{"id":6844,"date":"2017-08-30T13:38:19","date_gmt":"2017-08-30T17:38:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.renthop.com\/content-manager\/?p=6844"},"modified":"2023-07-24T12:56:02","modified_gmt":"2023-07-24T16:56:02","slug":"things-you-need-to-think-about-before-renting-an-apartment-part-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.renthop.com\/blog\/things-you-need-to-think-about-before-renting-an-apartment-part-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Things you need to think about before renting an apartment: Part 2"},"content":{"rendered":"

There are many things that renters must think about before renting an apartment. These items include how much rent they can afford, where they want to live, and what type of apartment they can qualify for. Once they’ve gathered their search criteria, there are additional items to consider.<\/p>\n

\"theinspectionstage\"<\/p>\n

Research and Inspection Stages<\/h2>\n

Last week, we went over stage 1 in the rental process, the research stage. As a recap, always make sure you do your research when it comes to your own finances and your credit history. Those two things are going to secure you an apartment, so you need to be aware of how much you can afford and how good or poor your credit history is. If you missed the article where we went over the research stage, don\u2019t worry. We have it right here<\/a>. Now, we\u2019ll move on to stage 2: the inspection stage. <\/span><\/p>\n

Step 1: Thoroughly Inspect the Apartment<\/h2>\n

Make sure you inspect the apartment thoroughly, and when we say thoroughly we mean \u201cget down on the floor and look at that tiny crack\u201d thoroughly. The landlord is responsible to disclose anything that might be wrong with the apartment. But that doesn\u2019t mean they always will. Ask questions and bring a checklist with you when viewing the apartment for the first time. There are several free resources for this as well online but some important questions to ask are: <\/span><\/p>\n

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  1. Has the apartment ever had any history with rodents<\/a>? And when was the last time the apartment was exterminated? <\/span><\/li>\n
  2. Is there any history of mold<\/a>, infections, etc? <\/span><\/li>\n
  3. How thin are the walls? Soundproof much? <\/span><\/li>\n
  4. When was the last renovation? <\/span><\/li>\n
  5. Have there ever been any issues with the electric, the heat, etc? <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    When viewing the apartment for the first time, bring a camera. Be sure to document any cracks or broken doorknobs that can come back and haunt you later. You do not want to end up paying for repairs that were there before you even moved in. Make sure you move into a fully functioning apartment, not a fixer upper… <\/span><\/p>\n

    Step 2: Check out the Neighborhood and Neighbors<\/h2>\n

    So the apartment checks out, what\u2019s next? The neighborhood<\/a> and the neighbors of course. While the apartment might be all up to standard, a landlord or an agent rarely give you any information on the neighbors. You might be able to get some information on the neighborhood in general, but assume this is just the good stuff. <\/span><\/p>\n

    If the landlord\/agent won\u2019t give you any information on the neighbors or the neighborhood, walk around and see if you can\u2019t bump into any neighbors. The apartment itself might be great but the majority of us don\u2019t want to sign a 12-month lease for an apartment located in a rough neighborhood or where your neighbors are too loud for your liking. After signing that lease there\u2019s not much you can do about it so be proactive. <\/span><\/p>\n

    Learn more:<\/p>\n