Zillow Post: How to Find the Ideal Apartment

Zillow contacted me about working together, and I thought what a perfect time! My lease is up in the beginning of May and I just turned in my move-out notice. It's bittersweet to be moving out of my first big girl, one bedroom apartment (that I love!) but it's just too inconvenient to work and too much money for me to pay alone. Although it was a great location for my last job (5 minutes away), it's now at least 40 minutes in the morning and more than that to get home at night. I still haven't decided on the next move, so if you're in the same boat, read on for tips on how to locate your next apartment!

4 Tips to Locate the Ideal Apartment

By Emily Creswick

Searching for an apartment can be a nerve-racking experience, especially if you’re new to a city or looking in a competitive market, where hoards of people show up to every open house. Don’t be intimidated. Prospective renters can make apartment hunting a pleasing and rewarding experience by getting organized and doing their research.

Here are some helpful tips to simplify the search process and limit the stress of locating the ideal apartment:

1. Identify Apartment Priorities

Apartment prerequisites such as size, number of bedrooms, view from the balcony and amount of storage differ from person to person. To determine priorities in an apartment, create a list of must-have features and begin crossing off aspects in ranking order until only the top three remain. Once unit priorities are determined, it’s time to narrow down the search by neighborhood.

2. Compare Neighborhoods

Focus on a few favorite neighborhoods to streamline the search process. Weigh suitable amenities against each other. Comparable neighborhood qualities include the proximity to public transportation, shopping centers, local coffee shops and bars as well as the ease of walkability. Contact the property managers for each suitable property to set up walk-through appointments.

3. Be Organized and Optimistic

Visiting multiple apartments can become confusing. Stay organized throughout the search by taking detailed notes and pictures of each property. Compare and contrast the apartments by listing their pros and cons. Then, review which properties match the top three priorities previously determined. Don’t get discouraged if a suitable apartment suddenly becomes unavailable, sold or rented. Stay positive and focus on the goal to avoid missing out again.

4. Be a Property Detective

Making the commitment to rent a property for the duration of a lease is a huge decision. When rental shoppers find the right apartment, they should collect as much information as possible about its current state before signing anything. If the current tenant or owner is home while the landlord is showing the unit, take advantage of their presence. Ask questions that the property manager may not answer as honestly, such as information on utility bills, noisy neighbors, building amenities and safety of the building and neighborhood.

Future renters armed with the right information and tools, who know which questions to ask, are best equipped to successfully locate their ideal apartments. These tips and tricks help renters navigate the market and take some of the stress out of apartment searching.
Thanks to Zillow for providing the information! Here's to a happy apartment search!