turning into such a grown-up

[hermionesviolin]

I feel weird doing personal phone calls on business time, so I e-mailed about the studio, but the one bedroom only had a phone number so during a lull this afternoon I called and now I'm gonna go see the apt. tomorrow after work. So now I just have to figure out how exactly to get there. It occurs to me I should ask about utilities. Am trying to think of what else to ask about/keep an eye out for. Thoughts?

Comments

[dawllyllama.livejournal.com]

Definitely ask the landlord about utilities and also ask them what the average cost of bills are per month. Check out the plumbing to make sure there are no visible signs of leakage or water damage (i.e. discoloration, cracking paint and corners that look crumbled). Check all the light switches, locks, windows, etc.

I could go on and on. I'm on my third apartment now, and all the little overlooked things tend to bite you in the ass later. Better to be overly cautious, I think.

Good luck! And congrats on joining the world of renters! :)

Cost of...

[carpdeus.livejournal.com]

Deposit and application fees. How much of deposit is returned. What utilities are included. Another nice thing, if you can manage it, is to show up outside the apartment a couple of times at night/on the weekend/on a weekend night to see how noisy it is then.

[immortalavalamp.livejournal.com]

Figure out HOW they do utilities. Do you pay for what you use, or do they take the total bill and then divide it by apartment size and occupancy? Also, when you DO get an apartment, be sure to mark EVERY single mark on the wall, carpet, etc. on that sheet they give you. When you move out, you'll thank yourself.

See what basic services they have--trash, recycling, fridge, stove, oven, dishwasher. Are there fees? Do they use gas or electric? Also, look at the cars and parking lot. How well maintained is it? Also, I completely agree with carpdeus. There's no way to know if you'll feel safe or if the area will be too loud at night unless you GO there at night! Find a Friday/Saturday that's good for you and go through.

I think that's about it. Oh, and check how stable the windows/doors are. Do they really lock? Stuff like that. Maybe get the locks on the front door changed if it's ok'd by management, just to be on the safe side. :)

[burnalive.livejournal.com]

In addition to what other people said - check the water pressure to make sure it's good. If you're meeting with the landlord, assess whether they seem like a reasonable person. If you're meeting with a current tenant, ask them how the landlord is. Ask how much noise the unit gets (are walls and floors thin? can you hear neighbors moving around? How much street noise if there?)

You should also insist that locks are changed if you move in. It shouldn't be something you have to request, honestly.

Good luck!

[hermionesviolin.livejournal.com]

Oh I'd completely forgotten that back when I was delusional I talked about water pressure as a deal-breaker 'cause I'd gotten spoiled like whoa by the amazing water pressure in my building at Smith.

[burnalive.livejournal.com]

I didn't even remember you saying that! I just like good water pressure and it's one of those things that is easy to overlook :)

[hermionesviolin.livejournal.com]

I don't think I've mentioned it much on LJ -- and certainly not since you've been reading -- but while I was in college I frequently voiced my love for my buildings's water pressure (as did my housemates) and would sometimes say I was gonna cry when I graduated so sad would I be to leave behind the water pressure. And the water pressure at my parents' house is lame, so the transition for vacations was always unhappy and it became an item I seriously wanted in any place I lived. I have gotten used to the water pressure here, though, and obviously have toned down some of my delusionalness re: future housing. But I am very glad to be reminded of the issue because I would hate to be surprised by woe after moving into an apartment.

[burnalive.livejournal.com]

May you always have good water pressure :)

[hedy.livejournal.com]

I like the looks of the one bedroom. Also, I think the picture are a good sign (but maybe I'm naive).

[burnalive.livejournal.com]

Hey again - I just remembered this great site from when I was apartment searching. www.housingmaps.com

It is a googlehack site that brings together craigslist apartment listings and googlemaps. If you click on a marker it will show a little box with a short version of the add as well as any pictures. If you click on the link, it opens the full ad in a new window. It's awesome! You can even set price parameters.

[lunabee34.livejournal.com]

Another thing to ask is if when your lease is up whether you have to sign a new one or if it goes to a month-by-month contract once the original lease expires. SEveral places I've lived have used teh latter method which is good if you wanna leave.

Ask about pets. Even if you don't have/want any now, who knows.

Ask for the general makeup of the complex? Is it mostly students (boo! parties and loudness) or young families (yay! except for babies squalling)