relet fee, and how they work?
• When I'm touring the apartments, did I even ask the property manager or leasing agent what are other owners paying here for their light bills to similar units at what I'm looking at in a range, if can't release the accurate numbers?
• Have I researched the apartment complex on Google?
• Is the parking horrible, and do I have a backup plan, if I really love the complex by just getting reserved parking added to my rent, and it fits in my rent budget?
• Will I be allowed to waive the maintenance crew from coming in my apartment, if I'm not home, by allowing them to come when I at home?
• If I have more than 1 vehicle, how do I handle the parking by not getting my vehicles towed, if I don't want to pay for reserve parking or a garage?
• Did I find out how many parking spaces I'm entitled to, when the leasing agent or property manager first showed me the available unit?
• Do you take video recordings along with my inventory and condition form that's due immediately within 24 hours of move-in?
• How many days does the landlord give me on notice when my rent is being raised?
• How long does it take for the maintenance men to handle my repair request, if I can't get exact timeframe, can I get a max day range?
• What are the maximum late fees I can occur per month if I'm late starting at 30 days?

These are just a few questions I listed that may help assist you to ask before you do your application. Its always wise to know this kind of stuff in advance so when or if you may experience it, you wont be surprised from the possible ramifications of ignoring it, before you signed the lease.

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Apartment Relocation

Hi Everyone!

In today's working economy, many of us move from time to time whenever we decide to, while others are moving because of a job relocation. If you have a job relocating you to another state, then they will most likely provide you with a corporate apartment rental, which is fully furnished, and payed for by the company. If you're moving on your own, because of a job offer that pays better and has benefits in another state, then you're most likely going to apartment search/hunt for another apartment in the new state, and pay for it yourself. So during the relocating phase to the new state, a wise tip would be, just make sure you contact the apartment locator in the state you're moving too, before you move from your current state, in order to save from having to rent a hotel while have to wait for something to come available. This technique can be done if its planned accordingly along with the relocation move. Example would be you get a job offer in Texas, and you decide your state New York, isn't working anymore and take the offer. While your still paying rent at your current place, just make sure you don't run into paying double rent while moving to the new apartment in the new state. So in this case let's say your lease is up August 31, and the new job in the new state location wants you to start September 1, best thing to do is to start apartment searching 30-60 days in advance from the September 1 date, so you will be prepared with all the;

• Administration Fees
• Application Fees
• Security Deposits
• Prorated Rent
• Possibly 1st months rent or more (if required based from rental, credit, background and income checks)
• Pet Fees (if have pets)

Once you have all this figured out, and have accurate numbers make sure the apartment in the new state you want has the units available that fit your moveout window for August 31. So if you're getting all boxed up, and you've contacted the apartment locator to locate you some apartments, and you like a few by your new job in the new state, then it would be wise to find out well in advance if the complex has anything available before August 31, because if you don't get this information before you do the application, and you wait till after, and the apartment locator says you been approved, but the apartment complex says they will have something available after August 31, which will be on September 5 for you, then this will mess up your timeline. Also this is a major issue since your job starts on September 1, and your lease is up August 31, and you can't drive to the new job since its in another state, and to top it off you're now in a month to month territory with your landlord since your lease isn't past August 31. As I mentioned plan all this before you move to the new state, and do your diligence, so this apartment example won't happen to you. So in conclusion follow this order;

1. Contact apartment locator in the new state moving to
2. Get the apartments you like from them, and then pick which ones will work in your budget, and be close to your new job
3. Find out from these you like which ones have available units within your apartment relocation move date range (use 30-60 day window)
4. View them all if have more than 1, then pick the best one you liked
5. Then apply to the application immediately after seeing the one you liked best. (you shouldn't be applying to different apartment complex applications ever only one, so read the post & tips on here to understand why)
6. Lastly take a deep breath, and give yourself a pat on the back for now looking forward to your new apartment & new job in the new state you've relocated to, once you're approved, and get the keys.

Following this list will put you well on your way to the right road to take before you leave your current apartment, while also prepping you for the arrival to your new state apartment relocation.

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Availability of Apartment Units

 Hi Everyone!

We all tend to get excited when something good happens, and some of us even celebrate. Well in the apartment hunting searching, things can take a turn for the worst if you don't do your homework, and find out what units are available when it comes time to leave your apartment, because you have decided to not renew. Majority of apartments will know what units they have available when you ask them, but this doesn't do you any good if you are set on moving in this specific complex right when your lease expires. Waiting to last minute which is right around when your 60 day notice is given, isn't a good idea. I get alot of apartment inquiries with different prospects moving at different times, and majority of them have a 60 day window to work with, but what many are finding out and realizing, is this 60 day window isn't corresponding well with what the apartment complex has available of their choice for their inventory of apartments. So best way to avoid this issue is ask yourself these questions before you apartment hunt/search;

• Is my choice of apartment complex very popular, and others want to rent here too, which is allowing me to have to wait longer for something to become available?
• Does my choice of complex have the available unit I want available in my 60 day notice window from my apartment I'm not going to renew?
• Will I be ok, if I'm told nothing will be available in my 60 day window notice, and I have other choices to pick from?
• Do I have a backup apartment list just in case nothing is available when I'm apartment hunting/searching?
• Does my backup list have my apartment choices with available units in my 60 day window?
• If all else fails, and I really want my favorite complex, and I can wait it out, will I be ok on a month to month at my current place while I wait for my unit to be available since it's outside my 60 day notice?

