I'm doing something that's totally new to me. ._. I'm looking for an apartment to rent. I'm still living with tio's family, and though they're really nice and stuff, living with your ex is a little bit wonky, even if you're still friends with them. Plus money's tight and things are tense, and I want a fucking dog. but that's a different story.
The big thing is, I've never really done the whole rent thing before, and it's a little intimidating. D: So.. Does anyone have any tips, specifically when it comes to talking to people on the phone about it? What sorts of questions to ask and all that? and especially, does anyone know any good websites with listed rentals? I'm checking the newspaper like ahawk, since I hear online listings are usually more expensive, but I still ask. :3
Check the neighborhood that it's in before getting serious; go once or twice during the day and once or twice during the night. If it doesn't feel like a welcoming (or at least indifferent) neighborhood, don't bother.
Ask about anything that comes to mind; when is rent due, how much is security deposit, what are you looking for in renters, etc. Test the landlord out; if s/he's a dick over the phone, you can be sure that s/he'll continue to be one in real life. D:
Check the net as well as phone, check EVERYwhere. From what I hear (I've been in the college residence since I moved out so I'm a newbie too. XD) it can take a while before you have a place to settle in. Don't feel rushed if you can help it! If you can get help from friends/family to look for a place, don't pass it up! Going through personal contacts can be good on some occasions.
Check water sources - toilets and sinks - and the surroundings for water damage on the ceiling and floor or walls, especially if it's an apartment beside or under another.
Take pictures before moving in. Of EVERYTHING. That way, you have an issue with leaving and they want to keep deposits you can simply send them proof. (and ... like, keep things tidy lol).
Listen for neighbors through walls, while you're looking at rooms.
Look at parking if you need to, and in fact, if you've got a car and need to park it, also check with your insurance agency about high-risk locations around town which might change your insurance rate. Yes, they do that, and no they're not supposed to.
Ask about whether you have a month to month or can sign on for a 6 or 12 month lease, because with a longer lease they cannot increase the rent on you suddenly. Most states they have every right to give you not much more than 30 odd days of notice and can do so *whenever they feel like* unless you're in a longer lease.
Everyone else has given you good advice, as far as sites to find listings it depends what you're looking for. If you're looking for your own place I've found apartments.com and apartmentguide.com to be good sources of decent apartments, at least for my area.
If you're just looking to rent a room or find an apartment with roommates (which can be much cheaper) then that's a whole different ball game, but it sounds like you want your own place since you'll be getting a dog. Be sure you ask about pet policy (whether they allow pets at all, if they charge pet rent, what size limitations they have on pets, etc).
And definitely sign on for as long a lease as you think you can handle and be /very/ realistic about your finances before you settle on your rent. I've gotten myself in trouble more than once by renting more apartment than I could afford and getting stuck in a long lease.
I've rented for years and years (and am now renting a room in a house, so I know something about that too...) so if you have any other questions I'd be glad to help!
I've had good luck with Rent.com for finding regular places, though they tend to miss the small independent landlords. You might try rentNAMEOFYOURCITYHERE.com ; it's big in some places, non-existent in others.
For crime, you can call the police before you move in, too. Ditto the pictures thing; video may be better. And easier.
Write everything down on your move-in sheet for damage and keep a copy of it. If you write it down the first time it's more likely to be fixed, so try the air and the heat and the windows, latches, flush the toilets, run the faucets, check for drips and leaks, etc.
If you're planning on rooming with someone, know your roommates well. I started renting a place once with two girls, one of whom was dependable enough for the both of them, but then one would invite someone to crash on the couch, and soon one became three, and then we had almost 12 people living in a two room trailer. And I didn't know any of them but one of the first two.
Make sure everyone is willing to follow rules, and don't ever try to spend any money before you have it. Dollar stores are not that bad for food XD
I'd also get to know the landlord, if you have one. Another place I was staying at, we were evicted supposedly because the well couldn't handle the extra humans [it started to smell like rotten eggs] but really it was because the landlords were yuppy Christian types and our boys were running around in skirts.
Get to know the laws in your area, because they really vary on what kind of notices and repairs the owner has to do, if youre renting from a landlord, and read the lease well.
AND GET RENTER'S INSURANCE.
I can't tell you the number of friends I've had who have had something nasty happen where they're staying that they couldn't fix/replace because they weren't insured.
*throws her support behind renter's insurance* I think I pay like $70 a year or something...totally worth it if anything happens like a fire or a break in...or if your car gets stolen and there are things in your car that your car insurance won't cover...you can cover that with your renter's insurance...
Thank you so much, guys-- recent answers and old. I've been taking these bits of advice while I look around.
The online listings don't list for my areas-- I'm staying to fairly small suburbs of the city in my area, so it's really hard to find listings like.. anywhere. Even the newspapers barely list things. It's a real bloody pain. D: but i'm keeping all of that in mind.
REnter's insurance scares me. D: especially since I did the math and, with gas prices what they are, I'm going to be living onlike.. nothing. -dies a little inside- but I shall definately look into it. I've heard good good good thing about renter's insurance.
You could also try craigslist.com
My friend found her apartment through that site a few months ago, she was surprised how many people had listings on there.
As for your local paper...most of the time mine is empty of rentals as well. Try asking around for the local Pennysaver or other such discount paperback listings.
Plus money's tight and things are tense, and I want a fucking dog. but that's a different story.
