14 Pro Tips For Finding A New Apartment

Redditor /u/B***__Pleasures

My wife inspects units for grant-assisted housing; they must meet basic habitability standards for HUD.

If you have young kids, check for loose or chipping paint, even on floorboards. Buildings built before the late '70s risk lead paint issues, causing brain damage and developmental delays, even if they have been repainted.

Confirm the stove and oven heat up. Dealing with this issue on your first day after moving in is a hassle.

Check if the smoke detectors work. If they fail, this violates a HUD requirement and signals the landlord ignores other basic safety rules for the property.

Redditor /u/mouseeggs

Know your utility responsibilities—heat, water, electricity, sewerage, etc.—and how you pay them. Understand when and how rent increases occur. Read your whole lease and have someone who understands it check it before you sign.

Redditor /u/Jdwhyte

Cell phone reception matters a lot now. I bought a house near where I lived before and got zero coverage from my provider. I missed it at first because I had full service before, thinking distance didn't matter. I was wrong. That was three years ago; it was a deal-breaker for that company. Now, I check reception everywhere I go.

Redditor /u/WinoWithAKnife

Turn on the water. Do it everywhere. The time you spend dealing with water is amazing.

Do you like the taps? Does hot water arrive fast?

Test the shower and/or bathtub. Check the water pressure and the controls. Will you easily install a better showerhead?

Flush the toilet. Is it loud? Does filling take forever?

Redditor /u/dudcicle

Google your potential landlord. Look up online property records in your county. Slumlords usually have many liens or foreclosure properties.

My spouse and I moved into a property we thought was great, only to find out the next day after signing the lease that our landlord (whom we never met) faced a city lawsuit for millions, including assault by a former tenant in our unit.

Redditor /u/Girl_on_a_Buffalo

Knock on a neighbor's door if you can and ask about the building. Ask someone in the hallway or elevator. Feedback from current residents beats everything. Location matters, not just for convenience, but for noise. Is it on a busy street? Near empty land that might develop? No apartment is soundproof; the environment is key.

Redditor /u/Randomwordcombo

Scope local grocery stores when checking neighborhoods. This shows you the type of people living there.

Don't miss common sense items. I forgot to check for a dishwasher in my first place. I ended up washing everything by hand for years.

Check the parking situation too.

Redditor /u/xz868

Check internet providers and their speeds.

Find out about the washer/dryer. Unit access is best. Avoid shared laundry rooms and potential bleach stains.

Visit the apartment during busy hours. Check soundproofing with neighbors.

Know what rent covers. What is extra? Ask about heat and electric costs.

Check window age. Are they drafty?

Get a feel for building residents if it is a complex.

Check Yelp ratings if you can find them.

Check your city's website for code violations.

Redditor /u/notavailable

Ask about utilities. What rent includes? What you pay extra for.

Ask about maintenance. What will the landlord fix? Is it free?

Ask about the internet. If only Comcast exists nearby, consider moving elsewhere.

If it matters, ask about the pet policy, including allergies or your own pets.

See the actual apartment you move into. Do not trust a showroom. If it is "not ready," ask the exact date. See the unit before you sign.

Try to learn about potential neighbors. Are there babies who cry at 3 AM? Do dogs bark then? Are they students with late hours, or an older couple quiet after 8 PM?

Know the neighborhood. Avoid areas with weekly shootings or daily break-ins. Will live music play within 100 yards?

What is the smoking rule? Neighbors might smoke, and the smell travels.

Washer/dryer? In the unit? Shared for the building? None? This detail is easy to forget, but it matters.

Inspect both the show unit and your future unit for signs of rodents or bugs. Check cabinets, doors, behind the fridge and oven. Stay away if you find insects or rodents.

Check the water. Is the pressure good? Is the temperature right?

Figure out parking. Drive through at night. This shows you who is home most of the time.

Redditor /u/SnideJaden

I saw that some places had items like stoves, seating, and toys left out on the porch. This signals low theft and kids in the area. You want friends for your kids or want no kids at all.

Redditor /u/What is this 199

Redditor /u/Thadeus_Zigwalt

I always check the area a bit. Look for decent shops, good transport links if you are careless, and a decent pub.

For the flat, I check the shower. A bad shower means staying in bed. I also check the oven. If they cleaned the oven, the rest of the place is likely kept well. That is just my experience.

If you live in a cold place, check windows for double glazing and no cracks. In winter, you will freeze or heating bills will make you cry. High ceilings also make heating a place expensive. This advice might work backward if you live somewhere hot.

Go through the property with the landlord at the start of your tenancy. Check what is broken and what is not. Take pictures and get the landlord to sign them for extra safety. Make a list of flat items so they cannot lie about damage to keep your deposit. Call them weekly until they pay your deposit. I do this on Sunday; no one likes calls then.

Good luck finding a place.

Redditor /u/ernestborgnine2013

Does the place face east or west, or north or south? Do you prefer afternoon sun or morning sun? I prefer afternoon sun so I can see the sunset at night.

Is it a concrete building? Concrete buildings transfer less noise than wood.

Do your upstairs neighbors have carpet? Carpet is another plus for noise reduction.

Ask if the upstairs or downstairs tenants have dogs. Dogs barked nonstop when left alone. This mattered to me because I worked from 6 am to 3 pm.

If you rent a basement suite, find out which room is above your bedroom.

Redditor /u/DKOB

You seek a good apartment just as much as a good landlord.

You will live there for a while. You must ensure you have a good connection with the person. A bad landlord rents to anyone, including neighbors you dislike. They will not fix issues or fix them cheaply, meaning the thing will break again next week.

Visit an apartment. Ask why current tenants move. Ask how long other tenants stayed. People living there ten years suggest they like the place.

Ask about noise. If someone says, "The neighbor sometimes plays loud music, but he lowers it when you talk," that means you have a noisy neighbor.

Ask about needed repairs before moving in. If paint is needed, ask if they will do it or if you must. Have them write repairs on the lease before you sign. List any broken items after moving in and tell your landlord. This prevents them from blaming you; you can usually get fixes fast.

Check water pressure at places you visit. It is usually fine. I saw one apartment with very low water pressure; spraying water on myself would have been faster than using the shower.