Finding a suitable apartment requires time and planning to make the right choice. By being picky and reviewing your options, you will eventually narrow down your options to the apartment that is best for you. Here are some tips for finding not only a place to live, but also a great place to call home.

Look at as many properties as you can handle by viewing

Going to a multitude of properties is time consuming and annoying. But doing so will broaden your options and give you a range of possibilities to compare against each other. Take a notebook with you and make notes on each property. Seeing so many tends to make your mind mix them up after a while, if you don’t. Write down the pros and cons of each unit that you think is worth considering. If you don’t like it, be glad you don’t live there in the future and move on, after nicely thanking the agent for showing you around the dump.

Interview your prospective rental agent or landlord

This especially applies to rental units from private owners. Large apartment complexes are generally run by contract staff, who may change from time to time. When you talk to a private landlord, see what their complaints are about former tenants, ask what they expect from their tenants, and generally note their attitude toward apartment repairs or other things that go wrong. If they are impatient, unfriendly, or difficult to deal with, reconsider renting to them, no matter how good the rental is. Unpleasant landlords can make a rental experience a nightmare by blaming you for things that go wrong or being unreasonable about little things. Be careful who you rent from. Especially don’t rent to anyone with a bad temper. As a personal preference, I would rather spend more money and rent a higher quality complex managed by a professional company than a beautiful place owned by a petty private owner.

Inspect each apartment very carefully.

It is important that everything you rent is hygienic and clean. In addition, there must be no insects of any kind, nor their residues, anywhere on the premises. If you see roaches, or even a crate of roach eggs, run for the door. Where there is one, there are definitely more of his creepy, creepy friends somewhere in the shadows.

Do the appliances, windows and faucets work? Look at the water pressure. Look to see if the toilet is up to date and clean. Is there a fire extinguisher? Are the walls clean, with fresh paint, or are they worn, stained, or peeling? If they are and you love the place and should have it, negotiate to have it completely painted (at your expense, not yours) before you consider moving.

consider the neighborhood

Will you feel safe living in this area? Do you prefer to live in the city or in the country? Is there parking for your car? What kind of crime is there in the area? You can call your local town hall and ask about the address to see if there are any history of problems there. Visit there at night, to see what it is like at a different time of the day. Is it close to the bank, store or auto mechanic? Convenience is key if your car breaks down unexpectedly and you need to walk everywhere. What kind of neighbors are around? Are they quiet or loud? See if you can hear them from inside the apartment. If you can hear other people clearly through the walls, that apartment will make you nervous. A beautiful apartment I once owned had paper thin walls, which was a shame. I lasted a year before I went to a much better place. No wonder people came and went on a monthly basis. If you can hear your upstairs neighbor snore, the apartment is not worth living in.

You have the most power in the world of a rental agent, when you say you will rent the place to them. Before you sign anything, kindly negotiate any repairs or special needs you may have. Be willing to give and receive. They shouldn’t charge you five cents for basic repairs as they are their responsibility. If you want to move in the middle of the month, ask if they prorate the rent (they charge you only for the days you are there). Moving out in the middle of the month saves money when you move out by lowering your first rent a bit.

By being smart and asking questions, you will narrow down your final options. When that final contract is signed, be proud that you put off the place you were most interested in. If you are going to spend a few years of your life in a place, it had better be to your liking and pleasant to live. Once move-in is complete, kick back and enjoy your lovely new place. It will be worth all the work you put into finding it.