Ayanami Posted November 15, 2007 Share Posted November 15, 2007 So, I'm looking at moving into an appartment in the next month or so. What should I be looking for when I go out? What sort of questions should I be asking? Where should I look for renters insurance? Any opinions, reccomendations on anything? Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/71489-what-to-look-at-in-an-appartment/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
FUKKU Posted November 15, 2007 Share Posted November 15, 2007 So, I'm looking at moving into an appartment in the next month or so. What should I be looking for when I go out? What sort of questions should I be asking? Where should I look for renters insurance? Any opinions, reccomendations on anything? Look at the neighborhoods you want to live in. Drive by at different times of day. Are sketchy people walking around? Is there a lot of crime (i.e. break-ins, blatant drug dealing) around and are you willing to deal with it? Is the complex abandoned from 9 to 5? Do you feel safe there? Is there enough parking once everyone gets home from work, or are you going to end up parking 5 blocks away in an empty lot in the ghetto? Also ask about deposits and fees you need to move in. Most places will charge you 1 to 3 months rent as a security deposit and move-in fee. Some complexes will waive this if you have good enough credit. Also ask about pets if you have any, usually complexes will want an additional deposit if you're moving in with a pet, or they may not allow pets, or they may have restrictions on maximum pet size and/or breeds. When inside an apartment, look for: signs of wear and tear, possible leaks in the sink, cracks in tile, dirty/stained carpet, rust on appliances, etc. You may be shown a model which will naturally be kept cleaner than the other apartments. Ask to see a vacant apartment, or if you know someone in the complex take a very close look at their place. You'll also likely get a form when you first move in. This form is for you to fill out any potential damage or problems in your apartment. Watch your apartment like a hawk and WRITE EVERYTHING DOWN. When your lease ends, they take this form and compare it to the condition you left your apartment in when you moved out. If any damage is not on the form but in the apartment, the cost of that damage comes out of your security deposit, and you probably want your money back . Finally check out the features of the apartment and see if you like them. Is there laundry in every apartment, or do you have to go to the laundromat a few blocks away? How close are you to restaurants, bars, work, school, etc? Is there a gym in the complex? A pool? Some complexes may be more expensive but the features might end up saving you money. For example, if a complex's gym is good enough that could save you $40+ a month over a membership at a private gym. As for renters insurance, try your car insurance company if you have one. If it's not a company that only sells car insurance you should be able to get it through them, and you might even get a discount for having multiple policies with the company. Renters insurance is typically pretty cheap too depending on where you live, I've never seen anyone charged more than $25-30 a month for it. Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/71489-what-to-look-at-in-an-appartment/#findComment-506954 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ayanami Posted November 15, 2007 Author Share Posted November 15, 2007 Wow...thanks for the advice. This is a bit of a new thing for me, and I'm a tad nervous about the whole thing. Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/71489-what-to-look-at-in-an-appartment/#findComment-507122 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alessandro17 Posted November 15, 2007 Share Posted November 15, 2007 Here in Europe I would look also at things like heating (is there any? Which kind of heating?), hot water, insulation (how good is it?), is it a dry flat (old ones probably not)... Else you may end up by spending a fortune in fuel. Also, car parking facilities. In Europe you should never take it for granted. But I know nothing about living in the US. Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/71489-what-to-look-at-in-an-appartment/#findComment-507169 Share on other sites More sharing options...
FUKKU Posted November 15, 2007 Share Posted November 15, 2007 Wow...thanks for the advice. This is a bit of a new thing for me, and I'm a tad nervous about the whole thing. You'll be fine if you have decent credit and a job, I was just giving you my experience after my 5 years of renting. Selecting the apartment and signing that first lease is the hardest part, after that apartment life is pretty easy. Also, if you're living with roommates, keep in mind that you're both responsible for the lease. So if your buddy loses his job, you're still on the hook for all the rent. Make sure you move in with trustworthy and responsible people or you could spend the next year in hell. My last apartment a few years ago, my roommate lost his job, quit school, and moved back with his parents about 3 months before the lease ended. That was an expensive summer (luckily I had just gotten a good job) but hey, I had a nice 2-bedroom all to myself . Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/71489-what-to-look-at-in-an-appartment/#findComment-507271 Share on other sites More sharing options...
steadybootleggin Posted November 15, 2007 Share Posted November 15, 2007 try to get a place where heat/hot water are included, here in nyc there are still a bunch of places like that and i would not worry about breaking a lease if you have to... that is b.s...it does not pay for a landlord to come after you for a broken lease and if they re-rent it to someone else ( and they are gonna wanna do that)..... then they can't come after you. the lease is there really for a rent increase timeline, like when the lease is up they can jack your rent a bit because they know that you are settled in and a bit of an increase won't scare you into a new place.... and renters ins. is so cheap you'll be crazy not to get it ..geico.. trust me i had a fire about ten years ago and everything i owned , i was wearing!!( after the fire of course) and don't be nervous ... getting your own place is great.... i'm engaged now so them days are over for me!!! Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/71489-what-to-look-at-in-an-appartment/#findComment-507625 Share on other sites More sharing options...
