When we decide to move into a new city, our first search is accommodation. If we have friends in the new city, then the process becomes slightly easy. But if we are going to be on our own, then most of the time, our search is dependent on online reviews. Now all reviews are 100% true. And most of the time, residents having not-so-great experiences will drop a negative review, and those who had a good time will not bother to leave a positive review. So how can we decide on whether to consider that particular apartment?
We had lived in an apartment for a reasonable amount of time before we bought our first home in the USA. And when we moved to Houston from Austin, we considered many other things apart from solely depending upon the reviews. And I am glad to say that we had a wonderful time there. I found many new friends; my kids got friends of their age. So overall, our transition was very smooth.
Online resources helped us a lot in our apartment search. We had friends in Houston but, they were either living in different areas or didn’t have kids. Online apartment search resources simplified the process by filtering down the areas according to the school district and locality.
So, what are some pointers that one should consider during apartment search?
- Budget
- Consider the season
- Your long-term goals
- Ask your employer
- Kid’s age
- Perform self-inspection
- Make a checklist
- Take pictures
- Check out the area
- Security system
- Get help from an online apartment search service
11 tips that will make your apartment search easy
Budget:
Budget is the first thing we consider. This includes your rent, all utilities, groceries, and any move-in costs you expect. Also, remember any other payments you might have like gas, parking, phone bill, internet, credit cards, and any other debts or obligations. The number of bedrooms also affects the price so don’t forget to consider this factor.
Consider the season:
Most people like to move during the summer months because the weather is more favorable. During these months, more units are available, but the demand for apartments increases the price.
Your long-term goals:
While signing the lease, keep your long-term goals in mind. If you plan to start your house search soon and temporarily renting an apartment, sign the lease paper accordingly.
Related article: Checklist for the first-time home buyer
Ask your employer:
If you’re struggling to find neighborhoods or apartments that work for you, and you’re moving for a job, you may want to talk to your employers for a little assistance. They will know the commute time and may suggest you a few good options.
Kid’s age:
This factor was very crucial in our apartment search. I wanted a place where my kids would have some company and also a place to play.
Perform self-inspection:
First, check inside cabinets and on top of shelves for animal droppings. Also, check that all sinks and showers run clear. And if you find anything that needs to be fixed, make a note of it. This will save you from paying a fine at the time of moving out.
Related article: Plan your in-person apartment visits
Make a checklist:
Oftentimes, people get overwhelmed while apartment hunting and forget to check the places and items they had prioritized. You can check off your list as you go through your tours and use that information to create pros and cons that will help you finalize your decision. This practice helped us a lot in finding our apartment.
Take pictures:
Sometimes, you make a day trip for the apartment search, and you make your final move once everything is finalized. Taking pictures always works when there is any difference between what has been told and when we move in.
Related article: How to make long-distance apartment search
Check out the area:
You can drive through the neighborhood at different times to understand the demographics.
Security system:
Consider asking questions about security measures. For e.g If it is a gated community. What are the arrangements for your guests?
Get help online apartment search service:
If you live in the same city, you can plan a visit, but what if you move in from a different city? When we moved from Austin to Houston, we hired a realtor, and he made appointments for the showings. You can also use online apartment hunting sites to peruse listings and get a better idea of what prices are like in each neighborhood you are interested in. Zumper is one such service that is used by millions of renters to find houses, rooms, condos, or apartments for rent. Their inventory is updated in real-time, so you’ll always see new rentals on Zumper first. You can filter by location, price range, bedroom count, pet-friendly, or amenity and set an alert to get notifications when a new listing is posted. Can we ask for more?
These are great tips alpana and you have said it all. I agree changing apartment and shifting to new area require a proper research and many sets of pre-planning. online services like zumper can ease your apartment hunting anxiety and can help you a lot in finding new place as per your individual preferences.
Yes, online search options make sour process easier.
I wish I knew these tips when I was planning to purchase an apartment. For me locality was very important and I looked for apartments only based on the location and budget. But these tips would have definitely come in handy during my search.
Budget is the first thing that comes to anybody’s mind. I also learned from experience.
It’s really an enormous challenge to search for a good apartment, I am glad to read these easy tips which will surely make life easy while looking for a new apartment!!
Apartment search can become challenging for the first timers.
Good post I will share it with my friend Mohini as right now she is haunting for property for making a shift. Thanks for the awesome post
Thats good to know. Good luck to your friend.
I remember obsessing over which area to shift into even before we got into budget discussions. Important to have good schools, hospitals and connectivity whenever we’re looking for a new place.
Those are the main areas we want to be extra thoughtful.
You’re absolutely spot on with your research. I have recently purchased a builder floor; I agree with all the 11 tips you’ve mentioned, especially the one about security and distance from workplace. This post will benefit a lot of people who are frantically searching for an apartment.
Yes looking at current circumstances, security is the most important factor.
House hunting is a very strenuous job. I agree, planning and research would help narrowing down some of the constraints. This post is very informative for the first timers.
Thank you
Many people were searching for the house don’t know how to go about it . This article is going to help all those people. Your pointers are really useful thanks a lot.
I am glad.
A very detailed and informative post here. You mentioned all the points nicely. I’m sharing this post with my friend. She is lil confused about these things… I think this is going to be surely helpful for her. Thank you.
wow..do share.
Searching for an accommodation that suits your needs is a cumbersome task but yes as you said online search options are a great respite making the house hunt easier. Thank you for sharing some useful tips.
I am glad you found the post helpful.
These seems easy tips which will surely make life easy while looking for a new apartment!!
I am glad.
Another helpful article from your end.. so practical and vital… Keeping all points noted for future.
Thank you
Oh boy! Your tips are on point! Living for a decade here in SG and done 8 moves, I really appreciate your list! Lessens the stress!
I have also done 8 moves and finally found our home sweet home.
Sorting out a list of top priorities really help narrow down, in my experience too. This checklist is sooo handy. Saving this
Thank you
These days it is very important we should be careful while buying a home for ourselves.
Thanks for sharing the checklist dear
Your welcome.
It was helpful when you said to consider your budget. My sister is wanting to find an apartment. I’ll pass these tips along to her as she searches for one.
I am glad you found the post helpful.
My cousin has to move around quite a bit for his work. Due to this, he wants to get an apartment for himself and his toddler. I’ll share your advice with him to inspect the apartment himself.
I am glad you found this post helpful.