Once you have gathered all these apartment questions, and have all the answers, then you will know well in advance if your favorite apartment complex will have the available unit in your 60 day window notice. 

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Apartment Application Fees

Hi Everyone!

Knowing what application fees you will have to pay in order to get the apartment you want is a requirement at all times, but many don't pay attention to if these apartment application fees will be refunded if the application isn't approved. Best way to avoid getting upset, because you applied to the apartment complex you wanted to move-in but didn't get approved would be to know before you fill out the application what application fees will be refunded if you don't get approved. Majority of apartment complexes have apartment application fees that have to be paid with the application, and these are;

• Application Fee
• Administration Fee
• Security Deposit

Depending on where you're applying it would be wise to know if you will get back some of this money if you aren't approved before you apply. Some apartments will refund back your security deposit, while keep your application fee and administration fee, while other apartment complexes will not refund back anything if they had a special offering $0 move-in deposit, but you may of paid $200 in application fees and administration fees. Conclusion is to just know this upfront before you apply, so you won't be upset if for example you applied and the total application fee cost was $400, and you get the call you aren't approved, and you're only receiving back $200 or even told receiving back $0. Nobody wants to lose money while applying, while also getting their credit hit, because of the apartment complex pulling the credit and making a 2 year hard inquiry reducing their credit score. So my point is don't keep applying to apartment complexes with applications, and not knowing beforehand what you mayn't receive back. Best advice would be if you've already made this mistake, go ahead and allow the apartment complex to explain why you were not approved, and then take this valuable information, and know to be prepared next time to apply to the apartment complex that will consider your situation, and yes these kinds of apartment complexes are out their and available, if you fit into their "specific second chance criteria". Some examples of "second chance apartment complexes" are,

1. Felons
2. Misdemeanors
3. Broken leases
4. Evictions
5. 1st time renters
6. No credit
7. Bad credit

These examples listed 1-7 may get rejected by regular apartment complexes, but second chance apartment complexes would consider these if you fit into their "specific criteria" that does pass against these particular issues. Key is knowing where to apply, and where not to apply with these particular issues.

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Apartment Applications

Hi Everyone!

It's critical you understand when you're apartment hunting/searching for your apartment, you're not just filling out every application at the apartments you like, hoping one of them will accept you. Doing this will affect your credit score even worse since every time you apply to a different apartment complex, your credit is pulled and a hard inquiry will appear on your credit report for 2 years from each of those apartments. It maybe quite difficult trying to narrow down apartments you like to just have one that you apply too, but to avoid getting your credit pulled by each apartment each time you apply it would be best to;

• Tour the apartments 
• Know what is available
• Know if the apartment complex fits in your budget max with knowing ALL the unit's bill expenses required to function appropriately in the apartment (lights, water, pest, insurance, etc.)
• Ask yourself can you see yourself committing to this apartment complex for 6 months or more in a lease without regretting you should have picked the other one. If you're stalling with a yes or no still, then it would be wise to not apply to the application, until you have a 100% yes for your top one

After you analyze those criteria's with your top three or even top two, then you will be able to decide which one will be the top one, and then apply to only that apartment complex. Applying to an apartment complex doesn't have to be complex, if you remember this tip each time before you apply.

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Moving Out of Your Apartment

Hi Everyone!

I wanted to touch up on understanding how important it is in leaving your apartment in a clean condition, if not going renew. When you do your move-in walk-thru with the property manager/landlord they show you the property in its move-in clean condition, and then ask you to fill out the "Inventory & Condition" form. You're responsible for making any notes on this form about the apartment units current condition you will be leasing, and getting it back to them immediately signed and dated. If you decide to not renew, it would be a wise move to go ahead and restore you're apartment unit back in it's condition it was in when you moved in it which was clean. Doing this will prevent you from being held liable from any damages that the property manager/landlord may notice that weren't listed when you filled out the form when moved-in. Understand this real estate tip, and it will continue to help you along the many journey's you may have when deciding to rent an apartment. So remember your check list when moving out as:

• Remember to understand what you wrote on the "Inventory & Condition" form when moved-in will be used against you when move out by the property manager/landlord, so fill out wisely, since they will be comparing their move out notes against your move in notes.
• Make sure to clean apartment & restore back to it's original form.
• Return the keys, and head to your next apartment if that's what you've chosen to do.

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