FUKKU Posted November 16, 2007 Share Posted November 16, 2007 try to get a place where heat/hot water are included, here in nyc there are still a bunch of places like that included as in the apartment has heat/hot water or included as in it's part of the rent? i never had to worry about heat since all my renting was done in the south, and AC is no problem since every apartment built after 1950 has it down here. Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/71489-what-to-look-at-in-an-appartment/#findComment-508305 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alessandro17 Posted November 16, 2007 Share Posted November 16, 2007 i never had to worry about heat since all my renting was done in the south, and AC is no problem since every apartment built after 1950 has it down here. Lucky you! Here in Europe we can dream of something like that (you mean including cold air in summer, right?) Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/71489-what-to-look-at-in-an-appartment/#findComment-508364 Share on other sites More sharing options...
FUKKU Posted November 16, 2007 Share Posted November 16, 2007 Lucky you! Here in Europe we can dream of something like that (you mean including cold air in summer, right?) I meant that the apartments had central air conditioning. I still had to pay my own power bill (which would get pretty high in the summer for such a small place) Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/71489-what-to-look-at-in-an-appartment/#findComment-508538 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alessandro17 Posted November 16, 2007 Share Posted November 16, 2007 I meant that the apartments had central air conditioning. I still had to pay my own power bill (which would get pretty high in the summer for such a small place) However it is still quite good. I put AC in my house, and the (obvious) secret to saving electricity in the summer is not wanting your room temperature to go down too much. Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/71489-what-to-look-at-in-an-appartment/#findComment-508622 Share on other sites More sharing options...
hecker Posted November 16, 2007 Share Posted November 16, 2007 However it is still quite good. I put AC in my house, and the (obvious) secret to saving electricity in the summer is not wanting your room temperature to go down too much.You mean the rooms should stay hot in summer? That sucks. Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/71489-what-to-look-at-in-an-appartment/#findComment-508635 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alessandro17 Posted November 16, 2007 Share Posted November 16, 2007 You mean the rooms should stay hot in summer? That sucks. Of course not. It depends on whether you want your rooms at 21°C (which will probably break the bank) or 25/26 °C which are bearable but a lot cheaper. Heck, last summer I even accepted 27 °C occasionally, the cost of electricity is ruining me. Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/71489-what-to-look-at-in-an-appartment/#findComment-508655 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ayanami Posted November 16, 2007 Author Share Posted November 16, 2007 I don't think I've found one yet that has electricity included...they've all had water/sewage. A few of them included heat... My biggest problem is that the city I want to live in is kinda expensive. So, I have the option of living in that city, with higher rent, but I can practically walk to work. Or, I could get a cheaper place, but I'd make up the difference in gas and millage on my car. I found a place with a great location, and the cheapest price for a 1 bedroom ($450). It's kinda small, but that's not too big of a deal. It's kinda junky though... Great location, I mean, spitting distance from Lake Michigan (it doesn't face it directly, it's on the other side of a hill that faces it), I'm within walking distance of the downtown, which is a great place for people my age. The beach is just a walk away (The summer Coast Gaurd Festival here makes it on Playboy's Top 100 places to get laid), and I'm a short drive from work in the winter, and biking distance in the summer. I'm debating on whether or not to take it.... I'm currently homeless at the moment (Isn't that great?) I've got to be the best dressed prep with two iPods and a MacBook Pro homeless guy ever =p Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/71489-what-to-look-at-in-an-appartment/#findComment-508671 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alessandro17 Posted November 16, 2007 Share Posted November 16, 2007 I'm currently homeless at the moment (Isn't that great?)I've got to be the best dressed prep with two iPods and a MacBook Pro homeless guy ever =p Do you mean that you sleep rough with two iPods and a MacBook Pro on your side? Edit: I suppose you sleep in your car, and yet... And BTW, that flat sounds great. I mean, at your age location and cost of rent are more important than a super comfortable accommodation. Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/71489-what-to-look-at-in-an-appartment/#findComment-508691 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alessandro17 Posted November 19, 2007 Share Posted November 19, 2007 So Ayanami, how are things going? Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/71489-what-to-look-at-in-an-appartment/#findComment-511498 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mebster Posted November 20, 2007 Share Posted November 20, 2007 stinky finger Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/71489-what-to-look-at-in-an-appartment/#findComment-512239 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paranoid Marvin Posted November 23, 2007 Share Posted November 23, 2007 (at least) 4 walls, a ceiling, a floor and some windows Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/71489-what-to-look-at-in-an-appartment/#findComment-516228 Share on other sites More sharing options...
skyhighmac Posted November 24, 2007 Share Posted November 24, 2007 I have to agree with stinkyfinger on the area and security. My uncle lived in a gated apartment complex and his truck got broken into a lot. Electricity probably wont be included, nver heard of a place that did. Another uncle of mine runs a apartment business and I was with him one day and we stopped by a compex, we saw an antenna on the roof, and he called to have it chopped down and the tenant billed. Be sure to read all the rules and ask a lot of questions. Also, depending on the area, the apartment might not include a parking space. Hope this helps. Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/71489-what-to-look-at-in-an-appartment/#findComment-516450 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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