So you have started searching for a new apartment to rent. And you already began surfing the net, looking through apartment rental books, or even browsing the newspaper for good deals. Perhaps you also have taken a tour of an apartment or two. But, sometimes you wonder if the apartment you really like is really a great place to live. Read on for tips to avoiding those apartments no one would want to rent.
Reading the Fine Print
As more and more people began to look for apartments and complexes began popping up everywhere, rents soon find themselves seeing bright red signs advertising specials and the more popular “free rent”. But renter beware! Most of these deals have a catch.
A lot of complexes now offer free utilities or “all utilities paid”. A savvy renter might be wary of such offers because what happens when the landlord skips paying your electric bill in the hottest month of summer? Even more suspicious is when the landlord controls the temperature or electric use into your unit. That makes it easy for him to cut down his utility bill by dropping the temperature during winter and raising it during summer. And if something goes wrong with your utilities your landlord might just blow you off, forcing you to get a lawyer. If you pay your own utilities, you are in complete control of how much you use, what temperatures you set, and what happens when it goes out.
Free rent deals almost always require a strict long-term contract. Typically the free period of rent comes at the very end of your one-year lease. More typically, the renter goes into the complex with the expectation of getting the “free rent” and ends up not getting any free rent at all. It’s the old bait-and-switch trick. Or, sometimes the agent will try to replace the free rent deal with other amenities that may not be worth anything to you, such as business fax equipment use. Never sign anything until you know the terms in full and all the exceptions and fine print.
Signs of a Sour Deal
It is difficult to be subjective when you search for an apartment, especially when you find one you really like. The agent is savvy enough to know how much you like the unit and will be less willingly to make a good offer. This is especially true in cities that have a low apartment turn-over such as New York or San Francisco. Avoid saying anything like “Ooo, I love the location” or “This unit matches all of my needs”. Be vague. Avoid looking excited. Play the poker face. These methods will give you the upper-hand because the agent doesn’t want to feel like they wasted their time showing you the unit and no other renters are in line to sign the contract. The longer the unit has been up on the market, the better the deal should be.
Don’t let the agent push you into signing. If the agent starts saying things like “today only” or “I guarantee it won’t be available tomorrow”, then be wary. These agents can be super-smooth salespeople who just want a chunk of commission or a landlord desperate for income. Don’t be pushed into anything. If you don’t like the unit, leave it. If you don’t love the unit, keep looking. You’re going to be there for a while so don’t settle.
Watch the Ads
The best way to get a good deal is to watch the ads every week. This is the best advice for house and used-car buyers. You will begin to notice that the less popular units that stay on the market for a long time tend to drop in price. And the more popular units go quickly with little added benefits. Some units offer specials on occasional periods, but it never hurts to call a landlord and ask if there are any specials. Sometimes they will throw in a discount just to get your business even if it is not advertised.
Bring the competitor’s ads. Ask the landlord to match another landlord’s specials or rates. Most likely, they will match it.
Warning Signs:
If you take a tour of an apartment, take notice. Be on the lookout for any signs of bugs – dead ants, spider webs, left over bug baits, etc. This is a warning sign that the apartment will become infested periodically with creepy crawlies. Even if the landlord claims to spray, usually they don’t spray enough. Bugs from the landscaping will easily find their way into your new unit. Are there a lot of ant piles in the surrounding grass or nearby landscaping?
Take notice of things that look broken or recently repaired. If a wall was recently repainted, there may have been some water damage. If something looks broken, then perhaps the handyman is never around to fix it. Nothing is more irritating than waiting months for a handyman to come fix something. Don’t allow the landlord or agent to simply blow it off with “It’s on the list of fixes” or “That won’t be a problem”. If you really like the unit, get the landlord to fix the items before you sign the contract or make the lease contingent to the repairs (such as “deposit paid after repairs made”). If a landlord or agent doesn’t agree than you should expect never to see the items get repaired during your tenure at that unit.
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Tags: Apartment Searching 101
