Renting an apartment
To find listings, I generally consult:
- Hotpads
- Craigslist
- local MLS (sometimes a realtor’s web site will give you decent access)
- StreetEasy (if looking in New York City)
I apply few filters (mostly about price), and I flip through listings in map view, looking mostly at the pictures. If there are no interior pictures, I rarely inquire further. If there are no pictures of the kitchen and bathroom, I generally don’t inquire further (if one or both are not shown it’s often because they’re hideous). Much of the time, the photographs are much brighter and prettier than the place itself. They’re almost always taken from odd perspectives or skewed to suggest a much bigger space than it will be when you visit. I also double check the posting date. (If it’s been up for more than a month or two, I wonder why.)
If possible, I visit the city a for a few days during the months before I expect to move to walk around and figure out which neighborhoods I like. I start with the ones I’ve heard of and then walk into adjacent ones, where it might be cheaper. I try to remember specific nice blocks. If I know someone who has lived in the city, I might ask for a recommendation.
When I’ve found a listing I like, I email the realtor to request a visit. In my email, I make sure to cover many of the things they’ll be wondering about:
- average $X income; consultant [the rule of thumb is income >= 40 × rent]
- ready to move quickly: have my paperwork prepared
- non-smoker, no pets, no debt, “excellent” credit score
- $n in savings [only because I’m self-employed]
- letter of reference from current landlord
I also transfer some extra money to my checking account so that I can write checks for larger amounts than normal to cover deposits, fees, first (and last) month’s rent, and a broker fee (if in a big city). Basically, 4x the monthly rent.
When I visit an apartment, I’m running through this checklist:
Checklist
Money:
- Monthly price—what’s included? is this a special rate?
- Security deposit
- Fee
- Move-in fees
- Utilities included (water, garbage, gas?)
- Available on / lease begins
- Renewable in a year?
- Available for two-year lease?
Unit basics:
- Reason it’s available?
- who am I renting it from?
- Floor (not ground; + if elevator above 2nd floor)
- Square feet + feel
- Room measurements
- High Ceilings?
- Natural light (+ Faces south / lots of sunlight)
- View
- Cleanliness (seams, toilet seat, knobs, lights, switches)
- Storage/closets
- Mobile phone reception
- Windows that open
- Window coverings
- Hardwood floors
- Locks on doors, windows (deadbolt?)
- Had bedbugs?
- Carpet? (bad)
- Air conditioning? Permit window units?
- Heating costs?
- Heat tenant controlled?
- Cable/Internet?
- Amenities? fireplace, roof deck, gym, parking
- Stove type
- Oven works
- Appliance sizes
- Cabinet storage
- Garbage disposal?
- Laundry in unit? nice?
- Water pressure in kitchen + bathroom + shower
- Toilet flushes easily
- Mold under sinks
- Laundry on-site? (+ in-unit)
- Where is garbage drop?
- Additional storage? Bike storage?
- Outdoor space?
- Building accepts packages?
- Will/can change locks and give key?
- Will/can paint?
- garbage location
- water service
- gas service
- electric service
- cable service
- internet service
Location:
- Address
- Flood zone (in New York City, not less than 4)
- Laundry
- Subways
- Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, grocery, pharmacy
- Crime
- Parks