{"id":1894,"date":"2014-07-07T18:45:07","date_gmt":"2014-07-07T22:45:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.renthop.com\/news\/?p=1894"},"modified":"2023-07-24T14:05:16","modified_gmt":"2023-07-24T18:05:16","slug":"seven-things-to-think-about-in-your-summer-apartment-hunt","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.renthop.com\/blog\/seven-things-to-think-about-in-your-summer-apartment-hunt\/","title":{"rendered":"Seven Things To Think About In Your Summer Apartment Hunt"},"content":{"rendered":"
We hope you had a great July 4th<\/sup> weekend! Now it\u2019s summertime, and we\u2019re into the thick of the apartment-hunting season<\/a>. Students are looking for new apartments<\/a>, new graduates are moving to their new cities, and people everywhere are trying to avoid moving in cold weather. When you\u2019re searching in the summer, there are definitely items you should keep in mind to help make sure that you make a great decision. We’ve gathered a list of seven things to think about when you\u2019re looking at apartments during the summer.<\/p>\n There won\u2019t always be the same amount of foot traffic, for example; if you think it feels quiet now, it\u2019s liable to feel more so in the winter. (This is especially true for parks.) Conversely, the area around a school won\u2019t be as busy in the summer as it will be during the rest of the year. And it won\u2019t just be kids \u2013 there will be adults and potentially cars and buses around.<\/p>\n Proximity to public transit is always important, but beautiful summer weather can make a bad commute seem palatable. That said, that 15-minute walk to the subway will feel a lot less nice in the dead of winter. Bottom line: try to keep in mind what it will be like to live somewhere when the weather isn’t sunny and warm.<\/p>\n Make sure to ask the super (or, better, the last tenant) how well the heat works and whether it\u2019s had any maintenance problems. You won\u2019t easily be able to test it (especially if the building has central heat), so you\u2019ll need to be extra-careful to ask. This also goes for any utility or amenity that is more relevant in cold weather than in warm. And don\u2019t forget to ask whether the apartment is drafty!<\/p>\n Also, don’t forget to have a look at our list of nine questions you should ask when looking at an apartment<\/a>.<\/p>\n Remember to check the window treatments (and confirm that there will be some!) to see how bright your apartment will be. If you need darkness to sleep you may want to invest in blackout shades. Also, if you get lots of sun your apartment will be hotter in the summer (and likely colder in the winter), and unless you have very solid, well-insulated windows you may end up with a correspondingly higher utility bill.<\/p>\n Rents are at their highest right now. If there\u2019s a way for you to stay in your current space for a couple of months, you might consider it. While there will be less availability later on in the year, rents are substantially lower<\/a> \u2013 and at their lowest in November. There may also be more rental concessions in the off-season, though that isn\u2019t guaranteed.<\/p>\n Even more so than normally, you\u2019ll need to have your documentation in order and funds available for the deposit\/fees. Competition can also drive rents up; landlords with multiple acceptable applicants may take the opportunity to ask for greater than the listed rent, or a larger security deposit. Don\u2019t let your desire to have this space lead you to take a deal you can\u2019t afford. (But don’t forget that even, during the summer, it’s possible to negotiate<\/a> on some points!)<\/p>\nSeven Things to Think About this Summer<\/h2>\n
1. Imagine the Area Outside of Summer<\/h3>\n
2. Pay Attention to your Commute<\/h3>\n
3. Check the Heating<\/h3>\n
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4. How Much Sun Does the Apartment Get?<\/h3>\n
5. Can You Wait to Move?<\/h3>\n
6. Be Extra Prepared<\/h3>\n
7. Don’t Overvalue Amenities<\/h3>\n